The present Project “Georgia Water and Health” aims at improving the water quality in Georgia while addressing relevant environmental health issues. Improved monitoring data will be achieved by extending the monitoring network, monitoring capacities and improved data management as well as by strengthening the health and environment sector capacities to approximate EU legislation. Activities regarding the EU Water Framework Directive, the Drinking Water Directive, Bathing Water Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive and others will help increase the extent and improve the quality of monitoring data and the accessibility to information to support water policy. At the same time, the actions in gender equality and social inclusion will provide better access to better quality water and public health. Development of environmental public health tracking capacities on the example of lead contamination will address vulnerable groups and national programmes for lead containing substances will ensure safety for human health and environment.

The action will be focussing on reinforcing the overall capacity to monitor, analyse and regulate water quality and quantity in Georgia. The action should also include a component aimed at reinforcing the capacity of the healthcare system to tackle environmental health issues, in particular lead pollution. The overall objective is to improve Georgia’s water quality and protect its water re-sources in order to better protect the health of citizens. Consequently, this breaks down into to specific objectives:

● SO1 – Better capacity to monitor, analyse and regulate water quality and quantity

● SO2 – Efficiency of the healthcare system reinforced in tackling environmental health issues:

• Development of national programmes/plans for lead containing substances to ensure safety for human health and environment

The present consultation takes place in order to support the realisation of the sub-objective 2 and its related activities.

We are seeking a dedicated individual to serve as a Consultant to support the National Lead Poisoning Action Plan in Georgia. The successful candidate will be responsible for providing expertise and guidance in coordinating the development and implementation of this national action plan aimed at addressing lead-containing substances nationwide and mobilizing relevant stakeholders at various levels.

This position seeks to identify a qualified environmental public health expert to support the process of developing national programs for the management of lead-containing substances in Georgia. The successful candidate will be responsible for coordinating the activities described in the terms of reference, ensuring that the expected deliverables are produced on time and in accordance with established quality standards.

The expert will work in coordination with Expertise France Project officer based in Paris, France and the local project coordinator based in Tbilissi, Georgia.

He/she will identify (i) the relevant stakeholders involved in tackling the lead containing substances in Georgia at their level (local, regional, national), (ii) their needs and support them in developing a plan (or plans/programmes, as per the identified needs), under the steering of the National Center for the Disease Control (NCDC), an emanation of the Ministry of Health (to be confirmed by the Ministry).