International Consultancy for Effective Vaccine Management (EVM)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an International Consultancy for Effective Vaccine Management (EVM). The duration of this assignment is 6 months, starting 1st July 2023 to 31st December 2023 and the Consultant will be deployed at National Immunization Programme (Government office) with occasional travel to the field.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Under the supervision of the Cold Chain Specialist, the consultant will be responsible to provide outputs/results on 19 identified targets mentioned below. It is highly recommended that the consultant refers to EVM 2.0 requirements and sub-requirements for more details which are available on EVM website.

1. The national cold store (room containing cold rooms) is properly ventilated.

2. The national store and all regional stores have functional fire alarms and smoke alarms.

3. All vaccine stores and health centers have functional certified fire extinguishers.

4. Dry goods in national, regional and district stores are not stored on the floor, but on shelves, pallets, or pallet racks.

5. Dry goods in national, regional and district stores are not exposed to direct sunlight

6. All vaccine cold rooms in regional stores have cooling unit duty sharing systems, manual or automatic.

7. All vaccine cold/freezer rooms at the national store and all regional stores have voltage regulators/stabilizers.

8. All vaccine refrigerators and freezers have voltage regulators.

9. All regional and district stores have suitable standby generators

10. All regional and district stores and health centers have sufficient coolant pack storage capacity.

11. All regional vaccine stores have suitable mechanical handling equipment, where required.

12. All regional stores have vaccine transportation vehicles with sufficient capacity to accommodate the expected maximum load of vaccines and dry goods.

13. All vaccine transportation vehicles meet minimum Road Safety Requirements

14. The refrigeration systems in all refrigerated vehicles meet minimum requirements

15. All regional vaccine stores have insulated containers with sufficient capacity to accommodate the expected maximum load of vaccines.

16. All vaccine refrigerators/freezers at the national and sub-national store have backup temperature monitoring devices.

17. All health centers are equipped with vaccine request and receipt forms, and a vaccine stock record form (paper or electronic) that have all the required fields.

18. Central and provincial vaccine stores equipped with cold chain toolkit to support basic repair and maintenance of cold chain equipment

19. Quality Management Systems: Central vaccine store equipped with proper setup, standard processes, and tools to practice recommended EVM guidelines

In addition, the consultant will also be responsible for:

• Coordination with NIP (National Immunization Programme) team for development/revision/ modification of data collection templates and ensure timely communication to provinces and districts
• Updating the progress in the meeting of National Logistics Working Group (NLWG)
• Coordination with NIP to plan the field assessment linked to deliverables
• Work with UNICEF Immunization officer and cold chain assistant and guide/advise revision of cold chain and vaccine management training material for training of Immunization staff based at Provinces, district and at Health facility level.
• Review and development of SOPs related to cold chain and vaccine management

The duration of this consultancy is anticipated for five to six months. For planning purpose, the timelines have been indicated in TOR (attached below). However, the actual timelines will be agreed with the successful applicant based on technical proposal. Consultant is expected to travel (one trip per province) in seven provinces of Lao PDR (Luang Prabang, Oudomxay, Savannakhet, Saravane, Champassak, Xayanbury and Xeingkhuang) throughout the consultancy period and therefore the lumpsum cost can be derived/estimated accordingly.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

• University degree in Public Health or related field

• Advanced degree in Public Health will be preferred

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required :

• Public health expertise and relevant experience in child health and immunization related research and programming required.

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in Effective Vaccine Management and Immunization related initiatives required.

• Previous experience working for the United Nations would be an advantage.

• Familiarity with the Lao PDR health system context would be an advantage.

• Excellent analytical, report writing and communication skills.

• Self-driven and self-managing, with good inter-personal skills.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost

Assessment Criteria:

Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report (for clarification see Guidance)

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)

1. Completeness of response (10)

Overall concord between requirements and proposal

2. Work Experience (20)

Experience in conducting EVM assessments and development of improvement plans

Experience in working with the government in developing countries, preferably Asia Pacific region, and Lao PDR on public health related issues

3. Technical proposal (45)

Relevance and quality of proposed approach and method for the assignment/completion of deliverables.

B) Financial Proposal (incl. fees, travel costs, DSA, Medical Insurance): 25 Points

C. Overall Evaluation (total technical and financial proposal): 100 points

Terms of Reference for EVM consultant rev MM for VA.pdf

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's 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 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 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.