Consultant, Supply & Logistics Officer for operational support to the COVID 19 Vaccine introduction and deployment, Nairobi, Kenya (6 months)

Contract

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TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

Title

Consultant, Supply & Logistics Officer for operational support to the COVID 19 Vaccine introduction and deployment

Purpose

Provide Technical assistance and operational Support to UNICEF KCO in preparation for the COVID 19 vaccine introduction and deployment

Location

Kenya Country Office

Duration

6 months

Start Date

February 2020

Reporting to

Supply and Logistics Manager

2. Background

UNICEF’s aim is to help accelerate access to COVID-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics, and to support critical elements of health systems strengthening, community engagement and information. The core of UNICEF’s involvement in the ACT-A (Access to COVID-19 Tools Accelerator - a ground-breaking global collaboration to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines) is around procurement, preparedness and delivery of the vaccine, tests and treatments in target countries. UNICEF is responsible for leading end-to-end supply chain engagement – spanning procurement, international freight, logistics and supporting country readiness, as well as in-country delivery. In addition, UNICEF’s mandate also includes strengthening the supply chains (supporting the assessment of countries' cold chain and logistics capacities and closing potential supply chain capacity gaps), training health workers, building trust in vaccines by engaging with communities, and addressing misinformation and other barriers to uptake.

3. Justification

The main purpose of this consultancy is to support UNICEF Kenya (KCO) to assist the Government of Kenya (GoK) and the Ministry of Health (MoH) in preparing and implementing activities from the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan for COVID-19 vaccines, specifically on vaccine procurement through the COVAX facility, supply and cold chain management and logistics, and other issues related to COVID-19 immunization that are of specific interest for the GoK/MoH

Specific Tasks

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Supply & Logistics Manager, and in close collaboration with UNICEF KCO Supply & Logistics team, UNICEF KCO Health and GoK/MoH representatives and other partners, the consultant is expected to perform the following major tasks:

• Assist GoK/MoH in COVID-19 vaccine procurement processes, as well as deployment planning and monitoring of vaccine(s) procured through the COVAX facility;
• In close collaboration with other UN Agencies and based on the identified need, support GoK/MoH to strengthen the supply and cold chain management and logistics for the effective deployment of COVID-19 vaccines (with focus on supply and logistics related to vaccines procured through COVAX facility).

• Liaise with UNICEF Programme and Supply Divisions and support the vaccine logistics teams at KCO and in MOH to streamline Planning, ordering and arrival of vaccine and consumables (e.g. reverse logistics supplies, AD syringes, safety boxes, finger markers etc.) through international or national procurement and shipment mechanisms

• Support MOH to enhance capacity for proper storage and stock monitoring/Management of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply cold chain.

• Engage with key partners and apply appropriate logistical tactics or special strategies (e.g. pre-positioning) for making vaccines available in insecure areas.

• Represent UNICEF in technical working groups on logistics and follow up on action points related to vaccines and cold chain management
• Undertake travel to National, County and Sub County level EPI facilities for monitoring of Vaccines as and when required.
• Provide frequent and regular reports to the COVAX team on all aspects of COVID-19 Vaccines cold chain and contribute updates for situation reports.
• Support COVAX response review assessment teams with information pertaining to cold chain aspects of the response.
• Undertake other S&L Covid-19 response related assignments and responsibilities as requested to support the successful response.
• Conduct Covid-19 supplies end user monitoring in collaboration with MoH & UNICEF Teams

4. Methodology

• Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Supply and Logistics Manager in the Country Office
• The consultant will work at National level under the guidance and oversight of the Supply and Logistics manager or designate and with support from UNICEF KCO Logistics Team to plan, coordinate and report on meetings of the Supply chain and logistics working group relevant to Covid-19 vaccine
• Conduct desk review of relevant documents tools and materials on COVAX Vaccine including the Vaccine Readiness assessment tool (VIRAT) to understand the local context and all the preparations needed towards the COVID 19 vaccine introduction

5. Expected Deliverables

The consultant will work at the UNICEF Country Office to undertake the tasks outlined above.

Note: Due to the nature of this support and an evolving program environment, deliverables will be based on a work plan developed and approved by Supply and Logistics Manager upon appointment.

Payment to the consultant will be on a monthly basis upon satisfactory completion of the tasks and deliverables, duly authorized by the Supply and Logistics Manager who is the supervisor of the contract.

6. Reporting
   1. Consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Supply and Logistics manager or her designate with support of the Supply Specialist and the Logistics Officer
   2. Consultancy will be for 6 months
   3. The consultant will report progress on a monthly basis for all deliverables/tasks.

Expected background and Experience

• A completed university degree in any of the following disciplines or equivalent is required: Business Administration, Management, Economics, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field.
• Minimum of five years of relevant professional (officer-level) experience in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly-related technical fields is required.
• Excellent knowledge of immunization supply and logistics;
• Demonstrated experience in managing disease outbreak response is an asset;
• A highly organized, proactive and pragmatic person with good process management skills;
• Strong analytical skills;
• Ability to work under stress and tight timeline;
• Demonstrated tactfulness and a high sense of responsibility and discretion;
• Proven cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrated integrity and high ethical standards;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Fluency in both Kiswahili and English, written and spoken;

• Previous work experience with UNICEF or WHO is an asset;

• General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultancy will be for a maximum period of 6 months
• The consultant will report progress on a monthly basis for all deliverables/tasks.
• Consultant will provide own laptop/workstation.
• Interested consultants should send their detailed CVs and a cover letter not exceeding 2 pages, which should include:
• The consultant’s interest in the task
• A summary of the consultant’s relevant experience
• Any supporting evidence/documentation of successful completion of similar consultancies/tasks
• Monthly consultancy fee for conducting the assignment.
• Availability for assignment
• Payment will be made upon receipt of the following:
• A monthly report, documenting the successful completion of the tasks and deliverables to the satisfaction of UNICEF
• Receipt of Invoice

All applicants must provide an all inclusive finacial proposal to carry out the work listed above including any travel to and from the duty station to take up the assignment. Please aslo highlight the monthly consulting fee outside of other expenses.

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.

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.