National consultancy to provide technical assistance to MOHSPP in the development and implementation of context-appropriate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Healthcare Waste Manage

Consultant Entry Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Contract

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This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 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,

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, Maternal and Child Health (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.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (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.

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.

Within this context, UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office seeks to hire a national 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 the development of context-appropriate infection control and healthcare waste management policies and mechanisms in line with the latest international standards. The required technical support will include a review of the existing policies, standards, assessment, and situation analysis on Infection Prevention and Control practices (IPC) and Healthcare Waste Management (HWM) in selected health facilities of project districts.

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

The consultant will work in close cooperation with 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:

1. Provide technical inputs and assist the international consultant for the review and development/updating of existing national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on IPC and HWM;
2. Provide technical inputs and support to the international consultant for the development, testing and finalization of the assessment tools and IPC Facility Scorecards and facilitate/conduct an assessment of the PC/HWM at the primary and secondary health care facilities in the ADB project districts;
3. Provide technical support and inputs to the international consultant for the development, testing and finalization of the training package and support/facilitate training for national and regional trainers under guidance of the international consultant; Follow up on the cascade training conducted by the national trainers;
4. Facilitate discussion with district health managers and provide technical support for the establishment of IC sub-committees in health facilities;
5. Support international consultant for the development of the monitoring framework of the IC measures; Facilitate a discussion with the relevant stakeholders (MOHSPP, SES, HMIS, oblast and district health managers, IC committees) to finalize the monitoring framework;
6. Provide translation and editing of the relevant documents delivered under this ToR task as required for the review to the international consultant and submission to MoHSP (English- Tajik and/or Russian).

KEY DELIVERABLES and PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

1. Collect relevant existing national regulatory policies, guidelines, protocols and standards on IPC and HWM with particular focus on mother and child health care services and share with international IPC consultant (5 days); Deadline: September 2020

• List and evidence of IPC regulatory documents shared with international consultant;
• Translations of the documents into English are provided as required.

2. Provide technical input and assist the international consultant for the development and updating of existing national regulatory policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on IPC and HWM;

Support in organizing and facilitate a round table discussion with the national and international partners on the revised national regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on IPC and HWM; (15 days); Deadline: October 2020.

• List of the revised regulatory environment, policies, guidelines, protocols, SOPs, and standards on IPC and HWM shared and discussed with the relevant MOHSPP experts;
• Agenda, List of participants and minutes of the round table discussion

3. Provide technical inputs and assistance to international IPC consultant for the development, testing, and finalization of the assessment tools and IPC Facility Scorecards; Facilitate training of assessment teams on the assessment tools; (15 days); Deadline: 5 November 2020.

• The developed assessment tools and IPC Facility Scorecards translated, tested in the field and /adapted as necessary;
• The list of the assessment team is identified and approved;
• Agenda and List of participants for the training of the assessment team.

4. Provide technical input and support to an international consultant to facilitate/conduct of the assessment of the PC/HWM at the primary and secondary health care facilities in the ADB project districts;

Facilitate discussion with the district and hospital health managers on the fundings of the assessment and development of the district/facility-specific plans (15 days); Deadline: 30 November 2020.

• Monitoring report of the data collection process;
• Agenda, List of participants and minutes of the round table discussion

5. Provide technical support and inputs to the international consultant for the development, testing and finalization of the training package and support/facilitate training for national and regional trainers under guidance of the international consultant;

Follow up on the cascade training conducted by the national trainers (20 days); Deadline: 30 January 2021.

• Minutes of the technical discussion on the training package;
• List of the training materials translated/edited and shared with MOHSPP;
• Agenda and LOP of the TOT and plan for the cascade training at district level;
• Monitoring report of district training conducted by national trainers;

6. Facilitate discussion with district health managers and provide technical support for the establishment of IC sub-committees in health facilities (15 days). Deadline: 17 February 2021.

• Minutes of the technical discussions;
• List of the of IC sub-committees in health facilities

7. Support international consultant for the development of the monitoring framework of the IC measures;

Facilitate a discussion with the relevant stakeholders (MOHSPP, SES, HMIS, oblast and district health managers, IC committees) to finalize the monitoring framework (15 days); Deadline: 10 March 2021.

• Minutes of the technical discussions on the draft of the monitoring framework.

8. Provide translation and editing of the relevant documents delivered under this ToR task as required for the review to the international consultant and submission to MoHSP (English- Tajik and/or Russian; big documents will be translated by the professional translator); (20 days); Deadline: Regularly.
9. Produce a final report, summarizing the process and outcomes of the assignment as well as a set of recommendations and follow-up actions. (10 days); Deadline: 30 May 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.

Payment schedule:

• 1st instalment 30% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 1-2;
• 2nd instalment 30% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 3-4;
• 3rd instalment 30% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverables 5-7;
• 4th instalment 10% - upon completion and UNICEF approval of the deliverable 8.

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 130 working days spread over a period ranging from September 2020 till 30 May 2021.

Location: Dushanbe, Tajikistan with travel to the field.

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 a master's in Epidemiology with specialization on Infection control and/or Healthcare Waste Management or PhD Degree in health policy/health management or related areas.
• Work Experience: Minimum 5 years of practical experience: in the field of Infection control and a health waste management aspects in-country and experience of working with top-management of national ministries and local authorities would be an advantage; Experience in designing and conducting assessments;
• Relevant technical expertise and consultancy experiences with international/UN organizations in the field of epidemiological safety (including assessment in accordance with WHO guidelines) and health system strengthening.
• 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 and Tajik languages (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian is an advantage

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 TJS per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate in TJS.
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 "National consultancy to provide technical assistance to MOHSPP in development and implementation of context appropriate Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Healthcare Waste Management (HWM)". Applications must be received by the 17 September 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. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the best value for money's 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 5 years of practical experience: in the field of Infection control and a health waste management aspect in country and experience of working with top-management of national ministries and local authorities would be an advantage; Experience in designing and conducting assessments;

9

Consultancy experiences with international/UN organization in the field of epidemiological safety (including assessment in accordance with WHO guidelines) and health system strengthening;

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 and Tajik languages (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian is an advantage.

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 TJS) 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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org