International Consultancy :Technical assistance to support routine immunisation, including COVID-19 vaccine in Sao Tome and Principe (STP), 12 months

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, Hope

Justification: Since 2006, immunization coverage of children in São Tomé and Príncipe has been high for the main vaccines up to the age of one year, reaching 99.8% coverage for BCG in 2011. In subsequent years, this coverage has fallen, but has remained above 90%, which is an excellent indicator in terms of children's health. From 2020, vaccination coverage fell to almost 80%, which was associated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Routine vaccination activities are targeting the estimated 5,676 children under one year of age, representing 2.7% of the total STP population. According to IHME estimates, 296 zero-dose children are spread across all the health districts, with higher numbers in Mé Zochi (87 children), Cantagalo (23 children) and Água Grande (51).

In Sao Tome and Principe, the first cases of COVID-19 were reported on 6 April 2020 and as of May 2023 a total of 6,586 cases have been reported, 80 deaths and 6,505 recovered. 257 health workers have been infected. The national attack rate has been 2,945/100,000 inhab. People aged 60 and over are the most vulnerable, with an attack rate of 80 confirmed cases per 1,000 inhabitants and 64% of deaths.

A national plan to deploy the vaccine against COVID19 was developed and the vaccination campaign started on 15 March 2021. The introduction of COVID-19 vaccination has contributed to decrease progressively disease transmission. In September 2022, the country introduced vaccination against COVID-19 in the routine programme. So far, the country has already received 48,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine, through the COVAX mechanism, a donation of 49,000 doses from the Portuguese government, a donation of 100,000 doses of Sinovac vaccine, from the People's Republic of China, 72,000 doses of the vaccine Moderna (from the COVAX AMC mechanism) and 80,000 doses of the vaccine Johnson & Johnson, through the UA-AVAT mechanism. 39,780 doses of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine are also expected in second semester this year.

Since the start of the pandemic in April 2020 to date, 6,587 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed, including 80 deaths. The case fatality rate, 1.2%. Until now 58.3% of the general population is vaccinated with one dose 47.7% with two doses. General population vaccinated with the booster dose: 15.5%.

Main objective: An international consultant is needed to provide technical assistance, support the coordination of immunization activities at central and District levels, and conduct supervisory visits to Districts aiming to achieve immunisation universal coverage and no 0-dose cases, as well as to support increasing COVID-19 vaccine coverage, integrated in the Routine immunisation.

How can you make a difference?

Work Assignment overview

1.Tasks/ milestone: Support, in collaboration with WHO, training sessions on management/administration of vaccines to health service provider, including the management of Cold Chain equipment.

Deliverables/Outputs: 5 refresher training sessions to health service providers on vaccine management and related activities, conducted in collaboration with WHO.

Timeline: Within 4 months of task assigned: Estimate Budget: 20%

2.Tasks/Milestone: Support the EPI team in the procurement of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and related supplies, to strengthen the immunization supply and logistics system, as well as performing cold chain, both at the central and district levels.

Deliverables/Outputs: Technical assistance is provided to EPI coordinating team to ensure the order of Moderna and Pfizer vaccines and related supplies. Proper vaccine storage is ensured to strengthen the cold chain system and logistics at central and district levels.

Timeline :Bi-monthly reports- Estimate Budget : 15%

3. Tasks/Milestone

Provide strong leadership in developing and implementing risk communication and community engagement strategies to address miscommunication and rumors and increase populations' adherence to vaccination campaigns.

Deliverables/outputs

Risk communication and community engagement messages are developed, in collaboration with communication team with the aim of addressing miscommunication and rumors:

Review and development of context-specific information, education and communication materials to increase population' adherence to vaccination activities.

Timeline : Bi-monthly reports- Estimate Budget : 15%

4.Tasks/Milestone

Support the Ministry of Health to supervise the training and performance of health service providers and relevant support staff on vaccine data entry and processing integrated into the national DHIS2 system.

Delivrables/Outputs

A supervision plan for the training for health service providers and support staff in entering and processing vaccine data into the national DHIS2 system developed and monitored.

Supervisors trained on supportive supervision practices related to COVID-19 vaccine distribution/administration and IPC

Timeline: Within 4 months of task assigned - Estimate Budget: 15%

5.Tasks/Milestone

Support national and district immunization teams to conduct work planning exercises to improve service delivery, focusing on integration of the COVID-19 vaccine with the HPV vaccine for girls from 10-11 years

Delivrables/Outputs

7 districts level micro-plans, based on the National Plan on Immunization, elaborated, implemented and monitored at national and district level

Timeline: Bi-monthly reports- Estimate Budget: 15%

6.Tasks/Milestone

Support the Ministry of Health in the management/administration of vaccines, including COVID-19 and support in handling Cold chain equipment, including ULT.

Delivrables/outputs

3 training sessions to health service providers of vaccination teams on the management/administration of Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines and other vaccines as needed.

Timeline: From Aug – Sep- Estimate Budget: 20%

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

• An bachelor degree in Public Health
• A minimum of *****5 years*****
• At least 5 (five) years of relevant work experience in public health and immunization programs, surveillance. Experience in introducing new vaccines
• Work experience with UNICEF, WHO or other UN agencies would be an asset.
• Proven skills in strategic planning, monitoring the implementation of public health programs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the principles, practices, methods, and techniques of immunization programmes
• Ability to work as a team under tight deadlines and work in a multicultural environment.
• Working languages: Portuguese with working knowledge of English or French.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Submission of applications and required documents

Interested candidates must submit their application online on UNICEF’s e-recruitment platform, following the link to the announcement. They must include with their application the following documents: (i) most recent CV/electronic profile; (ii) All inclusive financial offer including consultant fees, travel expenses and all other expenses; (iii) Most recent university degree, a copy of the Covid 19 vaccination card

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Core Competencies

▪ Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2)

▪ Works Collaboratively with others (2)

▪ Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2)

▪ Innovates and Embraces Change (2)

▪ Thinks and Acts Strategically (2)

▪ Drive to achieve impactful results (2)

▪ Manages ambiguity and complexity (2)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.