Report developing on climate change effects on WASH in Health Facilities
BACKGROUND
Asian least developed countries (LDCs), namely, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), Myanmar, Nepal, and Timor-Leste, have limited technical capacity of health systems and personnel to effectively integrate climate-related risks into policy, planning, and regulatory frames, and into interventions to control the burden of climate-sensitive health outcomes.
The National Climate Change for Health Adaptation Plan for 2021-2030 of Lao PDR has been developed to operationalize the National Health Strategy for Climate Change and Health Adaptation. The national plan enables the environment to initiate implementation for climate change adaptation actions to reduce health vulnerability and enhance health sector adaptative capacity. The plan emphasises building climate-resilient healthcare facilities with clean water supply systems is a key component of the national health strategy and adaptation plans. In order to activate the national plan, a survey was undertaken to assess the current capacity of healthcare facilities to prevent climate-related hazards and the level of resilience for the water and sanitation services at the healthcare facilities. The survey assessed the southern and central provinces of Lao PDR.
With support from the World Health Organization Country Office (WCO) of Lao PDR, the Safe Clean and Green HCF Initiative started from 14 flood and drought-prone provincial and district hospitals and expanded to 50 hospitals in 6 southern provinces.
A national survey was undertaken to assess health facility capacity to deal with climate-related hazards and the resilience of their current water and sanitation services has been done in all health facilities in all provinces. The survey was collected from 1200 health care facilities.
The terms of reference provide advanced technical support provision to finalise the statistical analysis, write narrative report with short summary with visible interpretations (photos and infographics for easy use and publication) and develop generic adaptation measure that will be added in health specific adaption plan for building sustainable and long-term climate-resilient water, sanitation and health facility in Lao PDR. The report would help to establish monitoring framework for WASH in health care facility and define annual targets, indicators and develop adaptation measures that will be implemented in the most vulnerable health care facilities to climate change and then gradually be expanded to all provinces using a step-wise approach.
PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY
This consultancy will support the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Lao PDR to finalise the statistical analysis, write narrative report with short summary with visible interpretations (photos and infographics for easy use and publication) and develop generic adaptation measure that will be added in health specific adaption plan for building sustainable and long-term climate-resilient water, sanitation and health facility in Lao PDR.
The baseline survey report will be used for monitoring the progress of expanding the number of climate-resilient healthcare facilities with safely managed water, sanitation and waste management services.
METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY
Under the supervision of the Team Leader for Environmental Health and coordinator of Health system development team of the WHO Representative office for Lao PDR, the consultant will be responsible for delivering the following:
The outputs of this contract are:
- Consolidate all statistical analysis performed and write narrative reports using national and 17 provincial profiles developed to assess current situation of water, sanitation and hygiene, and health care waste management in health care facilities in the country
- Deliverable: Completed statistical analysis and findings shown in diagrams/visible illustrations
- Finalize the statistical analysis of survey questionnaires collected from 1200 health care facilities to assess current climate change effects on water sanitation and health care waste management in health care facilities survey
- Deliverable: completed statistical analysis and findings shown in visible and clear illustrations
- Develop two technical reports with key findings in visible interpretations and summary of suggested action plans
- Deliverables: develop two reports on:
- Climate Change effects on water, sanitation and health care waste management in health care facilities and
- Baseline study report on current situation of water sanitation hygiene and health care waste management in health care facilities in Lao PDR
The reports should include the following contents
- • Abbreviations
- • Key findings of the study
- • Chapter 1: About this report
- • Chapter 2: Putting fundamentals first (summary of MOH policy on UHC, WASH and CCH and national goal/SDG targets and COP 26 commitment)
- • Chapter 3: Overview of WASH services in health care facilities in Lao PDR (it includes general info about type, number of health care facility, data collection methods, survey questionnaires, field team, photos of data collection process, characteristics of participating health care facilities in the survey)
- • Chapter 4: Where is country making progress? (using the National profile)
- • Chapter 5: Where are provinces making progress? (using 17 provincial profile drafted by Carl) it includes summary of recommended actions for each province
- • Chapter 6: do we go from here? Summary of monitoring framework for WASH in HCF (baseline estimate and annual targets)
- • Chapter 7: Summary and suggested actions to achieve the five recommendations References
- • Glossary
- • Annex 1: Survey questionnaires
- • Annex 2: The 2019 WHA Resolution on WASH in health care facilities
- • Annex 3: Practical steps to improve WASH in health care facilities
- • Annex 4: Suggested actions to achieve the five recommendations
- • Annex 5: Summary of statistical data (if any need)
QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE
EDUCATION
Required: Doctoral degree in public health, climate change, or relevant areas
Desired: Doctoral degree in environmental epidemiology with solid knowledge in climate change adaptation
EXPERIENCE
Required: At least ten years of relevant experience at the national and international level such as UN agencies in climate change health adaptation
Desired: Experience working in climate change and health in relation to Lao PDR, and/or other Asia-Pacific countries Experience in writing narrative and scientific report with good viable illustrations is desirable.
TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE
Expert knowledge of WHO policies and technical guidance on climate change and health, WASH Facility Improvement Tool (WASH FIT), and WHO guidance on climate resilient and environmentally sustainable healthcare facilities including the specific context in Lao PDR WHO’s. Strong technical knowledge on developing action plans and monitoring framework. Demonstrated experience in climate change adaptation project development and management
LANGUAGES
High level of proficiency in spoken and written English is essential.
COMPETENCIES
- • Producing results
- • Working in multicultural working environment
- • Ability to work independently and in a team
- • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
- • Computer literacy (Word, Excel, powerpoint etc.)
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:
- • Remote work
- • Duration of contract is from 29 April 2022 to 30 May 2022 (27 days)
APPLICATIONS
Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV {for individual contractors} and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 19 April 2022.
The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.
Please use Tender Notice No. 171754 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.