Individual Contractor - Specialized Consultant for Oxygen system scales up in the priority countries, Full - Time, 11.5 months, MENA Regional Office

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

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Consultancy title: Individual Contractor - Regional consultant for Oxygen system scales up in the priority countries

Duration: 11.5 months (250 days)

Duty Station: will be based in Amman with frequent travel to countries for country support

How can you make a difference?

As of week, 41 (10–16 October 2021), the countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have reported a total of 16,108,324 cases, which represent about 6.7% of the global count, with 296 398 associated deaths (CFR 1.8%). Since the beginning of the outbreak, the country that has reported the highest number of total cases in the Region is the Islamic Republic of Iran (5,773,419 cases; 35.8% of the Region’s total), followed by Iraq (2,033,737; 12.6%). The Islamic Republic of Iran also reported the highest number of total associated deaths (123,876; CFR 2.1%) followed by Pakistan (28,269; CFR 2.2%) and Tunisia (25 098; CFR 3.5%). The highest CFRs were reported by Yemen (18.9%) followed by Sudan (7.5%), while the lowest CFRs were reported by Qatar (0.26%), United Arab Emirates (0.29%), and Bahrain (0.5%) .

Oxygen therapy is recommended for all severe and critical COVID-19 patients. It is a life-saving intervention not only for Covid-19 treatment but also for MNCH services, several other medical conditions, critical medical and surgical care in addition to emergency health care. Setting up a system for oxygen therapy has recently gained momentum for Covid-19 treatment. If this system is supported and maintained, it can strengthen the health system required for MNCH and critical medical care. There are multiple partners like World Bank, WHO, PATH, USAID, and others who are either supporting or funding O2 therapy work in the countries. UNICEF is a new player in oxygen therapy system building. Due to greater field presence and close working relationships with MOH, expectations from UNICEF are high in some countries. To effectively support countries, we need to build our internal capacity on oxygen therapy system building with a multi-pronged approach and work beyond the procurement of oxygen concentrators to establish a functional oxygen therapy system.

MENA regional office conducted a quick assessment through its country offices to understand present oxygen therapy system status in the countries and how UNICEF is supporting respective MOH in the oxygen therapy to manage Covid-19 case management. This assessment was followed by a regional consultation workshop with countries of the region in September 2021. Key findings of the quick COs survey revealed that UNICEF

support for Oxygen therapy presently is mostly through the supply of oxygen concentrators, through a majority of the countries facing challenges for oxygen therapy for Covid-19 treatment and they either lack oxygen generation plant or have non-functional plants leading to the low production capacity of oxygen. Gap analysis for Oxygen therapy using the WHO/UNICEF/PATH tool has not been conducted in the countries. Oxygen therapy facility mapping is limited mostly to National and Sub-national levels only in a selected few country. More than 50 % of countries do not have a national Oxygen therapy task force, nor any Oxygen road map or strategy. RO has identified following priority countries for O2 System scale up based on present engagement, CO needs, MOH request and willing ness to work on health system strengthening :

1. Algeria

2. Tunisia

3. Sudan

4. Libya

5. Lebanon

6. Iraq

Scope of Work:

MENA regional office has formulated the following strategies for the gradual scale-up oxygen system scale-up looking beyond Covid-19:

1. Facilitate in establishing the country national O2 task force at MOH and develop National oxygen system scale up road map to steer the agenda with short term, medium-term and long-term goals
2. Rapid National level Oxygen system assessment using UNICEF global tool and mapping of health facilities with oxygen therapy facility with production capacity
3. Improving national forecasting of oxygen needs at referral hospitals levels and at the Primary Health Centers
4. Strengthening national oxygen production and distribution capacity in countries
5. An HSS approach to be followed in setting up an ecosystem for Oxygen therapy including in-country capacity building in the maintenance of the oxygen therapy devices and ensuring adequately trained human resources available to maintain the system
6. Prioritize Oxygen therapy work in the Annual Work Plan of UNICEF and MOH with appropriate funding and it should not be a pilot project, rather a program
7. Identify partnership for collaborative work, including private sector engagement
8. Built in a sustainability plan by working closely with MOH and private sector institution
9. Documentation and knowledge management and cross-country learning
10. Consultant will also support to represent UNICEF MENARO in Regional Inter-agency groups that may be set up as part of broader Alliance on this work.

To implement the above-mentioned strategies MENA would factor Oxygen therapy as a key activity in the annual work plan of health and nutrition for the year 2022 and onwards. MENA regional office would require technical assistance support through hiring an international consultant with biomedical engineering background to drive the agenda.

Key activities of the consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the oxygen system scale up in MENA countries with following objectives:

1. Conducting oxygen ecosystem mapping (nationally or for key regions) to increase access to medical oxygen across the health system at all levels; and
2. Facilitate in national O2 system scale up road map development
3. Planning the implementation required to supply medical oxygen in key regional hospitals maintaining quality assurance, regulatory compliance, and alignment with standard medical and industrial practices.
4. Supporting biomedical engineering needs at facilities (including oxygen infrastructure, oxygen sourcing, maintenance planning, etc.).

Followings are the broader scope of the work based on objectives:

1. Oxygen ecosystem mapping

2. Develop an assessment protocol that outlines assessment methodology, key data sources/informants and resource need (leverage existing tools such as the UNICEF OSPT).

3. Acquire and or develop necessary data collection tool formats (leverage existing tools from UNICEF Global Oxygen Team).
4. Coordinate data collection.
5. Verify data acquired through different mechanisms. Share data with UNICEF country and global teams for ongoing quantification work.
6. Baseline assessment including oxygen quantification (e.g., based on detailed analysis using UNICEF Oxygen System Planning Tool or similar).
7. Mapping of health facilities with oxygen therapy facilities
8. Map partners (GOs; UN, INGOs, private sector) that are relevant to the oxygen arena
9. Comprehensively map relevant programmes and partners that are relevant to oxygen systems implementation

10. Mapping of available HR

11. The scope of the Oxygen system roadmap development includes:

12. Coordinate national or subnational oxygen efforts on behalf of the country office. These efforts may include task forces or meetings and workshops.

13. Support drafting the strategy with input from CO leadership and global counterparts.

14. Support a series of reviews of the national strategy based on inputs from various stakeholders to produce a final version.

15. The scope of the implementation support includes:

16. Identify target geographical areas and facilities

17. Quantify the oxygen delivery systems and oxygen equipment needs and gaps in the targeted geographical areas and facilities
18. Select the planned oxygen sources.
19. Determine infrastructure modifications that would be required for utilization of the oxygen sources (e.g., vacuum insulated evaporators (VIEs), piping, building modifications for PSAs, electrical connections....).
20. Plan for operations and maintenance of oxygen sources.
21. Plan for distribution of oxygen throughout the catchment area (e.g., procurement requests, oxygen provisioning--cylinder filling or liquid oxygen delivery or PSA piped oxygen, transport, and payment plans).
22. Plan to manage/forecast the supplies needed for delivery of oxygen to patients.
23. Plan training for biomedical technicians.
24. Plan training health staff on updated oxygen treatment guidelines and monitoring/forecasting of oxygen needs.
25. Develop a costing plan for oxygen sourcing for the target geographical areas and facilities.

26. Plan for procuring the oxygen sources (e.g., contracting with liquid oxygen manufacturers, procurement of PSAs, ….).

27. The scope of biomedical technical support includes:

28. Provide technical oversight and quality assurance of the installation, testing & commissioning of medical oxygen (either PSA or liquid oxygen or cylinder or concentrator-based systems).

29. Review and finalize the detailed technical drawing, design and operational plan for oxygen systems including feasibility as per the proposal submitted by the executing agencies.
30. Provide oversight and technical support to the implementation site (health facilities) for the smooth operations, functioning and maintenance of the oxygen systems including LMO, PSA, or other and oversee the after sales services contract obligations.
31. Ensure quality assurance of the project through regular on-site supervision and quality assurance visits.

Expected Outputs or benefits from the project are:

Consultancy will support in setting up of Oxygen therapy system at all level of health care system in the countries along with a roadmap for implementation. Oxygen therapy system will support treatment of Covid-19 patients, in addition to MNCH, critical medical and surgical care including emergency services.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

Key tasks of the consultant

Considering above mentioned methodology of the documentation following are the key tasks:

1. Need assessment, analysis and budgeting to inform decision making
2. Development and implementation of national or subnational oxygen strategies/roadmaps/improvement plans
3. Development of structured country level oxygen procurement plans
4. Procurement, installations, and maintenance of oxygen equipment including PSA and LMO plants
5. Supply chain strengthening for oxygen systems
6. Guidance and tools for the programmatic implementation and strengthening of oxygen use for COVID-19 and in the context of maternal, newborn and child health
7. Capacity building for oxygen systems and oxygen use – engineers/technicians and/or health workers
8. Mapping of institution for setting up of a national capacity building center for Oxygen system
9. Develop O2 system dashboard with production, consumption capacity and GIS mapping of all o2 production sites

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

Consultancy Requirements:

Academic Requirements:

• University degree in biomedical engineering, mechanical, Electrical engineering, or related discipline. Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.
• Oxygen programming/public health consultants: Master’s in public health or relevant health care experience
• Additional qualification in logistics management or business management (MBA) would be of added value

Professional Experience:

•

Five years’ experience with in-country medical device management or public health that include assessment, planning and execution, installations, and maintenance

• Experience in oxygen systems is strongly desired, and broader public health experience will be considered.

• Experience in Maternal Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) programming is a desired asset.

• Hands-on experience in oxygen supply systems planning, procurement and implementations

• At least five experiences with in-country health systems services technical assistance, including for oxygen systems, ideally including low- and middle-income settings

• Understanding of different capacity building models including engaging in-country service providers and private sector

• Previous experience in working and supporting at policy level around assessment planning, medical equipment optimization

• Exposure to/experience in supply chain system strengthening is preferable

Other Skills and Qualifications:

• Computer literacy, MS Office Suite required

• Willingness to learn and use the UNICEF Oxygen Systems Planning Tool and be oriented on other UNICEF oxygen resources and tools

• Proven ability to analyze data and write reports that are of high quality.

• Excellent communication skills (both written and verbal) essential to liaise with a wide variety of people, good attention to detail.

Core Competencies:

• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed

• Able to work well in a team environment

Functional Competencies:

• Able to work independently and problem solving oriented

• Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships

• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills

• Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential, Fluency in spoken Arabic with or without written skills. Knowledge of French will also be an asset to work in the MENA countries.

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:

Travel is required, please refer to table below to help with providing a financial quotation

For individual contractors and consultants, all travel arrangements to commence the assignment, including insurance and visas, will be managed and paid by the individual. Therefore, expected travel costs must be included as a budget item in the financial proposal. Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization. However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

Travel cost shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC at http://icsc.un.org). The consultant must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

Payment Schedule:

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE: Monthly

UNICEF will pay a lump sum payment monthly, based on submitted progress reports. Workplan will be discussed and agreed upon with supervisor at the beginning of each month.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. CV or P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

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.

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/

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

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org