L’OMS recrute un Coordonnateur national WASH, Sao Tomé et Principe
CONTEXTUALIZATION AND JUSTIFICATION
The maintenance of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) services in health facilities is a key element of several health objectives, including quality universal health coverage, prevention, and control of infections and communicable diseases, patient safety, and child and maternal health. According to the WASH-FIT assessment that was carried out by the WHO from September to November 2021 in Sao Tome and Principe, 100% (40) of the health facilities assessed in the country do not have adequate WASH infrastructure. Without this basic element, healthcare facilities cannot guarantee adequate hygiene of daily procedures, equipment, and staff, increasing the risk of infections and communicable diseases spread among patients and staff.
On the other hand, Sao Tome and Principe face a new epidemiological profile. Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, cancer, and mental health problems are emerging as a major cause of morbidity and mortality, answering for more than 60% of deaths. Cancer represents 13% of all death in the country and the tendency to increase can be associated to the ageing and change of lifestyle of the population. The road traffic accidents are one of the main causes of trauma in the country. Despite this scenario, there is still no multisectoral approach to the risk factors and social determinants associated and there is a lack of a consistent community-based health promotion program to deal with risk factors.
The new national health policy that will be operationalized in the 2023-2033 national health development plan (NHDP), assigns an integrated response to this public health problem based on primary health care.
The WHO, UNDP and WFP is jointly implementing a project called Green Infrastructure for Health and Education in Sao Tome and Principe. The joint program will contribute to improved water and energy access in the health and school facilities, further contributing to improved quality in health, school feeding and education sectors in Sao Tome and Principe. By addressing better access to quality and safe health services, through improved energy supply, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in 7 district health care facilities (WASH), the programme will contribute to accelerating universal health coverage, the linchpin for all SDGs health related targets. Additionally, it will provide the country with a more sustainable and environmentally friendly school feeding program, powered by renewable energies and able to deliver daily nutritious hot meals to more than 5 000 school children 180 days per school year, while also creating new market dynamics for 20 smallholder producers. This program entails four layers of interventions, namely the installation of hybrid solar photovoltaic systems with solar photovoltaic generators and batteries in 7 district health facilities, as back-up system and support continuity of energy during outages; the improvement of WASH conditions in these 7 health facilities; the provision to 20 schools with access to solar energy and water for adequate preparation and preservation of food; and the strengthening of 20 smallholder farmers productive and marketing capacities.
The WASH component of the joint project will be implemented by WHO. WHO will work with the Ministry of Health (MoH) and its institutions to guarantee accessibility of quality and safe healthcare services in the 7 district health centers in Sao Tome and Principe. This project will strengthen the foundation for primary health care through an integrated person-based approach and reduce the backlog of uptake of services including for the control of Noncommunicable Diseases. It is therefore an essential component of comprehensive support for improving health outcomes and for the country’s social and economic development.
This will be achieved through:
- Construction / rehabilitation of WASH infrastructures in 7 health units (HCF)
- Provision of critical and essential WASH supplies
- Integrated risk communication and community engagement (RCCE), including those addressed to communicable and non-communicable diseases
- Capacity building of health care workers
- Coordination and Mechanism for Maintenance and sustainability
MAIN TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES
-
- Lead on WASH interventions for WHO to improve access to WASH services in health facilities
- Support the preparation and implementation plans including, but not limited to integrated WASH project design of assessments, data collection and data analysis related to WASH Sector
- Create and constantly review work plans and progress against targets, estimating works completion dates and identifying project critical pathways.
- Ensure project conformity to Sphere standards for water and sanitation service provision, are gender sensitive, and mainstream child Safeguarding requirement for WASH implementation
- Supervise development and implementation of training and other capacity-strengthening activities in the project
- Contribute to Train / provide refresher training for health workers on WASH in health facilities.
- Work closely with Construction Manager and international consultant in delivery of WASH hardware including Borehole and latrines construction
- Will be responsible and accountable for generating timely reports for the program
- Develop capacity of health workers and community health workers in a integrated approach addressed to WASH, communicable, non-communicable diseases and interventions and monitoring
- Together with other project personnel responsible for encouraging community participation in WASH, communicable, non-communicable diseases activities to ensure the long-term ownership and effectiveness of the programme
- Prepare technical and financial project reports
- Ensure coordination and linkage with other UN agencies, Government, NGOs, and the community for sustainability
- Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Participate in development of M&E frameworks, work plans and response WASH, and nom communicable program evaluations
- Ensure correct record keeping and data management for all WASH, and nom communicable activities of the program
- Ensure that raw data reports are prepared and submitted on a timely basis to WASH Project Manager
TECHNICAL SUPERVISION
The project manager will work under the supervision of:
| Manager: | Claudina Augusto da Cruz | Email: | cruzc@who.int |
SPECIFIC REQUIREMENTS
Qualifications required:
Essential
- Bachelor’s Degree in civil engineering, management of water and sanitation services and infrastructures / environmental science or related field from an accredited/recognized institute.
Desirable
- Advanced Degree in related fields
- Advanced degree in public health
Experience required:
Essential
- At least 3 years’ experience in assessing, designing, planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluation of WASH Projects / Programs (WASH in Health Care Facilities, WASH in Schools, WASH in Urban or Rural Communities).
- Good project management skills, ability to monitor and communicate progress in terms of process and results
Desirable
- Experience in the health sector
- Experience in health facility assessment
- Experience in project management
- Prior working experience with UN
- Preferably have successfully completed other similar assignments at international level.
Skills
- Proven knowledge and skills in infection prevention and control, rapid assessment techniques.
- Strong organizational and communication skills including ability to negotiate with National authorities
- Demonstrated knowledge of water, sanitation, hygiene and health care waste management in emergency response
- situations in the field of with proven ability to identify and solve technical problems in difficult circumstances
- Excellent analytical and organizational skills, with proven ability to elaborate and implement projects
WHO Competencies
- Teamwork
- Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences
- Communication
- Ensuring effective use of resources
- Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond
- Creating an empowering and motivating environment
Language requirements:
Excellent knowledge of Portuguese
Working knowledge of English (or French) will be an asset
PLACE OF ASSIGNMENT
WHO country office in Sao Tome and Principe
DURATION OF ASSISTANCE:
12 months ( 1 october 2023 a 31 September 24)