Consultancy: Consultant to provide technical support to countries to scale up WASH services in HCFs through WASHFIT implementation - WASH Section, PG, NYHQ - Req

Consultant Programme & Policy Medical & Health

Overview

Provide technical support to scale up WASH services in healthcare facilities.

You have:

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Engineering, Social Sciences or related field
• At least seven years of experience in public health issues in developing countries, at middle-level management
• At least five years’ experience in implementing WASH and/or WASH in health care facilities programs
• Fluency in English; knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset
• Demonstrated knowledge of WASHFIT, Covid-19 response in healthcare facilities, Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance
• Experience maintaining communities of practice including Yammer and SharePoint

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Consultancy to provide technical support to countries to scale up WASH services in HCFs through WASHFIT implementation

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH Section, Programme Group, New York HQ (remote based)

Duration: 11 months

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The impact of COVID-19 on already weak health systems has been unprecedented. As of 25 October, there have been close to 5M deaths globally and over 240M confirmed cases. Low income countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America where UNICEF works have been impacted negatively by COVID-19 leaving health care systems struggling to provide the needed quality care as cases continue to rise in most countries. As of 24 September, there have been over 149,000 deaths in Africa, 688,000 in South East Asia, 299,000 in the Mediterranean, over 127,000 in Western Pacific and over 2.2M in Americas.

In healthcare facilities (HCFs) with limited WASH services, the burden of COVID-19 means that these services are further strained and are insufficient to meet the needs of patients and health care workers, leaving them at risk of infection and sometimes death, including from COVID-19.

In some communities, the lack of WASH services inhibits people from attending HCFs, including expectant mothers who are unable or afraid to go to health centers to give birth without WASH services. Moreover, the lack of these services and other critical supplies means that health workers cannot provide safe care to patients.

To help countries scale up WASH services in HCFs, UNICEF seeks a consultant to support the WASH section at HQ to provide technical support to countries including on WASHFIT training, operationalization of the WASHFIT/ Eight Practical Steps helpdesk and monitoring platform on SharePoint as well as maintain the Yammer Community of Practice and SharePoint.

With consultant support, capacities of UNICEF staff at country and regional offices will be further strengthened to provide technical support to governments and partners to implement the WASHFIT and Eight Practical Steps to accelerate and scale up WASH improvements in HCFs. Further, knowledge management platforms will be improved to increase knowledge exchange and sharing on best practices, lessons learnt and tools for design and delivery of the WASH in HCFs programme.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

In collaboration with the WASH Specialist- Institutions and the Senior Advisor, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

• Liaise with UNICEF WASH HQ colleagues on regular basis, and where necessary and as agreed with UNICEF regional offices on WASH in HCF’s priorities to scale up WASH services in HCF’s as part of the global response to COVID-19.
• Conduct training for government partners and other stakeholders on WASHFIT implementation in ECA, ESARO, MENA, LAC, EAPRO (will depend on confirmation of regional offices and translation of resources).
• Conduct coaching and mentoring on WASHFIT implementation for Ministry of Health (MoH) officials, UNICEF staff and other stakeholders all of the regions where UNICEF works- LACRO, EAPRO, ROSA, MENA, ECA, ESARO and WCARO, through the Helpdesk function, to improve and scale up WASH services in HCFs. The consultant will also provide technical support to countries on the Eight practical Steps through the Helpdesk.
• Operationalize and maintain the monitoring platform to monitor and disseminate information on implementation of WASHFIT by participating countries on UNICEF’s SharePoint.
• Promote and maintain the communications and collaboration libraries on SharePoint, Yammer Community of Practice for WASH in HCFs and schools by sharing and organizing resources in an easy to find manner.
• Identify resources from various sources including WASH Bulletin and share on the joint WHO/ UNICEF WASH in HCF’s website.
• Liaise with WHO to update the country tracker on the Eight Practical Steps/World Health Assembly Resolution actions on tracking of government commitments. Priority countries are those that will have participated in the WASHFIT training.
• Develop a summary/ synthesis of lessons, learnings, best practices or experiences on WASHFIT implementation from priority countries engaged in this initiative.
• Provide support in the preparation and conduct of major events including but not limited to WWD, GHD, Water and Health Conference, World Prematurity Day, International Learning Exchange.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Engineering, Social Sciences or related field
• Highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook and communities of practice and SharePoint

2) Work experience

• At least seven years of experience in public health issues in developing countries, at middle- level management
• In lieu of the above, at least five years’ experience in implementing WASH and or WASH in health care facilities programmes essential
• Experience working with governments at the national level and in-depth knowledge and understanding of the Eight Practical Steps to universal WASH access
• Demonstrated knowledge of WASHFIT, Covid-19 response in healthcare facilities and linkages between WASH and Quality of Care, Infection Prevention and Control and Antimicrobial Resistance
• Experience with maintaining communities of practice include Yammer and SharePoint
• Prior experience working for the United Nations an added advantage

3) Competencies

• Must be fluent in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required
• Demonstrated analytical skills a key requirement
• Strong inter-personal skills and team spirit
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a dynamic environment coordinating across different teams and sectors
• Expertise in development of training materials and delivery of training as related to WASH in HCFs

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Apply now

Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org