International Consultant - Technical assistant on Long Term Care

Purpose of consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert technical assistance and support the work of the WHO team in Ukraine. In its collaboration with the MoSP and other development partners to develop a national deinstitutionalisation strategy for Ukraine. The scope of work covers evidence generation, synthesis and analysis in support of policy reforms, technical guidance, promoting the transition of people supported in residential care settings towards home- and community-based care solutions. Recognizing that strong community-based care is a precondition for preventing institutionalization and facilitating deinstitutionalization of people with disabilities and care needs of all ages, the national strategy should emphasize the development of community-based support structures across the health and social protection systems, and with consideration of other complementary sectors like education, employment and housing.

Background

According to the State Statistical Service of Ukraine, 2.7 million persons with disabilities (including 160’000 children) were registered in Ukraine as of 1 January 2020, which amounts to approximately 6% of the population. Out of 136,300 persons who registered their disability for the first time in 2019, 44% were women. Actual numbers are likely to be much closer to the international disability prevalence rate of 16%. Further, recent data suggests that there are 8.9 million people over the age of 60 in Ukraine, which accounts for 25% of the total population. Prior to the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine had one of the highest rates of institutionalization in the world. War in this country has intensified some of the leading drivers for family separation and institutionalization: poverty, disability, and conflict. Ukraine has passed a range of legal acts for basic social protection and rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and in 2010 ratified the CRPD and its Optional Protocols. However meaningful implementation for all persons with disabilities in Ukraine is still pending. In 2021, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the Decree "On Ensuring the Creation of a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine", the National Barrier-Free Strategy, the Plan of Measures to Overcome Barriers were adopted, and the Barrier-Free Environment Council under the Cabinet of Ministers was established. Recently the GoU developed an Action Plan for 2023-2024 to implement the National Strategy for Creating a Barrier-Free Environment in Ukraine. The Strategy reiterates that Ukraine is committed to promote the participation of persons with disabilities in public life including the transition from institutional to community-based care. Although positive steps have been made, concerns remain, particularly among Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs). Ukraine continues to apply medical and charitable approaches to persons with disabilities and those with chronic health conditions, rather than the human rights-based approach of creating favourable conditions to the enjoyment of all human rights on an equal basis. Physical, legal, informational, communicational, attitudinal barriers and financial hardship limit access to social services and healthcare as well as an effective legal remedy for the human rights violations they experience. Since the ongoing war in Ukraine escalated in February 2022, challenges to claiming basic rights have become significantly more pronounced across all oblasts of Ukraine, but particularly so, in southern, eastern, and central Ukraine. For children and adults (including older people) with disabilities in institutional settings and those living alone or with only one other family member, the ability to survive and meet basic needs has been grossly hindered. Access to health services for persons with disabilities, including older people, particularly in conflict affected areas, has been negatively impacted. The 2023 Multi Sector Needs Analysis (MSNA) demonstrates that HHs with disabilities in eastern and southern oblasts are 10% and 20% less likely to access health services than HHs without persons with disabilities respectively. Further, HHs with disabilities, including older people cited inability to afford healthcare at a 6 % higher rate than those without. For the IDP population, poor healthcare access for persons with disabilities was the main factor driving the ‘Health Vulnerability Score ‘. Outdated health and social system frameworks and low government expenditure on LTC have challenged the ability of key ministries, such as the Ministry of Social Policy (MoSP) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) to deliver needs-based services, keeping older people and people with disabilities safe and at home as long as possible and mobilizing an empowered competent workforce. The rapidly growing demand for LTC and the low prestige and attractiveness of the sector have only exacerbated matters. WHO support to the MoSP Ukraine, to address the needs of the rapidly ageing population, increase of chronic conditions and new injuries and the impact of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in LTC settings is urgent. Most specifically, WHO in partnership with the MoSP seeks to align with the WHO European Framework for action to achieve the highest attainable standard of health for persons with disabilities 2022–2030, which include ensuring access to community based long term care options. To this end, WHO will recruit an international technical assistant on long-term care and deinstitutionalization, to increase capacity for direct technical support. The technical assistant will work under the coordination of the Rehabilitation and Disability Inclusion Unit Lead and with guidance from a senior expert on long-term care reform processes in the European Union (to be recruited internationally).

Deliverables

Deliverable # 1 – Detailed Project implementation plan and outline of evidence review strategy on ‘Deinstitutionalization and strengthening the integrated delivery of care in the community in Ukraine”.

Deliverable #2 – Develop evidence brief (technical report) based on international experiences with community-based care development in Europe, selected for their potential to be transferred, with adaptation to the Ukrainian context.

Deliverable # 3 – Report on drafting of competencies and safety guidance for LTC workforce to be jointly defined with MoSP.

Deliverable # 4 – Short report on national situation assessment of community-based care resources in Ukraine.

Deliverable # 5 – Report on recommendations for national deinstitutionalisation strategy in Ukraine, detailing key actions on health and social care delivery, priority areas for future work and scope of cross-sectoral interventions.

Deliverable # 6 One interim and one final short report summarizing progress on building capacity for generating and analysing evidence in support of LTC policy planning and implementation at MoSP and other relevant national stakeholders, identifying priority areas for training, further technical support and knowledge exchange at regional level.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Required: Bachelor degree in public health, Management, Social Science, Economics or related discipline. Desirable: Master’s degree in public health, Management, Social Science, Economics or related discipline.

Experience

▪ At least 7 years of combined national and international experience in long-term care in the WHO European Region; ▪ Experience with evidence-based public health approaches with long term care and/or deinstitutionalization ▪ Proven track-record on providing policy advice to national/ regional authorities and carrying out comparative long-term care system analyses ▪ Proven track record of producing high quality analytical products on deinstitutionalization, community-based care and long term care, especially as they relate to policy analysis at country and global levels; ▪ Previous collaboration (including consultancies) with WHO, other UN agencies and International agencies is desirable; ▪ Previous experience in engaging with key stakeholders and carrying evidence-based, decision-making processes is desirable.

Skills/Knowledge:

▪ Thorough knowledge of European Union processes, documents and guidance to support strengthening of long term care systems. ▪ Good understanding of main prospects and challenges related to strengthening long term care at national and European levels. ▪ Experience of working with ministries of social policy and other country level stakeholders, as well as with multilateral organizations and NGOs. ▪ Excellent analytical and writing skills and ability to synthesize knowledge and effectively express ideas in writing; ▪ Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary settings and excellent inter-personal skills.

Languages and level required :

Required: written and spoken fluency in English Desirable: working knowledge of Ukrainian or Russian is an advantage

Location

Remote work with short missions into Ukraine.

Travel

The consultant is expected to travel to Kyiv and possibly other areas of Ukraine, following discussion with WHO Unit Lead

Remuneration and budget:

Payband level B, Monthly rate – 9,450 USD All travel arrangements will be made by WHO as per WHO travel policy Expected duration of contract: 7 months with possibility of extension

Additional Information:

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. • Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. • A written test may be used as a form of screening. • If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO 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 through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. • For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. • The WHO is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. The WHO recruits workforce regardless of disability status, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, language, race, marital status, religious, cultural, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, or any other personal characteristics. The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs. Persons with disabilities can request reasonable accommodations to enable participation in the recruitment process. Requests for reasonable accommodation should be sent through an email to [email protected] • An impeccable record for integrity and professional ethical standards is essential. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter (https://www.who.int/about/who-we-are/our-values) into practice. • WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates. • WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. • Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. • WHO shall have no responsibility for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO. • Please note that WHO’s contracts are conditional on members of the workforce confirming that they are vaccinated as required by WHO before undertaking a WHO assignment, except where a medical condition does not allow such vaccination, as certified by the WHO Staff Health and Wellbeing Services (SHW). The successful candidate will be asked to provide relevant evidence related to this condition. A copy of the updated vaccination card must be shared with WHO medical service in the medical clearance process. Please note that certain countries require proof of specific vaccinations for entry or exit. For example, official proof /certification of yellow fever vaccination is required to enter many countries. Country-specific vaccine recommendations can be found on the WHO international travel and Staff Health and Wellbeing website. For vaccination-related queries please directly contact SHW directly at [email protected]. • In case the recruitment website does not display properly, please retry by: (i) checking that you have the latest version of the browser installed (Chrome, Edge or Firefox); (ii) clearing your browser history and opening the site in a new browser (not a new tab within the same browser); or (iii) retry accessing the website using Mozilla Firefox browser or using another device. Click the link for detailed guidance on completing job applications: Instructions for candidates.