Re-advertisement: International individual consultant to conduct Training of Trainers (ToT) on contraindications and vaccine safety related to children’s routine immunizations in Montenegro

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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1. Background and Context

Timely vaccination is key to acquiring and maintaining population immunity against vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs), ensuring populations are fully protected against life-threatening communicable diseases as early as possible, and preventing large outbreaks of VPDs. However, despite best efforts and intentions of their parents, individual children may not always receive all vaccinations in a timely manner as per the recommended age in a national immunization schedule. Regularly scheduled vaccinations may be missed for a variety of context-specific reasons (e.g. difficulty accessing health services and other health system related barriers, health workers practices, stock outs, beliefs held by caregivers and community members about vaccination, etc.)[1].

Furthermore, it is evident that the COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in the provision of many preventive services, including routine immunizations, resulting in reduced demand for such services mainly due to concerns about possible virus transmission during immunization sessions, inconvenience of rescheduled appointments or transportation (mobility) barriers. As provision of immunization services is negatively impacted by COVID-19, implementation of catch-up vaccination will require strategies to track and follow-up with individuals who missed vaccinations, to assess immunity gaps, and to re-establish community vaccines demand[2].

Montenegro is faced with critically low and continuously declining immunization rates - despite its upper middle-income status. Immunization coverage rates for first dose of measles, mumps and rubella vaccine (MMR1) have been decreasing in recent years – from 90% in 2010 to 24% in 2020, which is a critically low rate[3] and one of the lowest in Europe and Central Asia region. This means that almost 80% of all young children are not protected from the most contagious vaccine-preventable diseases. Some municipalities are especially at risk, for example Budva and Cetinje, where MMR1 coverage in the second year of life of children born in 2019 is well below 10%. In addition, almost every sixth child in Montenegro has not been adequately protected from Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis 3 (DTP3) in the first year of life (during 2020).

In early 2020, UNICEF Montenegro, with the support of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, conducted a Root Cause Analysis of suboptimal immunization coverage at the sub-national level. Some of the identified main root causes were: insufficient knowledge of paediatricians and other health workers when establishing contraindications, lack of in interpersonal communication (IPC) skills for immunization, lack of motivation of immunization service providers for timely immunization and weak accountability of service providers for achieving immunization targets, strong anti-vaccination campaign in media and social networks and weak nation-wide mechanisms for generating demand for immunization[4]. The assessment was conducted before the COVID-19 outbreak, which, brought additional challenges to both the supply side (overstretched health services) and the demand side (parents’ willingness to vaccinate children).

UNICEF has extensive experience leading and supporting partnerships to reduce social barriers to immunization access and acceptance. In addition, UNICEF recognizes the central role played by front-line health workers in addressing local drivers of inequity and promoting and sustaining community demand for immunization and health in general. UNICEF programme interventions seek to strengthen local accountability and encourage communities to advocate for immunization as a right[5]. UNICEF supports countries in achieving their national immunization goals with an increased focus on strengthening their immunization systems to ensure that key bottlenecks are identified and addressed efficiently. In that sense, UNICEF Montenegro supports the Ministry of Health in addressing the identified root causes for suboptimal immunization coverage both at national and local level.

Hence, UNICEF Montenegro seeks to engage an international individual consultant to assist relevant national authorities in strengthening the knowledge of health workers in relation to contraindications and vaccine safety and the importance of immunization as one of the priority health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. This assignment is part of a two-year regional multi-sector Action “Regional Project to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on the lives of children and families in the Western Balkans and Turkey” implemented by UNICEF with financial support from the European Union (during 2021 and 2022).

2. Purpose and Objective

The purpose of the assignment is to contribute to strengthening immunization system to ensure that children in Montenegro are protected against vaccine preventable diseases through routine immunization services.

The specific objective of this assignment is to increase knowledge, skills and awareness of front-line health professionals by designing and conducting a training of trainers (ToT) on vaccine safety and contra-indications, adverse events following immunization (AEFI) and the importance of immunization as one of the priority health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risks from vaccine preventable disease (VPDs).

3. Methodology and Technical Approach

The following methodology should be used: desk review, consultations/ interviews with relevant stakeholders, development of training content (including based on a training needs assessment that may be administered through an online survey), delivery of training and development of training report with recommendations.

It is expected that the Training of Trainers is delivered face-to-face in Montenegro (Podgorica).

All deliverables should be produced in English or Montenegrin. UNICEF Montenegro will arrange for translation and interpretation services as needed.

Meetings and training sessions will be scheduled by the National Early Childhood Development and Health Consultant who will be assisting in logistical and other related matters of the assignment.

4. Activities and Tasks

The international individual consultant will be responsible for capacity building of front-line health professionals on contra-indications, vaccine safety, AEFI and the importance of immunization during COVID-19 through development of the training curriculum and implementation of the training of trainers programme (ToT):

• Conduct a training needs assessment of relevant health workers on vaccine safety, contraindications, AEFI and the importance of children’s routine immunization as one of the priority health services during the COVID-19 pandemic;
• Develop the content (Facilitator’s and Participants’ Guide) for a ToT on vaccine safety, contraindications, AEFI and the importance of children’s routine immunization as one of the priority health services during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risks from VPDs based on international training documents (by WHO etc.) and training needs assessment in Montenegro;
• Hold the ToT for up to 20 participants (paediatricians (PHC, tertiary level, neurologist), PHC nurses, epidemiologists, etc.);
• Develop a final report with observations and conclusions from the ToTs and recommendations for the roll-out of the training package for health institutions across Montenegro.

5. Deliverables and Timeframe

The Consultant will be responsible to delivering the following with the below provided tentative deadlines:

• Methodology for the training needs assessment, by 27 August 2021;
• Training needs assessment summary report, by 17 September 2021;
• Content of the ToT for front-line health professionals on contraindications, vaccine safety, AEFI and the importance of immunization, by 24 September 2021;
• Conduct of the ToT for front-line health professionals on contraindications, vaccine safety, AEFI and the importance of immunization, by 15th October 2021;
• Develop a final report (approved and accepted by UNICEF) with observations and conclusions from the ToT and recommendations for the roll-out of the training package across Montenegro, by 20 October 2021.

6. Travel:

Travel within the contract duration is required to Podgorica, Montenegro, for the purpose of the conduct of the ToT which will be conducted face-to-face. Other activities are expected to be conducted remotely – online.

7. Management and organization

Management: The consultancy will be supervised by Early Childhood Development Officer in UNICEF Country Office in Montenegro.

Organization: International Individual Consultant is required, meeting the criteria described below. UNICEF email address is not required.

Schedule: This assignment will commence on 9 August 2021 and last until 25 October 2021.

8. Qualifications and requirements

The consultant is expected to have the following qualifications to complete the task:

Education

• (Master) degree in medicine, public health, epidemiology or a related technical field;
• PhD degree in medicine, public health, epidemiology or a related technical field would be considered as an advantage;

Experience

• Extensive work experience (at least 5 years) in delivering trainings on immunization to front-line health professionals, particularly on vaccine safety, contraindications, AEFIs, based on latest WHO guidance;

• Previous work experience with UNICEF or UN is an asset.

  Language

• Fluent in English or local language (both spoken and written).

Other

• Strong knowledge of relevant WHO and UNICEF recommended guidelines and vaccine practices;
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mandate and goals;
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills;
• Excellent training facilitation skills;
• Demonstrated tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion;
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

9. Budget and Remuneration

• Consultancy fee

The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of a daily professional fee for the services to be provided, DSA and travel costs to/from duty station, subscriptions costs for online meetings, as applicable.

• Payment schedule

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices. Travel costs can be paid in advance prior to travel.

• Recourse

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

10. Application procedure

To apply for the vacant position please submit P-11 form through “apply” button, as well as a technical proposal outlining qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience that makes the candidate suitable to complete the task, and outlining understanding of the TORs, the consultancy assignment and tasks (i.e. outline of the methodology including number of working days involved).

Candidates are requested to submit a financial offer as a separate document consisting of daily professional fee, number of days as proposed in the aforementioned methodology, travel and DSA costs and, if required, online platform subscription costs for online meetings.

11. Selection method:

All applicants will be screened against the qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below:

1. Technical Evaluation - Technical Proposal – 70% of total evaluation – max. 70 points

• Education: 10 points
• Previous experience: 20 points
• Outline of the proposed methodology: 30 points
• Other: 10 points.

Only candidates who obtain a score of at least 70% in the Technical Evaluation (i.e. who score at least 49 points) will qualify for financial proposal evaluation.

2. Financial Evaluation - 30 % of total evaluation – max. 30 points.

Financial scores will be calculated using the following formula [lowest offer/ financial offer of the candidate x 30].

12. Remark

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to submit a valid proof on completing the following online courses:

• Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF

• Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSHAA)

• Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA)

Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF.

• BSAFE security training

All certificates should be presented as part of the contract. ​

The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link:

AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org).

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities to apply.

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.

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

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[1] Leave No One Behind: Guidance for Planning and Implementing Catch-up Vaccination. WHO, working draft August 11, 2020.

[2] Mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on control of vaccine-preventable diseases: a health risk management approach focused on catch-up vaccination. Copenhagen: WHO Regional Office for Europe; 2020. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.

[3] Institute of Public Health of Montenegro.

[4] Dr David Sulaberidze, 2020, “Root Cause Analysis of Low Immunization Coverage at Sub-national Level”. Unpublished report commissioned by UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

[5] UNICEF Immunization Roadmap, 2018-2030, available at https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2019-01/UNICEF_Immunization_Roadmap_2018.pdf.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org