PAHO CONSULTANT - National Assessment of the Health Care Waste Management in Suriname

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

July 3, 2026

Closing Date:

July 14, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

SUR Suriname

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

1. BACKGROUND

Safe and effective Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) is a fundamental component of quality health services, infection prevention and control (IPC), occupational safety, environmental protection, and health emergency preparedness. Strong HCWM systems protect health workers, patients, waste handlers, and surrounding communities while ensuring health facilities remain safe and resilient during routine operations and public health emergencies.

In Suriname, health care facilities generate hazardous waste, including infectious waste, sharps, pharmaceutical, and chemical waste, all of which require safe segregation, handling, treatment, and disposal. However, HCWM systems remain weak, including in primary health care facilities and remote clinics. Waste segregation is inconsistent, appropriate equipment and standard operating procedures are not universally available, and environmentally sound treatment options for infectious waste remain limited. As a result, infectious waste is frequently mixed with municipal waste or managed using substandard practices, including open burning and low-temperature incineration. These challenges become even more significant during disease outbreaks, when the generation of infectious waste and the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) increase.

A 2022 national waste management assessment found that more than 95% of waste, including hazardous and infectious waste, is disposed of at open dump sites without adequate environmental or public health safeguards, while less than 5% is reused or recycled. These practices increase the risk of healthcare-associated infections, occupational exposure, environmental contamination, and vector breeding, while undermining the resilience of the health system.

Although Suriname has developed an Integrated Waste Management Plan and received support from development partners, implementation of standardized HCWM practices remains fragmented, and limited national data are available to guide investment and continuous improvement. In addition, assessing the current availability and appropriate use of PPE will provide valuable information to strengthen IPC programmes and preparedness for future public health emergencies.

To address these challenges, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Ministry responsible for the environment and with technical support from PAHO/WHO, will undertake a national HCWM assessment using the WHO/UNDP assessment methodology. The assessment will establish a national baseline, identify system gaps and priority investments, evaluate PPE use, and inform the development of a government-validated, costed Five-Year National Continuous Improvement Plan (cIP), including recommendations for environmentally sustainable technologies for infectious waste treatment.

This consultancy contributes to implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), particularly Core Capacity C8 (Infection Prevention and Control), by strengthening health care waste management systems, protecting health workers and communities, and supporting resilient, environmentally sustainable health services and emergency preparedness.

2. OBJECTIVES:

2.1. General Objective

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical leadership for the assessment and strengthening of Health Care Waste Management (HCWM) systems in Suriname through the implementation of a comprehensive national HCWM assessment, the identification of system gaps and priorities, and the development of a government-validated, costed Five-Year National Continuous Improvement Plan (cIP). The consultancy will also provide evidence-based recommendations to strengthen infection prevention and control, improve the safe management of infectious health care waste, and promote the adoption of environmentally sustainable technologies and practices that enhance the resilience and sustainability of the health system.

The consultancy supports implementation of the International Health Regulations (2005), particularly Core Capacity C8 (Infection Prevention and Control), by strengthening national capacity for safe health care waste management, protecting health workers and communities, reducing environmental and occupational risks, and contributing to resilient health systems and health emergency preparedness.

2.2. Specific Objectives

• Conduct a desk review of the national policy, legal and regulatory framework for health care waste management, including the waste management and recycling sectors.
• Develop and deliver a two-day training programme for the national HCWM assessment team.
• Provide technical oversight for the national HCWM assessment in selected health facilities, laboratories, vaccine storage facilities, and infectious waste treatment facilities, using the WHO/UNDP HCWM assessment methodology.
• Analyze assessment findings and prepare a comprehensive national HCWM assessment report identifying strengths, gaps, and priority actions, including observations on PPE use and compliance.
• Develop recommendations on environmentally sustainable ("green") technologies and approaches for the treatment and management of infectious health care waste.
• Facilitate a four-day national validation and planning workshop to present assessment findings and support the National Working Group on HCWM in developing a costed five-year Continuous Improvement Plan.
• Finalize and submit the validated five-year National HCWM Continuous Improvement Plan, including prioritized and costed activities, an implementation timeline, recommendations to address PPE gaps, and measures to strengthen environmentally sustainable health care waste management.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the technical guidance of the Health Emergencies Advisor, PAHO/WHO Country Office in Suriname and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Oil, Gas and Environment, and other relevant national stakeholders, the consultant will:

• Provide technical leadership for the planning, implementation, and quality assurance of the national HCWM assessment.
• Adapt and apply the WHO/UNDP HCWM assessment methodology and tools to the Suriname context.
• Train and mentor the national assessment team on the assessment methodology and data collection procedures.
• Review and analyze assessment findings and prepare a comprehensive national assessment report.
• Facilitate stakeholder consultation and validation of assessment findings.
• Lead the development of a government-validated, costed five-year National HCWM Continuous Improvement Plan.
• Develop recommendations to strengthen PPE use and compliance around hazardous waste within health care facilities.
• Recommend feasible, environmentally sustainable technologies and practices for infectious health care waste treatment, considering the national context.
• Submit all required technical reports and deliverables in accordance with the agreed consultancy timeline.

4. DELIVERABLES:

The consultant will be paid upon receipt and approval of the following deliverables:

1. Inception package, including approved workplan, methodology, adapted WHO/UNDP HCWM assessment tools and questionnaires, stakeholder engagement plan, and detailed assessment schedule.

(2 weeks after the contract signature - 10%)

2. Draft National HCWM Assessment Report

(9 weeks after the contract signature - 25%)

3. Draft Costed Five-Year National HCWM Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP),

including prioritized activities, implementation framework, comparative analysis of green technologies (cost, feasibility, environmental impact, capacity requirements), and recommendations.

(12 weeks after the contract signature - 20%)

4. National validation and planning workshop report

(14 weeks after the contract signature -15%)

5. Final Government-Validated Five-Year National HCWM Continuous Improvement Plan

(17 weeks after the contract signature - 30%)

5. DURATION AND LOCATION:

This duration of the consultancy is 4 months. The consultant will be working remotely and for specified weeks, in Paramaribo and some districts of Suriname (plane ticket and per-diem will be paid separately).

6. EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS (QUALIFICATIONS):

Essential:

• University degree in environmental health, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health, or related fields.
• Languages: English (advanced) and Dutch (desirable).

Desirable:

• An advanced degree (master’s) in environmental health, Sanitary Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Public Health, or related fields.

7. EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

Essential:

• 7 to 9 years of experience in Environmental Health/Environmental Engineering, Healthcare Waste Management, Policy Development, Strategic Planning or related fields

Desirable:

• Proven track record in Healthcare Waste Management, Environmental Health, Policy Development, and Assessments at the Facility Level.

8. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The incumbent will be required to do the mandatory training within the first two weeks of the assignment.
• The incumbent will be required to use his/her own IT equipment (including laptop).
• To use PAHO Applications on personal phones will have to download the INTUNE Company portal app.

Total Contract Renumeration: USD$20,640,=

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• 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. PAHO/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/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/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.
• 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 PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/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 each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.