International Consultant to assist Cold Chain Assessment in Albania

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, health and protection

Immunization program has been evolved over the last 15 years in Albania through strengthening of its various components. Introduction of new vaccines and massive immunization campaigns for pandemic influenza, seasonal influenza and COVID-19 had put difficulties in program management and its maintenance and also strengthened it.

Cold chain equipment has been strengthened in the last 10 years in Albania based on national immunization strategy. During COVID 19 ultra- cold chain capacities has been established. Rapid assessment of storage capacity has been performed based on some preliminary data to serve the emergency of COVID-19 vaccination. Anyhow the country still does not have a proper cold chain inventory, a strategy and an action plan for improving and management of cold chain, storage and transport capacities.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant should review the national immunization program cold chain preliminary assessment, plans and strategies and the related materials such as previous EVM assessments, cold chain organization and distribution materials and review and assist immunization cold chain inventory and other pharmaceutical cold chain equipment’s and inventories under Ministry of Health and Social Protection and private sector, identify the gaps in capacities and capabilities related to cold chain infrastructure, monitoring, maintenance and management and provide recommendations to improve cold chain infrastructure, monitoring, maintenance and management through a strategic an action plan and establishment of national standards for every level of public health and health care.

Deliverable 1:

Final revised cold chain equipment, monitoring, maintenance and management assessment checklist

Tasks

Assist national technical working group (TWG)under the coordination of the Institute of Public Health to prepare the immunization cold chain assessment of equipment (inventory), monitoring, maintenance and management checklist by participating in the discussions of TWG and providing working materials and revising the final product

By 30 May - 3 days

Deliverable 2

Identification of national capacities to absorb new vaccines based on the inventory of cold chain equipment capacities in public and private sector based on current inventory and assessment and previous revision of assessments and plans and strategies through a detailed report.

Tasks

Revision of previous immunization cold chain assessments and immunization plans and strategies and in collaboration with TWG identify the gaps in:

- cold chain infrastructure at national, regional, district and health care level

- cold chain monitoring at every level

- cold chain maintenance at every level

- cold chain management at every level

By 06 June - 2 days

Deliverable 3

Identification of gaps in cold chain infrastructure, monitoring, maintenance, and management in the detailed report

Tasks

Detailed analysis prepared

By June 20th, 6 days

Deliverable 4

Outline of the national standards of cold chain equipment, infrastructure, maintenance, and management for every level

Tasks

Prepare the outline for standards of cold chain equipment, infrastructure, maintenance, and management for every level

By June 27, 5 days

Deliverable 5

Outline of the action plan for improving cold chain infrastructure, monitoring, maintenance, and management is prepared

Tasks

Asist the national TWG to prepare the action plan for immunization cold chain infrastructure, monitoring, maintenance, and management

By July 6th, 4 days

Deliverable 6

Support and facilitate a workshop to disseminate cold chain assessment findings

Tasks

Scope, agenda and presentation for the workshop prepared in consultation with the TWG

By July 15th, 2 days

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

• Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution in one or more of the following areas: Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Public Health, Data Management and Analysis, Economics or areas related to supply and logistics operations in UNICEF program areas
• Minimum 5 years progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in vaccines programming including cold chain and vaccine management. Experience in supply management, equipment performance monitoring or equipment inventory management, and analysis including experience with data management will be an asset.
• Technical knowledge on cold chain equipment, new cold chain technologies and understanding of the principles of vaccine management are essential

Excellent written and verbal communication in English. Knowledge of another UN language is considered an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate:

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

If you have any question related to the TORs for this consultancy, please contact Elvana Pernaska at [email protected]

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).