Call for Expression of Interest (EOI) for Consultancy in icddr,b

icddr,b is a Bangladesh-based international health research institute that strives to solve key public health problems through high-quality scientific research and innovation. icddr,b as a value-based organization encourages women and people with disabilities.

icddr,b invites applications from suitable candidates for consultancy with the Non-Communicable Diseases unit under the Nutrition Research Division.

Assignment / Activity: This consultancy aims to provide expert opinion and guidance in mapping existing knowledge and evidences regarding primary health care for NCDs and drinking water technologies, drinking water qualities in selected coastal areas, develop a basket of intervention for mitigating drinking water salinity and evaluation of the intervention.

Location: Mohakhali, Dhaka

Expected start date of assignment: January 15, 2024

Duration: 60 Days

Scope of work:

The consultant will contribute to the project “NIHR Global Health Research Centre on NCDs and Environmental Change” of the Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD), Nutrition Research Division (NRD) which focuses on controlling and mitigating dual challenges of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and environmental change in the coastal areas of Bangladesh particularly reducing risk of cardiovascular diseases, chronic kidney diseases and diabetes and mitigating drinking water salinity among coastal population. This study will map existing knowledge and evidences regarding primary health care for NCDs and drinking water technologies, drinking water qualities in selected coastal areas and develop a basket of intervention and evaluation of the intervention.

Specific Responsibilities:

Major responsibilities would include the following-

• Advise and lead in undertaking rapid evidence reviews and synthesis in order to determine location and specific form of water salinity mitigation interventions in the coastal area;
• Provide guidance and feedback on drinking water technology survey and water quality survey (e.g.; list of variables needs to collect and analysis method);
• Assist in identifying environment friendly technology for mitigating drinking water technologies;
• Provide technical guidance to the team/ researchers for developing/modifying, installing and maintaining environment friendly water technologies to be implemented in the intervention phase;
• Develop SOPs for developing/installing and maintaining the drinking water technologies in collaboration with the Research Team;
• Train staff/community people for maintaining the drinking water technologies;
• Attend weekly/biweekly/monthly team meetings face to face or virtually;
• Participate in Team Field Work as and when necessary;
• Contribute in developing the basket of intervention for mitigating drinking water salinity;
• Contribute in developing the research proposal to be developed for the full-scale trial;
• Contribute in developing manuscript of water salinity survey and full-scale trial protocol paper;
• Mentoring and supervising junior researchers;
• Attend biweekly/monthly team meetings, workshops, seminars and field visits as necessary.

Expected Deliverables:

• Rapid evidence reviews and synthesis of drinking water salinity mitigation interventions in coastal areas;
• Guide team members in water quality and drinking water technology survey;Identify environment friendly technologies for mitigating drinking water salinity;
• Contribute in developing formative phase manuscript (writing methods, analysis and interpretation);
• Report/present project achievements in regular team meetings;
• Contribute in developing (writing methods, analysis and interpretation) full-scale trial protocol;
• Developed SOPs, in collaboration with other researchers, for installation and maintenance of mitigating drinking water technologies;
• Contribute in developing full scale trial research protocol of the mitigating drinking water salinity component (detailed methodology);
• Technical support will be provided for developing/modifying of drinking water technologies;
• Technical support will be provided for installing of drinking water technologies;
• Complete training of designated staff and community people for maintaining drinking water technologies;
• Mentor at least 2 junior researchers/students in the field of Hydrogeology/Hydro geochemistry.

Required qualifications and experience:

• The consultant must have a PhD Degree in Hydrogeology/Groundwater Hydrology
• She/he must have minimum 15 years of experience in Hydrogeology and Environmental Health research.
• Excellent track record in conducting hydrogeological and environmental risk factors related research.
• Expert in hydrogeological technologies especially drinking water salinity mitigation technologies.
• At least 15 publications in peer-reviewed journal while at least 4 articles as lead author.

Notes of attention:

• Only short-listed candidates shall be invited for the selection process;
• icddr,b does not charge any fee at any stage of the selection process;
• icddr,b reserved the ownership/rights to any intellectual property generated and/or modified under this consultancy engagement.

Interested candidates who fulfill the requirements should submit online applications using icddr,b website: career.icddrb.org by December 31, 2023.