UNICEF recrute un consultant pour l”élaboration d’une stratégie nationale d’hygiène et d’un plan de mise en œuvre chiffré pour le Lesotho (2021-2025)

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Background and Justification :

Making basic hygiene services accessible to all people in Lesotho is a top priority for the government and development partners. In addition to hygiene being an effective measure in reducing faecal-oral disease transmissions, the current COVID-19 pandemic has further highlighted the critical role hand hygiene plays in disease prevention and control. There is need to take immediate action on hand hygiene across all public and private settings to respond and control the COVID-19 pandemic. Even more importantly, there is a need to build on the current momentum to make hand hygiene a mainstay in public health interventions beyond the pandemic and create a culture of hand hygiene at all levels of society.

However, making hygiene available and accessible for all requires a multi-faceted, society-wide approach. First, this means an urgent need for improvement in access to sustainable hand hygiene services (handwashing facilities, regular water supply, soap or alcohol based handrubs., where handwashing with soap and water is not possible). Second, behavior change interventions should address the full range of drivers to support optimal hand hygiene behavior. And finally, components such as policy, coordination, regulation, human resource and financing which underpin hand hygiene services and behavior change need to be strengthened.

The available information shows that the hygiene situation in Lesotho is poor. Estimates show handwashing with soap and water is practiced by less than 20 per cent of the population, although the COVID-19 needs must have increased this proportion, but not yet quantified. Data on handwashing from health care facilities and learning institutions is not readily available. Hence, to operationalize the integration of hygiene in key strategic plans in the government, it is important to develop a hygiene strategy and costed implementation plan. This shall provide a clear road map for enhanced access to hygiene services by all in Lesotho. Therefore, UNICEF and Ministry of Health (MoH) through Environmental Health Department, in collaboration with other sector players, intend to recruit a highly qualified and experienced consultant to develop the hygiene strategy and costed implementation plan for Lesotho. 

Purpose of the assignment :

The main purpose of this consultancy is to support MOH to develop National Hygiene Strategy and Costed Implementation Plan in Lesotho for 2021-2025 (for systems strengthening and capacity building) as well as financial plans. This strategy will provide specific guidance for implementation of the hardware and software components of hygiene in households, communities and open spaces, institutions, schools and health care facilities as well as the required financial allocations by the Government and other WASH sector partners. The implementation plan should be realistic and considering the conditions and situation in Lesotho and the urgency for hand hygiene for all caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

This Strategy should be comprehensive covering the various infrastructural as well as institutional strengthening and capacity development components that would further enable progress for results in hygiene. It should give very clear guidance on how hygiene can be promoted in different locations and contexts (urban and rural; in schools, health care facilities, households/communities, open spaces like markets, business establishments and other meeting places).

The strategy will establish the coordination and policy environment for the government, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), private sector and development partners to work together to achieve practical and timely national goals that are aligned with global standards and goals. It should provide guidance on coordination on hygiene at national, district and community levels, as well as across sectors (education, health, nutrition, WASH etc). The Ministry of Health will remain the lead Ministry and responsible for ownership of the strategy. This will also guide institutional capacity to absorb investments in a more effective manner to have standard approaches in achieving targets and to sustain the delivery of services through integrated approach. Further the strategy and implementation plan shall harmonize the working approach at the operational level.

Scope of Work :

Goal and Objective :

The main objective of this consultancy is to support MoH develop a comprehensive National Hygiene Strategy and costed implementation plan for Lesotho for 2021-2025 to accelerate access to basic hygiene services in Lesotho. The strategy and implementation plan will outline specific targets to be reached within the time frame.

The specific objectives expected :

• Enhance the enabling environment for hygiene specifically in terms of :
  • Establishing clear implementation guidelines and standards that are endorsed to be used nationwide and in different settings (households/community; schools and health care facilities) and locations (urban, rural) ;
  • Advocating for resource mobilization (from donors and other partners) and government allocations ;
  • Stimulating development of market-based solutions on hygiene solutions innovative hygiene products and business solutions ;
  • Enhancing hygiene education by identifying suitable approaches for hygiene promotion.
• To provide recommendations for effective coordination (national, district; households, schools and health face facilities) and strategic positioning of hygiene in different sectors (Education, Health, Nutrition, WASH) in Lesotho, and relevant roles and responsibilities of relevant departments and authorities of government of Lesotho and partners ;
• To develop communities of practice that brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss innovations and best practices on hygiene

Activities and Tasks :

• Conduct a review on global, regional and national documents, including recent national hygiene strategies, developed in similar settings, which have taken into account recent health pandemics and climatic emergencies to develop a synthesis of existing and current hygiene information for better positioning of hygiene across different sectors, government and developing partners ;
• Conduct analysis of hand hygiene financing landscape and develop a resource mobilization strategy ;
• Engage in wide consultations and discussions with various key actors including line ministries (MOH, Ministry of Water etc), UN agencies, key donors and other major bilateral stakeholders, Private Sector, Research and Development actors and NGOs, both at national and district level to gather information that could better contextualize  the Strategy as well as increasing awareness on the Strategy ;
• Develop a draft national hygiene strategy and costed implementation plan. The plan should clearly indicate innovative and market-based approaches and solutions to accelerate access to hygiene. It should have a clear systhesis of hygiene education and promotion approaches and recommend the most feasible for Lesotho. It should focus on key hygiene aspects including hand hygiene for all and particularly for schools, Menstrual Health and Hygiene. The Draft Strategy will be presented by the Consultant in a formal consultation workshop with key stakeholders (could be done virtual due to COVID-19 restrictions) for inputs. Afterwards incorporating the inputs in the draft plan, the consultant will present the final strategy in another formal consultation workshop with the key stakeholders for validation ;
• Recommend a monitoring tool and review the data reporting systems (EMIS, HMIS, sector data), identify gaps for hygiene data and recommend hygiene data can be integrated  to enable track progress on access to hygiene in Lesotho ;
• Provide technical support rolling out in the road map and the monitoring and evaluation tool, including training of sector stakeholders (MoH, CSOs, private sector etc).

Work relationships :  The Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the WASH Specialist at UNICEF, but will work closely with Staff members working on hygiene in the Ministry of Health (for communities and health care facilities) and Education (for Schools) and the Lesotho WASH Sector Technical Working Group coordinated by the Office of the Commission of Water.

Deliverables:  

 Payment : As per Table above

Desired profile :

• Advanced university degree in Environmental Health or a field relevant to international WASH related development assistance. Additional training in Health Education or Communication for Development (Programme Communication), an asset ;
• Minimum 8 years working experience in the WASH Sector, in developing contexts, better in Southern Africa ;
• Previous experience in supporting countries in developing WASH related policies, strategies and implementation plans ;
• Familiarity with SDGs, the hand hygiene for all initiative and other related global trends and priorities, most up-to-date country experiences ;
• Strong analytical, writing and communication skills ;
• High standard of written and verbal English language skills ;
• Familiarity with the local social and cultural context is highly recommended ;
• Ability to conduct online consultations (if COVID-19 restrictions may not allow face-to-face meetings).

Administrative issues :

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts ;
• The  contractor will work on their own computer(s) and materials in the execution of this assignment ;
• The work of the contractor can be done virtually if necessary and will be effective in completing the assignment ;
• The contractor payment is all inclusive ;
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary ;
• Please also see UNICEF Standard Terms and Conditions attach ;
• Contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement ;
• Contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance. Contractors who are required to travel beyond commuting distance to duty station(s) shall also certify that their medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations.

Risks :

UNICEF Lesotho 2019-2022 Country Programme Document (CPD) was developed with a risk-informed programming lens to support sustainable programs, considering assumptions for the project success.  The development of the CPD, through which this activity will contribute to, analysed the vulnerabilities, systems, capacities, resources, and looked at the risks beneficiaries may face to prevent the risk or mitigate the impact. The risks associated with the implementation of this activity are minimal and below the global threshold set by UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office. The risks will be managed through constant monitoring, providing early warning of potential issues in programme implementation, and advocacy with GOL officials. All reasonable and likely risks should be identified and a relevant risk response and possible mitigating action defined

How to Apply :

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on  https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates must be submitted in the local currency LSL (if national) or USD (if foreign)  and include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, travels, living allowance for field trips only).

Submission of proposals :

Interested persons will be required to submit the following documents :

1. A cover letter, CV and online consultants application form ;
2. A financial proposal indicating deliverable based fee ;
3. The financial proposals of only those candidates, who are found technically responsive, will be opened ;
4. Please note, offers without financial proposal will not be considered ;
5.  Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

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.