Full-time Individual Contractor (11.5 months, home-based): Public Health Specialist to provide support to countries for COVID-19 vaccine roll-out - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (E

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, Protection

Background

COVID-19 has strongly impacted the ECA region, and Omicron is quickly spreading in all countries in the region. While 46,2% of the population in ECA region is fully vaccinated, there are significant differences between countries, and some countries are lagging with vaccine uptake below 30%.

Different factors are playing a role, to a different extent in each country, in preventing higher coverage: vaccine hesitancy and resistance in the population, including among health professionals and in priority groups; weak capacity of health systems to reach priority groups with ad hoc strategies; lack of coordination among partners to provide effective support (both on improving access and in promoting vaccination).

ECA Regional Office provides continued support to countries to accelerate vaccination uptake, recently better informed by a series of deep dives with each country, to identify the specific issues and provide support to improve COVID vaccination, especially among groups at higher risk of complications and death (to prevent mortality), among health professionals (who are at higher risk of infection and need to lead by example) and among teachers (to keep schools operational). In addition, the Regional Office has initiated regular calls with WHO counterparts, to harmonize support to countries, which require then timely follow ups. Tools to inform communication and behavioral change efforts have been developed and circulated to Country Offices, some of which need support to adapt and implement them. Additional fund-raising efforts are needed to sustain activities in countries to accelerate COVID-19 vaccination uptake.

At the same time, routine immunization has been dramatically affected by the pandemic. Over 90% of countries in the region registered a decrease in coverage within the range of 5-27%. This resulted in polio outbreaks in Tajikistan and Ukraine, while thousands of children are at risk from measles outbreaks. Countries need additional support to restore routine vaccination and improve immunization coverage.

UNICEF ECARO is seeking assistance in the form of a full-time consultancy for 11.5 months, to provide technical assistance and guidance to countries to roll out the COVID-19 vaccine and restore routine immunization in coordination with other relevant sections in the ECA Regional Office. To ensure that information and documentation flows properly between the country, regional and global level, the individual contractor will participate in all key global and regional meetings and provide close support to the Regional Office team and countries, in addition to preparing different documents (e.g. developing presentations, briefing documents, analysis of immunization coverage, etc.) and reporting activities.

Purpose of the assignment

The objective of the individual contractor's support is to assist the health team in its day-to-day activities for the management and coordination of the COVID-19 vaccine roll out and to restore routine immunization in the region.

The incumbent will report to the Regional Immunization Specialist and routinely liaise with the Regional Health Adviser, as well as the C4D teams at RO and in Country Offices.

Scope of work and specific tasks

Under the supervision of the Regional Immunization Specialist, the individual contractor is expected to undertake the following tasks:

• Monitor the implementation status of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in the region and provide regular updates on progress and challenges being faced as required at regional level and HQ.
• Support UNICEF COs in regularly assessing COVID-19 vaccination implementation strategies, identifying possible gaps and providing recommendations/technical support for corrective actions.
• Participate in meetings at regional and global level and with country offices pertaining to: country preparedness, the delivery of COVID-19 vaccines, and demand generation and community engagement.
• Support countries to forecast the resources needed and develop tailored strategies for reaching priority populations and underserved communities during roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.
• Ensure that relevant documents from HQ, regional and country level are properly managed and shared.
• Develop documents, briefings, analyses, presentations, etc. on COVID-19 rollout in the region.
• Identify and document enabling factors, good practices, challenges/bottlenecks, and lessons learnt from the vaccine implementation activities and ensure exchange of experience between countries in the region.
• Support relevant countries to develop strategies/interventions to restore routine immunization.
• Undertake any additional related tasks as requested.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******TimelineMonitor the implementation status of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out in the region and provide regular updates on progress and challenges being faced as required at regional level and HQ.Monthly reportby 24 February 2023Support UNICEF COs in analysing COVID-19 vaccination implementation strategies, assess gaps and provide recommendations for corrective actions.Support countries to forecast the resources needed and develop tailored strategies for reaching priority populations and underserved communities during roll-out of Covid-19 vaccines.Ensure that relevant documents from the different levels (HQ, regional and country level) are properly managed and shared between levels.Prepare and write a variety of documents, briefings, analysis, presentations, etc on COVID-19 rollout in the region.Identify and document the enabling factors, good practices, challenges/bottlenecks, and lessons learnt from the vaccine implementation activities and ensure exchange of experience between countries in the region.Support relevant countries to develop strategies/interventions to restore routine immunization.Estimated Duration of the Contract

11.5 months (11 March 2022 - 24 February 2023)

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

This assignment will be home-based.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of a monthly invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate an all inclusive fixed monthly fee in USD to undertake this assignment. Applications without a financial proposal will not be considered. This is a full-time consultancy. The Individual contractor will be working five days per week from Monday to Friday and will observe the same office hours as the ECA Regional Office.

To qualify as an advocate for every child, you will have...

Experience

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Health management, or other related field;
• At least 8 years’ experience in epidemiology, public health, including health planning, immunization and health systems management;
• Sound understanding and knowledge of technical aspects of immunization services/programmes;
• Provision of supporting documents of analytical reports and health planning in the field of immunization, epidemiology, public health and health systems strengthening;
• Previous experience in working with Gavi is an asset;
• Previous experience working in the ECA region is an asset;
• Knowledge of the United Nations system or other international organizations is an asset;
• Knowledge of international development, humanitarian issues and children’s rights is an asset.

Skills and attributes

• High level of analytical ability to analyse qualitative and quantitative data, including using relevant software packages;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, concise, analytical and insightful reports and presentations in English;
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas;
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis;
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results;
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines;
• Good facilitation and communication skills

Languages

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of other languages relevant to the ECA region is an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered. 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.