Individual Consultancy - Immunization Cold Chain & Supply technical Support & Monitoring (for Maldivian Nationals only)

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Wednesday 9 Nov 2022 at 18:55 UTC

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ADVERT: National Individual Consultancy - Immunization Cold Chain & Supply technical Support & Monitoring.

TOR Reference Number: TOR/2022/22

Background and Rationale:

Routine immunization coverage is relatively high in the Maldives with an average of over 90% in the past 10 years. However, recent DHS (2016-2017) data reveal that it has come down to 77%. Vaccine hesitancy and systems issues such as capacity gaps and cold chain factors are emerging challenges in immunization.

In the past two years, COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the provision of routine mother, newborn, and child health across the Maldives. UNICEF is supporting Government response and has been providing critical and life-saving support in all areas affecting children, including in immediate health emergency operations, and recovery efforts as well as in the COVID-19 vaccine roll-out. UNICEF is also supporting to ensure continuation of lifesaving essential health services for children and women. UNICEF is also entrusted by donors to closely support the Government in its efforts to successfully deliver COVID-19 vaccine to all eligible, while strengthening the immunization system and overall health system of the country in the long-term.

Supply monitoring, and regular monitoring of supply chain is key to efficiently deploying COVID-19 vaccines to the target populations, as well as the cold chain equipment in the field, to ensure that needs are met. With the continued health emergency context, and combined roll-out of COVID-19 vaccine, the need for improved immunization cold chain systems has come to forefront. Immunization cold chain rapid assessments such as Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) review (2019) and effective vaccine management assessment in 2019 – 2022 revealed critical gaps in the immunization supply chain in the country. Addressing these outstanding cold chain equipment and immunization systems issues, particularly the supply chain gaps are urgently needed. The cold chain (CC) system also requires further upgrading for successful introduction and deployment of a vaccine for COVID-19.

UNICEF, and partners are supporting to address the gaps in immunization cold chain and supply systems that existed prior to COVID-19, and the needs that emerged to introduce and roll-out the COVID-19 vaccines in the country. In order to strengthen the immunization cold chain and regular monitoring of supplies, and strengthen vaccine cold chain system, additional capacity and support is critical at the national level. This support will also be crucial to conduct field monitoring, especially of the delivered cold chain supplies and provide technical support to the partners in a systematic and efficient manner. By working closely with the national team and partners, a dedicated immunization cold chain and supply consultant on the ground will be instrumental for timely technical backstopping and implementation of activities while addressing the technical gaps.

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF’s Child Development Specialist, the EPI CC & Supply consultant will work closely with the HPA/MoH’s EPI programme and is accountable for providing technical, operational, monitoring and administrative assistance and implementation of the EPI component, with a specific focus on cold chain and supply system strengthening, field monitoring and COVID-19 vaccine.

The EPI CC consultant will support the ongoing work on immunization cold chain strengthening programme interventions, including support to on going cold chain procurement, installation, setting-up supply logistics management system, training and supply monitoring.

Objective of the consultancy:

The proposed consultancy is to support Health Protection Agency (HPA) and UNICEF Maldives country office in the following activities with a focus on addressing supply chain issues and strengthening the system:

  1. Technical and operational support to Health programme implementation, with a focus on EPI program, vaccine and cold chain supplies, supply chain and logistics.
  2. Capacity development and support to strengthen Government EPI systems including eLMIS and contributing to DHIS-II, and capacity building in relevant areas.
  3. Support to UNICEF health programme to plan, implement, monitor, and deliver results, with a focus on EPI program and cold chain & supplies
  4. Strengthen immunization cold chain supply monitoring, including field monitoring of supplies and cold chain systems
  5. Networking and partnership building, with relevant partners such as EPI programme, WHO, COVAX, ADB and others
  6. Innovation, knowledge management and contribution to research (EPI supply chain, Vaccine, and logistics management), including data and Knowledge management, related to EPI and cold chain
  7. Monitoring of cold chain equipment and supplies, including those donated by UNICEF

Duty station: UNICEF Maldives Country office & Health Protection Agency with frequent time in vaccine cold store, and travel to selected islands on a needs-basis.

Supervision and Guidance: The consultant will be supervised by UNICEF Maldives Programme Specialist for Health, Nutrition and Child Development and co-supervision of EPI head of HPA.

Major tasks of the Assignment:

In line with the objectives identified above, below are the specific deliverables and tasks the consultant is expected to complete within the assignment period:

Technical and operational support to Health programme implementation, with a focus on EPI program, vaccine and cold chain supplies, supply chain and logistics.

  • Provide technical and operational support throughout all stages of EPI supply and cold chain component of the programme. Contribute to a variety of technical and programme transactions, preparing materials/documentations, and complying with organizational processes and management systems, to support gender-sensitive programme planning, results-based planning (RBM) and monitoring and evaluation of results.
  • Provide technical guidance to EPI programme and support to strengthen the national immunization cold chain and vaccine logistics and supply chain system
  • Contribute and guide to UNICEF and EPI team on COVID-19 vaccine needs
  • Support to review, periodically update NDVP and support implementation efforts
  • Support consolidates, analyses and report on vaccine coverage and reporting on COVID-19 response and coverage, vaccine
  • Develop necessary technical documents on cold chain and immunization and supply chain
  • Support to implement the EVM recommendations, especially those related to logistics, EPI & ICCS system strengthening
  • Support and participate in programme planning to advice on cold chain supply requirements to provide technical advice on specifications/Terms of Reference, facilitating efficient procurement.
  • Contribute to internal and external meetings and initiatives to enhance the competencies of health service providers, and stakeholders
  • Contribute to monthly analysis report of program activity data and support other organizational data requirements such as COVID-19 and other humanitarian response data for management, regional and headquarter updates, Sitrep reports, and other reviews

Capacity development and support to strengthen Government EPI systems including eLMIS and contributing to DHIS-II, and capacity building in relevant areas.

  • Provide technical expertise on EPI, vaccine cold chain and supply system work
  • Provide guidance and input to the procurement of CC items and other related areas such as logistics and vaccine stock management, as well as vaccine coverage and forecast
  • Provide technical and operational support to government counterparts, NGO partners, UN system partners
  • Support the EVM assessment and assessment of temp monitoring system and mapping of cold / freezer rooms
  • Development cold chain MIS, vaccine recording and reporting system, development, and integration with eLMIS (e logistic management information system) and DHIS2 (district health information system 2)
  • Development of immunization supply chain road map aligned with CMYP and update the multiyear immunization plan
  • Provide capacity building and supportive supervision on EPI and cold chain

Networking and partnership building

  • Supply monitoring: Conduct routine visits to the field to monitor EPI supply chain delivered items, its functioning, and end-user benefit
  • Conduct remote monitoring and follow-up to address the gaps and recommendations

Monitoring of cold chain equipment and supplies, including those donated by UNICEF

  • Undertake field visits, programme visits and assessments, and collect and share reports with partners and stakeholders
  • Conduct supply monitoring visits to field and sites to monitor cold chain equipment, supplies and services
  • Review capacity and capacity gaps at regional and national vaccine sites
  • Monitor UNICEF inputs including supplies and learning from capacity building support

Innovation, knowledge management and contribution to research including data and Knowledge management, related to EPI and cold chain

  • Contribute to evidence, data and research on EPI supply chain, Vaccine, and logistics management Identify, capture, synthesize, and share lessons learned for knowledge development and to build the capacity of stakeholders
  • Support documentation of programme activities including best practices and lessons learnt
  • Apply innovative approaches and promote good practices to support the implementation and delivery of concrete and sustainable programme results.
  • Research, benchmark, and report on best and cutting-edge practices for development planning of knowledge products and systems.
  • Contribute to the internal and external documents to reflect UNICEF’s role, coverage and impact with COVID-19 and other humanitarian responses
  • Contribute to cold chain assessments such as temperature monitoring study, EVM, and vaccine and cold chain research

Estimated duration of contract: 11.5 months, starting from November 2022

Official travel involved (itinerary and duration): Travel to islands for monitoring on a needs-basis. An average of 1 -2 trips to island per month (the travel will be arranged, and paid by the consultant, and reimbursed on actuals).

Payment schedule: The payment schedule will be based on monthly progress report, based on update on objectives and tasks that are ongoing, as well as submit concrete deliverables where needed (such as NDVP updated plan, monthly vaccine data, cold chain & vaccine stock inventory, monitoring reports)

UNICEF will only make milestone payments based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed, and in this consultancy, will be earmarked as monthly remuneration. All payments will be subjected to acceptance of deliverable by UNICEF.

Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other forms of taxes. Locals will be paid in local currency.

UNICEF would cover any travel costs as per agreed schedules with the MoH/HPA (reimbursement basis)

Qualifications or specialized knowledge and/or experience required

Academic background:

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health or medicine, or another relevant social science field.

• Advanced degree level qualification in relevant area is an asset.

• Training in vaccine supply chain maintenance and effective vaccine management will be desired

• Ability to work with excel and other relevant software and programmes

• Demonstrated good communication skills in Dhivehi and English (written and verbal)

• Proven expertise in supply management, particularly vaccine stock management systems in the health sector will be considered an asset.

• Ability to organize, plan and coordinate activities within an agreed timeframe

• Proven ability to work in teams and independent working

Experience:

• A minimum of one year of professional experience in health or related field with active work in planning, implementing, coordinating and/or management in Health-related project, program, or areas, including health emergency

• Experience working in the health system or health sector, particularly the immunization system is required

• Knowledge and experience of vaccine cold chain supply system is desired, with effective vaccine management training or other similar training background

• Experience working in project management is required

• Exposure to the island context will be an advantage

• Experience or exposure working with UN related programmers is considered as an asset

Deadline for applications: 17th August 2022, 06:00pm (Maldives time)

Application link: https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=apply&sJobIDs=553635&SourceTypeID=796&sLanguage=en-us

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

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