National Consultant: Project Coordinator, Health Care Waste Management Project

Note to the Applicants: This is a readvertisement of VN 2200038. Those who have already applied to VN 2200038 may not apply again.

Purpose of consultancy

The consultant is expected to coordinate the infrastructure and installation component of the Health Care Waste Management Project under Canada Grant to WHO in close collaboration with relevant departments of Ministry of Health.

Background

Health care waste poses risks to human health when managed inappropriately. Recognizing the need of health care waste in the country, the Ministry of Health Maldives has endorsed a National Health Care Waste Management Policy in 2016 and a National Health Care Waste Management Strategic Action Plan 2016-2021 with a vision to ensure waste generated in the health sector is managed without adverse effects on human health and environment in an integrated manner that is environmentally and economically sustainable. Undoubtedly, the covid19 pandemic has further exacerbated the challenges to manage the medical waste in the country due to the limited capacity in the health system to address this challenge of managing health care waste.

Waste generated by health care includes a broad range of materials, from swabs infected with COVID-19 to used needles and syringes, soiled dressings, body parts, other diagnostic samples, blood, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, medical devices and radioactive materials. Poor management of health care waste potentially exposes health care workers, waste handlers, patients and the community at large to infection, toxic effects and injuries, and risks polluting the environment. According to WHO estimates between 10-25% of health care waste is regarded as ‘hazardous’ and may pose a variety of health and environmental risks. The waste produced in the course of health care activities carries a higher potential for infection and injury than any other type of waste. Thus, it is essential that all health care waste materials are segregated at the point of generation, appropriately treated and disposed of safely.

The main purpose of the project is to provide a safe and environmentally sustainable way to manage health care waste generated at health facilities including COVID-19 hospital quarantine and isolation facilities and intensive care units through green technology. Through this project, it is targeted to procure 40 autoclaves to cover 10 atolls of the country, and this will support the government and WHO’s effort to mobilize autoclaves to cover all the facilities of the island nation. Waste management will be targeted at these key sites and the roll out will be conducted in close partnership with the health facilities and island councils as per the National waste management guidelines of the country.

Objectives and Deliverables

• Conduct needs assessment for the health care facilities selected for the project with MOH and project staff including
  • Infrastructure requirements,
  • Electricity requirements
  • Training requirements,
  • Waste equipment (capacity)/waste consumables requirements,
  • Other necessary information
• Ensure completion of infrastructure component and installation of autoclaves in the selected sites
• Closely coordinate with the relevant departments of MOH/HPA and WHO to facilitate implementation of the project as per the project timelines and targets
• Preparation of any technical drawings and BOQ of the project in close consultation with MOH team
• Arrange and facilitate necessary trainings with global, regional and local experts as required as per the training needs identified in the situation assessment
• Coordinate with relevant government agencies if and when required.
• Closely communicate/coordinate with regional/atoll and island health center focal points, to make necessary arrangements for the implementation of the project
• Travel to islands as and when needed for assessments, installations, and monitoring of progress
• Ensure report writing/documentation of all the project related works and timely submission to the WHO

Deliverables

• Submission of the situational assessment reports
• Completion of trainings on autoclave and shredders operation, handling, and maintenance
• Installation of autoclaves and shredders completed in all the sites
• Monthly progress reports on completion of autoclave and shredders installation sites in the selected health facilities

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Bachelor’s degree in engineering/ public health/health sciences/ project management field

Desirable: Master’s degree/PhD in engineering/ health sciences/ public health/ project management field. Experience in project management would be an added advantage

Experience

Essential: At least 2-3 years of previous experience in project management and program coordination will be an added advantage

Desirable: Work experience in Maldives and/or other developing countries in the Asian Region. Experience in working with UN agencies.

Skills/Knowledge:

Essential:

• Ability to coordinate projects programs
• Ability to plan, prioritize and deliver variety of tasks on time
• Ability to carry out the tasks independently with self-confidence
• Confident in presenting to a high-level audience
• Strong interpersonal skills and co-ordinational skills
• Computer literate and strong layout skills and incredible typography skills
• Good communication skills in both Dhivehi and English
• Ability to work within given time period and deliver work on time with outstanding quality

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Advanced):

Essential: Expert knowledge of Dhivehi and English

Location

On site: Ministry of Health – Male’, Maldives

Travel

Travel is required to all the field sites to conduct situational assessments, installation and monitoring as needed during the project implementation phase

Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

• Remuneration: MVR 20,000 per month
• Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited): NA
• Expected duration of contract: 6 months (From 1 August 2022 to 31 January 2023)

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.
• WHO is committed to workforce diversity.
• WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women are encouraged.
• 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 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 final candidates.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.
• WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever 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 in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.
• This assignment is subject to local recruitment and will be filled by persons recruited in the local commuting area of the duty station/assignment location.