Technical support for the Polio Vaccine Management in Lake Chad basin

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For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of the vaccine management consultancy is to support the preparation and implementation of high quality polio campaigns through better vaccine management for the SIAs. Vaccine management includes the:

Appropriate country vaccine forecast (bOPV and/or mOPV) in coordination with countries, to be shared in time with SD;

Stock management according to SOPs using the Vaccine Balance Stock Information (VBSI);

Vaccine distribution and collection;

Stock balance report in-time, using the VUR (Vaccine Utilization report), form A and other reporting tools.

The consultant will provide technical support to task teams, country offices and national governments on preparation, implementation and monitoring of high quality supplementary immunization activities for polio, with focus on vaccine management and reporting, under the UNICEF regional office coordination and GPEI orientation.

Assignment Tasks

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

On behalf of the regional office, the incumbent will provide technical support to the field and help countries to improve quality and overall vaccine management performance. This implies:

Prepare SIAs through technical guidance, oversight and teamwork between partners.

Ensure that vaccine management is included into the country phase II outbreak response plans including key performance indicators and accountability framework and that it complies with best practices and guidelines;

Support Lake Chad Task Team (LCTT) in forecasting vaccine needs for SIAs considering target population, consumptions from past rounds and in-country stock on hand.

Ensure that countries have sufficient capacities in cold chain to store the polio vaccines in appropriate conditions (temperature and VVM) and make recommendations to that effect.

Support the distribution, monitoring, withdrawal and disposal of mOPV2 from outbreak response after the campaigns.

When mOPV2 is used and when tOPV or mOPV2 is found on the field ensure that the protocol for independent monitoring is implemented in a timely manner and that reports and data are endorsed by countries as required in the guideline.

Strengthen strategies to build synergies between Polio SIAs and routine immunization to close all immunity gaps and interrupt transmission.

Monitor activities

Strengthen GPEI partner coordination, joint planning and comprehensive work plan monitoring reviews in the Task Team.

Support countries to implement and monitor OBRA;

Conduct field visits to monitor campaign activities and strengthen country capacity.

Support the five Country representatives and WRs to analyze the data on vaccine management to take strategic decisions and make course corrections rapidly through the National Polio Task Forces.

Report

During and after polio campaigns, ensure collection and compilation of vaccines data that need to be shared in a short term delay with all partners to conduct performance reviews and identify appropriate actions.

Ensure timely availability of vaccine management reports (Form A, VUR, reports on vaccine independent monitoring, etc.) from the five outbreak countries to the Unicef regional office and partners.

Ensure integration of vaccine management data into the periodic reports of the LCTT.

Contribute in the weekly outbreak calls and country situation update conference call.

Expected Deliverables

Develop a detailed work plan for vaccine management in coordination with Lake Chad Task Team.

In collaboration with Unicef regional office and Lake Chad Task Team, establish a workflow and a protocol to share data and performances related to vaccine management in a timely manner.

Quarterly report on regional vaccine management will be elaborated;

Sufficient supply of OPV vaccines is available and consumptions are monitored at all level for all countries.

Support to LCTT will be provided during preparation and implementation of SIAs, from remote or direct support when necessary and reports after country visits will be developed;.

Reports on vaccine use and management (Form A, VUR, Report on vaccine independent monitoring, etc.) are collected in time.

Hold regular consultations with the Regional Office, provide updates on performance and flag issues of concern in a timely manner. This implies weekly call with the Vaccine Management Regional Advisor and the provision of inputs/documents for all important Polio meetings and reviews.

Management, Organization and Timeframe

The consultant will be under contract for a total duration of 4 months during the period of 20 March to 30 August 2017. The position will be based in the Lake Chad Basin Task Team in Ndjamena, Chad with travel to other location as needed.

The consultant will implement the activities and present deliverables as outlined below. Payment will be made upon completion and submission of deliverables according to the included schedule, as outlined below.

Deliverables

Deadline

Payment schedule

Work plan for vaccine management in coordination with Lake Chad Task Team is developed

22nd March 2017

30%

A workflow and a protocol to share data and performances related to vaccine management is developed

7th April 2017

15%

Quarterly report 1 on regional vaccine management is elaborated

28th April 2017

15%

Quarterly report 2 on regional vaccine management is elaborated.

5th May 2017

15%

Report on country visits are developed

30th August 2017

25%

Total

100%

The consultant will hold regular consultations with the Regional Office, provide updates on performance, flag issues of concern and explore sub-regional solutions in a timely manner. This will include weekly call/skype with the Regional polio Team and inputs on vaccine management for all important Polio meetings and reviews.

Qualifications of Successful Candidate

Education

University degree in supply management, cold chain and logistic, immunization, public health, or similar

Years of relevant experience

At least 8 years' experience of working with/in developing countries, vaccines and/or public health

Current knowledge of the latest developments and technology in the supply chain management field.

Proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

Experience with UN agencies; experience with UNICEF preferred.

Good oral and written communication skills.

Good analysis skills.

Fluency in French (oral and written) and working knowledge of Eng

Competencies of Successful Candidate

Ability to plan, coordinate and manage multiple activities and adjust to changing priorities under high stress and conflict situations

Commitment, capacity to communicate with partners and create network

Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment under pressure

Good interpersonal skills and confident to reach out to multiple people in different levels of organization including global health organizations as well as Ministries of Health

Able to work independent to take decision and action

To view our competency framework, please click here.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

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 to become a part of our organisation.

HOW TO APPLY:

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 to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=503649