New Consultancy: Community of Practice (CoP) Management Consultant - Vaccine Centre - 11.5 months - Home-based

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, care

How can you make a difference?

BACKGROUND

UNICEF Supply Division (SD) has identified strengthening national vaccine procurement practices as a key component of its approach to supporting Gavi transitioning and other middle-income countries (MICs) in ensuring sustainable access to and timely supply of affordable vaccines. Included in the scope of procurement capacity needs are procurement activities (for example, market intelligence, analysis, development of procurement strategies, tendering and order management, etc.).

To this end, UNICEF Supply Division has been supporting countries by facilitating such learning via multiple projects. This includes hosting the annual Vaccine Procurement Practitioners Exchange Forum (VPPEF) since 2015. This event, albeit by definition time-limited, is a unique opportunity to allow procurement practitioners from different countries/regions to network with and learn from peers and to catalyze momentum for future continuous exchanges. Since its launch, it has evolved greatly to become a well-established forum serving all self-procuring countries. In addition, UNICEF Supply Division established a community of practice in 2016, to further the aims of the VPPEF by initiating the Vaccine Procurement Practitioners Network (VPPN).

As a virtual community of practice primarily targeting national stakeholders to the vaccine procurement process, the VPPN goal is under revision due to a recent assessment. Currently it aims towards providing a platform for continuous exchange of theoretical and practical knowledge, joint learning and collaborative problem solving. Membership in the VPPN has been limited to participants of the VPPEF, however the community has grown over time as a result of a strategy to gradually include interested vaccine procurement practitioners from additional countries, as well as other relevant stakeholders and experts. To support this effort, the VPPN was migrated to TechNet-21, a large platform co-owned by WHO and UNICEF and which mission is to bring together immunization professionals to build relationships, coordinate activities, share knowledge, and align priorities and goals.

OBJECTIVES

The consultant will play a leading role in lifting the community of practice off the ground, by initiating, coordinating and fostering peer-to-peer knowledge exchange in close synergy with the TechNet-21 platform. A key outcome will be the development of a knowledge exchange and peer learning strategy and implementation plan that will guide the management of the community and engagement with its members. The consultant will be a key driving force for this project and will (a) provide expertise in knowledge facilitation and capture techniques, (b) establish and refine peer learning mechanisms, development and facilitation of the CoP, and knowledge dissemination, and (c) introduce and promote the adoption of new tools that can enhance the work to this end.

KEY DELIVERABLES

Phase 1

• Get to know community members and map their needs and expectations with respect to knowledge exchange and peer learning.
• Develop a detailed knowledge exchange and peer learning strategy based on community members’ feedback and project goals including:
  • a detailed calendar of activities for the community and a content calendar for the online community in particular.
  • A list of leads for individual activities as well as provide support for their implementation. Tasks may include creating relevant content, initiating relevant discussions, making sure that the leader, the team and core group are creating content and participating, organizing online activities (webinars, e-discussions, chats, etc.) and drafting and distributing a newsletter.
• Identify and cultivate community champions that are willing to take on responsibilities and co-leadership roles within the community.
• Identify opportunities for synergies with the TechNet-21 community. Initiate and implement activities in collaboration with the TechNet-21 community of practice manager to the benefits of the VPPN community.
• Identify key performance indicators and metrics, and develop a tracking and measurement system based on the established Logical framework.
• Map out and cultivate content on the VPPN. Make relevant content more visible/ accessible to members and delete redundances/ duplications.

Expected delivery: 15 June 2022

Phase 2

• Document and analyze community’s engagement and outputs and capture the outcomes and provide a quantitative report on website traffic and number of community exchanges. The report should include a final section on actionable recommendations on how to enhance community’s engagement.
• Establish membership criteria and post them on the website

Expected delivery: 19 September 2022

Phase 3

• Support the preparation and delivery of the 2022 VPPEF by taking an active role as an event organization team member and relay relevant information on the VPPN.
• Ensure momentum within the community, by sharing content, stimulating conversations, facilitating and encouraging members to provide input and answer technical questions, proposing unexplored topics for discussion, bringing forward under-represented perspectives and making members feel included and their contributions valued.

Expected delivery: 15 December 2022

Phase 4

• Provide a qualitative assessment of community engagement through content analysis and suggest improvements.
• And potential other activities relevant to the VPPEF/N work as agreed with the supervisor.

Expected delivery: 1 March 2023

Upon validation of each delivery at the end of each phase:

• Phase 1 – 20% of the total amount to be paid.
• Phase 2 – 30% of the total amount to be paid.
• Phase 3 – 20% of the total amount to be paid.
• Phase 4 – 30% of the total amount to be paid.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

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

Education: Advanced university degree in a relevant field: information and knowledge management, communications, public policy, public management, public health, business administration, international relations, or international development; a combination of relevant academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

*A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.

Work Experience and technical knowledge:

• Minimum seven years relevant work experience with communities of practice, online communities, and/or community organizing with proven capacity to have successfully developed such communities.
• Proven experience organizing and facilitating participatory events such as workshops, learning sessions and webinars.
• Proven experience with online collaboration platforms especially in the areas of content and information management
• Solid Experience with website management (frontend) Effective interpersonal skills, with demonstrated ability to engage different stakeholders.
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality results in a timely manner.

• Demonstrated familiarity with the work of UNICEF, the UN and/or with issues related to public health/immunization is an asset.

  Language: Excellent communication skills (written and oral) in English are essential. Knowledge of other languages spoken by community members a plus.

  Competencies: The successful candidate is expected to demonstrate the following competencies that are necessary to this consultancy:

UNICEF Core Values

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust
• Accountability

UNICEF Core Competencies

• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Drives to achieve impactful results
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Manages ambiguity and complexity
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Works Collaboratively with others

Functional Competencies

• Works independently and is problem-solving oriented.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Demonstrates communication and relationship-building skills.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates/companies are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/proposal
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars including all taxes
3. Highest Education Degree (scanned copy)
4. UN P11
5. Examples of previous, relevant work
6. At least 3 References from previous direct Supervisors ( email and phone contact if applicable)

The application period is extended to 29 April, 5:00pm CET. Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system. Please indicate your availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

Applications that meet minimum requirements will be assessed by the following breakdown: 70% Technical Proposal / 30% Financial Proposal.

NB: 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.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.