Cold Chain Logistics and Vaccine Management (CCL&VM) Consultancy, Gaborone Botswana - 1 month (Opened to international consultants only)

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

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For every child, health

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Background: Botswana achieved polio-free status in 2004 and was certified as such in 2005. Recently, in October 2022, a case of circulating Vaccine Derived Polio virus (cVDPV) from an environmental sample at a sewer plant at Glen Valley Gaborone was reported. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) for polio response was immediately activated. Active case search at household level was immediately sanctioned by MOH around the 3 affected districts. This was followed by active case search of Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) in over 30,000 households in the affected area. Several activities have been proposed as follow up, actions by the Botswana EOC for polio outbreak response. Plans are being rolled out for a rapid response with IPV antigen around the affected areas and a nationwide SIA consisting of two rounds and a possible mop up is forecasted for the coming weeks thus the need for experienced hands in vaccines management and nOPV2 Polio SIA implementation.

In April 2016, Botswana switched from tOPV to bOPV; the country has not used the nOPV2 for any immunization. Injectable Polio IPV was introduced into the routine immunization schedules in December 2015. The current polio routine immunization schedule is: OPV1 2 months, OPV2 at 3 months, OPV3 and IPV at 4 months and booster doses at 18 months and standard 1. The implementation of polio eradication activities is coordinated by the Ministry of Health’s (MOH) Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI). All VPDs as well as acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) are included in a national passive surveillance system for communicable disease detection within the framework of IDSR. Initial clinical diagnoses are to be reported within 48 hours by the district or community hospital and followed up by laboratory confirmation. Data is subsequently reviewed, aggregated, and passed on from the district to the National level- Disease Prevention and Control (DPC) programs.

SCOPE OF WORK/OBJECTIVES Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF/other GPEI partner teams and the Outbreak Coordinator to: • Facilitate the implementation of the: - The Standard Operating Procedures for responding to a poliovirus event or outbreak; - The guideline for Cold chain logistics and vaccine management during SIA; - Technical guidance nOPV2 vaccine management, monitoring, removal and disposal.• Develop the National Logistics Plan or update from a previous version in consultation with the National Emergency Operations Centre and the National Logistics Working Group. • Forecast the vaccine requirements and liaise with UNICEF Programme and Supply Divisions and support the vaccine logistics teams at WHO/UNICEF country offices and in MOH to streamline: - Planning, ordering and arrival of vaccine and consumables (e.g. AD syringes, safety boxes, finger markers etc.) through international or national shipments; - Necessary clearances from national regulatory authorities for receiving the vaccine supplies with particular reference to nOPV2. • Build capacity and to monitor the implementation of all aspects of the Cold Chain, Logistics and Vaccine Management: - Ensure that the inventory of active and passive cold chain equipment is updated, that the cold chain operates properly (temperature measurement, battery recycling, vaccine packaging, etc.) and facilitate the optimization of storage capacity through short, medium and long-term planning of cold chain equipment; - Facilitate the distribution and optimal use of vaccines and consumables according to macro and micro-plans and ensure that receipts comply with the distribution plan; - Ensure the proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply chain; - Develop mechanisms to accelerate the preparation, verification, correction and compilation of reports (vaccine utilization reports and A forms) and their daily transmission upstream; - Collect and analyze vaccine stock and utilization status at all levels of the supply chain after each round; - Submit vaccine stock reports when submitting requests for additional vaccines. • In addition, in case of SIA rounds using type 2 vaccine (mOPV2, tOPV or nOPV2) in post-switch era, the CCL&VM manager will provide technical assistance to ensure that all procedures are followed as per SOP-mOPV2, such as: - At end of each round all partially used type 2 vaccine vials are disposed of as per WHO and/or national guidelines and all unopened vials are retrieved at a predetermined level of the supply chain for future used; - At end of the final round, all used and unused nOPV2 vials are disposed of as biological waste as per WHO and/or national guidelines and MOH attests to restoration of PV2 free status for the country.

• Train staff and partners involved in the response in vaccine management, logistics and cold chain management in accordance with the guidance note and available learning modules. This includes the deployment of management tools and training materials in the country. • Coordinate with partners to implement appropriate logistical solutions to ensure the availability of vaccines in hard-to-reach areas. • Monitor the performance indicators of health facilities and take corrective actions to optimize results to improve the quality of activities. • Provide frequent and regular reports to the Outbreak Technical Lead on all aspects of CCL&VM and contribute updates for SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters. Prepare reports as per GPEI requirement at end of each round and at end of final SIA round. • Support epidemic response assessment teams (OBRAs) and external reviews with information related to vaccine management, logistics and the cold chain. Undertake other assignments and responsibilities as requested by heads of country offices, regional directors, and other partners to support the successful response to the outbreak and the response to COVID-19 if required.

REPORTING REQUIREMENTS To whom will the consultant report (supervisory and any other reporting/communication lines): - The Vaccine Management Consultant will report to the GPEI Coordinator (WHO) and the UNICEF Country Office Health & Nutrition Specialist. - They are also expected to give support to the EPI team as well as the Programme Manager EPI MOH when needed. - It is expected that the consultant prepares an implementation plan with timelines for the assignment, outlining planned tasks and concrete steps to be undertaken to accomplish the planned tasks within the scheduled time. - Regular discussions will be held face-to-face, virtually, and the consultant is expected to stay in touch via telephone, e-mails and other means such as Teams, WhatsApp, Zoom or Skype

Administrative issues:

• The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor.
• Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.
• Consultant/Contractor will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/contractors and to share an applicable proof of health insurance covering medical evacuation (if travel is involved) prior to taking up the assignment.

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.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Public Health. An advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the area of the expertise –Medicine or Public Health, Pharmacy, Public Health or any of the sciences will be an added advantage.
• At least 5 years of professional work experience at national level in outbreak response, routine immunization, public health, and other relevant programs.
• Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to governments on the implementation of outbreak responses (Polio)
• Emergency work experience is an asset.
• Willingness to immediately take up the assignment.
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Skills: - Ability to work independently, under pressure, and within deadlines, including strong planning and coordination skills - Good communication, advocacy and people skills and the ability to communicate with various stakeholders and to express concisely and clearly ideas and concepts in written and oral form. - Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills, with ability to lead/train a group of individuals and impart knowledge.

• Professional level knowledge of written and spoken English is a requirement. All reports must be submitted in English.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.