UNDP Jobs - 65589- Chief Technical Expert on Healthcare Waste Managem

Chief Technical Expert on Healthcare Waste Management

Location :

Home-Based with Missions

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

28-Apr-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

Estimated May 2016-December 2016

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

app. 60 working days over 7 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

This Terms of Reference (ToR) refers to the regional component of the GEF-funded project entitled “Reducing UPOPs and Mercury Releases from the Health Sector in Africa”. The overall objective of this full size project, implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub (IRH) in partnership with WHO and the NGO Health Care Without Harm (HCWH), is to implement best environmental practices and introduce non-incineration healthcare waste treatment technologies and mercury-free medical devices in four Sub-Saharan African countries (Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania and Zambia) to reduce harmful releases from the health sector.

The project will promote best practices and techniques for healthcare waste management with the aim of minimizing or eliminating releases of Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) to help countries meet their obligations under the Stockholm Convention on POPs. The project will also support these countries in phasing-down the use of Mercury containing medical devices and products, while improving practices for Mercury containing wastes with the objective to reduce releases of Mercury in support of countries’ future obligations under the Minamata Convention. Finally, because the project will improve healthcare waste management systems (e.g. through improved classification, segregation, storage, transport and disposal) the project will also contribute to the reduction of the spread of infections both at healthcare facility level as well as in places where healthcare waste is being handled.

The project document has been designed to address the following components (regional and national):

Activity 1. Disseminate technical guidelines, establish mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula, and build teams of national experts on BAT/BEP at the regional level (Regional component - implemented by UNDP Istanbul Regional Hub and national component);
Activity 2. Health Care Waste National plans, implementation strategies, and national policies in each recipient country (National component);
Activity 3a. Make available in the region affordable non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices that conform to BAT and international standards (Regional component);
Activity 3b. Demonstrate HCWM systems, recycling, mercury waste management and mercury reduction at the model facilities, and establish national training infrastructures (National component);
Activity 4a. Evaluate the capacities of each recipient country to absorb additional non-incineration HCWM systems and mercury-free devices and distribute technologies based on the evaluation results and allocation formula (Regional component);
Activity 4b. Expand HCWM systems and the phase-out of mercury in the recipient countries and disseminate results in the Africa region (National component and regional component).
The Chief Technical Expert (CTE) will have overall responsibility for project’s technical outputs within the Regional Expert Team (RET) composed, apart from the CTE, of the Regional Technical Coordinator and the Regional Administrative Assistant; a Senior Public Health Advisor from WHO; and a Senior Advisor from HCWH; one Senior Expert on Healthcare Waste Management Systems (to be confirmed) and two UNDP IRH HIV, Health and Development (HHD) team members.

The CTE position will span the whole duration of the project (4 years) to ensure the technical quality of the project implementation. However, the selection of an individual contractor for the CTE position will be repeated based on each project activity implemented by regional component (Activity 1, 3 and 4) each time through a competitive bidding process.

Accordingly, this ToR only refers to the implementation of the regional project’s first component (Activity 1) which targets dissemination of technical guidelines, establishment of mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula, building teams of experts on BAT/BEP at the regional level, and training of teams of national experts.

Duties and Responsibilities

With the technical guidance of UNDP MPU/Chemicals and under the operational responsibility of UNDP’s Istanbul Regional Hub, the Chief Technical Expert will provide support to coordinate project’s technical outputs and will, in particular:

Work with the Regional Expert Team to support the development of the work plan of the four year-long project under the general supervision of the UNDP MPU/Chemicals and in close consultation and coordination with UNDP Country offices, Senior Country Lead Officials, UNDP-GEF Partners (WHO, Health Care Without Harm, and others) and relevant donors;
Work closely with the Regional Technical Coordinator to support the coordination and monitoring work plan activities;
As the key technology expert, provide substantial technical advice and support to country offices on technologies and other related Project activities;
Be the lead technical support for organizing the initial training of the project teams;
Provide technical support to disseminate technical guidelines, establish mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula;
Help develop Terms of References (ToRs) for and in the oversight of the work of consultants and contractors, as requested by IRH;
Provide substantial support to train teams of national experts at the regional level;
Help develop technical specifications/requirements/ToRs for the procurement of technical equipment;
Liaise with designated officials of the Participating Countries, Implementing Agency, Executing Agency, UNDP Country Offices, existing and potential additional project donors, Senior Country Lead Officials, and others as required;
Support ensuring consistency between the various program elements and related activities provided or funded by other donor organizations;
Foster and/or establish links with other related GEF programs and, where appropriate, with other relevant regional programs;
Support cooperation with the partner organizations of the project;
Support the preparation of substantive and technical reports, including initiating the development of technical specifications for the first set of procurement of equipment under the project;
Be available for possible solicitations from media on technical questions related to the project.

Duration:

The Contract will enter into effect upon signature by both parties, expected for 7 (seven) months of duration. The project CTE is expected to start in May 2016.

Duty Station:

Home based, with missions to Ghana, Madagascar, Tanzania, Zambia and Turkey.

Travel requirements:

One mission to Istanbul to participate in the project’s regional inception workshop (4 working days);
One mission to capital cities of each project countries - Accra, Lusaka, Dar es Salaam and Antananarivo as primary locations with additional visits to projects sites as deemed necessary in each country (5 working days for each country);
One mission to one of the project country or Istanbul to be focal expert for 2-week long project team training (12 working days). Since the location of the training is not determined yet, the travel costs regarding this mission should be excluded from the lump-sum financial proposal. This travel will be arranged by IRH;
Additional travels may be requested by the IRH over the duration of the assignment within the estimated workload (up to 60 days). Missions not foreseen will be arranged by IRH as per UNDP Rules and Regulations.

Expected outputs and timeline:

The total number of days of work is estimated up to 60 working days. The breakdown corresponds to the expected outputs as follows:

A report on work plan of the assignment (approximately 2 working days. Duration: first month of the contract);
Completion of missions to each of the project countries and Istanbul (approximately 24 working days. Duration: 3 months after beginning of the contract);
A report on technical specifications, requirements or ToRs for the procurement of technical equipment (approximately 5 working days. Duration: 4 months after beginning of the contract);
Brief methodology and plan of the project team training and completion of the training (approximately 15 working days. Duration: 5 months after beginning of the contract);
A final report on the progress of project Activity 1, including the technical review of mid-term evaluation criteria and technology allocation formula (approximately 4 working days. Duration: 7 months after beginning of the contract);
Other home based work (approximately 10 working days during the contract period): Overall technical coordination of regional expert team; Technical support for building teams of experts and support for the development ToRs for the consultancy posts at the national and regional level; Advisory provided on the implementation of technical outputs at the national andregional level; Liaise with project teams of participating countries, partners, donors or others as required; Participate in regular project discussions (regular calls for updates on the project progress).

Schedule of payments:

20% payment upon submission of the report on work plan of the assignment;
20% payment upon completion of missions to each of the project countries and Istanbul;
20% payment upon submission of the report on technical specifications, requirements or ToRs for the procurement of technical equipment;
20% payment upon completion of the training;
20% payment upon submission of the final report on the progress of project Activity 1.

Competencies

Corporate competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.

Functional competencies:

Ability to analyze policy documents and make constructive policy suggestions;
Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
Capacity building skills and flexibility depending on the public;
Demonstration of commitment to the Project’s mission, vision and values;
Good writing and reporting skills;
Good presentation skills;
Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations, and to meet tight deadlines.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Minimum Master’s degree (preferably a Ph.D.) in Environmental Engineering, Public Health or a directly related field is required;

Experience:

At least 5 years relevant experience in health-care waste management including waste assessments; development of national policies and plans; training; the segregation, minimization, storage, transport, treatment, or disposal of health-care waste;
Previous work experience in non-incineration medical waste treatment technologies is an asset;
Previous work experience in mercury waste management and mercury-free alternatives is an asset;
Work experience with the requirements of the Stockholm Convention on POPs, Minamata Convention on Mercury and Best Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices guidelines is an asset;
Previous experience in environmental health, infection control and prevention, and health delivery systems is an asset;
Relevant work experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is an asset;
Experience with the goals and procedures of international organizations (preferably in UN systems), in particular those of the UNDP, GEF and its partners (WHO, Health Care Without Harm, and current and future potential additional donors) and is an asset;

Language skills:

Proficiency in written and spoken English;
Proficiency in written and spoken French is an asset.

Evaluation of Applicants:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis taking into consideration the combination of the applicants’ qualifications and financial proposal. The award of the contract should be made to the individual consultant whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

Responsive/compliant/acceptable, and
Having received the highest score out of a pre-determined set of weighted technical (P11 desk reviews) and financial criteria specific to the solicitation.

Only the highest ranked candidates who would be found qualified for the job will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Technical Criteria - 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points:

Criteria A - Educational background – max points: 5;
Criteria B Relevant experience in health-care waste management (preferably with non-incineration treatment technologies) – max points: 25;
Criteria C - Work experience with Stockholm Convention (on POPs), Minamata Convention (on Mercury) and Best Available Techniques/Best Environmental Practices guidelines – max points: 15;
Criteria D - Previous experience in environmental health, infection control and prevention, and health delivery systems – max points: 5;
Criteria E - Relevant work experience in Sub-Saharan Africa – max points: 5;
Criteria F - Experience with the goals and procedures of international organizations (preferably in UN systems), in particular those of the UNDP, GEF and its partners (WHO and Health Care Without Harm) – max points: 10;
Criteria G - Proficiency in English and French – max points: 5.

Financial Criteria - 30% of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Application Procedures:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online via this website. The application should contain:

Cover letter explaining why you are the most suitable candidate for the advertised position. Please paste the letter into the "Resume and Motivation" section of the electronic application.
Methodology (max 2 pages) on how you will approach and conduct the work.
Filled P11 form including past experience in similar projects and contact details of referees (blank form can be downloaded from http://europeandcis.undp.org/files/hrforms/P11_modified_for_SCs_and_ICs.doc); please upload the P11 instead of your CV.
Financial Proposal - Total lump sum amount in USD for tasks specified in this announcement including breakdown is required. Please, use this template: https://www.dropbox.com/s/fqr94ugrboxnjow/FINANCIAL%20PROPOSAL.docx?dl=0

Incomplete applications will not be considered. Please make sure you have provided all requested materials. Please combine all your documents into one (1) single PDF document as the system only allows to upload maximum one document.

Payments will be made only upon confirmation of UNDP on delivering on the contract obligations in a satisfactory manner.

Individual Consultants are responsible for ensuring they have vaccinations/inoculations when travelling to certain countries, as designated by the UN Medical Director. Consultants are also required to comply with the UN security directives set forth under dss.un.org
General Terms and conditions as well as other related documents can be found under: http://on.undp.org/t7fJs.

Qualified women and members of minorities are encouraged to apply.
Due to large number of applications we receive, we are able to inform only the successful candidates about the outcome or status of the selection process.