National consultant to provide coordination and technical guidance on the vaccine-related waste management within the ongoing vaccination campaign against COVID-19, Kyiv, Ukraine

Contract

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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,

Ukraine, as many other parts of the world, has been severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ukraine reported its first case of COVID-19 on 29 February 2020, and since then as of 31 May 2021, 2202494 cases and 50 536 deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in Ukraine.

The world is responding to the situation through the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, the global collaboration on accelerating the development, production of, and equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and therapeutics for COVID-19. Within the ACT Accelerator the Gavi, CEPI, and WHO, together with multinational and developing country vaccine manufacturers, have established the COVAX Facility, aiming to accelerate equitable access to successful COVID-19 vaccines to immunize 20% of the population of participating countries. Within COVAX Facility, UNICEF is responsible to provide technical support to the COVID-19 vaccine’s logistics and supply, cold chain equipment (CCE), vaccine-related waste management as well as to support vaccine demand generation efforts in the country.

During the COVID-19 vaccination campaign, vaccination points and mobile teams produce a huge amount of waste. It has been estimated that 800 tons of waste will be produced during the vaccination campaign in Ukraine by solely COVID vaccination campaign; while there is only one incinerator in a medical facility in Ukraine licensed to eliminate medical waste. Waste generated by healthcare facilities is considered to be the most hazardous, as it carries risks of chemical, toxic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic effects on the human body, injuries, and infections. Inadequate and inappropriate management of medical waste can have serious consequences for public health, both through direct impact and through negative effects on the environment. Thus, the rational and safe handling, transportation and disposal of medical waste are important components of occupational safety, infection control, and a safe environment.

UNICEF Ukraine is seeking a national consultant is needed to support this area of work.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the MoH and PHC (Public Health Centre) in:

• Developing relevant guidelines, recommendations, and standard operating procedures on waste management in Ukraine related to COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ukraine
• National coordinating of partners involved in the area of waste management in Ukraine at the national, regional and local levels including coordination between the MOH, the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Protection (MOEEP), Regional authorities and UN agencies.

Scope of work:

Under the general guidance of the UNICEF Country Office, Regional Office, Supply Division, WHO and the MOH, the consultant will:

• Reviewing relevant recommendations, regulations, and standard operating procedures (SOP) on waste management as relevant to support vaccination campaign against COVID-19 and their further coordination and communication with national, regional, and local authorities and partners
• Providing recommendations on data collection and analysis on waste management, as well as its further communication of the developed recommendations to the to the MOH and other stakeholders on how to improve the situation
• Participating in relevant meetings, workshops to coordinate relevant information with partners and donors, as well as to advocate for needed changes in the health care system especially as it relates to the activities aimed to support regional state administration’s effort and the ongoing decentralization process in the country
• Develop the final report with technical recommendations.

Deliverables:

Deliverables outlined below, to be due on the following timeline

• Relevant guidelines and recommendations on waste management related to COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ukraine developed by UNICEF are reviewed and recommendations are submitted to UNICEF in MS Word format in Ukrainian by 01/11/2021
• Relevant standard operating procedures on waste management related to COVID-19 vaccination campaign in Ukraine developed by UNICEF are reviewed and recommendations are submitted to UNICEF in MS Word format in Ukrainian by 01/01/2022
• Recommendations on how to improve waste management is prepared in Ukrainian language and submitted to UNICEF and other relevant partners including the MOH, the MOEEP, and UN agencies in MS Word and PowerPoint Presentation as relevant by 30/07/2022
• Final consultancy report with technical recommendations is prepared in MS Word Document and submitted to UNICEF by 07/08/2022

At the beginning of the assignment, the consultant is expected to produce and agree with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health on a detailed work plan schedules for the assignment period.

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

Education: Bachelor's degree in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Immunization, EPI, Health Sciences, medical and/or vaccine waste management or related to vaccine logistics and waste management operations in UNICEF program areas.

Professional experience: Minimum 5 years progressively responsible managerial work experience on the vaccine and/or infection control and medical waste management. Work experience in the area of vaccine/medical waste management. Work experience with governments, working in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management and mitigation will be an asset. Knowledge of WHO/UNICEF recommended medical waste management practices is required. Knowledge of WHO/UNICEF recommended vaccine management practices and vaccine management assessment tools will be an asset. Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills.

Language: English - Intermediate [B1]; Ukrainian - Proficiant/Native [C2]; Russian - Advanced [C1]

Skills and competencies: Product knowledge of database for vaccine and/or medical waste management and understanding of the principles of vaccine management and reporting are essential. Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice will be an asset.

Working with People – II lvl.

Drive for results – II lvl.

Technical skills

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 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.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Please fill in the form properly and indicate your daily fee, travel lump sum, and total fee to complete the assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.