National consultant: Technical support in improved financing for COVID-19 vaccination and implementation of the National Deployment and Vaccination Plan, Kyiv, Ukraine

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,

COVID-19 has exacerbated the situation in all countries over the world and created a tremendous burden on the health systems. Ukraine is one of the most affected countries in Europe. For more than a year, restriction measures have been introduced on regular basis as the rate of COVID-19 contraction among population has been surging dramatically. Even these days, the country is under a strict lockdown to minimize the further spread of COVID-19. With the increase in the rate of hospitalization, lack of spaces in hospitals has become an important issue for consideration. By 21 April 2021, Ukraine reported on 1,974,118 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 40,796 death cases registered.

To ensure a comprehensive approach in addressing the needs and providing proper response to the pandemic, the Government developed and introduced a National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) – ‘The Roadmap to the introduction of a vaccine against the acute respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, and carrying out of mass vaccination in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ukraine for 2021-2022’. The Roadmap provides an outline of key priorities and measures to be undertaken during the coming year. As indicated in the Roadmap: Immunization of the population with a safe and effective COVID-19 coronavirus disease vaccine is an essential component of the Government of Ukraine's strategy to address the acute phase of the COVID-19 coronavirus disease pandemic. The overall purpose of mass vaccination of the population is to end the spread of coronavirus disease COVID-19 in Ukraine.

Two objectives are pursued by the Roadmap:

• Reduce mortality, related to the coronavirus disease COVID-19.
• Reduce health complications related to the coronavirus disease COVID-19.

The Roadmap describes the milestones to be achieved and the target groups of population to be vaccinated during the different phases of the vaccination process.

Financing for vaccination is an issue of a paramount importance. Only the availability of funds makes the vaccination process possible. Taking this into consideration, the Roadmap provides an estimated amount of funds necessary for the first year of implementation of the NDVP, which equals to USD 303 mln. The estimated amount is partially committed for funding from the state budget and from development partners’ assistance programmes. There are the funding gaps remaining as well, which must be reviewed and discussed to mobilize additional resources through the state and non-state funding modalities.

Costing of all types of expenditures related to COViD-19 vaccination, budget reviews, fiscal space analysis and resource mobilization are instrumental during the entire process of NDVP implementation. The above interventions will ensure proper implementation of the NDVP and will help in adjusting the plans according to the changing situation and needs.

Ministry of Health is the leading agency for NDVP implementation. The Economics and Finance department of the Ministry of Health plays a key role in coordinating the financing and budgeting for vaccines, in close collaboration with relevant departments of the Ministry of Finance.

Ministry of Health is in need for additional human resource capacity and skills in costing, budget review and fiscal space analysis. A national expert is invited to provide the necessary technical assistance to the Ministry in the above areas.

How can you make a difference?

Providing technical support to the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders in financing for COVID-19 vaccination through undertaking the analytical work on costing, budget review and fiscal space analysis. The contribution will be provided in conformity with the process of NDVP implementation and inform the decision-making on budget allocation, execution and monitoring.

Tasks:

• Mapping of the current state of issues related to financing for vaccination and revealing the immediate needs for costing and financing
• Calculating the costs of the required services and items to ensure smooth implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination programme
• Generalizing information on the volume of justified needs of administrative-territorial units and subordinate institutions in medicines and medical devices, implementation of local health budgets, national, state targeted programs, comprehensive measures financed from local budgets, information on shipment of medicines and medical devices purchased at the expense of the State budget, in the regions, information on balances of medicines and medical devices purchased at the expense of the State budget, in the regions, information on medicines and medical devices expected to be supplied by procurement organizations and bringing this information to a single nomenclature of medicines and medical devices that are planned to be purchased at the expense of the State budget in terms of budget years and in general
• Reviewing the current level of fund allocation for COVID-19 vaccination and identifying the gaps in financing
• Improving the tools for the distribution of medicines and medical devices purchased at the expense of the State budget for the implementation of programs and implementation of centralized health care measures, taking into account the justified needs, the availability of balances of medicines and medical devices at the national level, in administrative-territorial units and in subordinate institutions and expiration dates of available residues of medicines and medical devices, as well as COVID-19 vaccines
• Taking part in the development of draft laws of Ukraine, decrees and orders of the President of Ukraine, resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on state regulation of financial and economic activities of health care institutions of all forms of ownership
• Reviewing the fiscal space for immunization in general and for COVID-19 vaccination in particular and providing reports
• Supporting the MoH in preparing analytical notes on financing for vaccination
• Monitoring the general process of procurement of medicines and medical devices by the Ministry of Health of Ukraine at the expense of the State Budget: processes of demand collection, development of technical tasks, procurement, supply, distribution, accounting of balances, write-offs
• Providing advisory and technical support to the Ministry of Health in improving the procedure for the Ministry of Health of Ukraine to procure medicines, medical devices and other goods from the state budget
• Providing other support related to budgeting and financing in the health sector, with a particular focus on immunization
• Attending the capacity development trainings and helping the MoH in introducing the costing and budget review tools when necessary.

The assignment will be implemented under the supervision of Chief of Social Policy section, UNICEF Ukraine in close collaboration with UNICEF’s health section and with the Deputy Minister of Health responsible for health financing. The key institutions of health sector, in particular the National Health Service of Ukraine are to be communicated constantly throughout the assignment period. The consultant will work closely with WHO, WB and other development partners and their experts to ensure coordination and effective collaboration.

Deliverable

Deadline

# of days

1. Reports on the state of progress related to financing for vaccination and revealing the immediate needs for costing and financing

End of each month

21

2. Quarterly reports on the needs of administrative-territorial units and subordinate institutions in medicines, medical devices and health services and their associated costs

August 31, 2021 and November 30, 2021

24

3. Review reports of the current level of fund allocation for COVID-19 vaccination with identified gaps in financing

End of each month

21

4. Costing model in Excel and estimation reports on the items and services necessary for vaccination

August 31, 2021

24

5. Proposals to improving draft laws of Ukraine, decrees and orders of the President of Ukraine, resolutions of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on state regulation of financial and economic activities of health care institutions owned by state

August 31, 2021

18

6. Fiscal space analysis report on COVID-19 vaccination and an analytical note on financing for vaccines

September 30, 2021

25

7. Providing other support related to budgeting and financing in the health sector, with a particular focus on immunization

Upon need

10

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

Education: Master's degree in Accounting, finance, economics or a related area.

Professional experience: At least 3 years of experience in undertaking analysis in financing, experience in the health sector is an asset; At least 3 years of experience in data analysis; At least 2 years of experience of cooperation with Government institutions and international agencies in social sector reforms.

Language: Ukrainian - Advanced [C1]; English is an advantage.

Skills and competencies: Ability to collect and analyze official data, as well as data obtained by think-tanks, international organizations and individual researchers; Good analytical and writing skills; Advanced skills in data analysis in Excel; Skills in data analysis by using SPSS, Python, Power BI is an asset; Strong communication and problem-solving skills.

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.