Individual Consultancy: Oxygen Systems Consultant, Supply Chain Strengthening Centre (SCSC), SD, Cph (11.5 months full-time)

Countries have large and diverse technical assistance needs to expand and strengthen oxygen systems. The key task of the consultant is to support UNICEF with establishing global (including regional or country specific as appropriate) long-term arrangements (LTAs) for needed in-country oxygen services to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic and expand oxygen access.

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

COVID-19 has exposed a massive oxygen gap that existed in many low- and middle-income countries, with limited oxygen infrastructure and production capacity, hospitals not equipped for oxygen provision and a lack of trained human resources, both biomedical staff to install and maintain oxygen equipment as well as clinicians to provide safe oxygen therapy for COVID-19 and non-COVID patients.

UNICEF has over the past years and before the onset of COVID-19, invested in improving oxygen access, through updating oxygen device specifications with WHO, including a suite of oxygen therapy equipment in the UNICEF supply catalogue, developing an oxygen systems planning tool to provide support to countries in planning and costing oxygen needs, and by improving the quality of maternal, newborn and child health programming including through improved access to and safe use of oxygen as part of integrated service delivery at hospital and Primary Health Care level.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF has supplied over 23,000 oxygen concentrators as well as accessories and consumables, including hypoxemia measurement devices, to 94 countries across the world. UNICEF country offices have supported the local oxygen response in multiple ways through needs assessment, local procurement and installation of PSA plants or liquid oxygen tanks, procurement of oxygen cylinders, service contracts with suppliers, capacity building and other efforts aiming to strengthen country oxygen systems with sustainable solutions for long-term impact beyond COVID-19 to improve child health outcomes.

The UNICEF global oxygen team, housed at Programme Division in New York and Supply Division in Copenhagen, has provided technical support to country offices throughout the response for supply chain strengthening, planning, procurement, and programming.

Key Tasks

Countries have large and diverse technical assistance needs to expand and strengthen oxygen systems. The key task of the consultant is to support UNICEF with establishing global (including regional or country specific as appropriate) long-term arrangements (LTAs) for needed in-country oxygen services to respond to the current COVID-19 pandemic and expand oxygen access. 

Deliverables:

1. Collaborating across different centres in UNICEF SD and PD as well as inputs from Regional Offices and Country Offices, develop the menu of services to be covered under UNICEF LTAs for oxygen services (across different oxygen sources and implementation) informed by previous UNICEF experience with cold chain equipment optimization platform (CCEOP) service bundles, immunization supply chain analysis and design services LTAs, market LTAs and oxygen-related services needs identified by country offices from previous surveys
   1. This will include (but not limited to) needs identification/procurement/contracting services support, site preparation, distribution, installation, preventive and corrective maintenance, biomedical engineers and health workers training/capacity building (across different oxygen sources)
2. Using above list of services, develop a ‘Terms of Reference for In-country Oxygen Services’ containing appropriate justification/need for oxygen services, categorization and description of different oxygen service types, overview of activities and deliverables under each service category/type, instructions for providers to indicate service offerings, personnel, implementation timeline, cost and quality assurance modalities, regional/country and language coverage of service providers/organizations, technical assessment process and scoring of applications etc.
3. Support EOI, landscaping and outreach to qualified NGOs and suppliers with TOR and application process.
4. Lead technical review of LTA for oxygen services applications and recommendations considering geographical (regional/country) coverage, languages supported, and other considerations
5. Develop TOR for SSAs to provide technical assistance to regions/countries on oxygen services including operationalizing the LTAs for oxygen services
6. Through a combination of desk reviews and/or consultancy advertisements, establish a SSA roster to provide technical assistance to countries and regions
7. Support guidance, administration and technical assistance related to the LTAs for oxygen services
8. Any other responsibilities to support UNICEF’s oxygen response

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Academic:

University degree in biomedical engineering, medicine, logistics, public health, business administration or related discipline.  Advanced degree (Masters) preferred.

Professional Experience: 

• Experience with in-country maternal, neonatal and child health (including oxygen) systems
• Experience with in-country health systems services technical assistance, including for oxygen
• Understanding of different capacity building models including engaging in-country service providers and private sector
• Familiarity and experience of working with UNICEF and LMICs is considered an asset

Other Skills and Qualifications:

• High level of academic technical writing expertise
• High level of analytical skills and attention to detail
• Knowledge of MS Office Suite
• Knowledge of the environment in which UNICEF operates (i.e., global health sector)
• Excellent communicator of verbal and written concepts to an international audience
• Able to quickly understand instructions, to proactively seek clarification when needed
• Able to work well in a team environment

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is essential

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Functional Competencies:

• Able to work independently and problem solving oriented
• Able to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships
• Demonstrated communication and relationship building skills
• Proven capacity to work with collaborative teams across different locations and with different technical skills

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/letter of application outlining relevant experience and competencies
2. CV
3. Financial quote with a daily rate, a monthly rate and total cost of contract in US Dollars.
4. Contact details for at least 3 reference contacts (current and former employer)

Please indicate your availability and financial quote to undertake the terms of reference above.  Applications submitted without a financial quote will not be considered. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.