International expert to provide technical support to MoHSP for training on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) surveillance activities, 35 w/ds, Tajikistan

UNICEF is looking for the enthusiastic consultant who will empower a core team of technical staff selected by the MoHSP at national level on surveillance, monitoring and management of IPC systems and providing guidance for strengthening IPC implementation at district and facility levels.

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, health,

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the hhuman rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations

Background:

Preventable illnesses contribute to a considerable proportion of all child deaths in Tajikistan. Acute infections are the leading cause of death in the post-neonatal period. Acute respiratory illness (ARI), pneumonia, and acute diarrhea still account for more than half of reported child deaths within the first year of life, a pattern that has remained persistent over the last decade .
Poor quality of care is a major concern of the Ministry of Health for several reasons: insufficient training of health workers, lack of evidence-based clinical guidelines, underuse of generic drugs, poor infrastructure, limited budget and lack of essential equipment at primary and secondary levels of health care (Health System Review, 2016) . The Quality of care has suffered significantly from brain drain, beginning with the civil war and continuing into the present, as health workers seek higher wages abroad.

A baseline assessment in 2022 revealed significant gaps in the Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) system at both primary and secondary healthcare levels, which have contributed to high rates of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) and posed substantial risks to patients, healthcare workers, and the environment. Key challenges identified include inadequate healthcare waste management (HWM) systems, where waste segregation, storage, and treatment processes were found to be inconsistent or absent in many facilities. Additionally, outdated policies and regulations, combined with gaps in Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), have resulted in poor adherence to infection control measures such as hand hygiene, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and waste management. Furthermore, the lack of proper infrastructure, including non-functional or missing decontamination equipment, severely hinders safe healthcare waste disposal and the effective management of hazardous substances, creating the risk for infection spread.

The EU funded Health Development Program, through UNICEF supported MOHSPP in implementing an Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) project across 42 secondary and 1,500 primary health facilities in selected districts of Tajikistan. The project has supported establishment of an effective IPC system at both primary and secondary healthcare delivery levels, thereby enhancing the Government of Tajikistan's capacity for an effective COVID-19 crisis response. The interventions included developing supportive policies, upgrading medical, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, and healthcare waste management infrastructure to meet national standards. Additionally, the project has focused on enhancing the knowledge and practices of healthcare workers in IPC and quality care, as well as increasing community awareness and knowledge about IPC at the household level. The project was implemented in 37 selected districts and 42 secondary health care facilities in the country (including City/Central district hospitals and infectious diseases department/ hospitals).

Within this context, UNICEF Tajikistan Country Office seeks to hire an individual consultant to conduct the next round of capacity building activities on IPC surveillance, monitoring, and management for long term sustainability of achievements in the IPC system of the country.

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of the consultancy assignment is to empower a core team of technical staff selected by the MoHSP at national level on surveillance, monitoring and management of IPC systems and providing guidance for strengthening IPC implementation at district and facility levels. The team of trained staff will conduct supportive supervision through periodic visits to health facilities across the IPC project areas and beyond as agreed with the MoHSP.

Description/scope of the assignment:

The Consultant will work under the guidance of the Health Specialist and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, and other relevant departments and centers of MOHSPP to do the following:

1.Develop Methodology: Review and refine the methodology for capacity development in identified areas based on the approved IPC national guideline, in alignment with international standards and country context.
2.Organize Training: Develop comprehensive training materials and organize training sessions for the technical teams selected by the MoHSP. Ensure the training covers all necessary aspects of IPC surveillance, monitoring and management relevant for the levels of service delivery (primary and secondary health care facilities).
3.Report Writing: Produce a comprehensive final assessment report that includes recommendations, lessons learned, and follow-up actions beyond the duration of the IPC project for sustainability. Ensure the report is developed in English for submission to UNICEF and MOHSP.

UNICEF will be responsible for arranging meetings with government counterparts and other stakeholders and for convening training events.

Work Assignment:
Tasks/Milestone/Deliverables/Outputs/Anticipated Timeline/Number of days/% of payments

Del. 1 Develop methodology:
1. Review relevant sections of IPC guideline in conjunction with WHO materials
2. Agenda and LOP for the training of teams by batch; Jan. 2025 3 w/ds

Del.2 Organize Training:

1. Developed training materials covering relevant areas of IPC surveillance, monitoring and management .
2. Conduct training sessions for the technical staff selected by the MoHSP (6 trainings x 5 days each), Jan.– Feb., 2025, 30 w/ds; 80%

Del. 3.
Report Writing: Produce a comprehensive final report with recommendations
1. Produce a comprehensive final report (in English) approved by UNICEF and MOHSP, Feb.2025, 5 w/d, 20%

No travel is planned for this consultancy.

___________________________________________________________________________
The World Bank (2011). Quality of Child Health Services in Tajikistan. The World Bank, Report No. 62870-TJ
Khodjamurodov G, Sodiqova D, Akkazieva B., & B. Rechel, (2016) Tajikistan: Heath system review. Health Systems in Transition, 18 (1) pp.1-114

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

Education:

Advanced university degree in the fields of Public Health and/or Health/Social Policy, Epidemiology with specialized training in infection prevention and control (IPC), healthcare waste management (HWM)

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of practical experience including the infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare waste management (HWM), as well as a proven track record of working with government health authorities, international organizations, and stakeholders in public health, particularly in organizing assessments, managing field operations, and producing high-quality reports and recommendations.
• Expertise in designing and conducting training sessions using complex approaches for diverse audiences and ensuring international standards, particularly in the fields of infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare waste management (HWM).
• Relevant technical expertise and consultancy experiences with international/UN organizations in the field of epidemiological safety (including assessment in accordance with WHO guidelines) and health system strengthening.

Competencies:

• Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation involves the ability to systematically analyze collected data, ensuring accuracy and reliability, and to synthesize findings into actionable insights, policy recommendations, and comprehensive reports, particularly within the context of infection prevention and control (IPC) and healthcare waste. management (HWM)

Language:

Fluency in English (written and spoken).

APPLICATION:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
1. CV/Cover letter
2. Completed financial proposal  Annex 3 Financial proposal.docx
3. Contact of three references
4. Sample of past work relevant to the technical assignment – 2 reports

Applications must be received in the system by 26 Dec. 2024 on UNICEF website.

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 | 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.