National consultant to provide technical support to Health Section in coordinating demand generation and logistics related activities on COVID 19 vaccine introduction in Uzbekistan.

Job no: 537517

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Uzbekistan Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS

School/Unit: Republic of Uzbekistan

Department/Office: Tashkent, Rep. of Uzbekistan

Categories: Communication for Development (C4D), Health, Supply/Logistics, Expanded Programme Immunization, Consultancy

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.

Background

In January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). The outbreak has infected millions of people across the world and caused significant loss of lives. To protect people from the disease, vaccines against COVID have been developed by several manufacturers in a number of countries. It is expected that there will be only limited number of vaccines produced in the early days, and gradually scaled up.

UNICEF and WHO are supporting the Government of Uzbekistan in introduction of COVID 19 vaccine in 2021. In this process, technical support to vaccine cold chain logistics, capacity building and demand generation activities of COVID 19 vaccine introduction were agreed to be led by UNICEF.

Demand Generation is a key component of COVID-19 vaccine introduction. Robust evidenced-based interventions will need to be planned and implemented to support the vaccine uptake, build and maintain public trust and manage misinformation and crisis communication for the COVID 19 vaccine introduction. UNICEF provides technical leadership in countries on the demand generation work on immunization including new vaccine introduction.

Logistics support is another critical component to COVID-19 vaccine preparedness response to ensure the availability of appropriate equipment and other infrastructure at all levels of the programme. It is important to ensure correct implementation of relevant strategies. The key areas of support include cold chain and logistics capacity assessment through the use of dedicated WHO developed tools. The assignment also includes accurate vaccine forecasting and needs estimation, as well as technical support in the development of National Deployment and Vaccination Plan.

Given that planning and implementation of demand generation and logistics support activities entail engagement of different of stakeholders from national partner organizations at different levels, there is a need to engage a national expert to provide technical support to Ministry of Health and UNICEF in ensuring effective coordination of interventions on demand generation as well as cold chain logistics.

Objectives

Under the direct supervision of Health Section C4D and Supply officers the consultant will be responsible for coordinating the work on two main directions: Demand Generation part:

  • Support development of public communication and demand generation plan based on global guidelines on COVID-19 vaccine with clearly defined M&E framework;
  • In coordination with UNICEF Health and Communication sections (C4D, external communication colleagues) support in establishing/activating the social listening and misinformation management mechanism
  • Support in organization of data collection (FGDs and online/telephone interviews) and rapid assessment activities among population, health care providers and other target groups
  • Support in conducting pre-testing and assist in finalization and approval of evidence-based communication content, messages and material as guided by evidence from social listening and based on global guidelines and data collected
  • Support the revision and approval process of SOPs to crisis communication preparedness and response including training of identified spokespersons
  • Support monitoring (including community feedback, media and social media monitoring) and reporting of ongoing implementation of COVAX introduction and broader C4D/Risk communication activities
  • Support dissemination activities of all developed communication materials through government social media platforms (website privivvki.uz, MOH telegram channels) and to destitution to regions in case of printing materials, handouts.

Cold Chain and logistics part:

  • Assess dry storage and cold chain capacity at all levels with regards to the COVID-19 vaccines characteristics and fill the identified supply and logistics gaps. Technical assistance in cold chain capacity assessment exercise, filling the cold chain sizing tool and regular update
  • Estimation potential numbers of target populations that will be prioritized for access to vaccines, and forecasting the needs for COVID-19 vaccine, safe injections equipment, as well as PPE.
  • Mapping service points, identify and estimate no. of HCWs, planning the supply of PPE.
  • Provide technical support to the MOH for the development of National Logistic Working Group (NLWG) and its subcommittees
  • Provide necessary data and support for the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for collection and disposal of medical waste in line with WHO recommendations
  • Provide necessary data and support for the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) or guidelines for collection and disposal of medical waste in line with WHO recommendations
  • Providing technical support for updating vaccine stock management tools and SOPs with regards to the COVID-19 vaccines characteristics in line with WHO recommendations
  • Provide technical support for the development of National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) with input from relevant bodies (National COVID-19 Response Coordinating Committee, NTWG, NITAG, National Immunization Programme, National Regulatory Authority, and other relevant groups) and in line with WHO guidance and SAGE recommendations.
  • Produce monthly consultancy reports

Timeline & Deliverables

Start day of the assignment: 1 February 2021

End day of the assignment: 30 June 2021

Public communication and Demand generation

Deliverables and Duration:

1. Public communication and demand generation Plan with M&E framework updated based on results of data collection - 6 working days

2. Focal point in the agency on epidemiological wellbeing identified and trained for preparing weekly reports on social listening and rumours tracking. Weekly reports shared with N/TWGs ensured - 6 working days

3. FGDs and IPIs with identified target groups conducted in all selected regions of the Country - 6 working days

4. Final version of approved communication materials disseminated - 7 working days

5. Final version of SOPs on Crises communication approved by MOH, UNICEF and WHO - 5 working days

6. Regular reports on ongoing implementation of COVAX introduction disaggregated by regions - 8 working days

7. Reports on dissemination of materials disaggregated by regions - 5 working days

Cold chain logistics

Deliverables and Duration:

1. COVAX CCE application document submitted - 5 working days

2. Collection, consolidation and analysis of data required for the EPI Logistics Forecasting Tool. Vaccine forecasting and needs estimation submitted to the national authorities and duly endorsed - 6 working days

3. Service points and total number of HCWs are identified - 2 working days

4. The National Logistic Working Group (NLWG) and its subcommittees (in Russian) are developed and operational with updated ToRs - 3 working days

5. SOPs or guidelines are developed and endorsed by MOH - 3 working days

6. Stock management reporting tools and SOPs are revised and endorsed by MOH - 3 working days

7. NDVP is prepared and endorsed by coordinating bodies - 5 working days

Total working days in 2021 - 70 days

Management

The consultant will work under the supervision of C4D, Immunization and Supply, Health Section Officers in collaboration with national partners at national level.

Resource requirements and payments

The final fees will be set up based on the "best value for money" principle.

The contract will be issued for 7 months in 2021. Payments might be partially or fully withheld in case of unsatisfactory performance of duties or failure to provide the quality deliverables.

All payments will be made in local currency (UZS) via bank transfer to the Consultant's account. Should the contract be signed with denomination of fees in US dollars, the settlement will be according to the UN Operational Rate of Exchange in the month of payment.

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

1. University degree in Health, Epidemiology or other relevant fields 2. At least 5 years of progressive professional experiences in the field of implementation of immunization programs in the Country 3. Proven 5-year experience of working on public communication issues in the field of Immunization including crises communication 4. Proven 3-year experience of coordinating cold chain logistics in any regions of Uzbekistan 5. At least 5- year experience in coordinating capacity building activities for health care providers in the field of immunization 6. Proven experience in technical support to MoH in adaptation and implementation of demand generation interventions 7. Good command of written Russian and Uzbek (Examination of a previous authentic written work in Russian)

Procedures and Working Conditions

Consultant is expected to work from home and expected to participate at all required meetings online. The applicants shall be required to submit a statement of good health prior of commencement of work and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. Consultants are not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance available to UN staff members.

Reservations

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if deliverable(s) incomplete, not finalized or for failure to meet deadlines. UNICEF will reserve copyright of all developed materials and own primary data collected through this assignment. The materials cannot be published or disseminated without prior written permission of UNICEF. UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. The contractor must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

UNICEF undertakes no liability for taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant on payments made under this contract.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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.

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.

Advertised: Jan 18 2021 West Asia Standard Time Application close: Feb 01 2021 West Asia Standard Time

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This vacancy is archived.

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