The purpose of the assignment, is to engage a technical expert for a short-term consultancy to conduct a situation analysis of current Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) practices, including the management of immunization sharps waste, in public health care facilities in Myanmar. The consultant will adapt the existing guidelines and ensure their alignment with international standards. In addition, the consultant will review the existing policy and guidelines, update training materials, develop a costed five-year roadmap of activities with feasible business models, and conduct Training of Trainers (TOT) sessions on waste management, including immunization and sharp waste management.

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

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 ranged from the 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, and 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), the improved knowledge of health workers, and 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 and sustaining the current interventions; more importantly, there is 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:

1. Conduct a situation analysis of the current HCWM practices using WHO recommended tools and methodology and identify gaps.

2. Review and adapt the existing HCWM Policies, guidelines and SOPs to ensure they fulfill the objectives and align with international and national standards.

3. Review and adapt the existing training materials to ensure full alignment with the revised policies, guidelines, and SOPs, and with international best practices.

4. Develop competency-based, user-friendly training packages tailored to different cadres of health workers and conduct Training of trainers (TOT) training.

5. Develop a five-year roadmap of activities and actions with timelines, necessary budget

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File HCWM Consultant.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: 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 is often required.
  • 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).

Work Experience:

  • 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 Health Sector institutions, NGO, Civil Society Organizations, or development programmes is an asset.

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

  • In-depth understanding of local, national, and international waste management regulations and standards.
  • Skills in developing long-term strategies and policies that address waste management challenges.
  • Experience in developing and conducting training programs

Desirables:

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills to articulate strategic/policy proposals, engage with stakeholders, and present findings.
  • Stakeholder Engagement: Ability to work with various stakeholders, including government institutions, NGOs, and the community, to gather input and build consensus.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

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. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

Remarks:  

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

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