Consultant - Strengthening Climate Change, the Environment and Health Adaptation for Fiji

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Area of Expertise

Strengthening Climate Change, the Environment and Health Adaptation for Fiji

Purpose of the Consultancy

In collaboration with the Pacific Climate Change and Environment (PCE) Unit at the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) office and Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) with line Ministries of transport, energy, housing and agriculture as well as involvement of private sectors, the consultant will provide technical support in the;

• evaluation Fiji’s National Guidance for Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Facilities and its application in the climate hazard and vulnerability assessment of health care facilities nationwide; and

• identification of lessons learned and good practices as well as improvement for climate resilient health systems.

Background

The Pacific small island developing states (SIDS) constitute some of the most vulnerable in the world to the impacts of climate change. Recent disasters have revealed the actual vulnerabilities of Pacific SIDS. In Fiji, Tropical Cyclone Ana and Tropical Cyclone Yasa impacted Fiji within barely a month of each other.

In 2021-2022, WHO DPS (PCE) had organized a meeting among major stakeholders in Fiji to discuss plans in building health systems which are resilient to climate change. One of the areas of the support is to expand further the work on climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities (CRESHCFs) in Fiji.

The Fiji CRESHCF guidance, developed and later launched in 2021, focuses on four fundamental aspects namely:

(1) Health workforce: Skilled human resources in HCFs with decent working conditions, empowered and informed to respond to these environmental challenges.

(2) Water, sanitation, health care wastes (WASH and waste management): HCFs need sustainable water, sanitation and health care waste services;

(3) Energy: Sustainable energy services is important; and

(4) Infrastructure and technology: Appropriate infrastructure and technologies, including all the operations that allow for the efficient functioning of the health care facility

In the first stages of implementation, a Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessment of Healthcare Facilities was conducted in the four Divisions of Fiji namely Central, Eastern, Western and Northern. This exercise generated a list of prioritised facilities so support for improvements are targeted and well justified. The next phase is to determine whether the healthcare facility is Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable as per the Fiji CRESHCF’s guidance.

To date, a few prioritised facilities have been improved with support from WHO DPS such as, installation of solar system and the distribution of needed WASH supplies in a few HCFs.

Further, there is a need to evaluate the application of the Fiji CRESHCF, identify the most vulnerable HCFs to the impacts of climate change and document lessons learned and good practices. Therefore, this consultancy is an important work to take account and evaluate what has been undertaken in Fiji and to map any future considerations in the use of such tools.

Overall, the results from this evaluation could be useful to other PIC countries in planning their own CRESHCF guidelines and in the conduct of vulnerability assessments of HCFs.

Planned timelines

Start date: 15/10/2023

End date: 29/02/2024

The consultant will be engaged for 55 working days within the dates mentioned above.

Note: As contract and deliverable schedules will be until next biennium (2024-2025), there will be two contracts issued to the consultant.

Work to be performed

Method(s) to carry out the activity

Under the supervision of the Team Coordinator of the WHO DPS/PCE, the consultant will conduct the assignment both remotely and in-country. He/she will engage with WHO staff/consultants and Fijian counterparts thru email, virtual meetings and interviews, both virtual and in-person.

The activities are detailed below, and the selected consultant will perform other duties as assigned by supervisor.

1. To prepare an Excel Gantt chart with schedule of activities covering the tasks to be undertaken .

2. To evaluate Fiji’s National Guidance for Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Facilities (CRESHCF) and its application in the climate hazard and vulnerability assessment (CHVA) of health care facilities nationwide.

3. To analyze and utilize information and data from the reports of the Climate Hazard and Vulnerability Assessments undertaken in the four divisions of Fiji.

4. To conduct interviews and meetings with key stakeholders mainly from the MHMS.

5. To identify lessons learned and good practices as well as improvement for climate resilient health systems.

6. To provide recommendations whether to revise or upgrade the Fiji CRESHCF based on the CHVA application and stakeholders’ inputs or retain the status quo.

Outputs and deliverables:

Output 1: Develop an Excel Gantt chart with activities and schedule

Deliverable 1: Excel Gantt Chart expected by 30 October 2023

Output 2: Fiji’s National Guidance for Climate Resilient and Environmentally Sustainable Healthcare Facilities (CRESHCF) and its application in the climate hazard and vulnerability assessment (CHVA) of health care facilities is evaluated.

Deliverable 2: Draft Evaluation Report expected by 30 December 2023

Output 3: Identify lessons learned and good practices as well as improvement for climate resilient health systems.

Deliverable 3: Lessons learned and Final Evaluation Report expected by 29 February 2024

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications required:

Essential: Advanced degree (Master’s) in public health, environmental health, environmental engineering or related field.

Desirable: PhD in public health, environmental health, environmental engineering or related field from a reputable university.

Experience required:

Essential: 8-10 years' work experience and advanced knowledge of climate change and health impacts and adaptation in the context of Pacific Island countries or small island developing states; experience in undertaking evaluation/review of national policies, plans, guidance, or guidelines required; and work experience in the WHO Western Pacific Region including Pacific Island countries or Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is desirable.

Desirable: Work experience in the WHO Western Pacific Region including Pacific Island countries or Small Island Developing States (SIDS).

Skills /Technical skills and knowledge:

Specific technical knowledge on undertaking evaluation/review of national policies/plans/guidance/guidelines; strong analytical skills and general knowledge of health sector stakeholders, climate change adaptation and mitigation planning and implementation.

Language requirements:

Expert level of written and spoken English is required.

Location

The consultant will be undertaking this work at home office and in Fiji to engage with WHO staff/consultants and Fijian counterparts as well as to conduct interviews and assessments.

Medical clearance

The consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel

This consultancy will be undertaken both remotely and onsite the duration and places to be determined later. The consultant is expected to travel to Fiji dependent on travel restrictions related to COVID-19.

Remuneration (Schedule)

Signing of contract 0% -15 October 2023

Submission of Deliverable 1 - 25% 30 October 2023

Submission of Deliverable 2 - 25% 31 December 2023

Submission of Deliverable 3 - 50% 29 February 2024

Note: As contract and deliverable schedules will be until next biennium (2024-2025), there will be two contracts issued to the consultant.

Additional Information

This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.

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