Consultant - Proposal Development, Freetown, Sierra Leone, 6 months

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, health

Please access UNICEF Sierra Leone information here and here

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and Objectives:

The purpose of the consultancy is to support the National Immunisation Programme in the development and timely submission of a proposal to GAVI for the introduction of Hepatitis B birth dose into routine immunization services. The consultant will be embedded within the National EPI Office and required to conduct field visits as necessary.

Specific Tasks:

This consultancy facilitates the development and submission of a funding application to GAVI for the Hepatitis B Birth dose vaccine programme, that is aligned to the GAVI Programme funding guidelines and meets the criteria for a successful approval by the Independent Review Committee (IRC).

Specific duties and responsibilities include:

• Provide support to gather, process, analyse and synthesize relevant data and evidence needed to inform the development of the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine introduction plan and for decision-making by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), National Hepatitis Control Programme (NHCP), National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) and other country policy makers, as appropriate.
• Support required high level costing and affordability analysis for decision-making.
• Conduct open and inclusive stakeholders dialogue which includes communities and civil society organisations (CSOs)
• Conduct interviews with relevant key informants across all levels of the health and immunization system
• Synthesize lessons learnt from previous vaccine introductions and Hepatitis B birth dose interventions and apply them in the development of the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine introduction plan.
• Lead, in consultation with the EPI and partners, the development of high-quality GAVI funding applications aligned with the GAVI programme funding guidelines. including conducting stakeholder meetings, application writing, and responding to comments from the GAVI Independent Review Committee (IRC).
• Lead, in consultation with the EPI team and partners, the development and compilation of other programmatic assessments (e.g. cold chain readiness assessment) that are required by the GAVI programme funding guidelines.
• Lead, in consultation with the EPI team and partners, the budget of the programme funding applications including clearly showing how the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine programme will leverage other GAVI funding streams and support from other partners such as the Global Fund.
• Conduct a validation workshop of the funding application in liaison with the relevant country stakeholders and teams.
• Lead, in consultation with the EPI team and partners, the development of detailed country vaccination introduction plans, which include details on a phased introduction approach, strategies to leverage Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine introduction to expand access to vaccination and/or other health interventions in zero-dose communities, reduce missed opportunities for vaccination, and support program integration with other maternal, neonatal, and child health (MCH) services. The introduction plans should incorporate a detailed work plan for the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine programme.
• Support the development of the country’s strategy to reach children born out of health facilities with the Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine.
• Support the development of the country’s risk communication and community engagement (RCCE) strategy to ensure Hepatitis B birth dose vaccine acceptance and resilient demand.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) is required in supply chain management, logistics, business, operations management, public health, or any other relevant field.
• A minimum of five years of progressive and relevant experience supporting national immunization office to plan, implement and monitor effective and sustainable field work experience in immunization and cold chain required, including experience in primary health care service delivery in developing countries.
• Have led the development of proposals for the introduction of new vaccines into routine EPI services.
• Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance to similar exercise.
• Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries of health is a distinct advantage.
• Very good command of English language, both oral and written, including report-writing skills. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Very good analytical capacities: excellent ability to synthesize information and relate action to results.
• Ability to work independently to meet deadlines.
• Previous experience in working within UN agencies or other non-governmental organization is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively work and communicate in a multicultural environment.
• Completed training on BSAFE and PSEA.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Please access the full job terms of reference here: VA TOR - Proposal Development.pdf

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.