Consultancy Title: WASH/IPC in Healthcare Consultant

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, Health.

The primary aim of this consultancy is to address critical shortcomings in Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) and Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) within healthcare facilities across Jordan. The initiative is particularly timely given the ongoing global health challenges that have underscored the importance of robust WASH and IPC protocols. Despite substantial investments in healthcare, gaps remain in the implementation of WASH and IPC standards, thereby posing a risk to patient safety, public health, and healthcare quality.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Through this consultancy, UNICEF's Jordan Country Office seeks to engage with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and other relevant stakeholders to establish a structured, systematic approach to WASH and IPC in healthcare settings. Four key objectives underpin this endeavor:

1. Enabling Environment Analysis: To lay the groundwork for future initiatives, the consultancy will first review and enhance the existing framework for WASH and IPC in healthcare facilities. This involves a critical evaluation of current policies, practices, and infrastructure, culminating in actionable recommendations for creating a conducive environment for WASH/IPC improvements.

2. Development of WASH/IPC Standards: The consultancy will formulate comprehensive standards for WASH and IPC tailored to various healthcare settings, including primary and comprehensive healthcare facilities and public hospitals. This set of standards will serve as a benchmark for healthcare institutions, ensuring uniformity and excellence in healthcare delivery.

3. Costed Action Plan: Building on a high-level roadmap developed in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), the consultancy aims to detail this into a fully-costed action plan. This plan will outline specific targets and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for three distinct phases: short-term (2023-2025), mid-term (2026-2030), and long-term (2031-2035).

4. National WASH/IPC Strategy: The consultancy's final objective is to consolidate its findings and recommendations into a comprehensive national strategy. This strategy will serve as a blueprint for WASH and IPC in healthcare facilities, providing a cohesive framework for implementation, monitoring, and evaluation.

The assignment's four-month duration is indicative of the urgency and priority given to enhancing WASH and IPC practices in healthcare settings across Jordan.

Scope of Work:

Consultants will be responsible for:

1. Literature Review and Data Collection: Conduct a comprehensive review of existing literature, policies, and practices related to WASH and IPC in healthcare facilities in Jordan. This may include site visits, interviews with healthcare professionals, and consultations with policy-makers.

2. Stakeholder Engagement: Actively engage with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF, WHO, and other stakeholders to gather insights and feedback for the development of WASH/IPC standards and action plans.

3. Standard Development: Based on the review and stakeholder inputs, develop minimum and advanced WASH/IPC standards for primary and comprehensive healthcare facilities and public hospitals.

4. Action Plan Creation: Translate the high-level roadmap into a detailed, costed action plan with specific KPIs for tracking progress in the short-term, mid-term, and long-term.

5. Strategy Formulation: Develop a comprehensive national WASH/IPC strategy document that encapsulates all the elements developed during the consultancy. This includes the enabling environment analysis, standards, and costed action plan.

6. Reporting and Documentation: Submit periodic reports outlining the progress of the consultancy to UNICEF's Jordan Country Office and the Ministry of Health. The final deliverable will be a comprehensive report that includes all developed standards, action plans, and strategies.

7. Final Presentation: Present the findings and deliverables to the Ministry of Health and other key stakeholders for endorsement and implementation.

By adhering to this scope, the consultancy will provide a holistic, actionable roadmap and endorsed national strategy for enhancing WASH and IPC in healthcare facilities across Jordan.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Microbiology, Epidemiology, Health Policy and Management, Environmental Engineering, Water Resources Management, Environmental Science
• At least 5 years of experience in infection control in healthcare settings/WASH programs, particularly in healthcare settings.
• Experience in policy development and implementation related to IPC/ Experience in designing and implementing WASH projects and programs.
• Proven track record of research or publications in the field of WASH/IPC is an asset
• Fluent in English and Arabic.

Duty Station

Amman- Jordan, Office based

Duration:

120 working days

Insurance:

UNICEF will not be responsible for costs arising from accidents and/or illness incurred during the consultant’s service. Therefore, the selected candidate must provide proof of enrollment in a health/accident plan prior to starting his/her work.

Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered, the financial offer should be a lump sum for the whole assignment + Travel.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, 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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

Child Safeguarding remarks

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.