Consultancy: Documentation for EPI Supply Chain System Strengthening for COVID-19 Vaccine introduction, 7 months, Remote – MENA Regional Office

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, commitment.

Consultancy title: Documentation consultant for EPI-SC system strengthening work implemented through JAPAN grant

Duration: 7 months (84 days)

Duty Station: Amman and remote working with possibility to travel to priority countries if the situation

allows.

 

COVID-19 pandemic is a global health crisis that becomes the greatest challenge to countries in a short period. Since its emergence late last year the virus has spread to every continent. The pandemic is more than a health crisis that created an unprecedented socio-economic crisis stressing every country it touched. One of the goals of ACT-A is to avail 2 billion doses of the COVID 19 vaccine by end of 2021. Rapidly deploying and quickly vaccinating the target group will be the most goal of the exercise. To enable countries for this massive immunization drive immunization supply chain system, need to be strengthened through augmenting cold chain capacity, establishing new cold chain sites, making

nonfunctional cold chain equipment functional, strengthening vaccine management practice through capacity building of staff, and developing a functional cold chain equipment inventory for regular monitoring of cold chain system.

 

UNICEF MENA has received support from the Government of Japan to strengthen the cold chain system as a strategy for the building of the Government’s system to successfully roll out COVID-19 vaccination in five north African countries in the region. The objective of this support is to the strengthening of cold chain system to increase the capacity in preparations for receiving large quantities of the COVID-19 vaccines while at the same time ensuring that the existing cold chain system is not over-stretched with increased shipment and storage of COVID-19 vaccines. The proposed funding is being used for procurement, installation, and maintenance of cold chain equipment (CCE) and strengthening

vaccine management, monitoring, and evaluation in line with regulatory requirements. Technical assistance had covered consultants, human resources, and other support to the government partners to prepare for cold chain expansion, installations, and related capacity building. Government of Japan funding is expected to strategically support the equitable and efficient deployment of COVID-19 vaccines in Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia. Four countries are categorized as lower-middle-income countries (Algeria, Djibouti, Egypt, and Tunisia) and Libya is classified upper middle- income country.

 

UNICEF is present in all five countries. Only Djibouti is the Gavi eligible country while the remaining have never been Gavi eligible countries. The total approved budget of this proposal is US$ 4,629,630 and is

limited to one year. This project has started in May 2021 and will end in May 2022. Several countries have accomplished major activities within a short period to make the sure smooth introduction of the COVID vaccine. Support provided by the Govt of Japan has certainly strengthened the supply side and demand side and facilitated Covid-19 vaccination and routine immunization.

 

 

Key activities of the Japan Government grant project are:

A-1) Procure CCE to support the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines and provide logistical support for installation of CCE

B-1) Strengthen the capacity of government staff including technicians on operation and maintenance of CCE for COVID-19 vaccines

B-2) Strengthen the capacity of health care facility staff on the use and monitoring of the CCE and COVID-19 vaccines.

B-3) Support the government’s COVID-19 cold chain strengthening and vaccine management with coordination/ consultation, data collection/analysis, and/or policy/regulatory formulation.

C-Technical assistance through recruitment of consultants at the country offices

 

Expected Outputs or benefits from the project are:

1) At least 1,230 Health facilities including vaccines stores and Primary Health Care Centers have new

    functional cold chain equipment

2) At least 570 officials trained on operation and maintenance of new CCE,

3) At least 1,700 health care facility staff trained on use and monitoring of CCE and COVID-19 vaccines,

4) At least 270 officials assisted to support the government’s COVID-19 activities related to cold chain

     strengthening and vaccine management including coordination/consultation, data collection/analysis, and/or policy/ regulatory formulation.

It is estimated that approximately 14.1 million people will indirectly be reached through these interventions.

How can you make a difference?

 

UNICEF-MENA would like to document the project at various levels of implementation and the direct and indirect benefits achieved through this project. Thus is seeking the services of an individual consultant to support the documentation of key activities implemented and expected outputs achieved as mentioned above through Japan govt grant to countries in strengthening cold chain system, readiness on supply chain management, and other processes required to successfully deploy COVID-19 vaccine and ancillary products. Documentation to have a comparison in terms of output achieved before and after the Japan grant. Consultant to work under the guidance of regional health specialist and senior immunization specialist of the Regional Office.

 

Below documentation model can be considered regarding proposed benefits enlisted in the proposal:

1. Process

2. Output

3. Outcome or Impact

a. Collaboration

b. Policy

c. Service/ Coverage

d. Societal impact and health and development outcomes

 

Format of the documentation to be followed to capture the following:

1. Case study to be published in a scholarly publication,

2. Human interest story,

3. Sharing programming success,

4. Collective knowledge gained,

5. Networking and capacity-strengthening achieved through the project

6. Advocacy document for future funding

 

Key deliverables and main tasks:

 

Considering above mentioned methodology of the documentation following are the key tasks:

 

1. Review key activities that were included in the proposal and prepare a country-wise documentation plan and discuss with regional experts to finalize it

2. Document country-wise procurement and installation have been done against the plan and how this

contributed to strengthening the cold chain system in the country with a specific focus on the followings:

a. the number of equipment procured and installed

b. what % of the country’s cold chain capacity augmented,

c. % of cold chain equipment functionality increased,

d. number of additional cold chain sites established for vaccination,

3. What are the key other essential activities that have been implemented to support cold chain strengthening?

4. What are the key lessons learned, best practices and challenges/risks, and mitigation (format of the

documentation from Sr.No 3-6)

5. What are the human-interest stories for wider sharing?

6. Knowledge products resulting from implementing the project

7. What are the visibility activities that were implemented in coordination and collaboration with the Embassy of Japan and other partners?

8. Case study to be published in a scholarly article

9. What are the remaining business and resource needs?

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

Consultancy Requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree in mass communication, public health, epidemiology, health planning, and other related health systems management.
• Training in communication will be an asset

 Experience:

• At least eight years of experience in documenting development program
• Experience of working in the field of immunization, epidemiology, public health, and health systems strengthening.
• Previous experience in working donors project proposals and documentation
• Previous knowledge/ experience working with UNICEF, WHO, WB, UNICEF, WHO, WB
• Previous experience of the region, Knowledge of UNICEF program work in the MENA Region in the areas of immunization; including knowledge of strategic partners in health and immunization
• Sound understanding and knowledge of technical aspects on immunization services with the special area on cold chain 
• Previous knowledge and experience in immunization costing and financing and planning particularly focusing on the cold chain and vaccines
• Knowledge on gender equality, equity, and human rights programming
• Experience in training, planning, and delivery of technical assistance to teams in-country and regional offices.
• Sound understanding of maternal and child health, nutrition, and development
• Sound understanding of the child, women’s rights, and gender mainstreaming

 

Applicants are also required to indicate availability and financial quotation in USD to undertake the terms of reference above.

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS:

Amman and remote working with possibility to travel to priority countries if the situation allows.

Payment Schedule:

UNICEF will pay based on submitted progress reports.  Workplan will be discussed and agreed upon with supervisor at the beginning of each month 

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter
2. P-11
3. Financial quote as a lump sum, inclusive of professional fees, travel/administrative/subsistence costs, if applicable
4. Names of three referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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.

UNICEF is committed to promoting the protection and safeguarding of all children.

Remarks:

UNICEF only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/