Provincial Cold Chain Management Consultant – Northern Cape, South Africa (Home based for 10 months durations)

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, health

How can you make a difference?

Purpose

Under the direction and guidance of the UNICEF Health Specialist, the provincial cold chain management consultant, will support six provincial department of Health to implement the optimal vaccine management to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 and other childhood vaccine preventable diseases.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Optimal vaccine and cold chain management capacity development (25%)

1.1. Ensure that relevant updated cold chain information is available to all staff involved in the cold chain.

· Technically support the National Department of Health in the development of cadre specific training materials on effective vaccine management

· Technically support the development of job-aids to facilitate effective vaccine management at depot and facility level

· Support the piloting of the training materials in allocated provinces

· Liaise with the Regional Training centres for sustainability of training in the supported districts

· Support cold chain and effective vaccine management training in allocated districts and provinces per NDOH and provincial training plans

· Ensure adequate formal and in-service training of all staff involved in cold chain and vaccine management.

· Ensure the efficient usage of vaccines by training facilities in wastage monitoring.

· Conduct monitoring and evaluation visits to facilities.

1.2. Analyse and use data for action

1.3. Identify training needs of health workers, and conduct training to address them.

2. Gap analysis regarding cold chain equipment. (10%)

2.1. Facilitate the documentation and equitable distribution of donated/purchased cold chain equipment ensuring that any new cold chain equipment purchased also is also included in the programme equipment inventory and maintenance plan

2.2. Support provinces to conduct regular audits of vaccines and cold chain (annually)

3. Assist the national and provincial program managers with the implementation of the cold chain policies and standard operating procedures (25%)

3.1. In conjunction with the National Cold chain Manager revise the National Cold Chain Manual and develop corresponding standard operating procedures

3.2. Document lessons learned regarding cold chain and share with provincial program managers and stakeholders to inform future immunization work.

4. District supportive supervision and training (20%)

4.1. Assist allocated provinces with training of staff members regarding cold chain.

· Evaluate the quality of the training with the designated health workers on correct use and preventive maintenance of the new cold chain equipment.

· Evaluate the content and quality of the training to technicians on preventive maintenance, installation, trouble shooting and repair of the new cold chain equipment.

4.2. Conduct monitoring and evaluation and supportive supervisory inspections to identify and correct inappropriate cold chain practices, safety and waste management.

4.3. Support allocated districts to develop a plan to implement the recommendations of the cold chain audit

4.4. Assist with stock management, reinforcing the importance of adequate stock levels, forecast of vaccine requirements and reduction of wastage.

5. Risk Management (10%)

5.1. Identify and map cold chain risks, prepare management strategy in collaboration with national team and advise the medical depot and facilities on how to solve the problems.

5.2. Plan, evaluate and participate in random quality survey during and at the end of the campaign.

6. Other tasks assigned by supervisor (10%)

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Month 1 report

• Rapid assessment indicating adequacy (including transport and waste management capacities) at all levels, gaps and possible solutions.
• Report on training needs of health workers including on reverse cold chain.
• Training plan developed and training scheduled
• Report of review of audits of cold chain equipment
• Cold chain programme inventory report inclusive of (any) new cold chain equipment purchased for the COVID-19 introduction.
• Facilities supported to effectively plan the arrivals, storage, temperature monitoring and control during storage and distribution and redistribution of COVID-19 and routine vaccines
• Province is supported to forecast vaccines. Data on vaccine stock, consumption, expiry, destruction and relocation are collected, analyzed, presented and shared. This also includes analysis of the barriers in data use and promotion of smart demand for it.

60 days

Provincial Plans developed (Mont 2 – 5)

• Provincial plan for implementing recommendations from the national cold chain audit
• Contribution to the National Cold Chain Manual and SOPs
• Contribution to the development of training materials and job aids
• Support the piloting of training materials and job aids
• Support
• Provincial checklist for cold chain and waste management readiness
• Electronic cold chain equipment inventory training done in collaboration with NDOH

120 days

Stock Management and SOP updates (Month 6,7&8)

• Training report for stock management and cold chain (formal and in-service training).
• Revised/updated provincial cold chain SOPs.
• Report of monitoring and evaluation and supportive supervisory inspections.

60 days

Cold Chain management risk assessment (Month 9)

• Mapping of cold chain risks and management for addressing identified risks.

30 days

Final consultancy report (Month 10)

• Report of random quality survey conducted during and at the end of campaigns.
• Report of lessons learned with regards to cold chain at provincial district and facility levels disseminated to all program managers and stakeholders to inform future planning Final report

30 days

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

• University degree (Master’s or higher) in B.Pharm degree
• A minimum of one year internship and one year community service completed.
• Registration with SAPC as a pharmacist.
• Additional experience especially in a similar function at the provincial level an added advantage.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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.