UNICEF
DUE : 30 NOV 2022
Job no: 557131
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Harare
Level: Consultancy
Location: Zimbabwe
Categories: Health and Nutrition
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.
UNICEF Zimbabwe is seeking to hire an energetic and enthusiastic Vaccine Management Consultant responsible for assisting the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the planning, use, stock management, capacity building, immunization supply chain management strengthening, disposal (if necessary) and tracking of all COVID-19 vaccines used in RI and campaigns. The consultant will provide support to the national immunization programme at MoHCC HQ and will also be deployed to the field to assure quality at sub-national level and will concurrently also support strengthening on vaccine stock management for the childhood Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI).
BACKGROUND
Zimbabwe introduced a COVID-19 vaccination programme in April 2021 using vaccine supplies procured through domestic resources based on Government-2-Government (G-2-G) agreements with Governments of China, Russia and India, and additional supplies through the COVAX AMC Facility. To-date, Zimbabwe has received 22,330,000.00 doses through G-2-G domestically funded procurements and 75,000.00 through the COVAX-AMC. By 1st October, the country had utilized 12,573,027 doses of the total available 22,405,000.00 doses, while 45,780.00 doses had expired. While the country has made progress with delivering COVID-19 vaccines into the arms of people who need them, a lot remains to be done to fulfil the objective of the initial vaccine introduction drive aimed at rapidly achieving national herd immunity and to integrate the vaccine into routine immunization. Consequently, the country requires to both optimize stock management in support of an efficient initial COVID-19 vaccine delivery roll-out through campaigns as well as for purpose of full integration of COVID-19 vaccines into the routine national immunization programme.
On a related note, the Zimbabwe EPI programme into which the COVID-19 vaccine is intended to be integrated, has been facing challenges ranging from low coverage, poor vaccine visibility, poor data capturing and reporting, as well as low capacity among staff involved with the EPI programme at all levels. The onset of emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic, the Measles outbreak, Polio outbreak in neighboring countries and the change in the formulation for ROTA vaccine has necessitated the need for additional assistance with the emergency responses and general management of the EPI program including around necessary improvements of the immunization supply chain Management (iSCM).
Effective logistics planning and vaccine management is essential to improve the results of Routine immunization (RI) supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) and any other outbreak response. The Consultant will therefore assist with support to both outbreak response planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and strengthening of the overall EPI programme vaccine and stock management system.
With UNICEF as a major player in the implementation of the EPI program and the management of vaccines, UNICEF Zimbabwe would directly be expected to support the Ministry of Health and Child Care to ensure that all aspects of the immunization supply chain and logistics are ready and in keeping with global standard to ensure a quality programming.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
The Vaccine Management Consultant is responsible for assisting the COVID-19 vaccination programme in the planning, use, stock management, capacity building, immunization supply chain management strengthening, disposal (if necessary) and tracking of all COVID-19 vaccines used in RI and campaigns. The consultant will provide support to the national immunization programme at MoHCC HQ and will also be deployed to the field to assure quality at sub-national level and will concurrently also support strengthening on vaccine stock management for the childhood Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI).
ASSIGNMENTS:
In collaboration with partners, establish/strengthen a data collection system (ODK etc.) so NLWG/EOC has monthly data on COVID-19 vaccine quantities, expiry dates, closed vial wastage and critical operational challenges/ collect, analyse and share COVID-19, emergency and RI stock, consumption, and expiry data up to third level stores with regional office focal point.
Prepare budgets for RI activities and Rotavirus switch
Prepare monthly global vaccine status and accountability reports and share with supply and logistics workstreams and key stakeholders/ Prepare monthly vaccine monitoring reports and share them with key stakeholders.
Support regular review of supply chain performance at the national and sub-national level, ensuring course correction and triangulating with service delivery data.
Strengthen routine stock management practices (ToT, cross-learning, documenting best practices and lessons learnt) and track monthly reporting rates at central, secondary and third level stores.
Develop a costed supportive supervision workplan that include the number of government supervisors and frequency of visits, expected and actual results and ensure the allocated funds enable monitoring up to end of programme implantation.
Support set up and design of the EPI Dry Stores shelving and ensure appropriate shelving and material handling equipment is in place
Monitor COVID-19 and Measles Vaccine supply for RI and SIAs to ensure timely availability of vaccines for eligible target populations
Support the country with preparation for the introduction and implementation of a web-based Stock management Tool (SMT) for a better, efficient, and effective management of vaccines and CCE
Major tasks and deliverables:
| Tasks/Milestone: | Deliverables/Outputs: | Indicative Timeline/Days (payments) |
| Inception report covering the scope of work including input to RI, including the final report of a rapid cold chain inventory assessment report for district level 1-2 weeks before the campaign, ensuring readiness for vaccine arrivals and storage. | Inception report covering the scope of work including input to RI is done |
Week 1(8 days) (10%) |
| Prepare monthly global vaccine status and accountability reports and share with supply and logistics workstreams and key stakeholders. | Monthly reports prepared and shared |
Week 2 (10 days) (15%) |
| On the job training, adopt/deploy SOPs) to plan the timely and equitable distribution of vaccines with active temperature monitoring in transit and on arrival at receiving stores | The training report is available with the results of the post-training tests |
Week 3-4 (15 days) (15%) |
| Review of supply chain performance at the national and sub-national level, ensuring course correction and triangulating with service delivery data | Review of supply chain performance and reports are done |
Week 5 (10 Days) (15%) |
| Polio Vaccine supply for SIA to ensure timely availability of vaccines for eligible target populations | Updates on stock status of Polio vaccine for SIA is available and shared |
Week 6-7 (10 days) (10%) |
| Prepare monthly vaccine monitoring reports and share them with key stakeholders | Vaccine monitoring reports are prepared and shared |
Week 8 (8days) (10%) |
| Collect, analyse and share COVID-19, emergency and RI stock, consumption, and expiry data up to third level stores with regional office focal point. | Covid-19, emergency, RI, consumption, and expiry data is prepared and shared |
Week 9 (5days) (5%) |
| Develop a costed supportive supervision workplan that include the number of government supervisors and frequency of visits, expected and actual results and ensure the allocated funds enable monitoring up to end of programme implementation. | A costed supportive supervision workplan, expected results and actual results is developed |
Week 10 (8 days) (5%) |
| Support set up and design of the EPI Dry Stores shelving and ensure appropriate shelving and material handling equipment is in place | Shelving for EPI dry store is in place by December 2022. (5%) |
Week 11(8 days) (5%) |
| Production of Final Report | Final Report produced and shared |
Week 12 (8 days) (10%) |
Education:
Advanced university degree from a recognized academic institution in one or more of the following areas is preferred: Pharmacy, Supply Chain Management, or related to supply and logistics operations in UNICEF program areas.
Experience:
Five (5) years relevant work experience. Work experience in Southern Africa in managing large-scale projects, working with governments, working in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management, mitigation will be an asset.
First university pharmacy, Supply Chain Management degree combined with relevant professional work experience and understanding of relevant functions may be considered in lieu of advanced university degree combined with at least 7 years of experience in immunization and supply chain.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
Product knowledge on cold chain equipment, new cold chain technologies and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, knowledge and experience with data collection, data management analysis and reporting are essential.
Desirable
Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice will be beneficial.
Languages
Written and spoken fluency in English required and knowledge of main local languages (Shona and Ndebele) is an added advantage.
The detailed consultancy terms of reference is downloadable via this link 
TOR Vaccine Management.pdf
TO APPLY
If interested and available to undertake the individual consultancy, please submit your application online and attach the required documents HERE including the technical proposal and an all-inclusive financial proposal incorporating an approximate number of travel days for field (local) travel.
Technical proposal: The Technical Proposal should articulate an understanding of the TOR and include the proposed Tasks/Milestones, Deliverables/Outputs, Timeline and level of effort by deliverable. The similar table provided in the TOR is indicative. Applicants may use the indicative table as a guide or deviate as per the proposed approach. The proposal should also cost-effectively propose the local travel proposed by the applicant to undertake the assignment.
Financial proposal: The Financial Proposal should include the costs (providing a daily rate as justification) for each task, including consultant fee, proposed travel costs and perdiem, communications costs and any other proposed cost.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.
UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.
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.
Remarks:
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.