The Management Sciences for Health (MSH), a global health nonprofit organization, uses proven approaches developed over 40 years to help leaders, health managers, and communities in developing nations build stronger health systems for greater health impact. We work to save lives by closing the gap between knowledge and action in public health.
We are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Title: Consultant II - Consultancy to Conduct Situation Analysis of Bio-safety and Bio-security Practices In Nigeria
Job ID: 13-11060
Location: Nigeria-Abuja
Group/Office: PDG (Program Delivery Group)
Dept/Unit: PDGGEN - Program Delivery Group
Project/Program: A607 - Nigeria Global Fund RSSH
Reports To: Director Lab
Grade: Consultant
Expected Completion Period: Consultancy will span the period May - July 2020
Number of Consultants: 1
Estimated level of effort: 7 working days.
Overview
- The overarching aim of the GF Resilient & Sustainable Systems for Health [RSSH] project is to improve the health and well-being of the Nigerian people by identifying and addressing systemic issues affecting the optimal delivery of health services in Nigeria.
- The RSSH grant is designed to strengthen the Nigerian health system across the HIV, TB, and Malaria program areas. In doing so it'll have interventions targeted at the HMIS, PSM & Lab system strengthening areas.
- There's also the additional dimension of the innovative "State approach" to be piloted in the three states of Oyo, Kaduna & Imo. The state approach covers elements like public financial management, support for health insurance and health sector coordination among others.
- Laboratory system strengthening aims to improve laboratory operations for optimal patient care, treatment, disease surveillance and response, biosafety and policy development. Laboratory accidents and the inadvertent release of pathogens has been regarded a major concern in the world.
- Biological accidents, biosafety breaches and Laboratory Acquired Infections happen all too regularly, even in the most secure of laboratories and this has been recorded to contribute to the recent increase in the rate of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases. Laboratory biosafety and biosecurity is fundamental to keeping people safe from dangerous pathogens and other biological materials and substances both inside and outside the lab.
- A comprehensive biosafety culture translates into the understanding and routine application of a set of safe practices, procedures, actions, habits; use of guidelines, policy and regulations that protect the people working with biological materials, the plant and animal populations as well as the environment.
- The use of appropriate biosafety and biosecurity policies, guidelines and regulations will ensure protection and safe guard of human health and the environment from potential adverse effects of biohazards and prevent accidental exposures. It would also lead to reducing the risks of loss, theft or misuse caused by poor management or poor accountability and protection of laboratory generated biological agents.
- This has led to the development of the National Biosafety and Biosecurity guidelines. As part of the strategic planning process to achieve a strengthened laboratory system under the RSSH Project, the Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with the National Laboratory Technical Working Group (NLTWG) has identified the need for a situation analysis of Biosafety and Biosecurity practices in Nigeria, so as to obtain baseline information required for the development of the implementation plan for newly developed National biosafety and biosecurity guidelines based on the one-health approach.
Objective
The consultancy is aimed at achieving the following objectives:
- To review the reports of the baseline assessment of the biosafety and biosecurity situation in Medical/ Clinical, environmental, veterinary, research and biotechnology laboratories in 13 states of the country
- Prepare and develop a situation analysis report of the Biosafety and Biosecurity based on the reports of the findings from the assessment.
Specific Responsibilities
Specific Terms of Reference:
One consultant will be required to work on the documents between the periods August to December 2020 as follows:
- The consultants will: Support the conduct of the training of assessors on the National Biosafety and Biosecurity Assessment Checklist.
- Conduct a thorough review of the baseline assessment of the biosafety and biosecurity reports from the facilities visited by the assessors in 13 states including the FCT.
- Develop a Biosafety and Biosecurity situation analysis for the country.
- Prepare activity narrative report
Deliverables:
- Detailed report of the review of the facilities Biosafety and biosecurity baseline assessment.
- Detailed report with pictorial evidence of stakeholders’ engagement
- Developed Biosafety and Biosecurity situation analysis for the country.
- Activity narrative report
Qualifications and Experience
Requirements:
Consultant Qualifications:
- A Medical Laboratory professional, or public health Professional with understanding of Biosafety and Biosecurity threats implication, Global Biorisk Management program, Sustainable Development Goals, among other global health issues.
- Advanced degree in Public Health and /or Certification in International Federation of Biosafety Association will be an advantage.
Essential Experience:
- Minimum of 5 – 8 years’ experience working in public health, Clinical or Research laboratory and global health at the national and International level.
- Must be familiar with Nigerian healthcare delivery systems and structures especially as it relates to laboratory services
- Demonstrable Experience of having undertaken situation analysis of Biosafety and Biosecurity program training and implementation program.
- Verifiable evidence of performance in similar jobs
