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Title of Assignment: Individual
Contractor for Infection Prevention and Control Specialist (IPC)
Type of the Consultancy: Individual Contractor
Category of the Consultancy: National
Proposed level of Consultancy: Middle Level
Section: WASH Section
Location: Kigali, Rwanda
Duration: 6 months
Background
The COVID-19 pandemic has been global since early 2020. While a vaccine is anticipated in 2021, the global pandemic will continue for the foreseeable future. UNICEF has been providing WASH support to the government’s infection prevention and control (IPC) efforts for EVD preparedness starting in 2018 and quickly adapted to support COVID response and prep in 2020. To continue WASH/IPC technical support in 2021, in line with the National COVID-19 Response and Preparedness Plan, UNICEF will support the Ministry of Health (MOH) by providing an expert WASH/IPC consultant.
Justification
The Ministry of Health leads the IPC Pillar of the Rwanda COVID response and preparedness efforts. From September 2018 to October 2020, UNICEF provided a full time WASH/IPC expert to the Ministry to bolster capacity to manage the efforts. This consultancy will continue to augment MOH capacity on WASH/IPC to enable successful efforts to continue.
Objectives
The WASH/IPC Consultant will represent the MOH Environmental Health Specialist, who leads IPC for the Ministry, in the COVID-19 Command Center. The consultant will work closely with MOH Environmental Health and UNICEF WASH colleagues to provide technical knowledge in ensuring adequate WASH services and practices to enable COVID-19 IPC including assessment, design, planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance. As feasible, all efforts in health facilities will be to strengthen overall WASH/IPC and Standard Precautions – which serves as the foundation of public health outbreak management. The consultant will also contribute to design and implementation of the RCCE interventions with focus on hygiene and sanitation promotion, Under the overall coordination of the Risk Communication and Community pillar of the national COVID-19 response.
Work Assignment
Under the direct supervision of the Environmental Health Specialist, the contractor will be contributing to project assessment, design, planning, implementation, monitoring and quality assurance of WASH/IPC activities in health facilities, schools and communities as well as contributing to reporting, including teamwork and capacity building of national and district counterparts.
Expected Deliverables:
•Provide technical support to the MOH Rwanda at the National, Provincial and District levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the WASH / IPC projects.
•Develop WASH / IPC guidance and SOPs related to COVID-19 and any other infectious virus including healthcare Associated Infections (HAIs)
•Develop and review of IPC training materials for identified target group.
•Support the MOH and RBC in decontamination activities of any COVID-19 contaminated objects and places (public and private) such as health facilities, schools, markets, worship places, households, … communities.
•Provide technical inputs and quality assurance to the rehabilitation/installation of water supply systems and permanent hand washing infrastructures in selected healthcare facilities and educational establishments countrywide.
•Represent the Environmental Health Specialist and participate with UNICEF and other partners in the development of WASH / IPC methodologies and identification of new approaches for improving IPC delivery measures, with emphasis on advocacy and social mobilization;
•Plan, organize and conduct WASH/IPC training and orientation activities for public and private health and no-health care staff, for the purpose of capacity building at the central, provincial and district levels, on IPC practices;
•Participate in establishing effective information and reporting systems;
•Under coordination of the COVID-19 response RCCE pillar contribute to the development of communication strategies and materials to support advocacy and community engagement interventions with focus on hygiene promotion. s.
•Contribute to WASH / IPC programme related M&E activities to track progress and evaluate results as well as working on methodology for baseline studies, monitoring tools, technical assessments for WASH infrastructures and hygiene practices at health facilities, schools and community levels;
•Undertakes field visits, and surveys in order to monitor and evaluate WASH / IPC activities, identifying problems and proposes remedial actions as well as alternative courses of action, to accelerate/improve project delivery.
•Coordinates with Operations / Supply staff on supply and non- supply assistance activities.
•Support IPC related policy and strategies development and review;
•Report on IPC interventions progress on monthly basis and a consolidated one each quarter.
General Conditions: Procedures & Logistics:
The contractor will work in primarily in the National COVID-19 Command Center and also other locations in Rwanda requested by MOH. If MOH or UNICEF request the contractor to travel outside of Kigali City, UNICEF will provide transportation and per diem at government rates.
The contractor will be supervised by the Environmental Health Specialist on a daily basis and in close coordination and overall supervision by the UNICEF WASH Specialist.
The contractor will use her/his own computer. The contractor will be paid an agreed monthly fee including communication costs. The monthly payment will be subject to approval of a monthly report by the MoH authorized person and UNICEF.
Evaluation Criteria:
The Technical proposal is weighted at 70% and 30% for the Financial proposal. Only candidates passing the technical evaluation will be invited to submit a financial proposal.
Applicants will be assessed on the following areas of experience:
– Providing IPC/WASH technical expertise during public health outbreaks;
– Supporting government to strengthen systems and service delivery (especially monitoring through government systems);
– Developing strategies, guidelines and training materials; and delivering training;
– Communication skills (oral and written);
– Working in Rwanda on public health outbreaks
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
- Advanced university degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Environmental health, Public health, Infection Prevention and Control or a discipline relevant to public health emergency IPC. A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 5 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
- Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication) is an asset.
Work Experience:
- 5 years of progressively responsible professional work experience of in the area of IPC/WASH including programme planning, management, monitoring and evaluation.
- Field work experience
- Experience with public health emergencies (preparedness and response)
- Development and delivery of training, guidance, protocols on IPC/WASH
- A good understanding of communication for social and behaviour change with focus on hygiene and sanitation promotion is an asset
- Experience within the UN, Rwanda government institutions or other international development organizations is a strong asset.
- Advanced Technical Knowledge (theories, principles and methods) of IPC and Standard Precautions activities; WASH in Health Facilities, Schools and communities, Monitoring and evaluation;
Language Proficiency
- Native in Kinyarwanda
- Fluency in English or French required.
General knowledge of:
- Methodology of programme/project management;
- Programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies for sectoral programmes;
- Knowledge of global environmental issues that pertain to sustainable development and specifically relating to children and women, and the current Government of Rwanda and UNICEF position and approaches;
- Knowledge of global human rights and gender issues, specifically relating to children and women;
- MOH and UNICEF’ financial, supply and administrative rules and regulations;
- Rights-based and results-based management approaches to UNICEF programming;
How to Apply:
UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
Interested candidates should send their complete a CV/resume or Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy. The application package should be submitted to UNICEF’s online recruitment system.
Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest. In their letter of interest, candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment and the attributes that make them suitable for the assignment.
Only successful candidates from the technical evaluation exercise will be contacted and requested to submit their most competitive Financial Proposal.
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.
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:
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.
Advertised: 30 Nov 2020 South Africa Standard Time
Deadline: 13 Dec 2020 South Africa Standard Time
