National Immunization Consultants (2 positions)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for 2 National Immunization Consultant positions (one in Vientiane Capital and one in Savannakhet Province). The duration of this assignment is 1 year, starting as soon as possible.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Under the supervision of Immunization Officer, and overall oversight from HSS Manager the consultants will be responsible for providing coordination and technical assistance on following areas:

1. Support Immunization unit at the provincial and district level in organizing district level workshops on the need of reaching zero-dose children for vaccination as advocacy events where health workers, members of Village Development Committees, mass organization and local media would participate.
2. Support the Health Center staff to conduct social mobilization meeting at the villages with the village chiefs, community leaders and Village Health Volunteers on the benefits of COVID vaccination and reaching zero-dose children for vaccination.
3. Support the district and HC-level staff in implementing targeted messages in local languages using appropriate means of communication to reach underserved communities.
4. Support the district and HC-level staff in selecting female VHVs who will implement zero-dose plan and HC-based Health Workers will supervise VHVs.
5. Support the district and HC-level staff in training VHVs and HC-based supervisors on identifying and vaccinating zero-dose children following the guidelines developed by UNICEF.
6. Support HC-based Health Workers to monitor and supervise the performance of VHVs, ii) provide refresher training to them, and iii) estimate eligible children for vaccination.
7. Community-based advocacy meeting with village chiefs and other village leaders in selecting volunteers, if needed.
8. Participate in all provincial and district level immunization and other meetings
9. Provide routine progress reports on immunization uptake and cold chain development and maintenance.

In addition, following activities have been identified which are expected to be implemented in the 20 low performing districts from July-Dec 2023. The consultant will be responsible to provide necessary coordination support and monitoring of these activities.

1. Microplanning: Household survey of district – One-day training followed by two-days household survey
2. Cold Chain: 3-days Training of district and HC on vaccine and cold chain (including data recording and reporting) and Repair and Maintenance drive for equipment (Savannakhet)
3. Supportive Supervision: Supportive supervision visits atleast 4 times in one year (all 20 districts) and District consultation meetings every 3 months (Bokeo)

4. Data Management: Training on data entry using EIR system for districts and HCs staff

5. Communications:

6. Training to health staff on health education and social mobilization

7. Broadcast messages on information about vaccination and sessions prior to the session through loudspeakers

8. Promote community engagement with community/village leaders

9. RCCE and SBCC workshop at district level: RCCE and SBCC for health education officers, immunization officer at districts, health centers and village health volunteers, using a cluster training approach

10. Technical field exchange between districts: Swap district health education teams among 20 districts to identify gaps, foster new knowledge and improve the planning and strategies of health education teams
11. Social listening: Roll out of technical guideline and practice of social listening at provincial level
12. Creation of feedback mechanism on RCCE from community to central level: Provision of RCCE feedback platform to strengthen feedback mechanism at subnational level to the central level on COVID-19 vaccination and routine immunization

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

• University degree/diploma in Public Health, Social sciences, or any other related field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Public health expertise and relevant experience in child health and immunization related research and programming required.
• A minimum of 10 years of experience in Effective Vaccine Management and Immunization related initiatives required.
• Previous experience working for the United Nations would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with the Lao PDR health system context would be an advantage.
• Excellent analytical, report writing and communication skills.
• Self-driven and self-managing, with good inter-personal skills.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost

Assessment Criteria:

Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report (for clarification see Guidance)

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)

1. Completeness of response (10)

• Overall concord between requirements and proposal

2. Work Experience (20)

• Experience in conducting EVM assessments and development of improvement plans
• Experience in working with the government in developing countries, preferably Asia Pacific region, and Lao PDR on public health related issues

3. Technical proposal (45)

• Relevance and quality of proposed approach and method for the assignment/completion of deliverables.

B) Financial Proposal (incl. fees, travel costs, DSA and Health Insurance): 25 Points

C) Overall Evaluation (total technical and financial proposal): 100 points

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find the TOR here: Terms of Reference for Immunization Consultant_2 positions for VA.pdf

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 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: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.