.
Qualifications
1. ย ย ย Purpose of consultancy
The aim of the consultancy is to provide technical support to the WHO country office in Djibouti and the WHO regional office for the Eastern Mediterranean to meet the needs for oxygen and biomedical products.
2. ย ย ย Background ย
Affordable and sustainable access to oxygen is a growing challenge in resource-limited countries and complex emergencies in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). The COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on health systems, with hospitals in many resource-limited countries running out of oxygen, leading to preventable deaths. Although the medical oxygen ecosystem has been the subject of considerable work over the years, particularly with regard to the safety of its production and clinical use, its access and availability remain limited in many countries due to cost, infrastructure, logistical barriers and, in the Eastern Mediterranean region, insecurity.
To address oxygen needs and gaps, contextualized solutions and tailored approaches are required, and national biomedical engineers can play a critical role in capacity building and training. Following the identification of an international biomedical engineer, under the overall guidance of the WHO Representative and the WHO Country Office contact person, EMRO Case Management and Clinical Operations and HQ will work to develop an oxygen scale-up plan for the country.
Throughout the duration of the contract, the consultant will be required to provide technical guidance for the procurement, installation and maintenance of medical equipment supplied to various health facilities by WHO, MoH and partners, including medical and other technical staff, and provide technical advice on the proper use of medical equipment as requested by MoH/partners, in coordination with, supporting and mentoring the biomedical counterpart of the MoH.
3. ย ย ย Work to be performed
Output 1: Increase access to oxygen in close collaboration with partners and the Ministry of Health based on World Health Assembly resolutions (national essential medicines list, costed national oxygen strategy, pandemic preparedness plans, pandemic preparedness and response plan, medical oxygen forecast, medical oxygen standards, innovations, regulations and policies , etc. )
Deliverable 1.1: ย Lead technical discussion with relevant health professionals within the Ministry of Health and health facilities to explore strengths and challenges regarding oxygen expansion policies, programs and practices in Djibouti.
Deliverable 1.2: ย Submit an initial report that provides a comprehensive timeline and methodology for the mission.
Deliverable 1.3: Conduct interviews and technical discussions with relevant health professionals within the Ministry of Health and health facilities to explore strengths and challenges related to oxygen access.
Deliverable 1.4: ย Develop a report
Output 2: ย Produce a national mapping of oxygen-related activities, including details of each PSA oxygen plant (initial donor-partner, brand, configuration, date of installation and commissioning, date of last preventive maintenance, service level agreement, current use, limitations, etc.)ย
Deliverable 2.1: Develop an initial report providing a comprehensive timeline and methodology for the oxygen situation/quality of health care service assessment/practice analysis documenting available best practices.
Deliverable 2.2: Carry out an estimate of oxygen demand and oxygen deficit in the country concerned.
Deliverable 2.3: Provide technical advice and guide the Oxygen Technical Working Group (TWG), Ministry of Health and partners to develop a country-specific oxygen scale-up plan, including national, sub-national or health facility-level plans from the oxygen source to the patient delivery device.
Deliverable 2.4: Preparation and presentation of the oxygen situation at the national level and at the level of health institutions (SSP and hospitals) by means of a PowerPoint presentation during the workshop.
Deliverable 2.5: Highlight challenges and gaps to be addressed through the 2024 Oxygen Quality Improvement Plan, including key areas of assessment: hospital support services, case management, policies and service organization.ย
Deliverable 2.6: ย Workshop animation.
Deliverable 2.7: ย Develop a workshop report.
Output 3: ย The expert will provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Health, WHO EMRO and the WHO Country Office team to develop a comprehensive national strategy with an operational action plan to meet the country's oxygen needs
Deliverable 3.1: Develop the methodology for the technical work, including the oxygen assessment tool, the strategic framework and the outline of the national strategy.
Oxygen Situation Analysis Report:
โข Conduct a desk study to assess the current oxygen situation in Djibouti.
โข Lead technical discussion with relevant health professionals within the Ministry of Health and health facilities to explore strengths and challenges regarding policies, programs and practices in Djibouti.
Deliverable 3.2: Facilitate national workshops to finalize the situation analysis and agree on key elements of the national strategy.
Deliverable 3.3: Develop and submit the first report of the strategy, including the situation analysis, the framework vision, the principles and the key components of the national strategy.
Deliverable 3.3: Develop and submit the first report of the strategy, including the situation analysis, the framework vision, the principles and the key components of the national strategy.ย
Output 4: ย Identify the quantity of biomedical engineers and biomedical technicians in each hospital and identify training programs at the national level.
Deliverable 4.1: Develop a mapping of the quantity of BME and their presence and biomedical engineering programs at the national level.
Output 5: Strengthen skills in the use and maintenance of oxygen and biomedical equipment, implement standard operating procedures for preventive maintenance and use, identify missing spare parts and consumable needs.
Deliverable 5.1: ย Identify medical equipment and additional component requirements required by the Ministry of Health/partners and define and advise WHO on the constraints for installing equipment related to the work.
Output 6: Provide technical guidance and training on the correct use of medical equipment, equipment installation, repair, maintenance completion reporting and certification.
Deliverable 6.1: Develop Standard Operating Procedures for installation, maintenance, use and best practices.
Deliverable 6.2: Reconciling the production and management of oxygen with the preservation of the environment, taking into account the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Output 7: ย Implementation of SOPs for quality control of oxygen cylinders, where applicable.ย
Deliverable 7.1: Development of SOP if not already in place for medical oxygen companies.
Output 8: ย Based on the oxygen mapping assessment, contribute to the development of measures packages to ensure long-term operation of equipment, training gaps, IPC measurement gaps, maintenance gaps. Plan a strategy and its cost.
Deliverable 8.1: ย Facilitate national workshops involving relevant technical parties to finalize the situation analysis, agree on key elements of the national strategy for increasing oxygen consumption, as well as drafting a summary report.
Deliverable 8.2: ย Prepare and submit the first report of the strategy including the situation analysis, the framework vision, the principles and the key components of the national strategy.ย
Output 9: Submit a mission completion report
Deliverable 9.1: ย Draft a final report on the national medical oxygen accessibility strategy by 2030. This report should propose concrete actions to ensure sustainable coverage of medical oxygen on a national scale.
ย
4. ย ย ย Qualifications, experience, skills and languages
Educational Qualifications:
Advanced university degree (master's degree or above) in biomedical engineering or other engineering fields.
Experience:
Essential: At least seven years of professional experience in preparing and/or supervising medical equipment condition assessment and specifications for hospitals, including installation, commissioning of large-scale maintenance networks of biomedical and hospital equipment (patient ventilators, monitors, oxygen concentrators, central oxygen supply facilities, etc.)
Desirable: Professional experience within WHO, another United Nations organization or another international public health organization will be an asset.ย
Skills/Technical skills and knowledge:
- Excellent skills in technical analysis, installation and maintenance of various types of medical equipment.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to write clearly and concisely and provide technical advice and guidance taking into account the perspectives of multiple stakeholders and partners in resource-constrained settings;
- Proven ability to promote consensus, communicate progress and results, and proactively resolve issues, while ensuring effective work practices and ethics.
- Good computer skills in Microsoft Office applications.
Languages and level required:
Excellent knowledge of both English & French languages.
Good knowledge of the local language would be an asset.
5. ย ย ย Location
The consultant will be stationed in Djibouti and might travel to implementation areas as needed.
ย
6. ย ย ย Planned timelines (Subject to confirmation)
20 May 2025 to 19 August 2025
7. ย ย ย Medical clearance
The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.
8. ย ย ย Travel
All travel arrangements will be made by WHO โ WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance.
ย 9. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):ย
Remuneration: Pay band level B - USD 7,000 - 9,980 (monthly rate range)
Living expenses (A living expense is payable to on-site consultants who are internationally recruited):ย
Expected duration of contract: 3 months
ย
Additional Information
This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test may be used as a form of screening. If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. For information on WHO's operations please visit: http://www.who.int. WHO is committed to workforce diversity. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates. Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between WHO and the Consultant.WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by WHO.