International consultancy to develop and implement appropriate Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management policies and mechanisms (deadline is extended till 16 Sep 2020

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 106,748 USD and 139,778 USD.

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This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

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For every child,

Background. Maternal and Child Health (MCH) remains a priority in Tajikistan's National Development and Health Sector policies and strategies including Tajikistan's commitment to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). Despite significant gains in the last decade, MCH outcomes in Tajikistan are worse than the average in Central Asia and Caucasus regions. Rates of malnutrition and micronutrient deficiencies are high. Preventable illnesses contribute to a considerable proportion of all child deaths in Tajikistan. Acute infections are the leading cause of death in the post-neonatal period. Acute respiratory illness (ARI), pneumonia, and acute diarrhea still account for more than half of reported child deaths within the first year of life, a pattern that has remained persistent over the last decade . Unsafe home deliveries are considered to be a major contributing factor to the high infant and maternal mortality rates in Tajikistan.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the MoHSPP to implement a Maternal and Child Health Integrated Care (MCHIC) Project within the purview of the National Health Strategy 2010-2020. The project aims at improving the health status and well-being of mothers and children in 3 districts (Shamsuddin Shohin, Rasht, and Fayzobod) focusing on the integrated MCH care delivery at both primary and secondary health care levels. The MCHIC project targets the following three outputs: (i) Integrated quality MCH services delivery improved in project districts; (ii) MCH services rationalized, upgraded, equipped and case-based payment system piloted in project targeted districts; and (iii) Knowledge on maternal and child health and health-seeking behavior improved through various communication activities implemented.

UNICEF through a recently signed agreement is providing technical support to the MOHSP for the actualization of outputs 1 and 3 of the project. A core component of the project being implemented with UNICEF technical support aims to improve the quality of health services to mothers and children at both primary and secondary levels of care through the establishment of Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) mechanism and institutionalization of MCH supportive supervision system. CQI can not be achieved without improving infection prevention and health care waste management. Within this context, UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office seeks to hire an international consultant to provide technical assistance to MOHSPP in the development and implementation of context-appropriate infection control and healthcare waste management policies and mechanisms for the ADB Maternal and Child Health Integrated Project in Tajikistan.

How can you make a difference?

OBJECTIVE: The main objective of the consultancy assignment is to support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population in development of context-appropriate infection control and healthcare waste management policies and mechanisms in line with the latest international standards. This includes the development of Standard Operations Procedures, guidelines, instructions and tools. The required technical support will include a review of the existing policies, standards, the assessment, and situation analysis on Infection Control practices and Healthcare Waste Management in selected health facilities of project districts, revision and updating of existing policies and the clinical practice guidelines, development the facility and district-specific plans and conduct training for national and regional trainers on the revised policies/tools.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT: The consultant will work in close cooperation with Program Administration Group (PAG) under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, experts of the national and districts center of Sanitary and Epidemiological Services (SES), the Republican Clinical Centre for Family Medicine and other relevant departments and centers of MOHSP to do the following:

1. Review the existing national regulatory, policies, guidelines, protocols and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management with particular focus on mother and child health care services;
2. Review the available IPC/HWM assessment / supportive supervision tools and choose/adapt ones that are most appropriate for external and self-assessments as well as supportive supervision for continuous IPC improvement process at the selected facilities of the project districts. Train the assessment team selected by the MoHSP and Oblast/District health authorities.
3. In conjunction with local experts facilitate/conduct an assessment of the PC/HWMÂ at the primary and secondary health care facilities the project districts;
4. Finalize the assessment findings and facilitate initial discussions of the results with each national, oblast and districts experts and at the assessed health facilities to develop IPC Facility Scorecards and plans to implement the recommendations of the assessments;
5. Based on the review and the assessment findings in close coordination with the national experts develop/revise and update the existing national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management;
6. Develop Supportive Supervision Operations Manual for project target districts and provide training and subsequent coaching for Infection Control subcommittees at all levels and district/oblast health managers to implement IPC/HWM standards.
7. Based on the revised policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards develop training modules and materials and conduct training for national and regional trainers.
8. Produce a final report, summarizing the process and outcomes of the assignment as well as a set of recommendations and follow-up actions;

KEY DELIVERABLES and PAYMENT SCHEDULE: 1.Review the existing national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management with particular focus on mother and child health care services. Inception report on conducted review the existing national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management (5 days); Deadline: September 2020.

2. Review the available IPC/HWM assessment / supportive supervision tools and choose/adapt ones that are most appropriate for external and self-assessments as well as supportive supervision for continuous IPC improvement process at the selected facilities of the project districts. Train the assessment team selected by the MoHSP and Oblast/District health authorities. Development of the external and self-assessments as well as supportive supervision tools for continuous IPC/HWM improvement process at the selected facilities of the project districts. Training of the assessment team (10 days); Deadline: September 2020.

3. In conjunction with local experts facilitate/conduct an assessment of the PC/HWM at the primary and secondary health care facilities the project districts. The assessment report on Infection Control and the Healthcare Waste Management in the piloted districts (15 days); Deadline: 15 October 2020

4. Develop/revise and update the existing national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management; The revised and updated national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management (20 days); Deadline: 30 November 2020.

5. To develop IPC Facility Scorecards and plans to implement the recommendations of the assessments. Development of a facility specific plan on IPC and HWM (5 days); Deadline: 10 December 2020.
6. To develop training modules and materials and leading to conduct ToT at the national level. Develop the training module on IPC/HWM and leading to conduct ToT training on IPC/HWM Â (10 days). Deadline: 25 December 2020.
7. Produce a final report, summarizing the process and outcomes of the assignment as well as a set of recommendations and follow-up actions. Final report with set of the recommendations (5 days); Deadline: 20 January 2021.

Note: Due to COVID 19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. Consultant need to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation. In addition, the contract duration may be factored potential delay due to travel restriction, thus project duration will be until 25th of April 2021.

Payment schedule:

• 1st instalment 30% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 1-3;
• 2nd instalment 30% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 4-5;

• 3rd instalment 40% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 6-7;

  Performance indicators for the evaluation of results: The evaluation of the results will be based on:

1. Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
2. Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders);
3. Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report);
4. Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant's work.

Estimated duration of contract and remuneration: The assignment will be carried out in 70 working days spread over a period ranging from September 2020 till April 25, 2021.

Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan with travel to the field.

On-location working days: Approx. 55 days. Off-location working days: Approx. 15 days

Travel involved: Consultant is expected to travel to Tajikistan. Travel plans to be pre-approved and agreed to by UNICEF Tajikistan. Travel paid for by UNICEF shall be 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). Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

Supervision: The consultant will work under the technical guidance of the Health Specialist responsible for MNCH programming, in close collaboration with the MCH Officer and WASH Specialist and with overall guidance provided by UNICEF Chief of Health and Nutrition. UNICEF will be responsible for arranging meetings with government counterparts and other stakeholders and for convening consultation events.

Reporting to**: Health Specialist, UNICEF Tajikistan

Insurances: UNICEF does not provide or arrange life or health insurance coverage for consultants and individual contractors, and consultants and individual contractors are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to United Nations staff members. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming all costs related to required inoculations, vaccinations and medical examinations. Consultants and individual contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate. The responsibility of UNICEF is limited solely to the payment of compensation for service-incurred death, injury or illness as per the provisions detailed below.

Recourse: UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Ethical considerations: Adequate measures should be taken to ensure that the process responds to quality and ethical requirements. The contracted consultant should be sensitive to beliefs, manners, and customs and act with integrity and honesty in their relationships with all stakeholders. It should also protect the anonymity and confidentiality of individual information.

Mandatory trainings: Consultants and individual contractors, regardless of contract duration, must complete the applicable mandatory trainings. The link will be provided during the selection process for the successful candidates.

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

• Education: Advanced university degree in the fields of Public Health and/or Health/Social Policy and has master's on Epidemiology with specialization on Infection control and/or Healthcare Waste Management or PhD Degree in health policy/health management or related areas.
• Expertise in development of adapting global standards and guidelines to developing countries context national strategies, health policy documents, national policies and guidelines, especially related to Infection Prevention and Control and the Healthcare Waste Management.Â
• Work Experience: Minimum 10 years of practical experience: in the field of planning and implementation of the health sector assessments; strategic planning and capacity building (mandatory); Recent experience (within the past 5 years) in the development projects with Infection control and a medical waste management aspects in countries with transition economies and experience of working with top-management of national ministries and local authorities would be an advantage;
• Relevant technical expertise and consultancy experiences with international/UN organization in the field of epidemiological safety (including assessment in accordance with WHO guidelines) and health system strengthening. Extensive experience in CIS countries is an asset.
• Competencies: Strong analytical and conceptual thinking. Excellent writing skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills with stakeholders and the ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to a tight timeframe.
• Language: Fluency in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian and/or Tajik is an asset.

EVALUATION PROCESS: Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application/CV.
2. A technical proposal with proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks.
3. Financial quote for the consultancy in USD per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate in USD.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.
5. At least 2 References

Queries can be sent to: tad-procurement@unicef.org with subject line "International consultancy to develop and implement appropriate Infection Prevention and Control and Healthcare Waste Management policies and mechanisms". Applications must be received by the 26 August 2020 on our website: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php.

Travel costs and DSA will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations. No other remunerations apply. The office retains the right to adopt assessment methodology including but not limited to interview or a small assignment. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible cost.

Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

During the selection, the ratio between the technical evaluation and commercial offer is 80 to 20.

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis methodology. The award of the Contract shall be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and b) Having received the highest score out of a weighted set of technical and financial criteria.

* Technical Criteria weight - 80%; * Financial Criteria weight -20%;

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 80 points)

80%

80

Overall Response (20 points)

Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response

10

Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal

10

Proposed Methodology and Approach (20 points)

Quality of proposed approach/methodology

10

Quality of proposed work plan

10

Technical Capacity (40 points)

Advanced university degree in the fields of Public Health, and/or has master’s on Epidemiology with specialization on Infection control and/or Healthcare Waste Management or PhD Degree in  health policy/health management, or any related fields.

8

Minimum 10 years of practical experience: in the field of planning and implementation of the health sector assessments; strategic planning and capacity building; Recent experience (within the past 5 years) in the development projects with Infection control and a medical waste management aspects in countries with transition economies and experience of working with top-management of national ministries;

9

Strong knowledge of maternal and child health, health system strengthening, health policy design, and reform. Familiarity with a rights-based approach, gender and disability mainstreaming and institutional strengthening concepts

8

Strong analytical and conceptual thinking. Excellent writing skills. Excellent communication and presentation skills with stakeholders and the ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to a tight timeframe

8

Fluency in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian and / or Tajik is an asset

7

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 30 points) (daily rate, lump sum, per deliverable, Economy Air Ticket)

20%

20

TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Only candidates obtaining a minimum of 64 points in Technical Criteria evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Proposal. Please provide a rate all-inclusive price (in US dollars) for delivery of professional services in accordance with the assignments described under this TOR.

The formula for the rating of the Financial Proposals will be as follows:

FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

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.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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