Home-Based Consultancy: National Immunization Strategy (NIS) development and costing (72 working days between June and December 2022) - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), Genev

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, Health

Background

The Vaccine-preventable diseases and immunization programme entered a new decade with the “Immunization Agenda 2030 - A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind” (IA 2030) addressing key challenges in immunization for the coming years. In line with this new global strategy, WHO European Region developed the “European Immunization Agenda 2030” which was endorsed by the Regional Committee in September 2021. UNICEF globally is also revising the Immunization road map to align it with IA 2030. In the context of the ECA regional immunization flagship area, RO committed to support relevant countries for the development and cost their immunization strategies.

WHO-UNICEF developed in 2020-2021 a new strategic approach with the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) guidelines, including a costing application, replacing the previous comprehensive multi-year plan on immunization (cMYP) guidance and emphasizing:

• Making strategic choices aligned with IA 2030, regional framework, and National Health Strategy, containing a vision to protect all children and adults against vaccine preventable diseases;
• Supporting the immunization programme to secure its appropriate place in the national political dialogue on the health sector strategy and primary health care; and
• Helping to make more strategic use of domestic resources and external partners’ investments for the national immunization programme and related functions.

Tajikistan cMYP on immunization ended in 2020 and the MOH is now calling for the development of a new immunization strategy for the next 5-10 years. The MOH also recently released a new National Health Strategy (NHS) up to 2030, which will define ways for further development of the health system to protect the population.

Finally, the Gavi Full Portfolio Planning (FPP) needs be developed in 2022 in Tajikistan, to secure Gavi financial support for the coming years. The NIS should then be the core document to inform the FFP. UNICEF works closely with WHO EURO for this support, while WHO RO will support the development of the narrative part, UNICEF will support for NIS costing.

In Kazakhstan, UNICEF conducted a root cause analysis of measles outbreak. Based on identified gaps in the system MOH are requesting UNICEF to support the development of the National Immunization strategy and Roadmap and its costing

Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Regional Immunization Specialist, the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

1) For Kazakhstan

Development of the National Immunization Strategy and Roadmap for national immunization program and its costing.

• Conduct a situation analysis of current performances of the National Immunization Program (NIP) and identify key issues and challenges to be addressed;
• Mapping of the key stakeholders of the national immunization program and facilitate the development of priorities, objectives, strategies and key interventions based on the situation analysis through dialogue and agreement with MoH, RCIP and key stakeholders;
• Develop NIS including set of indicators and milestones to track the progress of priorities, objectives and strategies and annual wok plan for the first year of the NIS;
• Support the development of the NIS costing according to strategies identified, and define resources and a sustainable budget:
  • Elaboration of the detailed list of activities and inputs to cost the main interventions;
  • Financial data collection – costs of inputs and activities;
  • Costing and financing analysis of the NIS – defining and analyzing of the funding gap, major cost drivers etc.
  • Facilitation of the Stakeholder workshop (in country- 2 working days) for:
  • Discussion, finalization and Validation of the costing results
  • Validation of the financing results
  • Development of the narrative part of the Costing and Financing Analysis;
• Finalize NIS for both narrative and costing part.

2) For Tajikistan

Costing of NIS:

• Desk review of the documentation;
• Elaboration of the detailed list of activities and inputs to cost the main interventions;
• Financial data collection – costs of inputs and activities;
• Costing and financing analysis of the NIS – defining and analyzing of the funding gap, major cost drivers, etc.;
• Facilitation of the Stakeholder workshop (in country- 2 working days) for:
  • Discussion, finalization and Validation of the costing results
  • Validation of the financing results
• Development of the narrative part of the Costing and Financing Analysis.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineSupport Kazakhstan for the development of NIS/Road map for immunizationSituation analysis of current performances of the National Immunization Program (NIP) and identify key issues and challenges to be addressed3 working days (remotely)

Mapping of the key stakeholders of the national immunization program and facilitate the development of priorities, objectives, strategies and key interventions based on the situation analysis through dialogue and agreement with MoH, RCIP and key stakeholders10 working days (in country)Draft NIS including a set indicators and milestones to track the progress of priorities, objectives and strategies and annual wok plan for the first year of the NIS8 working days (4 in country and 4 remotely)Costing of NIS/road mapElaboration of the detailed list of activities and inputs to cost the main interventions and Financial data collection – costs of inputs and activities;12 working days (in country)Costing and financing analysis of the NIS – defining and analyzing of the funding gap, major cost drivers and etc.5 working days (remotely)Facilitation of the Stakeholder workshop for Validation of the financing results2 working days (in country)Development of the narrative part of the Costing and Financing Analysis3 working days (remotely)Finalize NIS for both narrative and costing part4 working days (remotely)Support costing of NIS for TajikistanDesk review of the documentation3 working days (remotely) Elaboration of the detailed list of activities and inputs to cost the main interventions and Financial data collection – costs of inputs and activities12 working days (in country) Costing and financing analysis of the NIS – defining and analyzing of the funding gap, major cost drivers and etc.5 working days (remotely) Facilitation of the Stakeholder workshop for Validation of the financing results2 working days (in country) Development of the narrative part of the Costing and Financing Analysis3 working days (remotely) Estimated Duration of the Contract

72 working days (between June and December 2022)

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be home-based, but some international and local travel are foreseen. The Consultant will be responsible for organizing their travel. Travel expenses will be reimbursed according to UNICEF rules.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/Individual Contractors apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements. The most economic and direct route is authorized.
• Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate a daily fee based on 72 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

Qualifications

• Advanced university degree in public health, epidemiology or health management;
• 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;
• Experience in developing policy and planning documents in the area of public health, emergency response and immunization;
• Proven experience in developing National Immunization Strategies;
• Proven experience in costing NIS;
• 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.

Other 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

Language requirements

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and daily rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily 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.