International Consultant - Healthcare Waste Management Policy Documents, Plan and SOP Development - Tuvalu

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Purpose of consultancy

In collaboration with the WHO Division of Pacific Technical Support (DPS) office and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW) of Government of Tuvalu, the consultant will provide technical assistance for the development of the Healthcare Waste Management Policy, Standard Operating Procedures (SOP),  Implementation Plan and training manual for Tuvalu MoHSW; and conduct a detailed Healthcare Waste Management Assessment at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH).

Background

Tuvalu is facing an existential threat from climate change, mainly due to rising sea level and is highly vulnerable due to its low-lying and extremely isolated location. In addition to this, increased temperatures, severe weather events followed by coastal erosion, saltwater intrusion, increased frequency of intense cyclones, and king tides are some of the threats that the country has been encountering in recent years. This puts Tuvalu’s health system under strain and could contribute to increasing demand for emergency health services, accelerating outbreaks of vector and water-borne diseases, and damaging health infrastructure, among others.

A Global Environment Facility (GEF) Project: Building Resilience of Health Systems in Pacific Island Least Developed Countries to Climate Change is helping to address these risks to Tuvalu’s health system. The GEF Project has the following outcomes:

1. Governance of the health system and institutional capacities strengthened by mainstreaming climate-related risk and resilience aspects into health policy frameworks.
2. Capacities of health system institutions and personnel strengthened in managing health information and weather/climate early warning systems.
3. Improved coverage and quality of health services addressing climate-related diseases and reduced climate-induced disruptions in the function of healthcare facilities.
4. Enhanced south-south cooperation fostering knowledge exchange, the provision of technical assistance and scientific advisory, and the integration of national health policy frames and related adaptation plans with ongoing National Adaptation Plan (NAP) -related processes.

Under GEF Project Outcome 3, WHO supported a recent nationwide assessment on climate resiliency and environmental sustainability (CRESHCF) of all 12 healthcare facilities in Tuvalu and found that healthcare waste management is one of the critical areas requiring immediate intervention for improvements.

In order to narrow this gap and in line with the CRESHCF assessment findings, this Short-Term Consultant will be responsible for providing technical assistance to the Tuvalu MoHSW to develop healthcare waste management policies, plans, SOPs and training manuals, as per the GEF Project Activity 1.1.3. “Develop SOPs, protocols and guidelines to support climate change and health policies aligned with WHO and other relevant international standards”.

Furthermore, by undertaking a detailed Healthcare Waste Management Assessment at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH), this consultancy will lay the groundwork for delivering improvements in HCWM at PMH specifically under Activity 3.2.2.a. “Develop climate-resilient healthcare services by expanding and strengthening the capacity of service delivery in the Princess Margaret Hospital and health centers on outer islands by developing climate­ resilient healthcare services, including upskilling of staff to identify and treat CSHRs, contingency planning”.

Deliverables

Job Description 

1. Prepare an inception report with a work plan on how to implement the activities and achieve the output/deliverables as outlined in the terms of reference.
2. Lead the development of the National Healthcare Waste Management Policy in close coordination with MoHSW.
3. Develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Healthcare Waste Management and conduct orientation on it.
4. Facilitate the development of the Healthcare Waste Management Plan for Tuvalu MoHSW.
5. Conduct a detailed assessment of Healthcare Waste Management at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH) and provide detailed recommendations.
6. Develop a training manual for Healthcare Waste Management.
7. Support project coordination and management.
8. Submit the final report.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables:

The specific outputs under this consultancy include: 

Output 1: Submit an Inception Report with a work plan for the work to be performed and completed.
Deliverable 1.1: Develop a detailed work plan with methodologies on how to implement activities to achieve outputs and deliverables of the project and a time frame for each deliverable.

Output 2: Develop National Healthcare Waste Management Policy
Deliverable 2.1: Conduct literature review and undertake stakeholder consultations and draft National Healthcare Waste Management Policy.
Deliverable 2.2: Present draft policy in a workshop and submit the National Healthcare Waste Management Policy for approval after revisions based on feedback from MoHSW and others.

Output 3: Prepare Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Healthcare Waste Management
Deliverable 3.1: Develop Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Healthcare Waste Management through literature review and stakeholder’s consultations. 
Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate the organization of an orientation meeting on the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to relevant officials at MoHSW.

Output 4:  Develop a Healthcare Waste Management Plan for Tuvalu MoHSW
Deliverable 4.1:  Provide overview of the current healthcare waste management practices at the healthcare facilities to establish baseline information and identify gaps in healthcare waste management in Tuvalu.
Deliverable 4.2: Identify the healthcare waste management governance structure, infrastructure, and capacity needs of the various levels of healthcare facilities.
Deliverable 4.3:  Develop a Healthcare Waste Management Plan for Tuvalu MoHSW with an implementation plan and monitoring & evaluation framework.

Output 5: Conduct a detailed assessment of the existing Healthcare Waste Management system at Princess Margaret Hospital (PMH). 
Deliverable 5.1: Conduct a detailed assessment of healthcare waste management practices at PMH from sources to disposal. This would include, but not limited to, quantification of various wastes at source, their transport, treatment, and disposal. 
Deliverable 5.2: Develop an improvement plan with areas of improvement, technology needs, and supply requirements for the development and operationalization of an improved Healthcare Waste Management system for PMH. 

Output 6: Develop the training manual for Healthcare Waste Management.
Deliverable 6.1: Develop a training manual with training presentations, training material, and a training plan on Healthcare Waste Management.

Output 7: Support project coordination and management.
Deliverable 7.1: Contribute to the implementation of the country project acceleration plan in close coordination with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (MoHSW), WHO DPS PCE and in close coordination with the GEF Tuvalu Project Coordinator.
Deliverable 7.2: Participate in weekly check-in calls and periodic reporting tasks for the Project.

Output 8: Submit a final assignment completion report.
Deliverable 8.1: Submit a final report.

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications

Essential: University degree in environmental health, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health, or related fields.
Desirable: An advanced degree (master’s) in environmental health, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health, or related fields.

Experience

Essential: Demonstrated skills and at least 5 to 10 years of experience in Environmental Health/Environmental Engineering, Healthcare Waste Management, Policy Development, Strategic Planning or related fields.
Desirable: Proven track record in Healthcare Waste Management, Environmental Health, Policy Development, and Assessments at the Facility Level, preferably in the Pacific.

Technical skills and knowledge

• Advanced knowledge of healthcare waste management policies, plans, and practices.

• Excellent organizational and reporting skills, with experience and abilities in dealing with government and donor institutions. 

• Proven ability to conduct assessments related to environmental health in low-resource settings.

• Experience in developing adult-centered learning tools and delivering training. 

• Overall competence in working within a public sector setting.
   

Languages:

Essential: Fluency in the English language.

Competencies

• Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences

• Communicating in a credible and effective way

• Producing results

• Moving forward in a changing environment

• Teamwork
   

Location

The consultant will be based full-time onsite in WHO GEF Tuvalu Project Office, Funafuti, Tuvalu.

Travel

The consultant will be based in Funafuti and may be required to travel to the outer islands of Tuvalu. There may be travel required to Suva, Fiji, to meet with the WHO DPS PCE team.

Remuneration (travel costs are excluded)

• Remuneration: The remuneration for this position is between USD7,000 to USD9,980 per month (Band B), subject to qualifications and experience.
• Expected duration of contract: Five months (18 May 2026 to 17 October 2026)
   

Additional Information:

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