International consultant to provide guidance in customizing and implementing a high quality Vaccine Logistic Management Information Systems (VLMIS) in Uzbekistan

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.

Background:

Starting January 2014, Uzbekistan has entered the accelerated transition phase from GAVI support to independent and sustainable vaccine procurement by the end of 2020. Taking this into consideration the Ministry of Health with support of UNICEF and WHO began implementation of the project on substantial cold chain improvement – Health System Strengthening (HSS). The project not only includes construction and renovation of cold chain facilities across the country and installation of modern equipment and devices, but also establishing modern electronic data base for vaccine stock inventory at the national, regional, district, and PHC levels.

Such upgrade of cold chain system requires development and introduction of a comprehensive, precise and professional quality monitoring system – Vaccine Logistic Management Information System (VLMIS). The VLMIS will connect all cold chain stores located at various levels into one network for constant consolidation and analysis of up-to-date information on vaccines stock, its movement and consumption, and possible re-fill, will provide a ready-to-go reports and information for decision makers, serve as a basis for the budgeting and forecasting. The system will allow to connect to Healthcare database once it is introduced in the country. This initiative is in line with the current government strategy to digitalize the information in healthcare system.

Considering the complexity of the VLMIS project, it was recommended to hire an international expert to monitor the quality of the VLMIS system and recommend adjustments throughout the project implementation period.

Objectives:

To hire an international consultant who will ensure development of a high-quality product, monitor the development/customization and implementation and recommend improvement to the system during entire project. The consultant will provide technical support during implementation and coordinate final testing of the product prior completion of the project.

Timeline & Deliverables:

The consultant will ensure high-quality software developed and implemented by conducting the following tasks during period of October 2020 – December 2021. The initial period (October-December 2020) will require more intensive monitoring and technical support during software planning and development. Less contribution will be required at the stage of implementation and stronger involvement will be required during final evaluation of the product:

Activity-Deliverables-Working days

Initial Stage

1. Advisory services and in-depth support during assessing, designing and developing of digital framework to reflect all aspects required for immunization programme and interoperable standard for health information systems - Mapping of workflows according to immunization programme processes with expected user stories to be added to the digital framework with the pillars/indicators/milestones identified together with MOH, UNICEF and WHO, and reflected appropriately in the software plan - 15 days

2. Check to ensure proposed software in line with the country immunization programme’s priorities and requirements and with international context of universal digital platforms to ensure compliance with interoperability standard with other key health information systems - Definition document by considering capacity and enabling environment requirements to ensure software developed in line with the project requirements and immunization programme needs and global standard for digital health platforms - 25 days

Implementation Stage

3. Provide support for setting the business processes to align with the country immunization programme - Set of the business process required to implement the system - 5 days

4. Checking the quality of piloting and implementation stage by having access to the software and monitoring the entire process - Weekly assessment of the software and reporting on quality - 2 days per month (total up to 12 days within 6 months)

5. Working with the national IT VMIS consultant and selected company to provide guidance for improving/adjusting the software and fixing any issue - Progress report with the list of problems and solutions identified - 2 days per month (total up to 12 days within 6 months)

6. Verification of the pilot version before nationwide implementation - Pilot version of software is verified and a report a prepared - 3 days

Final Stage

7. Verification of the quality of software in line with the project requirements and international standards - Report - 5 days

General tasks

8. Contribute to the multilateral discussion throughout implementation period - Participation in the multilateral discussion - 10 days throughout the project implementation

9. Assessing further needs and development of recommendations for sustainability of VLMIS and other digital health tools in the country - Lessons learned and recommendations in the reports/final report - 5 days

Total: 92 days over the 15 months

Methodology/Activities:

The consultant will work remotely with up to two visits to the country if needed. office-based work with the relevant stakeholders and partners following VLMIS project implementation timeframe and UNICEF regulations related to this issue. All travel related to the project will be reimbursed based on UN DSA rates and in line with travel guidelines and procedures established in the office.

Management:

The Contractor shall work under the direct supervision of the Chief Child Health and Wellbeing and in close collaboration with the Agency for Sanitary and Epidemiologic Wellbeing under the Ministry of Health.

Resource requirements and payments:

The payment will be done based on daily rate and stages implemented upon submission of the deliverables and reports. Payments may be partially or fully withheld in case of unsatisfactory performance of duties or failure to provide the deliverables by the agreed deadlines.

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

• Advanced degree in health management information systems/health informatics, computer science, social science, social research or any other relevant field or equivalent related practical experience.

• At least 8 years of professional experience in IT development area, out of which five years should be in e-Health programme

• At least five years of experience in providing technical assistance and thought leadership surrounding the design and implementation of digital solutions for health system strengthening, including application of recommended Health Information System architectures and standards

• Significant experience with project management with an ability to translate complex ideas from various fields into unified, clear guidance is a must

• Knowledge and experience with DHIS2, OpenMRS, VLMIS, iHRIS, OpenHIE, MoTECH, CommCare, etc.

• Familiarity with open-source technology

• Excellent written communication skills in English, knowledge of Russian is an asset

Procedures and Working Conditions:

The contractor shall provide technical expertise and advices throughout the VLMIS project implementation period to the national consultant, selected company and stakeholders. He/she shall work independently and in close collaboration with the responsible UNICEF and Ministry of Health staff.

Reservations:

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

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

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.