Sustainability Consultant (Oxygen Plant-in-a-box)

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, Hope…

Scope of Work:
UNICEF procured 140 PSA plants (UNICEF solution Plant-in-a-Box, “PiB”) and is in the process of installing them in more than 40 countries. Around 65 plants have been commissioned to date. The purpose of this consultancy position is to:

• Provide project management support to UNICEF COs and in-country partners related to the sustainability of the PSA Plants and ensure the package of information has been provided and guidance has been disseminated. Provide support and follow-up with COs to develop and implement a plan for PSA plants management and sustainability.
• Provide support to the Technical Specialist to ensure the package of information is accessible, relevant and user-friendly.

The contract will have a duration of 11.5 months, from ~mid-January 2025 to end of December 2025. Most of the work is in Africa, hence, preferred location of applicant is Africa, but any other location can be considered.

How can you make a difference?

Deliverables/Outputs and Delivery deadline

Deliverable 1

• Work assignment: Support dissemination of sustainability guidance document package to COs and in-country partners.
• Organize and facilitate meetings and other activities to disseminate the guidance tool package to COs and in-country partners. Monitor the follow up actions by updating the tracker
  Output: Organize specific country meetings with COs with – Agenda, Minutes and Follow up of action points to move forward
  Delivery Deadline – Ongoing: 4 country specific sustainability meetings / month, online or in person.

Deliverable 2

• Work assignment: Assessment of the gaps in country. Provide reports per country with list of gaps, recommendations, relation to the tools/products/projects UNICEF can provide, other partners/agency presence, scope of support for UNICEF
• Output: Produce assessment report from the sustainability template with supportive documentation associated
• Delivery Deadline: Ongoing: 1 assessment report / country / month

Deliverable 3

• Work assignment: Guide COs and in-country partners to prepare the country plan on sustainability of the PiB.
  Promote template documents to countries.
  Support in-country partners in preparing their plans and update tracker.
• Output: Produce activity report for the development plan with supportive documentation associated
• Delivery Deadline: Ongoing: 1 activity report / month

Deliverable 4.

• Work assignment: Provide regular feedback on experience and lessons learned to the Technical Specialists. Propose Action Plan to improve the efficiency, user-friendliness and accessibility of the sustainability framework.
• Participate in a quarterly management meeting about progress and revision of the sustainability framework.
• Output: Produce activity report with suggestions and recommendations.
• Delivery deadline: Ongoing: 1 activity report / month.

Deliverable 5

• Work assignment: Perform field visits to priority countries/sites to:
  – Assess the management of PiB
  – Provide guidance on developing a sustainability plan
  – Provide training to COs
  – Initiate preparation of the sustainability plan with MoH and/or in-country partners
  – Develop and suggest an action plan for MoH and/or in-country partners
  – Meet with Local Service Provider to evaluate opportunities beyond 2 years
• Output: Provide report against the Term of Reference for the visit.
• Delivery deadline: Ongoing: 6 visits to different countries during the period, each 10 days approximately.

International travel
• 6 international travels of average of 10 days during the contract, in Africa mainly.
• 1 visit to Copenhagen of 1 week.
• 6 to 7 international flight ticket 1 field visit every 2 months

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

University degree in medical sciences, public health, biomedical or system engineering, business administration, international relations or related discipline. Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.

Professional experience.
• Experience within oxygen eco-system is desirable.
• At least ten (10) years of experience with in-country health systems services technical assistance, including for oxygen.
• Experience with health-related construction works, and/or supply chain specifically PSA plant rooms is an added advantage.
• Experience with project management is a strong asset
• Understanding of different capacity building models including engaging in-country service providers and private sector.
• Understanding of funds, public finance systems and other financing models is considered an asset.
• Familiarity and experience of working with UN/UNICEF and LMICs is considered a strong asset.

Other skills and qualifications.
• High level of academic technical writing expertise.
• High level of analytical skills and attention to detail.
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite, more specifically Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive
• Knowledge of the environment in which UNICEF operates (i.e., global health sector).
• Excellent communicator of verbal and written concepts to an international audience.
• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed.
• Able to work well in a team environment.

Functional Competencies.
• Able to work independently and analytic thinking.
• Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills.
• Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills, sharing information among the team and partner.

Language Requirements.
• Fluency in English is required; French is a strong asset. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
1. Cover letter/application
2. Financial quote for the consultancy which must include: the total consultancy fee (broken down into deliverable rate in US Dollars and number of consultancy days), travel costs. The fees should be inclusive of all taxes.
3. At least 3 reference contacts from previous supervisors
5. Additionally provided samples of previous work in past roles will be considered an asset (such as publications, dashboards)

Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report (for clarification see Guidance)

1. Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)
2. Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

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.