International Consultant: Technical Supervision for the Construction and Repair Consultant with UNICEF in Uzbekistan

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. 

For every child, health!

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO, is embarking on an important endeavour to enhance the quality of care for Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services in 227 perinatal centres across the country. This comprehensive initiative aims to address critical gaps in maternal and perinatal care, focusing on improving equipment availability and the competency of healthcare professionals.

Recognizing the significance of this initiative, UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO are extending their support to the Ministry of Health in implementing a comprehensive programme on Maternal and Perinatal Care. A substantial portion of the program’s funding, 75 per cent, has been allocated to procuring essential equipment required for safe and effective RMNCAH services in perinatal centres.

An assessment of all 227 perinatal centres was conducted to provide a comprehensive understanding of the current state of these facilities, including the availability and functionality of maternal and perinatal equipment and the adequacy of infrastructure to accommodate the required medical equipment. The rapid assessment was accompanied by an engineer’s report which includes actionable recommendations to improve the perinatal centre’s readiness to accept the necessary equipment.

UNICEF seeks an international consultant with a background in engineering to provide adequate support and strength in monitoring and control the quality of preparatory works, assuring that the works are carried out in compliance with UNICEF actionable recommendations and ensuring that these facilities are ready to accept and accommodate the equipment in the prepared spaces. Additionally, the consultant will be expected to support the country office in data analysis and review of equipment bidding documents.

The main types of works to be carried out by the Ministry of Health at 227 perinatal centers will be based on the actionable recommendations to be produced by UNICEF. The international consultant will provide technical advisory support in interpreting the UNICEF engineering reports and recommendations to the local engineers, design institutes, construction companies, and other technical staff engaged by the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to carry out works to get in the healthcare facilities ready to accept and accommodate life-saving medical equipment.

Under the overall guidance of the Programme Officer: Procurement Services, and with the Chief of Health and Development the international consultant will:

Service Description:

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

• Minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in facility assessments, site inspections
• At least 5 years proven experience preparing national reports and analyzing large databases.
• Experience of working with UN agencies.
• Previous experience working in Uzbekistan is considered an asset.
• Ability to work independently.
• Excellent writing skills. At least one national report with large database analysis must be presented.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of Russian is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

 UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.