Consultant - Healthcare Waste Management at WaterAid

WaterAid is an international non-for-profit organization dedicated to helping people break free from poverty and disease, unlock their potential and change their lives for good through improved access to clean water, decent toilets and good hygiene. WaterAid started its operation in Nigeria in 1995. Since then it has successfully executed several intervention programmes as outlined by its objectives and has made impact in the lives of the very poor. WaterAid with the country office in Abuja currently works in Bauchi, Enugu and Plateau States with funding from various donors and partners.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Consultant - Healthcare Waste Management

Location: UK or WaterAid Country Programme
Job Type: Contract

Background

• The Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets 6.1 and 6.2 aim to achieve universal and equitable access to drinking water, sanitation and hygiene for all by 2030. Universal indicates all settings – including healthcare facilities. WASH services in healthcare facilities have been defined by the WHO and UNICEF and monitored (since 2019) through the Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) to include - water, sanitation, hygiene, waste management and environmental cleaning.
• Safe and sustainable WASH in healthcare facilities, including healthcare waste management (HCWM), is also critical to ensure access to quality essential health care services for all (SDG 3.8).
• In WaterAid’s global strategy, the aim “WASH to improve Public Health” provides an opportunity to drive health sector leadership in the promotion of WASH.
• WaterAid has been working with the health sector and WASH partners to strengthen health systems through strengthening the capacity of the government to deliver accessible and sustainable WASH in HCF. HCWM is a newer area of work for WaterAid but has gained attention and momentum in the past few years in several WaterAid Country Programmes.
• A Healthcare Waste Management bibliography was developed in March 2019 as a starting point to gather existing resources available on HCWM to Country Programmes. This was followed by an overview training of HCWM by an external expert and then additional in- depth training to Country and Regional staff in 2022. WaterAid is committed to continuing to build on the foundation work it has done over the years by developing technical guidance on Healthcare Waste Management and providing staff with clear, concise, and evidence-based guidance on HCF.

Aim and Scope

• As stated by JMP data there is a huge gap in HCWM. Working in HCWM is a relatively new area for many WASH partners and is often excluded due to lack experience and confidence to work in this area.
• Although there is a lot of information in different reports, papers, many of the reports are overwhelmingly detailed, and there is no single, practical guide that is aimed at people designing, constructing & managing such HCWM facilities.
• Hence this particular assignment is looking to write a practical, technical guide for achieving (and sustaining) safely-managed healthcare waste management in low-income countries, mainly focused on primary healthcare facilities.

Target Audience:

• The primary end users of this document are internal WaterAid and partner staff who are responsible for supporting WaterAid programmes’ HCWM initiatives. It should be easily understood by designers and builders.
• This technical guide may also be of interest to other internal WaterAid staff wanting further technical insights on WaterAid’s approach to achieving and sustaining safely-managed HCWM in health care facilities.

Objectives

• Enable WaterAid staff and partners to easily access, understand, and communicate practical, technical guidance on HCWM supported by WaterAid to achieve (and sustain) safely-managed healthcare waste management in low resource settings countries, mainly focused on primary health care facilities.
• Collate best available information and technical guidance on HCWM. Highlights critical features in the HCWM chain and technologies that must be included to avoid mistakes.
• Identifies WaterAid’s role within HCWM and WASH in HCF.

Outcomes:
By using this technical guide, the target audience should be able to:

• Identify recommended HCWM chain and facilities which are appropriate to local context and aligned with WaterAid’s role in WASH in HCF and recommended technical designs and protocols.
• Explain how to design/construct (to, for example, designers and builders) HCWM facilities using technical designs and protocols laid out within the guidance document.
• Locate WaterAid’s and other organisations’ HCWM technical guidance and protocols related sustainable HCWM planning, design/construction, and management.
• Contribute advisory support to stakeholders seeking to undertake HCWM initiatives that accurately reflects WaterAid’s HCWM technical guidance and protocols for planning, constructing, and managing HCWM facilities sustainably.

Qualifications & Experience
The desired Consultant will have:

• Considerable knowledge and experience in Healthcare Waste Management programmes in low-resource settings.
• Considerable international experience and strong understanding of the various regions in which WaterAid works.
• Proven experience of producing clear, succinct, user-friendly guidance and technical documents for use amongst diverse audiences with differing levels of technical knowledge/experience.
• Demonstrated ability to present complex information in visual/graphical formats which are engaging and easy for audiences to understand.
• Excellent technical writing skills in English.

Application Closing Date
31st January, 2023.

Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV and Expression of Interest (EOI) to "Upama Adhikari Tamang" via: [email protected] using "EOI for Technical Guidance on HCWM" as the subject of the mail.

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Expression of Interest (EOI) Documents Required
The EOI should include:

• A Financial Proposal for the work including daily rate (inclusive of VAT)
• A Statement of the expertise you will bring to this review outlining relevant qualifications and experience.
• An example of a similar technical document that you have produced
• Location (UK-based or non-UK-based) and type of consultant (sole trader/self-employed, team, company).

Note

• Interested applicants based in, or originating from, LIC/MICs are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Contact Upama Adhikari Tamang ([email protected]) for any questions or clarifications.