Consultancy: Consultant, Immunization Supply Chain Management Expert - Health Section, PD, NYHQ - Req

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Immunization Supply Chain Management Expert (Experts Pool)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Immunization, Health Section, Multiple / Remote as required

Duration: 3 years

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this announcement is to establish a pre-screened Experts Pool of Supply Chain Specialist in the following technical areas listed below. Experts screened from this solicitation process will be deployed on an as needed basis. These experts are expected to work in close collaboration with UNICEF Programme Division, Supply Division, WHO, Regional and Country Offices and other external partners (such as CHAI, PATH, AMP, JSI) in providing technical assistance and applying latest guidance, tools and methods at country level to strengthen the country’s immunization supply chain management system. Qualified experts from this pool may be tasked to help the national counterpart on the following technical areas, any one or multiple areas based on the country needs.

Terms of Reference

1. TECHNICAL ACTIVITY 1: COVID-19 VACCINE DEPLOYMENT

   One of the goals of ACT-A is to avail 2 billion doses of COVID 19 vaccine by end of 2021. Rapidly deploying and quickly vaccinating target group will be of most goal of the exercise. In this regard the importance of effective supply chain in general and cold chain management remains vital. The counties will have to accomplish several activities within a short period of time to make sure smooth introduction of the COVID vaccine. The effective vaccine management system needs to be strengthened/ established in all the countries to make the process more efficient.

2. TECHNICAL ACTIVITY 2: EFFECTIVE VACCINE MANAGEMENT (EVM)

Effective immunization supply chain plays a vital role in achieving equitable immunization outcomes. Efficient supply chains equipped with reliable cold chain equipment are important in helping countries reach children with potent and lifesaving vaccines. However, it has been observed that inefficiencies in the immunization supply chain management are among the critical barriers to attaining equitable immunization coverage. Evidence from the various Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) reports reveal major bottlenecks in cold chain capacities, maintenance, regular vaccines and vaccination materials shortages, inefficiency in the distribution system etc. The consultant will support regions and countries manage and improve immunization supply chain systems. The consultancy will include supporting countries to plan and implement EVMA; developing and implementing comprehensive Improvement plan (IPs) in the different areas of the supply chain management.

3. TECHNICAL ACTIVITY 3: HEALTH CARE WASTE MANAGEMENT

A review of the MoUs and/or grant agreements covering immunization noted that they did not have budgets and provisions for the safe disposal of waste from vaccines. On an overall basis, there were no waste disposal specific guidelines issued to country offices and will be a key emphasis of this position. They indicated that only a few Host Governments hospitals and health centers had operational incinerators.

4. TECHNICAL ACTIVITY 4: EVALUATING THE BENEFITS OF iSC INTERVENTIONS

To ensure improved vaccination coverage with equity, it is critical to improve vaccine management and regularly review the vaccine supply chain system to identify strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats to the system, and support implementation of interventions to address gaps and weaknesses. Given the financial and human resource implications of implementing supply chain interventions in a context of limited resources, any investment decision should be underpinned by evidence of programmatic and financial benefits of this investment.

5. TECHNICAL AREA 5: COLD CHAIN EQUIPMENT MANAGEMENT (CCEM)

Many countries have expressed demand for technical assistance for comprehensive planning and upgrading and expanding their cold chain system so that they are aligned with their coverage and equity goals. Furthermore, countries have requested support to choose the most optimal and appropriate technology that is aligned with the country context and this will be a specific focus of this position. UNICEF and partners have worked with the GAVI Alliance to establish the GAVI Cold Chain Optimization Platform (CCEOP) that provides financing to countries to ensure adequate and optimal cold chain capacity is available at subnational level to help achieve the programmatic coverage and equity objectives. It will also help countries to accelerate the deployment of higher-performing technologies that have lower operating costs.

6. TECHNICAL AREA 6****: iSC Data Management

The iSCM focuses on three areas namely EVM, cold chain & temperature management and vaccine management (including waste management). There is significant data generated from these technical areas which need to be correlated with programmatic data. Data analysis and use in vaccine management will be a key emphasis for this position.

7. TECHNICAL AREA 7****: iSC COVERAGE AND EQUITY INTERVENTIONS

UNICEF has prioritized children in three specific settings to improve coverage and equity; remote rural, urban poor and conflict zones. Specific tools and guidance have been developed for the immunization supply chain developed by UNICEF, and recently guidance has been also been established to support countries in developing tailored supply chain solutions in these specific contexts. Under the domains of coordination & capacity building, infrastructure, distribution, information systems, planning and budgeting and partnerships, specific supply chain solutions are required in urban, rural and conflict settings to maximize immunization opportunities.

8. TECHNICAL AREA 8****: SOLARIZATION OF HEALTH FACILITIES

Under IA2030 and the Astana declaration to deliver PHC, electrifying health facilities with sustainable energy is critical to the effective delivery of services. UNICEF is leveraging its competencies under the CCEOP to solarize health facilities.

9. TECHNICAL AREA 9****: OTHER IMMUNIZATION SUPPLY CHAIN CATALYTIC ACTIVITIES AND STUDIES

UNICEF is often best positioned to undertake evaluations and generate evidence in various supply chain areas due to our leadership in this field and presence on the ground.

Expected results (based on country needs):

• The consultant will provide appropriate technical support in all or some the technical categories listed above.

Qualifications

Education

• Masters’ Degree in Public Health or other health related area or social sciences is desired

Competencies

• Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills
• Proven track record in project management with the emphasis on planning, budgeting and reporting
• Effective presenter and facilitator, including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations
• Demonstrated ability to work in a team with multi-cultural environment

Technical skills and knowledge on some, or all of the following

• Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural settings
• Experience in developing inventories and cold chain rehabilitation and expansion plans at country level
• Experience in writing complex funding proposals, developing multi-year budgets and operational plans for cold chain equipment management and temperature monitoring devices
• Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance

Work experience

• An Advanced University Degree in public health or other health related area or engineering is desired.
• At least 3-5 years of experience in international public health programme with experience in resource-limited environments
• Experience of EVM assessment and cIP development in at least one country outside his/her country of residence is an advantage
• Must have experience in conducting cold chain equipment inventory outside his/her country of residence and/or experience in temperature monitoring systems implementation, and studies, SOP adaptation support.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken either English or French is required. Proficiency in Arabic language is highly desired. Knowledge of local languages is an added value.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) (can be downloadedhere: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
  • your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.