TOR – Consultant to Support urgent planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Covid-19 vaccine roll out plan in selected provinces, South Africa

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For every child, immunization

Background and Justification

South Africa confirmed its first cluster of COVID-19 cases on 5 March 2020, imported from Europe by returning residents. As of 17 January 2021, a total of 1,337, 926 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases had been reported in South Africa. The overall case fatality ratio was 2.7%.

Since December 2020, South Africa is experiencing a second wave, driven by the new SARS-COV-2 variant 501.V2. South Africa still reporting 8th highest new weekly cases globally. The second wave of COVID-19 is much steeper and higher.

To prevent morbidity and mortality and achieve herd immunity and prevent ongoing transmission, the Government of South Africa is committed to rolling out vaccines with urgency. According to the South African plan, the achievement of herd immunity depends on 67% of the population developing immunity against SARS-CoV-2 infection or reducing their infectiousness. The success of the vaccination programme for Covid-19 will therefore influence achieving herd immunity.

The Government of South Africa has outlined a national covid-19 vaccine roll out. This involves three phases: Phase 1 would focus on front-line health workers with a target population of 1.25 million; Phase 2 would include essential workers with a target population of 2.5 million, people older than 60 (5 million) and people older than 18 with co-morbidities (8 million); and Phase 3 would target other people older than 18 with a target population of 22.5 million.

UNICEF South Africa CO is seeking to engage three national health emergencies consultants, to support urgent planning, implementation, and monitoring of the Covid-19 vaccine roll out plan in selected provinces. 

Scope of Work 

1. Goal and Objective:  Under the direction and guidance of the UNICEF South Africa Chief of Health and Nutrition, the national health emergencies consultants, will support the provincial department of Health and relevant provincial, districts and subcommittees to plan, implement, monitor and report on the Covid-19 vaccine roll out. 
2. Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: Output 1.1.7 – Support National Preparedness Planning and provide technical support to NDOH on continuation of priority MNCH, HIV and nutrition interventions in the context of Covid-19.
3. Activities and Tasks:  

• Support provinces to complete and update the provincial Covid-19 vaccine implementation readiness assessment tool (VIRAT) with accurate evidence-based information and develop comprehensive Covid-19 vaccine implementation and monitoring plans.
• Guide provinces in the development and updating of their Covid-19 vaccination implementation plans- Provinces to utilize available evidence in developing a comprehensive plan addressing issues of equitable access;
• In collaboration with provincial managers, oversee and support effective coordination and planning with other health programmes and key stakeholders-the existing provincial immunization coordinating mechanism to be fully integrated to provincial Covid-19 response structures to strengthen implementation e.g utilization of Covid-19 tracer teams for defaulter tracing; social welfare service etc.
• Support  successful implementation of the Covid-19 vaccination in provinces through their proposed delivery mechanism with emphasis on life course integration (immunization agenda 2030)[1]  to meet the health needs of recipients, prioritizing health workers and leverage on available resources)  incorporate Covid-19 into  other preventative services, prioritize health workers to ensure that they get back to continue with provision of essential health care services for children and their mothers[2], as a pre employment requirement for health workers and or with other campaigns
• Support provinces to improve health worker’s ability to communicate and engage with communities. This is over and above the technical training that is provided to health workers. 

4. Work relationships:  Working closely with National and Provincial Departments of Health 

5. Outputs/Deliverables:  

• Weekly analytical technical report covering achievements, gaps and recommendations for improvement.
• Provincial VIRAT completed and submitted to the NDOH
• Provincial comprehensive evidence-based implementation and monitoring plans developed and implemented
• Utilization of available data to monitor progress in implementation and addressing identified gaps
• Health care workers capacitated with communication skills

6. Required Travel:  

Purpose	Location	# of days at Location
Implementation planning and monitoring	TBC (provisionally Gauteng, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu Natal)	weekly travel

 Payment Schedule 

Payment will be made monthly upon submission of a monthly report providing a progress update on all the listed deliverables. A final report for the entire consultancy period should be submitted at the end of the consultancy. 

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Health Sciences, Community Health or related fields (preferably with specialized training on public health in complex emergencies, in epidemiology and/or disease control).

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Eight years of professional work experience in public health, with field experience in responding to health emergencies. This includes coordination & partnerships, risk assessments, planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of public health emergency programs relevant to communicable disease control.
• Background/familiarity in emergency preparedness and response, preferably in the control of COVID-19 and other Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHFs) considered an asset.
• Working experience with UNICEF, WHO or international health NGOs in emergency health an asset.
• Position is open to South Africa nationals only.

Competencies of Successful Candidate 

• Communicate effectively to varied audiences.
• Strong sense of team spirit, diplomacy
• Ability to build and maintain partnerships across government and NGOs
• Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions
• Ability to work under tight schedule, respond to multiple demands including within a changing environment. Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions
• Excellent writing skills and demonstrable experience in qualitative and quantitative epidemiological information analysis, program monitoring and reporting.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Good written and spoken skills in the language of the humanitarian operation and knowledge of another UN language an asset. 

Administrative issues 

Work modalities

• The consultants will be based in one of the 3 provinces and will frequently travel within the province. Provinces where support will be provided will be confirmed in consultation with National Department of Health. Provinces provisionally identified are Eastern Cape, KwaZulu Natal and Gauteng.

Conditions 

• Consultants will be based in one of the three provinces identified (Gauteng, KwaZulu Natal or Eastern Cape) and will travel to meetings and healthcare facilities in the province
• The contractor will work on its own computer(s) and use its own office resources and materials in the execution of this assignment. The contractor’s fee shall be inclusive of all office administrative costs
• Local travel (outside of location where consultant will be based) and airport transfers (where applicable) will be covered in accordance with UNICEF’s rules and tariffs. All travel is by most economical fare and reimbursement as per UNICEF policy
• Flight costs will be covered at economy class rate as per UNICEF policies.
• Any air tickets for travel, will be authorized by and paid for by UNICEF directly
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
• 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 

Risks 

Delays in accessing information from National and Provincial Health Departments and other implementing partners may be a challenge. UNICEF will continue to work with NDOH to facilitate timely access to data and information for analysis and programme performance reporting. 

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=537737 by 3 February 2021

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).  Please indicate which of the identified provinces (Gauteng, Kwa-Zulu Natal or Eastern Cape) you prefer to be situated in.

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 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 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.

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.

Remarks:

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