Consultant - Fact-finding mission on environmental health

MDM France

Details / requirements:

Terms of reference Individual Consultant

Fact-finding mission on environmental health

I - CONTEXT

For more than 30 years, Médecins du Monde (MdM), a campaigning medical organization committed to international solidarity, has been caring for the most vulnerable populations at home and abroad. It has continued to highlight obstacles that exist in accessing health care and has secured sustainable improvements in health-for-all policies. Those working for this independent organization do not solely dispense care and treatment but condemn violations of human dignity and rights and fight to improve matters for populations living in precarious situations. MdM currently works in 34 countries across all continents where it focuses on 5 priority areas: caring for the health of migrants and displaced persons, promoting sexual and reproductive health, combating HIV and reducing the harm and risks associated with drug use, crises and conflicts and environmental health.

MdM has worked in Nepal since 1995. Since 2018, MdM is working on Environmental Health to improve health status of informal waste workers (IWWs), mitigating their occupational risks and environmental exposure, improving access to information and increasing access to health services, especially considering the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Beside this intervention, MdM has plan to develop a new project related with the pesticide (mis)use and its health consequences amongst Nepalese farmers. Indeed, the long-term (mis)use of chemical pesticides in agriculture causes chronic health issues, and intoxication symptoms are regularly reported by pesticides handlers.

Population exposed to phytosanitary products apart from the farmers and their families, include the vegetable consumers.

II- OBJECTIVE OF THE FACT-FINDING MISSION

The main objective of this fact-finding mission is to provide an in-depth analysis of the ongoing needs of both health and social issues faced by farmers using pesticides in a specific aera of Nepal. Simultaneously, this mission will report an analysis of the main constraints and opportunities (internal & external to MdM) in order to launch the formalization of a new MdM intervention. 

This mission will also inform MdM on the current national legal framework, policies and investigate on the potential dynamics (new practices, innovations) in terms of pesticides use in Nepal. 

Particular attention will be paid to the ongoing responses and potential partnerships, whether with governmental bodies, Nepalese CSOs, international NGOs or UN Agencies in order to offer an integration or ensure a complementarity with the pre-existing actors. 

III- TASKS AND ORGANIZATION

This fact-finding mission will focus 2 different areas:

  • Lumbini Province / Banke district and potentially Bardia district,
  • Bagmati Province / Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Ramechap, Sindhuli and Dolakha districts.

Main tasks to be implemented with support from MdM team in Kathmandu and HQ environmental health referent based in Paris:

  • Context analysis: demographic and health factors, political and geopolitical factors, environmental and exposure factors, living and professional environment, economic factors, factors related to health policy and pesticide availability, sociocultural factors…, 
  • Stakeholders/players and networks analysis,
  • Opportunities, constraints and preconditions identification,
  • Identification of collective health problems 
  • Strategy and project design,
  • Report

Organization:

  • Preparation and briefing in Kathmandu (10 days)
  • Field data collection (25 days)
  • Field visit with HQ environmental health referent (10 days)
  • Strategic workshop (5 days)
  • Report phase (10 days)

Total: 60 days. All logistic will be provided by MdM, including during field visits.

IV- EXPECTED OUTPUTS

  • Recommendation and strategy design
  • Fact-finding report following MdM template 
  • Stakeholders mapping 
  • Donors mapping 
  • Intervention design 
  • Note for internal validation
  • Draft Concept Note

V – EXPECTED PROFILE

  • Master’s degree in public health and/or Sociology Field, program development with minimum experience of 5 years in relevant sector
  • Experience in fact-finding missions, program planning, 
  • Experience in working with communities and less advantaged beneficiaries
  • Experience working with partner organizations and government authorities 
  • Proactive, well organized, adaptable, reliable, accountable and responsive personality
  • Interpersonal and verbal communication abilities, charisma, tact and diplomacy, intercultural and difference awareness
  • Excellent written skills
  • Nepali: mother tong
  • Able to read, write and communicate in English at professional level
  • Familiar with computer skill in Word, Excel 

Notes to Candidates

Duration: 3 months (Fixed)

Duty Station: Kathmandu (frequent travel to field)

Anticipated Start Date: As soon as possible in April 2021

Number of positions: 1

Closing date of application: 16 April 2021

How to Apply: Individual applicant having PAN number can send an updated CV in English with 3 references and a Cover Letter including past experience on similar assignment to info.mdmfrance@gmail.com Please mention on the subject the reference of the position as “Fact-finding mission on environmental health”. Telephone enquiry will not be entertained

Overview

Category Development and Project, Expression of Interests, Tender Notice, Bid
Openings 1
Position Type Contract
Experience Please check vacancy details.
Education Please check vacancy details
Posted Date 09 Apr, 2021
Apply Before 16 Apr, 2021
City Lalitpur