International consultant to conduct evaluation on health impacts and social costs associated with air pollution in larger urban areas of Ukraine

Background

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life, as envisaged by 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The UNDP is on the ground in more than 170 countries and territories, working with governments and people on their own solutions, to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and a wide range of partners that can bring about results.

To promote compliance with environmental and social standards, the Sustainable Procurement in the Health sector initiative (SPHS) was officially established in May 2012 in Copenhagen, Denmark. This initiative is implemented by an Informal Interagency Task Team coordinated by UNDP through the SPHS secretariat and has ten members—seven are UN Agencies (UNDP, UNEP, UNFPA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNOPS, WHO) and three are Multilateral Health Financing Institutions (GAVI, GFATM and UNITAID). With the financial support from the Swedish Government, UNDP working with Health Care Without Harm (HCWH) initiated the Sustainable Health in Procurement Project (SHiPP).

UNDP has identified public procurement in the health sector as a key entry point for promoting more sustainable production and consumption patterns in line with SDG12 principles. The role of sustainable procurement in preventing and minimizing the environmental impact of health sector operations is well acknowledged and at the same time the sustainable procurement practices have the capacity to reduce a significant proportion of the health sector’s gas emissions and pollutants. Government procurement accounts for 10-15% of GDP for developed countries, and as much as 20% of GDP for developing countries. Through sustainable procurement, governments as well as private purchasers, can significantly reduce their carbon and toxic gases footprint thus impacting the climate change and air pollution effect.

Air pollution is now the biggest environmental risk for early death, responsible globally for more than 6 million premature deaths each year from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and respiratory diseases. That’s more than the deaths from AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria combined.

Children, the elderly, people with existing diseases, and minority and low-income communities are particularly vulnerable to adverse health outcomes and economic impacts, such as missed work days, from exposure to air pollution

Experience of high levels of air pollution increases the risk of respiratory infections, heart disease and lung cancer. Both short- and long-term exposure to air pollutants have been associated with health impacts. Furthermore, air pollution brings immense social and economic costs in the shape of expensive medical care, decreased work ability, lowered income to families and individuals, disproportionate social harm and loss of human lives.

The air in Ukraine is worse than anywhere else in Europe. The World Health Organization ranks Ukraine as the country with the highest health impact from air pollution in Europe. With 70% of Ukraine’s primary energy consumption coming from various fossil fuels, which in turn emit an enormous volume of pollutants into the air, it is safe to say that fossil fuels are the main culprit of the country’s air pollution. Incinerators, pharmaceutical plant and coal-fired power plants that lead the way (massive fleet of 20 plants) constantly pump sulphur dioxide, dust and nitrous oxides into the air.

Due to the country’s old and degraded air quality monitoring system, the medical industry and energy plants’ impact on ambient air quality is not properly measured.

It is high time for Ukraine’s government to take the air pollution problem seriously and to take concrete measures to reduce emissions at the source. This is a long and expensive process, regardless of whether it includes bringing the emissions from the power plants down to legal limits or replacing them with renewable capacities. However, further delays must not be tolerated by any party involved, including the international community. As long as Ukraine’s dangerous emissions continue unabated, people will continue to pay the cost with their lives.

In this context, in 2021 UNDP intends to conduct an evaluation of health impacts and social costs associated with air pollution in larger urban areas of Ukraine. Through illustration of the health, economic and social impact of air pollution, the proposed activity will support the government of Ukraine and other relevant bodies with better informing the decision-making related to rules, regulations and policies concerning the work of sources of air pollution.

Duties and Responsibilities

MAIN OBJECTIVE OF THE ASSIGNMENT

This assignment aims to quantify the health and social impact of air pollution in larger urban areas of Ukraine and to provide recommendations for policies introduction and implementation that will diminish the negative health effect and the social and economic burden the Ukrainian people carry as a result of air pollution related morbidity and mortality.

DESCRIPTION OF RESPONSIBILITIES / SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant will be responsible for conducting the following activities:

Illustrate the existing health, social and economic problems that the magnitude of air pollution in larger Ukrainian urban areas causes.
Develop the study and the report, which are expected to contribute to strengthening the capacity of the national stakeholders in the field of air pollution and health.
Present easy-to-use information and enhance the ability to choose appropriate methods and tools to assess, plan, evaluate and decide on the best measures and strategies to reduce vulnerability to air pollution.
Improve knowledge of national and regional stakeholders in the field of air pollution and health.
Comment on implementation of national policies linked to air pollution and health.
Provide recommendations for improvement of the current situation and present an advocacy document that succinctly presents compelling facts and figures about the health, social and economic effect of air pollution in Ukraine.

DELIVERABLES AND IMPLEMENTATION SCHEDULE

The incumbent will be responsible for the following specific deliverables:

Deliverable #

Task description

Timeframe

1

Development of the research protocol

Expected result:

Research protocol, describing in detail the background, rationale, theoretical framework (study hypothesis), research question/aim, study design/methods and statistical analysis, study setting, and dissemination policy is developed and approved by the Chief Technical Advisor

No later than 10 working days after signing the contract

2

Data collection with support of a National Consultant on and data analysis

Expected result:

Narrative report about the results of the data analysis with all statistical calculations included

No later than 40 working days after signing the contract

3

Report preparation and presentation of the study results

Expected result: Finalised report in English, slide deck and a presentation to an UNDP invited audience

Report on evaluation on health impacts and social costs associated with air pollution in larger urban areas of Ukraine;
Presentation of the report during the meeting with UNDP partners, civil society representatives and other stakeholders

No later than 90 days after signing the contract

UNDP will provide payments upon provision of deliverables duly certified by UNDP in accordance with the table above. UNDP will be the ultimate authority to control the quality of work results and assess the Contractor’s performance during the assignment. Payments will be made in two tranches (Deliverable 1 – 20%, Deliverable 2 – 30%, Deliverable 3 – 50%) as per the Schedule of payments indicated in the table above.

Translation into English of all the documents required for performing the above functions will be provided by the Project.

Copyright

The title rights, copyrights and all other rights whatsoever nature in any material produced under the provisions of this TOR will be vested exclusively in UNDP.

Monitoring/reporting requirements

Health Specialist with cross-functional reporting responsibilities to Chief Technical Advisor will supervise the work of the International Consultant through regular e-mail/or telephone / Skype communication. Upon completion of the task, the deliverables will be checked by the supervisor. UNDP will be the ultimate authority to control the quality and evaluate the work. No reports, documents, communications should be published or distributed to third parties without prior approval of UNDP.

Competencies

Demonstrate/safeguard ethics and integrity;

Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment;

Self-development, initiative-taking;

Act as a team player;

Encourage and participate in open communication in the team, communicate effectively;

Create synergies through self-control;

Manage conflict;

Informed and transparent decision-making.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum qualifications and experience:

Master’s degree in Law, Public Health, Environmental Science, Health Economics or related field.
At least 5 years of relevant experience in of research and analytical work;
Previous experience of analytical work in the field of air pollution and health;

Excellent writing skills with analytic capacity and ability to synthesize inputs and relevant findings proven by the samples of at least three relevant analytical papers/studies written or co-authored by the incumbent;
Fluency in English.