International Consultant in support to immunization cold chain

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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

The case of a child under two years old with circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) with acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) from Algeria was notified in July 2022 in Algeria. Genomic sequencing analysis indicates that the isolated virus is genetically linked to a virus previously isolated in Nigeria. The child had not received any polio vaccine doses. By March 2023, in addition to the 23 cases reported in 2022 (3 AFP cases + 2 contact cases +18 environmental samples), 5 environmental sample cases were confirmed. The last case was reported from the capital, Algiers which was not covered during the outbreak response campaigns from December 2022 to March 2023. Seven governates of Tunisia have a border with Algeria. It is known that many families move freely between the two countries which induces a risk of virus importation from one side to another. This happened in 2019 when Tunisia had a large measles outbreak with majority of cases reported in Kasserine which is one of the seven governates.

How can you make a difference?

Key Responsibilities

• Support the elaboration and approval of the nOPV2 vaccine management and logistics plan in line with the WHO and UNICEF guidelines;
• Support the elaboration and approval of the Cold Chain Equipment Inventory and Gap Analysis for estimated campaign scope in line with the WHO and UNICEF guidelines;
• Support in the National logistics working group meetings
• Liaise with UNICEF Regional Office and WHO Tunisia Polio team to streamline activities/actions on cold chain
• Provide technical information on Polio to the team developing the Polio Behavioral Strategy and Advocacy Strategy
• Monitoring the distribution of the cold chain equipment

Deliverables/Outputs:

• nOPV2 vaccine management and logistics plan finalized and approved by the MoH
• Cold Chain Equipment Inventory and Gap Analysis finalized and approved by the MoH
• Cold chain equipment report distribution
• 20% of new cold chain site installation visited (at least final distribution site of 300 refrigerators)

Please see the attached terms of reference for further details: Terms of Reference_Polio Consultant.docx

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

Advanced university degree in Medicine and or Public Health. Three years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national and international levels in programme planning, management, monitoring, and evaluation, in Health and Immunization. Fluency in French is required and working knowledge in English Knowledge of Tunisia health system functioning is highly desirable Knowledge on cold chain and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, and reporting are essential. A highly organized, proactive and pragmatic person with good process management skills Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds

Financial Proposal:

Candidates are invited to produce a financial offer indicating the total remuneration (fees, mission expenses, etc.)

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.