UNDP Jobs - 53225- National Consultant to Install, Maintain, Troubles

National Consultant to Install, Maintain, Troubleshot Autoclaves, and Train in Health Care Waste Management for the Ebola Virus

Location :

Freetown, SIERRA LEONE

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

12-Feb-2015

Application Deadline :

08-Feb-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

National Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Five months part time (average of 11 days of work per month)

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

Five(5) months

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Sierra Leone is highly vulnerable to various natural and man-made disasters such as floods, landslides, epidemics (cholera and ebola), storms, erosion, fire and water pollution. In addition, climate change is expected to increase the magnitude and severity of disasters. Sierra Leone’s vulnerability is linked partly to its geographical specificities, as well as to socio-economic and environmental exacerbating factors. The Cholera outbreak in 2012 and more specifically the Ebola crisis in 2014 resulted in a large number of deaths, put severe pressure on the health sector, and impacted on recent development gains.

UNDP supports national authorities to develop capacities in improving their capacity to manage and treat healthcare waste resulting from the care for Ebola infected patients, using environmentally safe solutions.

A major component of the project will deal with reducing the likelihood of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) transmission by improving the capacity of countries and healthcare facilities (hospitals, Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs), Health Care Facilities (HCFs) to manage and treat Ebola infected waste. The project is also expected to provide sustainable long-term ability for these countries’ health sectors to implement healthcare waste treatment strategies for key health programmes such as those focusing on HIV, TB, Hepatitis B and C and other infectious diseases.

UNDP intends to recruit a National Consultant to:

Learn how to and be responsible for installing, maintaining and troubleshooting autoclaves;
Ensure that local technicians uses the autoclaves;
Train local staff and personal in hospitals/ETUs/HFCs Health Care Waste management (HCWM).

The objective of the consultancy is to establish a locally improved infrastructure and capacity for the treatment of infectious healthcare waste using state-of-the-art non-burn waste treatment technologies rather than incineration and open burning of healthcare waste.

Duties and Responsibilities

The National Consultant will report to the Project Coordinator and will work directly with the international medical waste consultants in close coordination with, the local focal point of the UNDP Country Office (CO).

The National Consultant will assist the National Coordinator, international consultants, and UNDP CO focal point in achieving the objective, outcome and outputs of the project.

The specific tasks of the National Consultant are to:

Within two weeks of start date:

Work with the UNDP CO focal point and Ministry of Health (MOH), in consultation with the international consultants, to identify potential ETUs or HCFs to receive the waste treatment autoclaves;
To conduct a desk review and identify at least 4 ETUs or HCFs as candidates for the second batch of autoclaves in consultation with UNDP CO, MOH, and international consultants;
To evaluate each ETU or HCF candidate following the checklist of requirements (provided by the international consultants), take photos, and meet with ETU or HCF managers for the purpose of prioritizing the facilities based on a set of criteria (provided by the international consultants) and report on those;
To work with the UNDP CO focal point and MOH, in consultation with the international consultants, to finalize and report on the selection of four ETUs or HCFs to receive the second batch of waste treatment autoclaves;
To identify and report if the four selected ETUs or HCFs will need power generators based on information obtained from the facility’s electrician;
To identify and report on areas in the selected ETUs or HCFs or other storage sites for the temporary storage of large crates while awaiting the arrival of the installation technicians.

Within four weeks of start date:

To monitor the preparation of the installation site (this may entail arranging with the ETUs or HCFs to build a flat concrete pad, ensure water and drain connections, and electrical connections) and report on its successful achievement;
To work with the ETUs or HCFs on organizing training sessions for the management, clinical staff, and cleaners/waste workers prior to the arrival of the international consultants and report on planned sessions;
To work with the MOH on organizing national training workshops for managers, clinicians and cleaner/waste workers of other ETUs and HCFs and report on planned sessions;
To work with Goderich ETU on determining the needs of the facility including the type of waste treatment autoclave if desired and report on it;
To conduct a desk review and identify at least six more ETUs or HCFs as candidates for the second batch of autoclaves in consultation with UNDP CO, MOH, and international consultants and report on it;
To begin evaluation of each additional ETU or HCF candidate following the checklist of requirements (provided by the international consultants), take photos, and meet with ETU or HCF managers for the purpose of determining the suitability of the facility to receive the autoclaves based on a set of criteria (provided by the international consultants) and provide a report on this activity.

During the first mission of the international consultants and/or the Medi-Clave technicians:

To assist the international consultants during their mission in the country;
To attend the trainings on HCWM by the international consultants and to learn to be a trainer in healthcare waste management;
To work with the international consultants on the use of the rapid assessment tool (provided by the international consultants) at the ETUs and HCFs that will receive the waste treatment autoclaves;
To assist the international consultants and autoclave technicians during the installation of the waste treatment autoclaves;
To attend the trainings on operation of the autoclaves by the autoclave technicians and international consultants and to learn to be a trainer in the operation of the waste treatment autoclaves;
To assist the international consultants in the microbiological testing and validation of the waste treatment autoclaves and to learn to conduct microbiological testing and validation of waste treatment autoclaves;
To assist the international consultants and local facility technicians in the installation of waste shredders and power generators.

During and after installation of the second batch of autoclaves:

To monitor and document the operation, usage, maintenance, and need for troubleshooting (if necessary) of the waste treatment system and report on those.

Within eight weeks of start date:

To complete the evaluation of each additional ETU or HCF candidate following the checklist of requirements (provided by the international consultants), take photos, and meet with ETU or HCF managers for the purpose ofdetermining the suitability of the facility to receive the autoclaves based on a set of criteria (provided by the international consultants) and report on these activities;
To work with the UNDP CO focal point and MOH, in consultation with the international consultants, to finalize the selection of 4 or 5 additional ETUs or HCFs (depending on the type of autoclave for Goderich ETU) to receive the third batch of waste treatment autoclaves and report on it;
To use the rapid assessment tool at the selected ETUs and HCFs that will receive the waste treatment autoclaves and report on the assessment;
To identify if the selected ETUs or HCFs will need power generators based on information obtained from the facility’s electrician and report on the needs;
To identify areas in the selected ETUs or HCFs or other storage sites for the temporary storage of large crates while awaiting the arrival of the installation technicians and report on the identified areas.

During the other mission(s) of the Medi-Clave technicians and possible mission of international experts:

To assist the autoclave technicians in installations, microbiological testing and validation of the additional 4 or 5 autoclave units (third batch);
To conduct trainings in HCWM at each selected ETU or HCF;
To assist the autoclave technicians in training of the operators and maintenance technicians;
To monitor local facility technicians in the installation of waste shredders and power generators as needed.

During and after installation of the third batch of autoclaves:

To monitor and document the operation, usage, maintenance, and need for troubleshooting (if necessary) of the waste treatment system;
To monitor local facility technicians in the installation of waste shredders and power generators as needed and report on it.

Within 20 weeks of start date:

To evaluate the ETUs and HCFs towards the end of the project using the rapid assessment tool and interviews of the ETU and HCF staff and provide a report;
To compile data on operation, usage, maintenance, repairs, feedback from the ETU and HCF staff and report on it;
To submit data and documentation to the National Coordinator and international consultants for the final reports.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards.

Commitment to the Project’s objective and outcome:

Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly.

Functional Competencies:

Ability to identify needs and interventions for capacity building of counterparts, clients and potential partners.

Job Knowledge/Technical Expertise:

Professional interest in specializing in healthcare waste management, autoclave waste treatment technologies, and/or infection control and prevention;
Demonstrated ability to design, plan, and execute projects;
Ability to effectively gather, analyze and report on data;
Computer skills using Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint, including the ability to develop reports electronically, send reports and photos electronically, and communicate via email.

Results Orientation:

Displays initiative, sets challenging outputs for him/herself and willingly accepts new work assignments;
Ability to take responsibility for achieving agreed outputs within set deadlines and strives until successful outputs are achieved;
Identifies opportunities to bring forward and disseminate materials for advocacy work.

Team Work and Communication skills:

Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including the ability to work well in teams with national and local partners such as managers and staff of ETUs and HCFs;
Excellent time management, monitoring and evaluation skills;
Openness to change and ability to receive/integrate feedback;
Creating and promoting enabling environment for open communication;
Demonstrates initiative and self-motivation to work independently, as well as, cooperative and collaborative spirit to work in a team.

Organizational Learning and Knowledge Sharing:

Advocates for innovative ideas documenting successes and building them into the design of new approaches;
Identifies new approaches and strategies that promote the use of tools.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Baccalaureate degree in a health-related or environment-related field, science or engineering, with preference to candidates with advanced degrees;
Training in infection control or waste management is a plus but not required.

Experience:

At least 3 years experience working with hospitals, clinics, or other healthcare facilities and/or with the Ministry of Health;
Experience working with international projects is a plus;

Language:

Fluency in oral and written English required.

Payment to the consultant will be made monthly upon timely and satisfactory completion of the tasks outlined above;

Qualified and interested candidates are hereby requested to apply.

The application must contain the following:

Cover letter;
Completed P11 form http://sas.undp.org/Documents/P11_personal_history_form.doc;
Detailed achievement based CV;
Technical Proposal –Brief Methodology of Approach;
Financial Proposal in Leones (including any possible living allowance if travel is required).

Important Note

Kindly upload all of the above as one single PDF file.