Consultancy: Support Accelerated Immunization Initiatives in identifying barriers to optimal immunization in yellow fever, measles and rubella through operational research and programme eval

Consultant Medical & Health Programme & Policy

Overview

Support operational research and programme evaluation to improve immunization coverage.

You have:

• Masters in Social Sciences, Public Health, Health Economics, Medicine, or related areas.
• Five years of progressive experience in health programme management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Solid experience in immunizations with added value for specific experience with yellow fever, measles, rubella and or meningitis work.
• Experience in working with multi-stakeholders at global level is highly preferable.
• Excellent verbal communication in English; working knowledge of French is an asset.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

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.

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: Consultancy to support Accelerated Immunization Initiatives in identifying and addressing barriers to optimal immunization in yellow fever, measles and rubella through operational research and programme evaluation

Section/Division/Duty Station: Remote Working

Duration: 250 days (inclusive of PTO and UN holidays)

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 immunization unit’s workstream on Accelerated Immunization Initiatives (AII) has increased its support to the global disease control and elimination initiatives, including response to an upsurge in the number of vaccine-preventable diseases (VPD) outbreaks in countries. The AII team provides a range of functions, including leading and participating in multi-partners global technical working groups, guiding country offices on Measles and rubella, Yellow fever, Meningitis, Tetanus and Cholera control activities, and supporting countries in disease outbreak preparedness and response. The team also conducts operational research and programme evaluation to support the implementation of data-driven immunization strategies.

A key component of immunization programmes is the effective utilization of evidence-based practices. However, substantial evidence gaps exist in optimal practices to improve vaccine coverage for measles, rubella, and yellow fever. Identifying the barriers limiting further increases in immunization coverage and reduction of disease susceptibility and generating effective and practical measures to overcome these barriers will be needed to progress further towards disease control and elimination goals. To do this will require a robust programme of operational research, documentation of lessons learned, and best practices, including programmatic evaluation, which most immunization programmes are currently unable to conduct without external assistance.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

Under the direct supervision of the Health Specialist in the AII unit, the consultant will work with the AII team and the VDWG to undertake operational research and programme monitoring and evaluation.

• Support the documentation of lessons learned and best practices from preventive SIA through review of countries' Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs), Preventive Mass Vaccination Campaigns (PMVCs) and, Post Campaign Coverage Survey (PCCS) reports.

• Support YF and Measles-containing vaccine first dose (MCV1) joint reporting form (JRF) national coverage analyses including identifying differential coverage between YF-MCV1 globally and provide an update and report to the AII team, regional offices (ROs, and VDWG to flag gaps and ensure countries implement corrective measures.

• Assist in conducting an online survey to assess the demand for YF and MCV five dose vaccine vial presentations.

• Support the finalization and dissemination of the five-dose YFV factsheet.

• Document and share lessons learned and best practices of using five-dose M/MR vaccine to advocate and guide Yellow Fever high-risk countries for use of appropriate YFV vial presentation to reduce wastage and improve coverage.

• Conduct and document analysis of comparison of YF and MCV coverage for countries with both included in Demographic Health surveys (DHS and MICS).

• Provide regular updates and report on the progress of the VDWG Workplan implementation to the AII team.

• Assist the AII team in consolidating donor reports for multi-country grants and funding proposals.

• Assist in moderating Outbreaks and Campaigns topic page for Zero-dose Communities of Practice website.

Qualifications

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Masters in Social Sciences, Public Health, Health Economics, Medicine, or related areas.
• Five years of progressive experience in health programme management, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Solid experience in immunizations with added value for specific experience with yellow fever, measles, rubella and or meningitis work.
• Experience in working with multi-stakeholders at global level is highly preferable.
• Experience with conducting operational public health research and documentation an advantage.
• Demonstrated skills in technical report and scientific publication writing in public health areas preferably related to immunization.
• Excellent verbal communication in English; working knowledge of French is an asset.
• Strong planning and organizational skills.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org