Ministry of Health
Request for Applications for Position of Environment and Social Specialist
Department: Ministry of Health Project Implementing Unit
Job title: Environment and Social Specialist
Project: Ministry of Health PIU
Responsible to: Project Coordinator
- PROJECT & BROAD OBJECTIVES
Lesotho is one of the 30 high TB burden countries in the world with an estimated annual incidence of 788 TB cases per every 100,000 population. Seventy four percent of TB cases are co-infected with HIV. TB treatment success rate has not gone beyond 74%, TB case fatality ratio is high and only a small proportion of TB re-treatment cases are offered testing for drug resistant TB bacilli. The mortality rate in TB/HIV co-infected TB patients is 223 per 100,000 population. Additionally, MDR-TB is on the rise with 3.2% and 6.8% of new and retreatment respectively TB cases are estimated to have MDR-TB. Despite Lesotho’s high burden of TB, TB/HIV and MDR-TB cases, the TB case detection rate is 49% which means more than half TB are not diagnosed and treated.
The Kingdom of Lesotho is among four countries participating in the Southern Africa Tuberculosis and Health Systems Support Project funded by the World Bank. This is a ve year project with overall objectives to: (i) improve coverage and quality of TB control and occupational lung disease services in targeted geographic areas of the participating countries; and (ii) strengthen regional capacity to manage the burden of TB and occupational diseases. The project will target underserved populations with a high TB and/or TB/HIV burden, including mining communities, transport corridors and cross -border areas. Even though the main focus of the proposed project is on strengthening the health sector response to TB, there will be selective support for joint multi-sectoral activities to enhance overall impact. The proposed operation includes three components: (i) Innovative interventions supporting prevention, detection and treatment of TB and occupational health; (ii) Regional capacity strengthening for enhanced disease surveillance, diagnostics and management of TB and occupational lung diseases; and (iii) Learning, knowledge and innovation at national and regional levels. The project will target (i) mining and peri-mining communities; (ii) high TB burden “hot spots” areas; (iii) border districts with high levels of movement of people and goods; (iv)transport corridors; (v) labor sending areas and (vi) areas of high incidence of poverty in order to signifiantly impact the burden of TB in Lesotho
- OBJECTIVE OF ASSIGNMENT
During preparation of the project, the Government of Lesotho prepared 1) Environmental and Social Management Framework (ESMF) for management of environmental and social impacts of civil works and 2) Infection Control and Waste Management Plan (ICWMP), to identify and address the environmental and social impacts associated with health services. The Government is obligated to implement the project in full compliance with the requirements under both documents. The SATBHSS project is now hiring an Environment and Social (E&S) Specialist to coordinate and manage the implementation of the ESMF and ICWMP
- SCOPE OF WORK
The responsibilities of the Environment and Social Specialist include, but not limited to, coordinating, monitoring and reporting on all aspects of the ESMF and ICWMP
Under the ESMF, these responsibilities include:
- Completion of Screening checklist
- Preparation of Environment and Social Management Plans (ESMPs)
- Developing grievance redressal mechanism
- Disclosing all site-specific ESMPs
- Undertaking consultations of site-specific ESMPs and maintaining documentation of such consultation
- Getting the ESMPs approved by relevant authorities
- Ensuring the inclusion of ESMP requirements and Chance Find procedures into contractor documents
- 8. Undertaking regular field visits to all sites to supervise and monitor ESMP implementation during construction;
- Preparing regular supervision and monitoring reports on implementation of ESMF, including field visit reports and photographic evidence
- Reporting ESMP implementation of all sites
- Discussing with design and engineering specialists to introduce environmental enhancements and better green designs, where possible
- Documenting and reporting on any observed cases of any noncompliance with the ESMF
- Conduct regular meetings with Health Environment and Ministry of Environment authorities, relevant stakeholders including communities to resolve issues and problems
- Document good case studies
- Commission an end-line independent environmental audit of ESMP in year 4 of the project
Under the ICWMP, these responsibilities include
- Evaluate the present ICWM practices and suggest improvements
- Develop procurement plans for equipment and consumables needed for implementation of ICWM
- Monitoring of ICWM practices during field visits
- Commission consultancy to determine gaps in laws and policies related to Infection control and waste management (ICWM)
- Develop technical guidelines for HCWM
- Develop the institutional mechanism for the implementation and monitoring of ICWM at various levels
- Undertake a training needs assessment
- Develop a training plan for rolling out training for healthcare workers. This will include planning for development of training modules and roll-out of training
- Commission a consultancy to roll out training on ICWM
- Develop a public awareness strategy and implement the awareness activities
- Coordinate with other relevant ministries and agencies
- Explore opportunities for private sector involvement in ICWM
- Ensure budget line for continued ICWM is included in MOH budget in year 4
- Commission an independent assessment of ICWMP implementation in year 4 of project
- Prepare Reporting Formats, Checklists and Guidelines, as necessary to facilitate monitoring and reporting
TERMS & CONDITIONS
- The tenure of appointment shall be full-time for 9 months contract.
Experience and Qualifications
- A Post graduate in Environmental Sciences or Environmental Engineering, Background in Civil works/Waste management and or Health care waste management is an asset.
- Atleast 8 year’s hands on experience related to environmental and social project management.
- Experience working with the World Bank projects on environment and social safe guards or other donor funded organisation will be an added advantage.
- APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS
Interested and suitably qualified candidates should forward their applications indicating the position on the subject line of letter together with detailed curriculum vitae indicating work experience and certified certificates and Identity document. Day time telephone contacts, names and telephone contacts of 3 referees should be included in the CV.
Applications to reach the undersigned not later than 24th August, 2023 1200hour to:
Procurement Specialist, Procurement Unit Ground Floor, Ministry of Health, Corner constitution & Linare Roads, Kingdom of Lesotho, Telephone: (+266) 27323277.
Only shortlisted and successful candidates will be contacted within two weeks from submission deadline. If you do not receive a call and email from us consider application not successful.