[Hiring] Consultancy for Situation Analysis and Adaptation of Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) practices and guidelines 3.5 months @AGORA

Role Description

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence. At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

The Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health (MOH) in Myanmar, has committed to strengthening health care waste management, including the management of immunization sharps waste in public health facilities. Under the guidance of MOH, the Occupational and Environmental Health Division (OEHD) has been implementing health care waste management interventions in collaboration with various national programs within MOH, UN agencies, and national and international organizations.

Since 2019, with Gavi HSS support, sharp waste management activities have been implemented in health facilities in phases, supplemented by the MOH’s budget. The interventions included:

• Procurement and distribution of needle cutters
• Color-coded bins
• Bleaching powder for disinfecting syringes
• Construction of sharps pits at health facilities
• Procurement of mini HCWM backpacks for outreach sessions
• Updating the HCWM guideline and SOP
• Cascade training for health workers

These efforts have laid a foundation for improving health care waste management practices and highlight the importance of continued investment in this area.

Progress has been made over the past five years, based on the findings from the Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) 2025, in terms of:

• The availability of guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs)
• Improved knowledge of health workers
• Compliance with safe injection practices such as using safety boxes, needle cutters, and sharp pits

However, the infrastructure gaps persist, including:

• Waste burial facilities for final disposal
• Sustaining the current interventions
• No long-term waste management plan with costs yet

The plan will provide a roadmap for the program to enhance the health care waste management system, aligning the best global practices with the specific requirements of the local environment.

In collaboration with MOH, UNICEF underscores the need for a formal assessment to justify the continued investment, particularly as the demand for expanded and strengthened safe disposal of medical waste at all levels grows beyond immunization. The plan is in line with the agreed annual work plan, and the UNICEF regional and country teams will provide the necessary technical support with the following objectives:

• Conduct a situation analysis of the current HCWM practices using WHO recommended tools and methodology and identify gaps.
• Review and adapt the existing HCWM Policies, guidelines and SOPs to ensure they fulfill the objectives and align with international and national standards.
• Review and adapt the existing training materials to ensure full alignment with the revised policies, guidelines, and SOPs, and with international best practices.
• Develop competency-based, user-friendly training packages tailored to different cadres of health workers and conduct Training of Trainers (TOT) training.
• Develop a five-year roadmap of activities and actions with timelines and necessary budget.

Qualifications

• Advanced University degree in one of the following fields is required: Public Health, Environmental Health, Environmental Science, Public Policy, Urban Planning, Sustainability, or a related field.
• Professional Certifications: Certifications in waste management, environmental policy, or related areas can enhance qualifications. Examples include Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM) or Certified Environmental Professional (CEP).

Requirements

• A minimum of 5 years’ professional experience in one or more of the following areas is required: waste management, environmental policy, public health, or a related field.
• Experience in policy development, implementation, and evaluation is crucial.
• Relevant experience in Health Sector institutions, NGOs, Civil Society Organizations, or development programmes is an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.

Benefits

• UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does.
• UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence.
• We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities throughout the recruitment process.