National Consultancy : Health Emergency Consultant

Contract

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.

And we never give up.

For every child, Care...

In March 2022, the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Malawi announced a Cholera Outbreak in Nsanje District, located in the Southern part of Malawi. The index case originated from Mozambique which eventually evolved into local transmission. To date, a total of 4,420 cholera cases have been registered in 2 districts including 128 deaths (case fatality rate 2.9%), have been reported.

The outbreak remains active in the following districts of Nsanje, Chikwawa, Mwanza, Neno, Phalombe, Mulanje Zomba, Blantyre, Machinga, Balaka, Ntcheu, Lilongwe, Salima, Nkhotakota, Kasungu, Mzimba North, Nkhata Bay, Rumphi, Karonga, and Chitipa. In the last 14 days, 20 districts have continuously been reporting cholera cases. Within 24 hours of 12 October 2022, a total of 69 new cases were reported with two new deaths. There are significant threats for the spread of the disease in the remaining districts.

Inadequate containment measures at health facility, community, and householed level remainis the main challenge in most districts due to multiple disasters the same health workers have to manage. Specifically, poor hygiene practices such as open defecation are being practiced especially along the lake shore of Nkhotakota and Nkhata Bay due to limited latrines and collapsible soils. Cholera treatment units have challenges in maintaining effective infection prevention and control including crowd control.

How can you make a difference?

Support national and district efforts towards the cholera response through technical assistance at the national or sub-national level. Under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s Health Emergency Specialist, the consultant will perform, within the framework of UNICEF and policy documents, the following:

1. Conduct joint project monitoring and supportive supervision to cholera affected districts as per the Project Monitoring Visit (PMV) Plan and as needed.

2. During PMVs, participate in district coordination meetings for health emergency preparedness and response; actively coordinate UNICEF-supported activities with districts, WHO and other partners engaged in cholera preparedness and response activities.

3. Participate in health coordination and working group meetings and engage with key partners to promptly deploy in those districts newly affected, increase the effectiveness and efficiency of cholera activities; share relevant updates to ensure the effective application of relevant Health in Emergency programming and tools.

4. In collaboration with other partners (WHO, UNHCR, MRCS,MSF ), support districts with effective planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on Infection Prevention and Control (clinical, community and prevention activities).

5. Support districts with planning, pre-positioning, distribution and monitoring of health and WASH emergency supplies in the target districts.

6. Conduct user monitoring of cholera supplies and check availability/stocking levels of cholera supplies at district and facility level.

7. Support the dissemination of technical and operational guidance for emergency preparedness and response activities.

8. Support districts to prepare the necessary supporting documentation to access UNICEF support; ensure appropriate use of UNICEF resources and timely reporting.

9. Prepare weekly progress updates on emergency preparedness and response activities in the prescribed format.

10. Provide inputs to rapid needs assessments, humanitarian performance planning, immediate needs and other Malawi Country Office documents relating to the cholera response.

11. Provide inputs to the weekly Situation Analysis Reports and other related regular and ad-hoc surveillance reports.

12. Undertake regular field supervision visits to assess and evaluate the cholera response and surveillance activities in the affected districts, identify gaps and recommend corrective actions based on Key Performance indicators KPIs.

13. Conduct infection control training for health workers at cholera treatment centers.

14. Perform any other incident-specific related consultancy services as required by the contract supervisor.

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

• Academic qualification:

  Essential:

  • University degree in medicine, nursing, epidemiology or statistics, or public health from an accredited/recognized institute.

  Desirable:

  • Advanced university degree in public health, post graduate certification in public health, tropical medicine, data base management or health related training in communicable diseases.

  Work experience:

  Essential:

  • At least five (5) years related experience at the national or international level in the implementation of cholera outbreak or health emergency response.
  • Experience working with government agencies, local authorities, international organizations, NGOs and communities in the environment of cholera emergency response in health care facilities and Cholera treatment units to a large extent and community response to a lesser extent
  • A minimum of 2 years of experience working or collaboration with either the UN and/or NGO

  Desirable:

  • Prior working experience at field level with MOH, other UN agencies, health cluster partners, NGOs or recognized humanitarian organizations with expertise in disaster and outbreak response
  • Knowledge of WASH/Infection Prevention Control protocols will be an asset
  • Strong facilitation and coordination skills, including participatory group discussion;
  • Strong interpersonal, teamwork, and self-management skills, as well as mature judgment
  • Ability to perform under pressure while maintaining a sense of humor

  Technical skills, knowledge and strength areas:

  • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in public health fieldwork, controlling outbreaks of communicable diseases with focus on cholera and/or other diarrheal diseases
  • Good knowledge on Infection prevention and control within health facilities or cholera treatment units
  • Familiarity with Health programmes in Malawi or similar countries in the region is an advantage
  • Strong coordination and collaborative abilities within the health sector and across other sectors especially WASH sector.
  • Ability to review and structure stand operating procedures (SOPs) under WASH/Infection Prevention and Control
  • Strong sense of team spirit, diplomacy
  • Good interpersonal skills, ability to build and maintain partnerships across government and NGOs, ability to work in multi-cultural settings and culturally sensitive communities.
  • Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions
  • Ability to work under stressful conditions and flexible approach in undertaking the assignment within a rapidly changing environment.
  • Essential knowledge of Microsoft Office applications, working knowledge of online data collection applications, statistical analysis packages (SPSS, Stat etc.)
  • Commitment to the UNICEF’s values and guiding principles

  Language:

  • Fluency in English – both excellent written and verbal skills are required

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference Terms of Reference for Cholera Health Emergency Consultant.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa and other costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
4. References details

Remarks:

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

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.