Consultancy to provide technical support to countries to scale up WASH services in HCFs through WASHFIT training. Req

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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

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

Section/Division/Duty Station: WASH - Programme Group /NYHQ

Duration: 1 August 2023 - 31 December 2023 – Remote/Home based****.

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. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The provision of WASH services is essential to protecting human health during disease outbreaks and during health visits at health care facilities (HCFs), and in all settings. Good WASH in HCF’s helps prevent Health Acquired Infections and reduces the risk of Antimicrobial Resistance which all translate into cost savings in the provision of health care. Hand hygiene is one of the most effective measures to stop transmission of infections. Critical supplies such as soap, hand-sanitizers, disinfectants, masks and personal protection equipment (PPE) are all essential in the containing the spread of infections.

In HCFs with limited WASH services, the burden of infectious disease means that WASH 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. In some communities, the lack of WASH services inhibits people from attending HCFs, especially expectant mothers who are afraid to go to HCFs without WASH services to give birth.

Despite this, the WHO/ UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme shows that 1 in 5 healthcare facilities (HCFs) lack basic water services, 1 in 2 lack basic hand hygiene services, and 1 in 10 lack toilets. Many HCFs lack basic environmental cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of health care waste. In the least developed countries, the problem is even greater: half of HCFs lack basic water services. Furthermore, the extent of the problem remains hidden because major gaps in data persist, especially on environmental cleaning. Inadequate WASH conditions not only undermine initiatives aimed at improving maternal and infant child health but the overall quality care. Based on lessons learnt from COVID-19 pandemic, WASH services in HCFs, so often taken for granted, are needed more than ever to protect patients and health workers.

These data mean that greater investments must be made to improve WASH services in HCFs to mitigate impacts of pandemics and epidemics. For this to happen, capacities must be created within responsible government institutions. There are already existing tools and resources to help strengthen capacities of governments and other partners, and amongst UNICEF staff. For instance, in collaboration with WHO, UNICEF developed the WASHFIT tool to help government and partners make incremental improvements and scale up WASH in HCFs. For the past few years, UNICEF has been supporting countries to build capacities of staff and governments to undertake WASHFIT implementation reaching over 40 countries. Since then, there has been unprecedented increase in demand from countries for WASHFIT implementation and so UNICEF intends to continue to build capacities of governments, partners and UNICEF staff to apply tool in HCFs and provide technical support on the Eight Practical Steps to scale up WASH services in HCFs.

UNICEF now seeks a consultant to continue to support the WASH section at HQ to provide technical support to countries on WASHFIT training and implementation in ASWA 11 countries (Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria. Mozambique, Somalia, Tanzania) as well as support on the Eight Practical Steps. The consultant is expected to provide support to ESARO and WCARO - based on demand and needs. The consultant will also collate learning and experiences on WASHFIT implementation and in coordination with WHO and support countries to report implementation of the tool and the Eight Practical Steps to universal WASH access in HCFs in ASWA 11 countries in ESARO and WCARO.

Scope of Work:

The consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Liaison with UNICEF WASH HQ colleagues, and where necessary and as agreed with UNICEF regional and country offices on WASHFIT training and support on the Eight Practical Steps.
• Conduct of training sessions on WASHFIT implementation for government partners and other stakeholders as well as UNICEF staff ASWA 11 countries.
• Webinar sessions to share experiences on WASHFIT application in focus countries.
• Provision of technical support to countries on WASHFIT and the Eight practical Steps through the Helpdesk.
• Maintenance of the monitoring platform on SharePoint to monitor, track and disseminate information on implementation of WASHFIT by participating countries.
• Summarize lessons learnt and best practices on WASHFIT implementation from participating countries.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables/Deadlines

1. Five training sessions on WASHFIT implementation - By 31 Dec 2023

2. Three webinar sessions to share best practices and lessons learnt on WASHFIT application - By 31 Dec 2023

3. Two coaching sessions on WASHFIT and Eight Practical Steps - By 31 Dec 2023

4. Two update reports on inputs to the SharePoint. By 31 Dec 2023

5. One report summarizing lessons learnt and best practices on WASHFIT implementation. By 31 Dec 2023

6. One consultancy report. By 31 Dec 2023

Qualifications

(1) Education

Inter Disciplines, Master's Degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Engineering, Social Sciences or related field.

(2) Work experience

• At least five years’ experience in implementing WASH and or WASH in health care facilities programmes essential.
• At least seven years of experience in public health issues in developing countries, at middle- level management
• Prior experience working for the United Nations an added advantage

(3) Competencies

• Demonstrated knowledge of WASHFIT and Covid-19 responses in healthcare facilities
• 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.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system
• Upload copy of academic credentials

• Financial proposal that will include:

• Costs for each deliverable and total all-inclusive (lump sum) fees for the whole assignment.

• 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 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:

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.