International Consultancy -Research Consultant INDIGO Pilot Deployment UNICEF Juba South Sudan

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, We care.

Background: UNICEF estimates that around 20 million infants miss out vaccines every year, and approximately 1.5 million die from vaccine-preventable diseases. To remain effective, vaccines need to be stored between 2-8 degrees Celsius, which is particularly challenging in warmer climates and remote areas without electricity.

A new category of cold chain equipment, Transportable Powered Vaccine Storage Appliances or TPVS (WHO PQS Catalogue: E003/TS01.1), has recently been recognized by the WHO. The “Indigo” device is one such transportable cold chain device that, after initial charging with electricity, keeps vaccines at the right temperature for at least five days with no ice, no batteries, and no power required during cooling. Initial small-scale deployments in Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo have demonstrated Indigo’s functionality and durability and indicate positive impact in reaching remote communities that would not have otherwise been reached with traditional cold chain options. A pilot deployment of Indigo devices for routine immunization and reverse cold chain for surveillance samples is now planned in South Sudan to assess the potential for this technology for remote areas unreachable by traditional ice-based cold chain in South Sudan. The deployment will also generate data to inform how stakeholders in South Sudan as well as elsewhere may plan to utilize this device.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: Under the auspices of the Ministry of Health, with support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, this pilot deployment will be overseen by a Steering Committee composed of the Ministry and key partners (Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, etc.). Field implementation will be led by Access for Humanity – a national non-profit humanitarian developmental organization registered in the Republic of South Sudan – with devices provided by Global Health Labs and financial support from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Research Consultant position will be responsible for managing the operational research components of this deployment in close coordination with the implementing partner and under the supervision of the Steering Committee. The consultant will support the development, execution, and monitoring of a practice-research framework for the deployment that facilitates baseline-intervention comparative data analysis. This position will be responsible for supervising data collection and undertaking data validation activities, supported by field visits where necessary. The consultant will also lead on data analysis and support development and dissemination of an analytically robust case study documenting results of the deployment.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The main responsibilities of this constancy will include but are not limited to the following: • In support of and under the direction of the project Steering Committee, lead the communication of regular data-based reports to all levels and serve as a facilitator for ensuring all incoming questions from project partners are answered in a timely manner • Identifying data and reporting problems and working collaboratively with Access for Humanity and project partner colleagues to trouble shoot solutions • Serving as an active participant in regular data review meetings, providing insight into routine immunization data review and analysis • Conducting supportive supervision for data review meetings at field level, as required • Conducting tailored data analyses for the project Steering Committee, as requested

Task/MilestoneDeliverables (Estimated # of Days) Duration Deadline Deliverable Fees (USD) 1. Develop a practice-research framework for Indigo deployment in South Sudan. In consultation with and the approval of the project’s Steering Committee, a practice framework is developed and disseminated.19th April 2023

2. Support IRB approval for research framework Through working with Access for Humanity who will request and manage the approval request with the Ministry of Health and other government oversight bodies in country. The consultant will closely follow up the approval process.16th April 2023

3. Oversee and validate baseline data collection In collaboration with Access for Humanity and with project partners, data base reports are submitted to all levels 9th April 2023

4. Support the implementation of Indigo deployment plan. In consultation with Access for Humanity, the consultant will troubleshoot all implementation challenges to ensure field implementation remains aligned with the agreed research framework.5th April 2023

5. Oversee and validate intervention data collection, conducting field visits as necessary to observe implementation and data collection efforts in the field, advising and guiding Access for Humanity on data management and analysis. supportive supervision and data review meetings at field level reported complied and submitted 11 30th May 2023

6. Lead data management and analysis, working closely with Access for Humanity and communicating regularly with the project partners. Tailored data analyses reports shared with the project Steering Committee, as requested 25th May 2023

7. Manage the development of a written case study that demonstrates project deployment results through baseline-intervention data analysis, managing inputs from all project stakeholders into a final document. Case study report developed and submitted to all stakeholders 14th June 2023

8. Support the dissemination of results, including possible submission of research results for publication and communication of results to stakeholders in South Sudan and beyond. Research results made ready for publication 27th June.

9. Final report for phase Final project report on the assessment of the quality of the collected data submitted. 30th June 2023.

Education A Master’s degree and/or at least four years of professional experience in research – research design; data collection, management, analysis, and use; experience with participatory action research, implementation science, operational research and/or practice-research a plus

• Formal training in quantitative data use and analytics, including statistics, mathematics, information technology or related field • Strong computing skills, including Microsoft tools (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc.) and online tools such as Google Sheets; demonstrated skills in statistical software, data visualization or coding a plus • Familiarity with basic public health functions and services, particularly routine immunization, and cold chain logistics, is a benefit • Pro-active and self-motivated approach to work • Adept at building trusting relationships and to foster collaboration in a group/team setting • Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to tailor messages to specific audiences; facility with local languages of South Sudan a definite plus.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST HAVE DETAILED FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL PROPOSAL

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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 “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.