Consultancy to conduct Clinical Waste Management Situational Analysis, Gaborone Botswana (90 working days)

Contract

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Background of the assignment UNICEF is supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) to undertake a situational analysis on clinical waste management in Botswana. The system enables clinical waste to be managed responsibly, without harming the communities and the environment. Currently, the clinical waste management system is inadequate with gaps in several areas include collection and storage. Moreover, information on clinical waste produced in government facilities is not well recorded and reported, especially from private facilities.

Botswana has experienced rapid growth health sector over the past decade which has resulted in the expansion of healthcare service delivery as well as strengthening of the health systems in diagnostic, curative and preventive medicine (Mbongwe et al, 2008) . Expansion of the health sector has also led to a corresponding increase of health care waste. Statistics shows that clinical waste is set to grow in Botswana, at a rate of 2.5% annually, putting pressure on the provision of facilities. Waste produced from Covid – 19 activities has also increased

Poor clinical waste management often leads to occupational injuries due to poor segregation of the waste at the point of generation, poor internal transportation, storage systems and poor disposal methods. In the African Region, estimates suggest that the burden of occupational injuries account for 10.9% of HBV, 16.4% of HCV, and 2.5% of HIV (Jamu et al, 2009). The risks may also include spread of resistant microorganisms from health establishments to the environment leading to serious situations like multiple drug resistance (MDR).

As there is growth in production of health care waste, this increases the potential of environmental pollution if the waste is not managed properly. Pollution can arise at various stages of the waste management chain. At present incineration is the most preferred method of treatment of clinical waste, however constant breakdowns in incinerators inhibits optimal treatment. Currently there are other treatment technologies such as autoclaving, shredding and others. Other challenges include lack of facility level guidelines, insufficient regulatory oversight, and poor public education about this form of waste and under budgeting for clinical waste.

The study will contribute to the review of the clinical waste management code of practice by providing information on the clinical waste management situation in Botswana and it will also suggest ways or recommendations on how to manage clinical waste comprehensively.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: Conduct a study to identify the strengths, weaknesses and the challenges encountered in managing clinical waste in health care facilities in Botswana, jointly conducted by the Ministry of Health and UNICEF.

Scope of work

The aim is to assess systems and processes of managing waste in all establishments generating clinical waste. These include government health facilities, including blood transfusion centers, medical research centers, medical laboratories and private facilities and institutions. Objective • Review available laws, policies and guidelines used to manage clinical waste. Assess capacity of disposal facilities for clinical waste • Assess available technologies for treatment of clinical waste • Understand the quantities of different types of clinical waste produced, including waste generated due to COVID-19 activities, in Botswana • Efficiency of collection systems for clinical waste • Identify challenges faced on management of clinical waste. • Determine the level of understanding of practitioners involved in generation of clinical waste. • Appreciate the availability of resources

The consultant will be based in Gaborone and is expected to be on-site at MoH and UNICEF during the data collection period. Visits to other Gaborone-based stakeholders during the data collection period may also be required. The consultant may be required to support field work outside Gaborone. Health services in Botswana are delivered through a network of hospitals, clinics, health posts and mobile clinics across all health districts and private health facilities. There are about 619 government health facilities and 77 private health facilities. To achieve a representative sample for this assessment, a proportionate sample will be picked from each district using purposive sampling technique. The consultant shall assist in determining the number of facilities to participate in the study.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:****Deliverables/Outputs:****Timeline****Payment Schedule % Qualitative data collection • Desk review of existing legislation/administrative instruments on clinical waste managementInception report with data collection toolsSeptember 202220%Quantitative data collection • WHO Healthcare waste management Rapid assessment tool adaptation • Training data collection teams on the adapted tool • Facilitate data collection in all 18 districts• Adapted and adopted data collection tool available • Trained data collectors • Training plan and data collection schedule availableOctober 202230%Data analysis, reporting, and dissemination• Short analysis reports in power point with summary findings and recommendations. • One in-person dissemination workshop organized and held. • Draft reportNovember 202240%Wrap up and closing of projectFinal approved reportDecember202210%Administrative Conditions

• The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor. Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.
• Consultant/Contractor will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/contractors and to share an applicable proof of health insurance covering medical evacuation (if travel is involved) prior to taking up the assignment.

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

• Advanced university degree in Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Environmental Law, Public health or related field.
• Minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in qualitative and quantitative research, ideally in health or another social sector.
• Experience in review and analysis of national environmental laws and knowledge of legislation and administrative frameworks for management of clinical and solid waste is desirable.
• Proficiency in data collection, processing and analytics, including Microsoft Word and Excel.
• Ability to deliver high-quality results and function effectively independently and within a partially remote team.
• Excellent oral and communication skills.
• Fluency in English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.