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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, care

UNICEF Supply Division is seeking for a consultant to develop an Immunization Supply Chain (iSC) strategy investment case and operational/implementation plan for system design priorities in the Gavi 2021-2025 iSC Strategy for 90 days (15 November 2021- 14 April 2022)- Home-based

How can you make a difference?

Background

The Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), with donor and implementing partner support, has contributed to an increase in global immunization rates (DTP3) from 20% in 1980 to 86% in 2019. Despite this huge progress, about 19.2 million infants were not immunized in 2019. On top of this, disruptions occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic have caused a dip in global, regional, and national immunization coverage, in some areas wiping off pre-pandemic gains (WHO/UNICEF 2021 Coverage Estimates).

To address this trend, strengthened and effective immunization supply chains (iSC) are critical to facilitate product availability and immunization service delivery through forecasting and planning, customs clearance, distribution, administration, monitoring and post-administration waste management. Additionally, as antigens and presentations continue to evolve, as population variations occur through conflicts, outbreaks or seasonal changes, and as operational disruptions take place (such as the COVID-19 pandemic); iSCs need to be robust and agile to ensure continued service delivery, minimize potency risks and facilitate efficiency gains.

Building on progress and lessons of previous strategies, The Gavi Alliance iSC Strategy 2021-2025 aims to catalyse effective national supply chains that ensure underserved and unimmunized children have access to vaccine and other commodities. Central to the iSC strategy are six prioritized investment areas including system design initiatives -system optimization and segmentation, and smart integration and harmonization.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of this consultancy is to develop an Immunization Supply Chain (iSC) strategy investment case and operational/implementation plan for system design priorities in the Gavi 2021-2025 iSC Strategy. Amongst other things, these will take into consideration previous iSC strategy progress and lessons, 2021-2025 iSC strategy system design goals, objectives and indicators, Gavi-supported countries’ typical supply chain designs and alternative scenarios, estimated investment needs for implementing typical system design scenarios in priority countries, and funding outlook/opportunities for financing these needs in the current strategy period.

ACTIVITIES & DELIVERABLES

1. Conduct a review/landscape analysis of Gavi-eligible countries’ supply chain designs and typical alternative scenarios; of previous iSC strategies’ system design implementation, documenting progress and lessons learnt; of current iSC Strategy system design goals, objectives and indicators; and the strategic positioning and resources availability of Alliance stakeholders (including Gavi Secretariat, iSC2, Alliance partners, National governments) to achieve these.

Based on analysis, outline recommendations for 2021-2025 iSC strategy system design implementation

Deliverable : Landscape report finalized and shared including recommendations for 2022-2026 strategy implementation

2. Outline methodology for developing an investment case and operational/ implementation plan for system design priorities in the Alliance 2021-2025 iSC Strategic period Deliverable: Finalized methodology and plan for investment case and implementation plan development

3. Develop an investment case and operational/implementation plan for system design priorities in the Alliance 2021-2025 iSC Strategic period considering: a. Evidence-based alternative system design scenarios to implement across different Gavi-support eligible countries b. Options of alternative system design scenario combinations c. Clear assumptions around scope (e.g. supply chain levels included), sequence (e.g. initial and/or country-wide implementation), duration of implementation etc. d. Investment needs (including finance, HR, in-country/partner technical assistance etc.) for implementing these alternative scenarios, disaggregated by country and region, asides global picture. e. Contextualized (by country, region, global split) funding sources to leverage for system design implementation.

Estimated supply chain and programmatic outputs and outcomes for implementing system design across different options analyzed Deliverable: Finalised investment case report and operational/implementation plan

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

• Education:

  Advanced University degree is required, preferably in relevant field (e.g., business planning, supply chain management, economics, global health, international development studies, procurement, logistics, or other quantitative degree).

  *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

• A minimum of 8 years of relevant professional experience in international public health programme management including 3 years in immunization, with experience in resource-limited environments, preferably in the areas of:

  • Health systems strengthening and programming
  • Supply chain strengthening
  • Assessing and measuring supply chain performance

• Supply chain network analysis

• Supply chain bottleneck analysis
• Network/supply chain optimization
• Familiarity with inventory policies, distribution outsourcing, segmentation strategies, integration of health products, and other system design strategies
• Experience with global and regional health systems and supply chain initiatives and interfacing with national ministries of health an advantage.

Other Skills and Qualifications:

• Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills
• Proven track record in project management with emphasis on strategic planning, communication, and evaluation
• Effective presenter including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations

• Demonstrated ability to work with multi-cultural stakeholders

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drives to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are Persuading and Influencing, Applying Technical Expertise and Entrepreneurial Thinking

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.

For every Child, Support …

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application
2. A technical proposal with proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks, also stating the timeframe for completion of each deliverable
3. Financial proposal at a daily rate in US Dollars
4. As applicable, estimate amount for round-trip most economical and direct travel, in addition to lump sum for daily subsistence allowance. Costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC). Travel as required/agreed with the Supervisor during the consultancy will be reimbursed on actuals upon receipt of supporting documents and invoices.
5. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables (maximum of four samples).
6. At least 3 Reference contacts of the current and previous Direct Supervisors.

Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above.

Applications submitted without Financial and Technical proposals will not be considered.

Each proposal will be assessed first on its technical merits, against the listed technical evaluation criteria and subsequently on its price. The proposal obtaining the overall highest score after adding the scores for the technical and financial proposals is/are the proposal(s) that offer best value for money and will be recommended for the award of contract(s).

The total amount of points allocated for the technical component is 75 (that of the financial component is 25). Only vendors that obtain 50 points and above from the technical evaluation will be considered for the stage of financial evaluation.

Remarks:

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.

Annex 1:

Gavi Alliance 2021-2025 iSC Strategy Theory of Change

Annex 2: Gavi Alliance 2021-2025 iSC Strategy 6 Priority Investment Areas