UNICEF Supply Division is looking for a Oxygen Concentrator Innovation Project Consultant

Oxygen Concentrator Innovation Project Consultant

Product Innovation Centre, UNICEF Supply Division

Duration: 11.5 months full time

Location: UNICEF Supply Division (SD), Copenhagen, Denmark and/or remote working may be considered for this consultancy

Start Date: As soon as possible

Background:

UNICEF is working to improve availability of medical oxygen.  Oxygen concentrators have long been proposed as a cost-effective source of medical oxygen in low-resource and remote settings, especially in health facilities that are too remote to be serviced with cylinder oxygen or too small to justify installing an oxygen plant. Commercially available concentrators have shortcomings that create implementation challenges in high heat, high humidity, dusty and poor-quality power settings with risks that they will not work appropriately when used or will end up in equipment graveyards.

UNICEF has concluded that product innovation is needed to re-think the design of a concentrator that is fit-for-low-resource settings, specifically that is:

• Conducive for supply chain (prepositioning/warehousing of new units and spare parts) and facility management (no need to be run regularly when not in operation),
• Resilient to power-related challenges common in off/weak grid and remote health facilities,
• Resistant to high heat, high humidity and high dust, and
• Simple to use and maintain. 

With that purpose, the Oxygen Concentrator Innovation Project was launched in 2020, led by the Product Innovation Centre within UNICEF SD, and has completed the following stages:

• Review UNICEF Oxygen Therapy Project & COVID-19 response learnings
• Confirm key shortcomings of existing models
• Prioritize where innovation is needed
• Landscape R&D pipeline and market
• Develop value proposition
• Outline key uncertainties to address

Objective:

The objective of this assignment is to contribute technical expertise in the collaborative development the following:

1. Target product profile (TPP) for an oxygen concentrator created via a Delphi-like process;
2. Methodology for lab, environmental and usability testing to coincide with the TPP;
3. Field trial protocol to understand fit-for purpose in real world setting;
4. Materials for co-creation process within public procurement

The TPP and methodology for lab, environmental, user testing and field trials will communicate the needs and focus innovation efforts.

Description of assignment and key deliverables:

The consultant will work with the Innovation Specialist (Health) and key stakeholders in the oxygen space, as well as the advisory and technical review committees and UNICEF country offices, to provide technical input to the project as follows.  The specific activities to be performed shall include but not be limited to the following:

1. Target product profile (TPP) for an oxygen concentrator created via a Delphi-like process (see UNICEF TPPs for examples)

• Develop draft 1 TPP survey with small group of biomedical engineers
• Obtain input on draft 1 TPP survey from small group of clinicians
• Program the TPP survey
• Develop Delphi-like process list of invitees
• Confirm Delphi-like process participants and collect required paperwork, e.g. Declaration of Interests form or other
• Prepare package for Delphi-like process participants (pre-meeting report)
• Facilitate Delphi-like process
• Analyze responses and code
• If needed, develop survey 2 to collect additional information
• Coordinate and facilitate Delphi-like process virtual meeting to review areas where these is not consensus (threshold defined)
• Draft TPP and Delphi-like process report (post meeting report)
• Support an industry consultation with suppliers, innovators and academia to obtain early feedback on the TPP, testing methodology and field trial protocol
• Prepare TPP and Delphi-like process report for publication

2. Methodology for environmental and usability testing in a lab to coincide with the TPP and prepare for regulatory process

• Develop draft list of environment and user tests and testing protocol to be conducted and obtain input
• Disseminate methodology draft
• Define dissemination plan
• Prepare methodology for publication

3. In collaboration with the project manager, determine field trial protocol needs to understand fit-for purpose in real world setting and develop the protocol

• Draft 1 field trial protocol to understand fit-for-purpose in terms of appropriateness in real world setting, with clear criteria for the performance a product needs to show in order to be approved for procurement and scale.  Outputs from field trials to include guidance on implementation and preventative maintenance (including spare parts) planning.
• Obtain and incorporate feedback
• Prepare protocol for publication

4. Materials for co-creation process within public procurement

• Develop materials to support tender processes (request for proposal, technical evaluation, commercial evaluation, sample evaluation, lab testing)
• Develop materials to support capacity building activities such as demystifying the TPP, regulatory approvals and the value for money public procurement process
• Support other oxygen-related product innovation efforts including with technical specifications or TPPs etc

Expected background and experience:

The successful candidate shall have:

Education

• University degree in engineering, biomedical engineering or related discipline, and/or public health
• Masters or PhD is preferred. 
• In addition, project management certification is preferred 

Work experience

• Minimum two years of professional relevant work experience is required

• Project management experience is preferred

Technical knowledge/skills

• Academic technical writing experience required (e.g. the design and coordination of academic studies, pilot projects, implementation or operational research and documentation of their findings)
• Experience in producing detailed technical documents for medical devices is considered a strong asset
• Specialist knowledge of medical devices is required
• Hands-on working experience in medical device development, public procurement, technical evaluation, regulatory systems, commercialization, and scaling, particularly oxygen sources, is considered a strong asset
• High level of analytical skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite and survey software

Language

• Fluency in written and spoken English is essential

Competencies:

The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are considered to be necessary to this consultancy:

• Excellent communication skills (both written and presentation) particularly for reporting and developing analytical and informative materials.
• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills.
• Proven capacity to work within collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills.

• Able to work independently and problem solving oriented.

Application

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/letter of application outlining relevant competencies
2. CV and sample of previous, relevant project work/writing/publications
3. Financial quote at a monthly rate in US Dollars and total cost of contract. And a quote for return travel to Copenhagen if office-based. Please note monthly rate should be all inclusive.
4. Contact details for 3 referees (current and former employers)

Please indicate your availability and monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered. The closing date of the advertisement is 15 December 2020

Evaluation Criteria

Applicants will be evaluated by the following criteria