TOR – Consultant for Immunization – child health catch up drive and system strengthening, UNICEF, South Africa

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, Immunization

Background and Justification 

Immunization program in South Africa while providing a comprehensive package of antigens to all its citizens through routine primary health care services, the coverage rates among children are far from satisfactory level of achieving 90 percent coverage of all antigens recommended by WHO. The third dose of Diphtheria containing vaccine reached less than 80 percent of children under one year in South Africa during the last 5 years according to the WHO UNICEF estimates of national immunization coverage, 2019.

UNICEF South Africa has prioritized district health systems strengthening in the current country program 2020-2025 including the immunization program in close coordination with the Department of Health and development With the technical assistance of UNICEF and WHO, the National Department of Health has identified low performing districts especially metropolitan municipalities as priority district to focus on in 2019/20 to close the immunization gap and improve immunization service delivery.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a detrimental impact on the provision of routine mother, new-born, and child health across South Africa. The pandemic has disrupted the utilization of primary health care services including the routine immunization services, especially during the stricter lockdowns period. The District Health Information Systems (DHIS) shows that many districts experienced a decline in coverage between the data for April –July 2019 compared to the same period in 2020. This could worsen the already existed immunity coverage gaps in South Africa as EPI coverage declined in many districts before the COVID-19 pandemic.

It is against this background that the Department of Health is supporting the implementation and monitoring of catch up drives to vaccinate children who missed eligible doses during the lockdown restrictions as well as those who did not complete the full dose of immunization schedule.

UNICEF’s Health and Nutrition programme contributes to national efforts to ensure every child is fully immunized. This includes supporting Government with the development, implementation, monitoring and of the EPI turnaround strategy; coverage and equity analysis, reviews, planning and implementation and the planning immunization catch up plans and drive.

The catch-up drives require more intensive efforts and support to the low performing districts where the pandemic continues to take up significant time of all staff, a key gap remains the human resources to ensure timely implementation of catch up drives. In this regard, UNICEF is seeking a national consultant to work as an Immunization consultant to support the implementation of quality catch up drives, strengthen the EPI programme and overall child health and nutrition programme.

The consultancy will also help close the gap in the SACO team when the health specialist leaves on 31 December 2020.

The consultancy is expected to strengthen UNICEF support in planning, implementation and monitoring of immunization/child health programme, district health systems strengthening. Moreover, the support will be extended to include the identification of marginalized population who has never received or completing immunization doses, other child health inventions such as Vitamin A, deworming, nutrition screening, HIV testing and treatment appropriate to their age through data analysis, capacity building and mentoring of health staff, use of public private partnership in reaching more children.   

Scope of Work 

1. Goal and Objective:  Under the supervision of the Chief, Health and Nutrition, the consultant will
   1. Support the planning, implementation and monitoring of Child Health Catch-up Drive particularly in 12 priority districts with a focus on Nelson Mandela Bay
   2. Contribute in the successful implementation of Child Health Catch-up Drive nationwide
   3. Oversee District Health Systems Strengthening including bottleneck analysis, planning and monitoring in Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Metropolitan Municipality ensuring achieving 85 percent immunization coverage under one year and 95 percent 2^nd dose measles coverage. Work closely with partners such as Foundation for Professional Development (FPD), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), WHO etc. 
   4. In close collaboration with WHO, support the smooth introduction of COVID-19 vaccine in South Africa  
2. Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: The assignment is aligned with planned activity 3930/A0/05/881/002/011
3. Activities and Tasks:   Provide technical leadership in planning EPI activities and interventions in improving and sustained high immunization coverage among under 5 children through district health systems strengthening approach.
4. Technical assistance to the NDoH in planning, design and implementation of child health catch up drive, routine immunization and preparation of COVID-19 vaccine introduction
5. As part of child health catch up drive – Support microplanning of NMB and other districts as well as monitoring and supportive supervision
6. As part of district health systems strengthening – Data and situation analysis. Identification of bottleneck together with district teams, step by step problem solving and addressing bottlenecks keeping health system building blocks at the core
   • Strengthening planning capacity, improve skills in budgeting and costing
   • Monitoring and evaluation; strengthening skills in micro planning in reaching target populations  
   • Harnessing the public private partnership in service delivery as well as data gathering
   • Community empowerment and engagement; maximizing existing health infrastructure    
7.  List specific tasks/activities and issues to be addressed under this assignment, including expected boundaries of the assignment.  Tasks should be described as the steps taken in carrying out and completing the key activities of the assignment.
8. Work relationships:  State the responsibilities of the parties involved in the assignment. Elaborate on the work relationship the consultant will be engaged with (e.g. partners, stakeholders etc)
9. Outputs/Deliverables:  
   1. Catch up drive implemented in all 52 districts in the country  
   2. High quality child health catch-up drive implemented in Nelson Mandela Bay  reaching more than 90 percent immunization coverage under one and 95 percent mealses 2nd doses
   3. Immunization coverage improvement plan and implementation continued in Nelson Mandela Bay as part of district health systems strengthening HSS. Oversee the partner/s (FPD) support to NMB district who will be selected by UNICEF for supervision and mentoring to district health teams
   4. Technical support mission to NMB preferably once a month and to other districts as suggested by the NDoH and UNICEF
   5. Develop monthly reports and trip reports  
   6. Participate in EPI meetings at national level, NAGI meeting and other child health related conferences
   7. Liaise with ESARO as required

A table may be used to summarize the tasks, deliverables, specific timeline and milestones (Sample below). Please state when and whether or not timeframes are negotiable – and if so under what circumstances  

Deliverables	Duration (Estimated # of days or months)	Timeline/Deadline	Schedule of payment
Monthly Progress report including update on Catch up drive implementation status in all 52 districts.   Monthly progress report with updates on catch up drive and activities conducted for  in Nelson Mandela Bay   Monthly monitoring reports of key EPI indicators	3 months	November-February	End of each month
Nelson Mandela Bay Immunization coverage improvement plan	2 months	February to May 2021	End of each month
Monthly reports	Monthly	Monthly	End of each month

Additional guidance/examples:  Where deliverables are reports, this section should state the reporting guidelines and list reports that have to be prepared during the assignment as well as deadlines for submission; it includes requirements such as contents, number of copies, language, who should receive the reports and whether they should be submitted electronically, in hard copy, or both.  Examples of potential types of reports are:  Inception Report, Progress Reports and Minutes of Meetings, Mission Reports, Technical Reports, Draft and Final Report, Training material, Presentation material, Workshop/training evaluation report. 

7. Required Travel:   

Sr. No.	Purpose	Location	# of days at Location
1	Support catch up drive	NMB and other districts	15
2	Health systems strengthening	NMB and EC districts	15

 Payment Schedule 

• Payment will be made at monthly basis upon successful performance and submitting monthly reports.

Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by HR. 

Desired competencies, technical background and experience 

1. Education:  Academic qualifications are required in nursing, public health or community health at master’s degree level  
2. Specialized skills in child health and immunization are preferred  
3. 8 years of relevant work experience at national level as well as experience at least 3-5 years district level are required particularly at the Department of Health
4. Competencies: Excellent communication skills, leadership and facilitation skills, drive for results and teamwork are desired to accomplish the assignment
5. Languages: Fluency in English written and spoken language skills are desired. Fluency in local language/s is an asset   

Administrative issues 

Availability of resources, focal points/contacts and how they will be accessible; Location and schedule for progress meetings throughout the contract duration (if required). 

Conditions 

Office space is not required, and the consultant works from home

Stating the conditions for the contract is very important. This may include information on

• office space/equipment, if required
• All travel is by most economical fare and reimbursement as per UNICEF policy,
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary”.
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.” 

Risks 

All reasonable and likely risks should be identified, and a relevant risk response and possible mitigating action defined. 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=535938 by 12 November 2020.

This notice will also appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/southafrica, UN Job List, UN Jobs.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in ZAR) to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable).  

Applications submitted without a fee rate will not be considered.

We invite you to watch a short video on the system on how to apply: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePgDIQ9RVYs&feature=youtu.be 

If you have not been contacted within 1.5 month of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from South African nationals, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation 

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual exploitation and abuse, and on any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.”