Remote/Home-Based Consultant to document best practices of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out and maintaining routine immunization during COVID pandemic (90 working days between Sept 2022 and March 2

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

Background

COVID-19 has strongly impacted the ECA region and covid-19 vaccination is being implemented all the countries in region. Different factors are playing a role, to a different extent in each country, in preventing higher coverage: vaccine hesitancy and resistance in the population, including among health professionals and in priority groups; weak capacity of health systems to reach priority groups with ad hoc strategies; lack of coordination among partners to provide effective support (both on improving access and in promoting vaccination).

ECA Regional Office provides continued support to countries to accelerate vaccination uptake, recently better informed by a series of deep dives with each country, to identify the specific issues and provide support to improve COVID vaccination, especially among groups at higher risk of complications and death (to prevent mortality), among health professionals (who are at higher risk of infection and need to lead by example) and among teachers (to keep schools operational). In addition, the Regional Office has initiated regular calls with WHO counterparts, to harmonize support to countries, which require then timely follow ups. Tools to inform communication and behavioral change efforts have been developed and circulated to Country Offices, some of which need support to adapt and implement them.

At the same time, routine immunization has been dramatically affected by the pandemic. Over 90% of countries in the region registered a decrease in coverage within the range of 5-27%. This resulted in polio outbreaks in Tajikistan and Ukraine, while thousands of children are at risk from measles outbreaks. Countries make additional efforts to restore routine vaccination and improve immunization coverage affected by the pandemic taking into account lessons learned from the crisis.

Covid-19 vaccination campaign provides useful opportunities to strengthen routine immunization and it is to the mutual benefit of both covid-19 vaccination and routine immunization systems for these opportunities to be leveraged.

Documenting and dissemination of “Best Practices and Lessons Learned” provides real opportunities for sharing knowledge about what works, what doesn’t and continuing learning about how to improve and adapt strategies and activities through feedback, reflection and analysis in order to replicate and implement larger-scale, sustained, and more effective interventions.

UNICEF ECARO is seeking assistance in the form of a consultancy to document enabling factors, challenges/bottlenecks, achievements and evidence-based best practices from planning, implementation, and monitoring of covid-19 vaccine roll-out and maintaining routine immunization in countries in the region and use of lessons learned for the improvement of routine immunization system performance.

A key rationale for documenting and sharing “Best Practices/Lessons Learned” is to enable country managers and organizations working in the immunization sector to avoid re-inventing the wheel, to highlight necessary actions to improve performance and avoid strategies that have not worked in the past. Also, this will provide to both policy makers and donors valuable evidence, contribute to the integration of these practices in national and district health plans, and help mobilize resources in support of programs. Furthermore, it will serve as a good opportunity and tool for cross-country exchange of experience and cross-fertilization.

Purpose of the Assignment

The objective of the consultant's support is to document enabling factors, challenges/bottlenecks, achievements and evidence-based best practices from planning, implementation, and monitoring of covid-19 vaccine roll-out and maintaining/restoring routine immunization during pandemic in countries in the region and use of lessons learned for routine immunization system strengthening.

The incumbent will report to the Regional Immunization Specialist and liaise with the Regional Health Adviser, as well as the SBC team at RO and in Country Offices.

Scope of Work and Specific Tasks

The focus of this documentation will be:

1. Collect detailed programme experiences from countries that reinstated experience in COVID-19 vaccine roll out and maintaining routine immunization during the pandemic.
2. Identify examples of good practices and lessons learned to support countries interested in reproducing and scaling similar programmes. To document the successes, lessons, and best practices for learning and sharing with various stakeholders.
3. To review the existing success stories, and outcome stories for improvement and consolidation with the new documentation.
4. To review completed assessments, project reports and blogs and develop them into learning briefs aligned to key result areas of the covid-19 vaccine roll out and use of lessons learnt for routine immunization.
5. Select key cases for further probing and documentation in the ECARO region.
6. Possible topic on UNICEF support for COVID-19 roll out:
   1. Service delivery – 1 case study
   2. Supply chain strengthening - 2 case studies
   3. Human resources management and training – 1 case study
   4. Reaching vulnerable population – 2 case studies
   5. Monitoring and Information systems – 2 case studies
   6. Integration of COVID-19 vaccine into Routine immunization – 2 case studies
   7. Maintaining routine immunization during pandemic, including UNICEF support for catch -up vaccination – 2 case studies
   8. Overall ECARO support to UNICEF country offices in all areas related to supply and demand – 1 case
7. Work with in-country stakeholders to conduct further rapid review and documentation of select cases. Estimated number of best practices “case studies” – at least 13.
8. Based on accumulated information, prepare a summary narrative report on UNICEF support for COVID-19 vaccine roll out best practices and lessons learned, including narrative and concrete suggestions on how to further positioning of UNICEF in support of immunization efforts (how to leverage the COVID experience to play a stronger role in immunization in countries.
9. Prepare 5 minutes edited video documentary capturing best practices from the region.

The documentation of best practices will be achieved mainly through review of existing document, dialogue and interviews with key responsible UNICEF ECARO staff base in the areas of accountabilities and responsibilities. The assignment will also include discussion and interviews with selected UNICEF country offices and key partners involved in Covid-19 vaccine roll-out in the region.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / Deadline1. Development of methodology and work plan for documentation processMethodology and Work plan5 working days2. Prepare at least 13 case studies reflecting best practices based on mentioned topics (Tasks 1-7)Case studies reflecting best practices based on mentioned topics70 working days3. Prepare a narrative summary on UNICEF contribution to COVID-19 vaccine roll out and maintaining routine immunization during COVID-19 pandemic, including lessons learned (Task 8)Narrative Summary report10 working days4. Prepare 5 minutes edited video documentary capturing best practices from the region. (Task 9)5 minutes edited video documentary capturing best practices from the region.5 working daysEstimated Duration of the Contract

90 working days (between September 2022 and March 2023)

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate a daily fee based on 90 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

Experience

• University degree (Bachelor's, Master's, and/or post graduate education) in Communication, Journalism, Public Relations, health communication, public health or other related field.
• At least five years’ professional work experience in journalism, communication, print, broadcast, and/or new media.
• Ability to quickly research, critically analyse and synthesize large amounts of information.
• Strong knowledge and experience in writing stories, articles, documentations, case studies, media materials targeting tailored for different audiences – the public, donors, media outlets.
• Understanding and knowledge of technical aspects on immunization services with the special area on all areas of UNICEF responsibilities and accountabilities – an asset.
• Ability to take initiative and work with minimum supervision.

Skills and attributes

• Excellent writing skills;
• Demonstrated ability to produce high quality, concise, analytical and insightful documents and presentations in English;
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas;
• Strategic thinking and critical analysis;
• Commitment and drive, with a clear focus on results;
• Ability to manage competing priorities under pressure, whilst maintaining attention to detail and meeting deadlines;
• Good facilitation and communication skills.

Languages

• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other languages relevant to the ECA region is an added advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core 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 http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and daily rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily rate will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.