Re-advert: International consultancy-Assessment of HCWs` knowledge, skills and adaptive behaviours related to pollution and climate adaptation within the framework of HEHC and development re

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, health

People across the world are faced with a wide and diverse range of risks such as infectious disease outbreaks, natural hazards, conflicts, unsafe food and water, chemical and radiation incidents, building collapses, transport incidents, lack of water and power supply, air pollution, antimicrobial resistance, the effects of climate change, and other sources of risks.

Global warming has increased the frequency and intensity of extreme heat waves across the world. According to the Lancet Countdown Report, from 2000 to 2021, global populations were exposed to an average increase in summer temperatures two times higher than the global mean. Climate-related events and environmental hazards also place greater pressure on healthcare systems.

Primary healthcare (PHC) services are one of the most critical components of health systems in the country that contribute to obtaining universal health coverage (UHC). These in turn, influence the health and productivity of healthcare workers (HCWs), as well as the accessibility, functionality, and security of healthcare systems. Doctors, nurses, and other related health professionals are directly accountable for the delivery of healthcare and the safety of patients, whereas medical assistants, technicians, and waste handlers are indirectly responsible. PHC is a community-wide approach whose purpose is to attain the maximum degree of health, equitable distribution of resources, and respond to the needs of all community members, eventually improving health.

HCWs are impacted globally by work-related and physical stress, as well as mental exhaustion, when coping with disasters and health issues caused by climate change and environmental factors in various healthcare contexts. The management of the risks is vital to protect people’s health, to ensure local, national, and global health security and to attain UHC.

Efforts to achieve sustainable, healthy, and safe working conditions in the health sector are thus important to both improving patient and community well-being and for reducing the risks to workers engaged in health care-related activities. Raising awareness, training, and empowering health workers are critical needs for strengthening the responsiveness of PHC to the health impact of pollution and changing climate on children.

How can you make a difference?

The objective of this assignment is to support UNICEF CO in conducting a rapid qualitative assessment at PHC facilities to evaluate HCWsknowledge, skills and adaptive behaviours related to pollution and climate adaptation within the framework of HEHC. Based on the assessment outcomes, existing gaps will be outlined, needs, expectations and thoughts, recommendations regarding training and practice quality will be identified. Consequently, relevant trainings will be adapted and proceed for HCWs at PHC facilities using WHO training modules on Childrens Environmental Health.

Scope of Work:

A qualitative assessment including in-depth and semi-structured interviews will be conducted with HCWs who are experienced in dealing with climate change disasters and environmental health issues at PHC facilities. Interviews will enable participants to reflect their perceptions on relevant capabilities, practices, safety, preparedness, and learning. Consequently, analysis of the results will identify themes, subthemes that will allow to prioritize HCWs needs on staff awareness, training, education, and other capacity-building insights.

The assessment will be conducted in three phases:

Phase 1: Desk review of literature on the HEHC pillars on pollution and climate adaptation.

Phase 2: Rapid Field Assessment at PHC facilities in selected areas conducting interviews with HCWs to evaluate their current knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to two components of HEHC, on pollution and climate adaptation practices.

Phase 3: Analysis of data and development of recommendations on strengthening the responsiveness of primary care to the health impact of pollution and changing climate adaptation.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline:

1. Conduct desk review related to the assessment, develop methodology of the assessment, and identify tools, data sources, facilities and persons to be included in the assessment.

Inception report outlining the data sources for desk review, methodology of the rapid assessment, tools and data sources for the assessment, selection of facilities and timelines for field data collection

By mid-July

(5 days)

2. In-country visit for meetings with key stakeholders and field work of the assessment, data collection (12 days)

In-country visit: kick-off meetings with key stakeholders and field work of the assessment

By mid-August

(12 days)

3. Development of assessment report

Draft assessment report

By mid-September

(10 days)

4. Finalization of the report based on feedback and comments from UNICEF and government stakeholders.

Final report with recommendations

End October

(5 days)

The services will be directly supervised by the Health and Nutrition Specialist of UNICEF Azerbaijan with the overall supervision of the Deputy Representative.

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

• A master’s degree or higher in a relevant field such as environmental science, public health, climate change, or medicine.
• Specialized knowledge in areas related to pollution, climate change, and health.
• Strong expertise in assessment methodologies, tools, survey design, and data analysis techniques and interpretation of findings
• Minimum 5 years of experience in similar assessments and evaluation of healthcare workers knowledge and behaviours, and conducting of assessments in healthcare settings
• Excellent communication skills to interact with healthcare workers, gather information, and present findings effectively.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret survey responses and identify key themes and trends.
• Familiarity with relevant software tools for data analysis and presentation.
• Experience in working with developmental partners, including UN, and governmental partners.
• Excellent English communication and writing skills.
• Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

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.

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.