National Consultant Polio Outbreak Response Supply, Vaccine management & Logistics consultant – OPV2, Kyiv, Ukraine (Open for Nationals of Ukraine only)

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,

On top of the current lockdowns and additional measures imposed by the authorities due to increased number of COVID-19 cases across the country, Ukraine is facing another serious challenge due to registered cases of polio in western regions. The government of Ukraine is considering declaring a national polio emergency due to the polio outbreak and severe cases of children with paralysis caused by the virus. Due to the recently confirmed polio case, the risk of contracting polio exists in all regions of Ukraine, especially for unvaccinated children under five years. The government, with the support of UNICEF and other international partners is developing the action plan to protect children and stop the spread of the virus. Therefore, in order to contain the spread of the polio virus to the rest of the country, UNICEF will hire experienced logistician for operational support to OPV2 (type 2 oral polio vaccine) management, cold chain, waste management and logistics linked to polio outbreak response activities.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief of Health section and in close collaboration with the CCL / VM (Cold Chain Logistics and Vaccine Management) technical officer of the UNICEF in Ukraine, the logistician is responsible for assisting UNICEF CCL / VM consultant in proper OPV2 procurement, supply and distribution, OPV2 vaccine management, cold chain and waste management, reporting of all vaccines used in polio immunization campaigns and other logistics issues related to OPV2 immunization that are of specific interest for the MOH/UPHC/GPEI (Global Polio Eradication Initiative), with a view to ensure sustainable and resilient immunization supply chains.

Tasks/Milestone:

Planning and implementation

1. Participate in the National logistics working group meetings and attend various coordination meetings
2. Liaise with UNICEF CCL consultant and UPHC/MOH logistics team to streamline activities/actions
3. Support CCL consultant to ensure national regulatory approvals are in place for receipt of vaccines
4. Support the CCL consultant to monitor the planning, ordering and arrival of vaccines and consumables as well as the implementation of all aspects related to the Cold Chain, Logistics, Vaccine and Waste Management as outlined in the national logistics plan for outbreak response during polio rounds

Deliverables/Outputs: Relevant recommendations, and documents on CCE, immunization supply chain and waste management are submitted to UNICEF. Monthly activity report is submitted. Date: 28th February 2022 (20 w/days)

Implementation - cold chain – vaccines and consumables

a. Ensure that the inventory of active and passive cold chain equipment is kept up to date, that cold chain is functioning properly (temperature record, recycling of accumulators, packaging of vaccines, etc.) and facilitate the optimization of storage capacities by planning cold chain equipment in the short, medium and long term.

b. Facilitate the distribution and optimal use of vaccines and consumables according to the macro and micro-plans and ensure that receipts comply with the distribution plan.

c. Ensure proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply chain.

d. Participate in developing mechanisms to accelerate the preparation and compilation of reports (vaccine use reports and Form A) and their transmission to the coordination and central levels.

e. Collect and analyse vaccine stock and use reports at all levels of the supply chain after each round, submit vaccine stock reports when submitting requests for additional vaccines.

Deliverables/Outputs: The cold chain inventory for the geographical area is updated two weeks before the campaign. The cold chain equipment distribution plan (if applicable) is shared with all levels seven days before the start of shipments. Vaccine management report and distribution plan are updated and submitted.

On the vaccine management report

• The number of functional equipment out of the total number of equipment available in the oblasts/localities.

On the distribution plan

The number of equipment expected, the number received and the date of receipt.

Deadline: 31st March 2022 (13 w/days)

Training and supervision

1. 1. Participate in developing mechanisms to speed up the preparation and compilation of reports (vaccine use reports and A forms) and their transmission to the central level.
   2. Ensure that all actors in the oblasts / health facilities have been trained in the specificity of OPV2 management according to the protocol, including the use of management tools.
   3. Train staff and partners involved in the response in logistics, cold chain, vaccine and waste management in accordance with the guidance note and available learning modules. This includes the roll-out of management tools and training materials in-country.
   4. Coordinate with partners to implement appropriate logistics solutions to ensure availability of vaccines in hard-to-reach areas.
   5. Monitor the performance indicators of the health facilities and take corrective actions to optimize results.
   6. Participate in the meetings of the logistics sub-committee and participate in the various GPEI coordination meetings
   7. Ensure the supervision of Vaccine and Vial Monitoring activities: training of supervisors, coordinators and monitors, supervision, compilation of monitoring data and transmission of reports from the area of responsibility.

Deliverables/Outputs:5 days after the end of the campaign: the A-forms should be signed by the Chief Medical Officer, collected and checked. The training report is available with the results of the post-training tests. Minutes of meetings are collected and sent to the next level Two weeks at the end of each round. The Independent Vaccine Monitoring questionnaires should be collected, verified and compiled in the Independent Monitoring report. Deadline: 18th April 2022 (12 w/days).

Vaccine Management

1. Ensure that receipts comply with the distribution plan
2. Ensure the distribution, administrative management, stock monitoring and full availability of CC and OPV2 at health facilities and ensure the collection of opened and unopened OPV2 vials after rounds.
3. Ensure effective waste management after immunization activities

Deliverables/Outputs: The distribution plan for vaccines, management and inputs shared with all levels seven days before the start of the shipments. Number of vials, markers, management and communication tools expected, the number received and the date of receipt. 2 weeks after the end of the campaign, the vaccine consumption data are collected, verified and compiled in the Vaccine Management Report. 4 weeks after the end of the campaign, the destruction records (if applicable in the area of responsibility) of the vials are signed, collected, verified and compiled in a report. At the end of round, all partially used OPV2 vials are disposed of in accordance with WHO and/or national guidelines and all unopened vials are recovered from a predetermined level in the supply chain for further use. Deadline: 31st May 2022.

Reporting

1. Provide frequent and regular reports to the consultant CCL on all aspects of vaccine management, cold chain logistics and contribute to the writing of Sitreps and bulletins.
2. Participate in the preparation of reports as required by the GPEI at the end of each round and at the end of the campaign.
3. Support the consultant CCL with information related to logistics, cold chain, vaccine and waste management for the epidemic response assessment teams (OBRA – Poliovirus outbreak response assessment).

Deliverables/Outputs: Reports are submitted. Deadline: 30th June 2022 (22 w/days).

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

Education: Masters’s degree in Social sciences, Law, Statistics, Development planning, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, Procurement, Contract/Commercial Law, International Development, Health or related social science field..

Professional experience: Minimum of three years of relevant professional (officer-level) experience in supply, logistics, procurement, contracting, administration and/or other directly related technical fields is required. Knowledge of immunization supply and logistics. Preferably experienced with OPV vaccines. Experience of work with International Organizations, the experience of work with UNICEF is an asset.

Language: English: upper-intermediate [B2]; Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2]; Russian: is advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Functional Competencies:

• Technical background in supply management.
• Knowledge on cold chain and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, and reporting are essential.
• Product knowledge on database for vaccine and/or medical waste management and understanding of the principles of vaccine management and reporting are essential.
• Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice
• A highly organized, proactive and pragmatic person with good process management skills.
• Strong analytical, listening, interpersonal and communications skills.
• Able to work in dynamic environment with tight deadlines.
• Strong organizational, planning, and prioritizing skills.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative, and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Skills in adult training methodology are strongly preferred

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

Please fill in the form properly and indicate your daily fee, travel lump sum and total fee to complete the assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.