Cold Chain and Vaccine Management officer, three (3) positions (South Sudan Nationals Only)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Every year, at least one-third of low and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience vaccine stockouts lasting for a month or more. By reviewing annual government reported supply chain indicators over the last ten years, LMICs have seen an increase in the number of stockouts of at least one routine antigen from 30 per cent in 2010 to 45 per cent in 2019.

Sub-optimal vaccine management not only increases the operational and opportunity costs of vaccination but can also play a significant role in broadening inequities and stagnating demand, predominantly affecting under-served, urban poor, insecure and hard-to-reach populations.

The COVID-19 vaccine deployment is ongoing since the second quarter of 2021 and continuous deployment of the COVID-19 is in place with many pipelines expected in the last quarter of 2021 onwards. The current government structures at national and sub-national levels seriously lack the capacity to support the complex logistic operations related to COVID-19 related logistic operations informed by vaccination strategies. The increased logistic operations need additional human resources at the national as well as sub-national level ensuring the effective deployment of the vaccines.

To effectively manage the forthcoming surge in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries, UNICEF is hiring vaccine management specialists (VMS) into the field. The VMS will support national authorities in planning, storage, distribution, temperature tracking, monitoring, accountability and waste management of COVID-19 vaccines and relevant commodities building their capacity for the future.

In order to support the Ministry of Health to ensure supply chain readiness and implementation to efficiently deploying COVID-19 vaccine in addition to routine immunization programme antigens in line with defined vaccination strategies, UNICEF South Sudan is planning to hire three consultants to support effective planning, storage, distribution, monitoring and accountability of the upcoming surge in COVID-19 vaccine deliveries to the country.

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide technical assistance, strengthen vaccine inventory tools in cold stores, monitoring and supportive supervision, conduct supply chain performance assessments, leverage independent monitoring structures in high-risk areas and organize capacity development workshops.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

• Jointly with the counterparts develop/update the vaccine needs at the sub-national level, develop/update the distribution plans.

• Support national vaccine stores, SMOH and sub-national EPI teams to plan the timely and equitable distribution of vaccines with active temperature monitoring in transit and on arrival at receiving stores in the assigned states/administrative areas.

• Build the capacity of the national and sub-national logistics staff through hands-on-Job and traditional training methodology (TOT) as well as adopting/deploying the related SOPs.

• Prepare monthly vaccine stock and accountability reports for their assigned states/administrative areas and share with supply and logistics working groups and key stakeholders.

• Support sub-national EPI and COVD-19 vaccine deployment teams to expand/deploy data management systems/tools (OCK, eSMT, eLMIS) that improve/automate vaccine inventories at national, second and third level stores.

• In collaboration with partners, strengthen a data collection system (ODK etc.) so NLWG/EOC has weekly data on COVID-19 vaccine quantities, expiry dates, closed vial wastage and critical operational challenges.

• Support state and counties EPI teams to familiarize with best practices in stock management systems within national supply and logistic systems through cascade trainings and make it a mandatory part of supportive supervision visits.

• Support regular review of supply chain performance at the sub-national level triangulating with service delivery data, ensuring mid-course correction.

• Prepare monthly vaccine stock monitoring reports and share with key stakeholders.

• Strengthen routine stock management practices through ToT, cross-learning, documenting best practices and lessons learnt, and track monthly reporting rates at national, sub-national and county vaccine stores.

• Collect, analyze and share COVID-19 and RI stock, consumption, balance and expiry data up to county vaccine stores with country office focal point.

• Develop a supportive supervision workplan that include the number of SMOH supervisors and frequency of visits, expected and actual results and ensure the allocated funds enable monitoring.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

- A minimum of five years of professional work experience in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of health/immunization programmes, immunization/health supply.

- Work experience managing large-scale projects, working with governments, working in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management, mitigation will be an asset.

- Knowledge and experience with data collection, data management analysis and reporting are essential.

- Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice could be beneficial.

- Proficiency in computer tools, and the logistics tools of the EPI, SMT, ViVa, CCE inventory tool;

- Know how to maintain good relations with all partners;

- Be a team player;

- Ability to work in a multicultural environment;

- Have the ability to communicate and train.

Minimum Qualifications required

• A university degree is required in Pharmacy, Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Engineering, or other relevant disciplines.

Fluency in English; knowledge of another UN languages is an asset

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done monthly upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed Terms of Reference.

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.