National Vaccine Management Contractor for Polio Emergency, NO-B, UNICEF Liberia (advertisement extended to 5th Feb 2021.)

Job no: 535886

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Liberia Division/Equivalent: Dakar (WCAR), Senegal

School/Unit: Liberia

Department/Office: Monrovia, Liberia

Categories: Health, NO-2

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1. Purpose of Assignment:

Effective management of nOPV2 vaccines in an outbreak situation is critical to ensure that vaccines are deployed timely, sufficient quantities of vaccines are issued and all vaccines issued are retrieved and accounted for. The Ministry of Health does not have enough technical capacity to manage nOPV2 vaccines effectively. UNICEF is a key partner and accountable for vaccine management during Polio outbreak response hence, the justification to engage a National Consultant. The Consultant will work in close collaboration with the International consultant and a National Data Officer for nOPV2.

2. Basic Objectives of the Assignment:

  • Support the national and regional Vaccine cold room managers to distribute vaccines and other related logistics to the various levels of the health system in efficient and timely manner.
  • Support regional and district Vaccine Accountability Coordinators to ensure that all vials are retrieved, and unused vials properly destroyed.
  • To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on vaccine and cold chain management aspects of the polio emergency response based on field monitoring visits and reports.

Objective 1: Support the national and regional Vaccine cold room managers to distribute vaccines and other related logistics to the various levels of the health system in efficient and timely manner.

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

Key Activities/Task

  • Estimate the needs for vaccines for counties of the outbreak response in accordance with micro-plans
  • Review the national cold chain and logistics plan for nOPV2 campaign;
  • Adapt operational procedures for epidemic management and vaccine management in accordance with the country accountability framework.
  • Support country office and MOH logistics teams to streamline planning, ordering and arrival of vaccines and consumables
  • Train staff and partners involved in the response in vaccine management, logistics and cold chain management in accordance with the guidance note and available learning modules. This includes the deployment of management tools and training materials in the country.
  • Support epidemic response assessment teams (OBRAs) with information related to vaccine management, logistics and the cold chain.
  • Vaccines sales orders raised, distribution plan developed
  • National cold chain inventory and nOPV2 logistics plan updated or developed
  • All SOPs on cold chain and vaccine management updated to reflect nOPV2
  • Staffs at all levels of the supply chain are trained on the management of nOPV2 (storage, distribution, handling, retrieval and disposal)
  • Epidemic response assessment (risk assessment) conducted for cVDPV2

Ongoing from 01 November 2020, 31 January 2021

Objective 2: Support regional and district Vaccine Accountability Coordinators to ensure that all vials are retrieved, and unused vials properly destroyed.

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

  • Collect and analyze vaccine stock and utilization status at all levels of the supply chain after each round.
  • Submit vaccine stock reports when submitting requests for additional vaccines.
  • Ensure that all unusable vials are destroyed according WHO guidelines and or Country laws and regulations.
  • Provide frequent and regular reports to the technical manager on all aspects of vaccine management, cold chain logistics and contribute to the drafting of SITREPS and bulletins. Prepare reports according to GPEI requirements at the end of each round and at the end of the campaign.
  • Undertake other tasks and responsibilities (especially in support of routine immunization), at the request of country or regional office and other partners, to contribute to the success of the response to the epidemic.
  • Vaccine stock and utilization report for each round of campaign.
  • Vaccines accountability and disposal report available.
  • Full report of campaign implementation covering vaccine management, cold chain and logistics.
  • Report of support provided to strengthen routine immunization.
  • Vaccine management reports (Forms A for nOPV2 or equivalent for other vaccines) are verified, signed and collected. Those include physical inventories and details on open and unopened vials 5 days after each round of campaign.

Ongoing from 01 November 2020, 31 January 2021

Objective 3: To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on vaccine and cold chain management aspects of the polio emergency response based on field monitoring visits and report.

Key Activities/Tasks

Outputs/Deliverables

Time frame

  • Participate in various coordination meetings, including the meetings of the Logistics Subcommittee.
  • Ensure the proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply chain;
  • Develop mechanisms to accelerate the preparation, verification, correction and compilation of reports (vaccine utilization reports and form A) and their daily transmission to coordination centre and central levels;
  • Coordination of Independent Vaccine Monitoring activities including training of supervisors, coordinators and monitors, supervision, compilation of monitoring data and transmission of reports.
  • Coordinate with partners to implement appropriate logistical solutions to ensure the availability of vaccines in hard-to-reach areas.
  • Reports, minutes and attendance of all meetings attended by the consultant.
  • Regular (weekly and monthly) vaccine stock and utilization report.
  • Training report of all vaccine accountability monitors (VAM), supervisors and coordinators on nOPV2 (storage, distribution, handling, retrieval and disposal).
  • Field reports on vaccine management, logistics and supportive supervision in urban and hard-to reach areas.

Ongoing from 01 November 2020, 31 January 2021

3. Qualification or Specialized Kowledge/Experience/Expertise required for the Assignment:

  • Education: Master's degree in logistics management, supply chain, health logistics or other health-related fields (pharmacy, engineer). At least two years of additional relevant work experience in the same field may be considered in lieu of a master's degree.
  • Professional/Technical Experience: At least, 5 years of professional experience at national level in EPI logistics management (Cold Chain, Vaccine Management, Waste Management), vaccination campaign logistics management, field experience of OPV management will be an asset.
  • Relevant work experience in emergency response especially epidemics; Experience with public health supply chain and cold chain management issues.
  • Leadership skills, teamwork and ability to conduct training.
  • Masters EPI logistics tools (SMT, DVDMT, Cold Chain Inventory tools).
  • Language skills required: Fluency in English and a local dialect is essential.
  • Other attributes essential for the assignment: Results-driven and good writing skills.

4. General Terms and Conditions of the Contract:

  • Under the consultancy agreements, payment is deliverable based as defined in the ToR.
  • All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
  • No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
  • For international consultants outside the duty station, signed contracts must be sent by fax or email.
  • Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets for the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the "most economical and direct route" but this must be agreed to beforehand.
  • Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
  • Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
  • Mention is it as per the General Terms and Conditions of the Contract.

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

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.

Advertised: Nov 03 2020 Greenwich Standard Time Application close: Feb 05 2021 Greenwich Standard Time

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This vacancy is archived.

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