National Consultancy to strengthen Water, Sanitation and Hygiene capacities with a focus on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Healthcare Facilities (Amazonas))

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For every child, opportunity

In healthcare facilities (HCFs) and communities where water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services are lacking, it is not possible to ensure adequate key infection, prevention and control (IPC) practices and precautions, such as hand hygiene, one of the most cost-effective measures to stop the chain of transmission of infections. Access to basic WASH services in health facilities is an essential requirement to address quality of care, infection prevention and control; there is also a growing need for emergency preparedness, epidemic management and climate change resilience.

Since 2019, UNICEF WASH in Venezuela has supported healthcare facilities (both primary and secondary level of care) to improve their access to WASH services and practices; this implementation has been cross-sectoral to the Health and Nutrition section, monitoring its results to ensure that in the critical points of mother and child care and in the nutritional recovery spaces there are at least basic WASH services that benefit boys and girls, pregnant and breast-feeding mothers and infants (MEL), caregivers, health personnel (at all levels of care) and community members. A crucial activity in the comprehensive implementation of WASH-IPC in HCFs has been the constitution or reactivation of Hospital IPC Commissions, expanding them to also integrate crucial health personnel who operate or maintain WASH services (cleaning, maintenance and/or general services personnel, clinical and/or health engineering) and community.

The WHO and UNICEF Joint Monitoring Program (JMP) shows that around half of the world’s health facilities lack basic hygiene services with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizers at the point of care to patients and in the bathrooms of these centers. The report also shows that only 53% of healthcare facilities have access to a protected source of water and, of the countries with available data, 1 in 10 healthcare facilities in the world had no sanitation service. Also, many healthcare facilities lack protocols for basic cleaning and safe segregation and disposal of healthcare waste.

These data highlight the need to continue investing in the improve of WASH services in HCF to mitigate the impacts not only of pandemics and epidemics but also the day to day IPC. For this to happen, capacity must be created within the responsible government institutions. In collaboration with WHO, UNICEF developed the WASHFIT tool (now version 2) to help the government and its partners make incremental improvements and scale up WASH in HCF. Over the past few years, UNICEF has been supporting countries to build staff and government capacity to carry out WASHFIT implementation in more than 50 countries.

UNICEF Venezuela is now seeking one (01) consultant to continue the support to the WASH&CEED section in Amazonas state to provide technical support on WASH-IPC capacity building and implementation follow-up in prioritized HCF. This consultant is expected to provide support to all prioritized regions, based on demand, but also on planning and needs. This consultant will also collect learnings and experiences on implementation and, in coordination with the central office and direct supervisor.

How can you make a difference?

Consultancy aim:

The purpose of the consultancy will be to contribute in IPC in health facilities (Hospitals and primary care network) through technical assistance and capacity building in essential water, hygiene and sanitation (support to the management of health facilities, specifically, the multidisciplinary WASH-IPC commissions), strengthen risk communication and community participation. This consultancy would complement the actions in Health, rehabilitation of facilities, provision of supplies, among others that are ongoing, which will allow each healthcare facility to manage access to key WASH-IPC services and practices.

Interventions

UNICEF’s WASH&CEED section requires the support of one (01) WASH-IPC technical consultant to ensure equitable delivery of high-quality services and practices to 10 Healthcare facilities in Amazonas state. The national WASH&CEED team as well as the WASH&CEED field team will provide the necessary support. The continuous coordination meetings with the WASH-IPC commissions and the staff and authorities of each facility developed within the framework of the consultancy will facilitate continuous and adequate communication with UNICEF.

The consultant shall develop the following activities and procedures

• Support the constitution or reactivation of the WASH IPC commission in health facilities.
• Develop and implement a capacity strengthening plan for authorities and main WASH IPC actors of health facilities, including the WASH IPC commission of each health facility.
• With the WASH-IPC commission, identify key concerns, bottlenecks and barriers related to IPC practices and cleaning and disinfection services in healthcare facilities.
• Facilitate the implementation of WASH FIT/IPC strategies and methodologies in health facilities.
• Facilitate the identification of gaps in the provision of WASH services
• Prepare field reports, technical documents, recommendations and transition or exit strategies (as appropriate) and action plans based on lessons learned from the response.
• Contribute to ensure that establishment staff know and/or update and apply relevant guidelines (e.g. disinfection and cleaning protocols, IPC regulations, etc.), relevant technical norms and standards (WHO standards for IPC, WASH FIT, Sphere standards, etc.) and that WASH sector actors are in line with existing technical guidance.
• Ensure collaborative monitoring with health facilities of WASH interventions and progress against implementation plans, with disaggregated indicators for the adequacy of WASH services in terms of quantity, quality, coverage, etc. and access of vulnerable groups, prioritizing the use of the WASH FIT and CHECKLIST PCI KOBOs and other pre-existing initiatives in the HCF.
• Prepare documentation, systematization and timely exchange of information, and collection of lessons learned about WASH activities, in prioritized health facilities.
• Contribute to the reporting of WASH sector results through systematization and provision of consolidated updated information.
• Coordinate with other actors present in health facilities in prioritized areas to avoid duplication.

Working conditions

• Consultancy is in person, with most of the work time based in prioritized health facilities.
• Travel to prioritized health facilities is required, at the frequency established in the work schedule.
• The consultant will attend face-to-face meetings at UNICEF offices when required.
• Periodic visits to health facilities under the consultant’s coverage area are required according to the established schedule.
• Travel expenses are the responsibility of the consultant, so they must be included in their financial proposal.
• The consultant will not have an assigned office working space, but may have space to meetings at UNICEF offices, which must be requested in advance.
• The consultants must have their own work instruments necessary to develop the consultancy.
• The consultant must have current health insurance that covers the entire consulting period.

Responsibilities

• Deliver high quality products
• Delivery within the planned deadline agreed together with the Field Office WASH Officer
• Deliver 100% of the products.
• Respect and abide by UNICEF procedures
• Presentation of the products
• Ensure attendance and participation in meetings assigned by the WASH Officer of the Field office he supervises or, failing that, by the head of the Section if the presence of the consultant is required.
• Maintain transparency and confidentiality.
• Ensure close communication and coordination with the WASH&CEED Officer of the supervising Field office.
• Inform the WASH Officer of the supervising field office or the WASH&CEED section national focal point of any situation that makes compliance with the agreed activity plan difficult.

Criteria for final evaluation

• Deliver high quality products
• Delivery within the planned deadline agreed together with the Field Office WASH Officer
• Deliver 100% of the products.
• Respect and abide by UNICEF procedures
• Presentation of the products
• Ensure attendance and participation in meetings assigned by the WASH Officer of the Field office he supervises or, failing that, by the head of the Section if the presence of the consultant is required.
• Maintain transparency and confidentiality.
• Ensure close communication and coordination with the WASH&CEED Officer of the supervising Field office.
• Inform the WASH Officer of the supervising field office or the WASH&CEED section head of any situation that makes compliance with the agreed activity plan difficult.

This consultancy is based on humanitarian foundations and principles,

• Humanity: Established priorities focused on core commitments for children (CCC)
• Impartiality: any boy or girl who needs health services has equitable access.
• Neutrality and transparency.
• Independence and objectivity.

Evaluation Criteria

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)

The technical evaluation of the candidates will be done according to the criteria and weighting:

• Academic background: First university degree (5 points) in medicine, nursery, engineering, public health, or other health related field and Advanced university degree (5 points) in public health, Epidemiology, Infectious diseases, Paediatrics, Neonatology, Obstetrics, or Sanitary Engineering (10 points)
• Professional experience: minimum of three (3) years of relevant experience at the health-related field (15 points)
• Experience with developing capacity building activities or training materials and/or delivering associated learning opportunities and platforms: Especially those involving WASH and/or Infection, Prevention and control in healthcare facilities (25 points)
• Technical interview: based on technical topics on WASH IPC in Healthcare facilities and case-type situations from the health care setting.

(25 points)

B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

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

• Advanced university degree in Public health, Epidemiology, Infectious diseases, Pediatrics’, Neonatology, Obstetrics, or Sanitary Engineering.
• A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience at the health-related field.
• Experience with developing training materials and delivering associated learning opportunities and platforms.
• At least 2 years of proven experience in the implementation of WASH-IPC strategies in HCFs.
• Experience developing training materials for Water, sanitation and hygiene, public health or health topics and fostering active groups.
• Experience working in humanitarian Organizations, Civil Society Organizations or Public Sector in WASH-IPC related fields.
• Indispensable Technical and economic proposal (detailed professional fees for each product/hour) based on the TOR and including the following activities and travel Plan:

Travel Plan

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.

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