State WASH in Health Consultant via DevNetJobsIndia

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR CONSULTANTS

State WASH in Health Consultant, Gujarat

BACKGROUND / RATIONALE

To provide quality care, healthcare facilities need to have a safe and accessible water supply; clean and safe sanitation facilities; hand hygiene facilities at points of care and at toilets; and appropriate waste disposal systems. Infrastructure that supports water, sanitation, hygiene (WASH) and healthcare waste management practices helps prevent the spread of diseases within the healthcare facility and to the surrounding community.

Healthcare facilities in resource-limited settings lack essential WASH and health care waste services. Globally, 50% of HCFs lack access to piped water, 33% lack improved sanitation, 39% lack soap for handwashing and 39% lack adequate infectious waste disposal. Without appropriate WASH infrastructure and services, patients, healthcare workers, and communities are at increased risk of disease. Different levels of healthcare facilities also have different WASH needs. A facility that provides acute care, such as performing surgeries or treating highly infectious patients, requires more advanced IPC practices and may have special needs for treatment of contaminated faeces or may require a high level of water quality. Facilities that offer only primary care services still require good WASH systems but may not need to meet these stricter requirements.

The U.N. General Assembly recognizes the global health crisis created by this lack of WASH infrastructure and services in healthcare facilities and has called for basic WASH services in all healthcare facilities by 2030 under Sustainable Development Goal 6. However, until this ambitious goal is achieved, millions of people will remain at risk due to unsafe WASH conditions in healthcare settings.

These services are especially critical for vulnerable populations, including pregnant mothers, newborns and children. Globally 8% of maternal deaths, and in developing countries an estimated 10-15%, are due to infections that can be directly linked to unhygienic conditions during labour and birth and to poor hygiene practices after birth. Infant mortality and morbidity can be significantly reduced by preventive measures, including ensuring availability of WASH facilities in health centres and adoption of key WASH practices by mothers at home and capacity building of health functionaries and front line workers.

The Call to Action led by MoHFW, has identified key WASH interventions to contribute are:

• Facility level strengthening-Improved WASH facilities functionality and usage, knowledge, and practices of institutions’ staff
• Home and Community based preventive care-Capacity of front-line workers to counsel mothers and caregivers to adopt and sustain key WASH practices

UNICEF is committed to extend technical assistance for improving WASH compliance in health facilities contributing to the initiation and strengthening of WASH in Health program reaching 80% achievement rate focusing in priority districts. The ongoing national quality assurance initiatives such as Kayakalp, NQAS, LaQshya, SSS contributing towards high levels of cleanliness, hygiene and infection control and enable monitoring and data analysis to qualify for awards to those public health facilities will be continued in the joint collaborative programme.

The ToR is developed to extend the support at State level for providing technical support strengthen implementation on WASH and IPC interventions in Health care facilities. This is support is aligned with CPD 2023-27 outcomes and agreed in Multi-Year WASH-CCES workplan 2023-24. The consultant for the WASH in Health will support new initiative for making WASH Facilities Climate resilient, labor room upgradation under “LaQshya” and improve WASH standards using the resources under Kayakalp and Swachh Swastha Sarvatra (SSS) in urban and rural areas and facilitate MHM related capacity building and monitoring and documentation statewide while supporting implementation of state MHM action plan in collaboration with Education and DWCD.

PURPOSE OF ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this assignment is to provide technical support to Health Department in planning and rolling out the Climate resilient WASH and IPC services in health care facilities. This consultancy will also support roll-out of Menstrual Hygiene Management state action plan. The support includes evidence based planning for quality assurance interventions, development of SOPs and Guidelines, capacity building of all the key functionaries and partners and strengthening monitoring of WASH in Health and MHM intervention. UNICEF strategically would be focusing in priority districts having tribal & coastal communities.

PROGRAMME AREA AND SPECIFIC PROJECT AREA

Outcome 5: By 2027, children and caregivers, especially the most vulnerable, have access to and use gender-sensitive, climate-resilient, safe, and affordable WASH services at home and in institutions, and adopt improved hygiene practices

Output 503: By 2027 Government and partners have increased capacities to plan, implement and monitor equitable, climate resilient and gender-responsive WASH and menstrual hygiene programmes in schools, AWCs and health-care facilities at scale

Workplan Activities:

3.2 Scaling-up Menstrual Hygiene Management plan and roll-out

3.3 Scaling up WASH in health care facilities and expanding climate resilient Clean and Green HCFs

3.4 Managing Knowledge and Evidence generation

4. OBJECTIVE/S

• To support Health Department in preparation on evidence-based plan for WASH in Health and Infection Prevention including climate resilient clean and green health care facilities
• To support development of WASH in Health and IPC capacity building plan and roll-out capacity building for health care functionaries
• To support quality implementation and monitoring of key flagship interventions such as LaQshya, Kayakal, National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS), clean and green health care facilities in order to improve quality service delivery and safe environment for newborns and mothers.
• To support implement state MHM action plan, monitoring the MHM service delivery and capacity building of key stakeholders in health department in coordination with DWCD and Education.
• To strengthen result-based monitoring, generate evidence and knowledge management on WASH in Health and MHM for decision making

5. MAJOR TASKS TO BE ACCOMPLISHED

The State WASH in Health consultant will work closely with Principal Secretary, Health Department and Director, National Health mission under the technical guidance of WASH and Health Specialist and support following tasks:

• Facilitate developing strategy, district and state costed plans for WASH and IPC in Health program service delivery
• Prepare WASH and IPC capacity building plan for the State and support Health Department in rolling out capacity building interventions for various stakeholders including MOs, paramedical staff, sanitation workers and third party contractors on WASH and IPC protocols
• Support development of WASH and IPC monitoring framework and its roll-out and scale-up.
• Support health department in data analysis and present observations, areas of improvement in various state level forums for informed planning, mid-course correction and evidence drive resource allocation
• Support planning implementation of key quality interventions including LaQshya, Kayakalp, NQAS
• Facilitate developing risk communication material, and training resource material for capacity building of key stakeholders
• Support state level monitoring, supportive supervision and review for ensuring WASH compliance in health facilities using Kayakalp data in all healthcare facilities specifically primary health centres focusing on aspirational and priority districts
• Coordinate with PIU for improvement of the WASH infrastructure in the health care facilities (Toilet, Model labour room design), focusing on FDPs.
• Support Capacity building on Climate resilient, clean and green health care facilities and integrate climate change and risk informed as part of facility improvement plans, state level budget allocation, developing indicators and actions
• Support roll-out of MHM action plan for the State. Facilitate the MHM service delivery and monitoring of safe MHM service delivery in priority districts and coordinate for developing communication kits for frontline workers for capacity building of adolescent girls.
• Any other task to respond the sector priority suggested by the supervisor

6. DELIVERABLES AND DEADLINES

Deliverables and Deadlines 2023:

Deliverables and Deadlines 2024:

7. DUTY STATION

Gandhinagar, Gujarat, India

8. SUPERVISOR

WASH Specialist, UNICEF-Gandhinagar, Gujarat

9. OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED (ITINERARY AND DURATION)

The Consultant would be based in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. Travel is required across the State as per programme priorities. The consultant is expected to participate in the state level and district level (priority districts) review and planning meetings, field monitoring visits and to document good practices. The consultant would also be required to travel outside the State, if such travel would contribute to the achievement of the assignment, as approved by the Supervisor. The Consultant should undertake on an average 6 days of travel in a month, the total travel approximately for 60 days in the contract duration. The consultant would be required to make own arrangement for travel and stay during travel. The payment for travel and stay will not be paid separately. Consultant needs to include in deliverable cost which is all inclusive.

10. ESTIMATED DURATION OF CONTRACT (PART TIME / FULL TIME)

Full time 23.5 months starting from 16^th January 2023 to 31^st December 2024. Initially the contract will be given for the period of 16^th January 2023 to 31^st December 2023 and will be extended until 31^st December 2024 based on need, performance review and availability of funds. 

11. ESTIMATED COST OF CONSULTANCY/INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT (INR and USD): to be filled in Financial Bid

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT (Please use as applicable)

• Higher university degree in public health or hospital management /environmental engineering with knowledge and experience of water supply and sanitation programmes at managerial level
• Clear understanding of government structures, and processes especially in Gujarat within Health, ICDS, RDD, and WASMO etc.
• Familiarity with the GoI flagship programmes of Swachhata Mission/KAYAKALP, SBM, NRDWP, NRHM, ICDS in addition to state specific provisions of these programmes
• Professional experience of at least 5 years on relevant field including WASH in Health, public health/maternal health including facilitation skills to undertake capacity building for stakeholders 
• Good analytical, communication skills.
• Proven ability in capacity building/training, programme monitoring and good analytical skills.
• Proficiency and fluency in English and Hindi language with understanding of Gujarati will be an asset
• Good documentation and coordination skills

14. SELECTION PROCESS (tick one and delete what is not applicable):

Quality and Cost Based Selection (QCBS)             

Technically Qualified Least Cost Selection (LCS)

QCBS (Technical Evaluation Criteria – with weights for each criteria)

A two-stage procedure will be followed in evaluating proposals, with evaluation of the technical proposal being completed prior to any evaluation of the financial proposal. Evaluators of the technical proposals shall have no access to the financial Proposals until the technical evaluation is completed.

The evaluation criteria will be a split between technical and financial (price proposal) scores (80 / 20).

15. IDENTIFICATION OF RISKS FOR THE CONSULTANCY/INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT AND PLAN FOR MITIGATION (FOR INTERNAL PURPOSE ONLY)

Transfer of key government official or the change in strategic priority in the Government Departments may lead to change in some of the Consultancy deliverables. UNICEF will jointly discuss a plan of action for the deliverables with key relevant departments and stakeholders to finalize an action plan, additionally timely joint reviews will be conducted to keep progress on track. Joint performance discussion will be undertaken with consultant to guide the progress on key deliverables. Since the Terms of Reference is deliverable based and it is likely that consultant will be able to deliver in timely manner.

16. PAYMENT SCHEDULE

Payment will be linked to deliverables as outlined in the attached financial template.

17. PERFORMANCE REVIEWS:

The supervisor shall complete interim and annual performance evaluations using the UNICEF evaluation templateOutput Evaluation Form with scores and comments justifying the scores for all the deliverables submitted by the Consultant. An interim appraisal will be done at the mid-term of the assignment against the major tasks captured above. The performance Evaluation form will be used for the final evaluation. 

18.   CHILD SAFEGUARDING  

Is this project/assignment considered as “Elevated Risk Role” from a child safeguarding perspective?  

  YES      X NO         If YES, check all that apply:

Direct contact role              YES      X NO

If yes, please indicate below the number of hours/months of direct interpersonal contact with children, or work in their immediately physical proximity, with limited supervision by a more senior member of personnel:  

Child data role                      YES      X NO        

If yes, please indicate below the number of hours/months of manipulating or transmitting personal-identifiable information of children (name, national ID, location data,       photos): 

More information is available in the Child Safeguarding SharePoint and Child             Safeguarding FAQs and Updates 

19. EXIT STRATEGY

This consultancy focuses on technical support for the upstream work focusing on technical support to the department in developing guidelines, SOPs and capacity-building packages and its successful roll-out. Consultant will also support department in mobilizing resources from project implementation plan, flexi funds for strengthening systems, O&M and CR WASH in HCFs. Once department has in-house capacity at the State level on quality assurance and scale-up will be taken over and integrated by departments in their regular programmes. This support is required until December 2024 and will be reviewed with department to strategically mainstreamed from the year 2025 once the systems are in place. The consultant will closely work with key departments to strengthen planning, capacity development, institutional strengthening, and monitoring system in order to sustain WIH and MHM interventions.

20. IMPORTANT NOTES (TO BE INCLUDED IN THE FINAL TOR TO BE ADVERTISED):

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 health insurance (and visa if applicable) 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

Application Procedures

• Qualified female/male candidates are requested to please indicate their ability and availability to undertake the terms of reference above.
• We request you to please inform us where you have seen this advertisement.
• Your application should be sent to Gandhinagar.consultants@unicef.org by COB 16 January,2023 1130hrs with subject line State Consultant – WASH in health” in separate files consisting of:

1. An application letter with CV
2. P11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.UNICEF.org/india/overview_1440.htm)
3. A financial proposal in PDF format indicating deliverable based fee as per template attached. Please mention your name in the file name while saving.

• The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial proposal in the ratio of 80:20. 
• Only short-listed candidates will be called for further discussion/interview (if applicable). 
• The financial proposals of only those candidates, who are found technically responsive, will be opened.
• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

For any clarifications, please contact: Gandhinagar.consultants@unicef.org