The TRVST Implementation Management Consultant, Kampala, 11.5 months

To provide technical oversight for the TRVST implementation, the National Track and Trace Implementation Steering Committee—chaired by the National Drug Authority—is seeking to engage a consultant who will provide technical assistance to the national staff and traceability TWG to strengthening health supply chain capacity and implementing traceability system. Together, they will provide the technical synergy required to successfully operationalize TRVST as pilot and learning tool for traceability. He/she will capacitate the NDA technical team to overtake this assignment prior to the accomplishment of this consultant.

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The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide technical leadership and hands-on support for the introduction and operationalization of the Traceability and Verification System (TRVST) in Uganda. This system aims to improve visibility, accountability, and control over vaccines and other essential health products, helping to prevent falsifications, leakages, and diversion. The consultant will guide the national counterparts in all steps of the process—from the deployment and configuration to pilot implementation, training, monitoring, and final recommendations for next deployment modality.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: [attach JD/TOR here]

Background and Purpose

UNICEF in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MoH), through the National Regulatory Authority (NDA) and National Health Products Traceability Strategy 2024/25–2028/29, is committed to establishing a well-functioning supply chain system that ensures continuous availability, accountability, visibility, and traceability of quality health products across Uganda.

In support of this strategic vision, UNICEF is working closely with the Ministry of Health and the National Drug Authority to engage key stakeholders in strengthening systems and building capacity to track health commodities within the supply chain. The initial focus will be on vaccines, leveraging the Traceability Verification System (TRVST). This collaboration will facilitate the adoption, integration, and national rollout of TRVST within Uganda’s health supply chain infrastructure.

To provide technical oversight for the TRVST implementation, the National Track and Trace Implementation Steering Committee—chaired by the National Drug Authority—is seeking to engage a consultant who will provide technical assistance to the national staff and traceability TWG to strengthening health supply chain capacity and implementing traceability system. Together, they will provide the technical synergy required to successfully operationalize TRVST as pilot and learning tool for traceability. He/she will capacitate with the NDA technical team to overtake this assignment prior to the accomplishment of this consultant.

The TRVST Implementation Management Consultant will be responsible for providing overarching oversight of the TRVST rollout. s/he will offer strategic and operational leadership, coordinate stakeholder engagement, manage project implementation, and lead reporting efforts. S/he will report directly to the Chair of the National Track and Trace Steering Committee, who also serves as the Director of the Inspectorate and Enforcement at the National Drug Authority.

Additionally, consultants will serve as the primary liaison for all aspects of TRVST implementation, representing the National Track and Trace Steering Committee.

A Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF Uganda Supply Manager and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health/National Regulatory Authority (NDA)), and other key national stakeholders. The assignment will also involve coordination with international partners such as WHO, Gavi, and UNICEF’s regional and global traceability teams through National Traceability Technical Working Group to ensure that the Uganda approach to verification and traceability is aligned with international standards and best practices.

The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide technical leadership and hands-on support for the introduction and operationalization of the Traceability and Verification System (TRVST) in Uganda. This system aims to improve visibility, accountability, and control over vaccines and other essential health products, helping to prevent falsifications, leakages, and diversion. The consultant will guide the national counterparts in all steps of the process—from the deployment and configuration to pilot implementation, training, monitoring, and final recommendations for next deployment modality.

Objectives

Key objectives of the assignment include:

1. Development of a detailed project implementation plan and training plan.
2. Capacity building of national trainers and staff through training-of-trainers and pilot rollout.
3. Development of SOPs, training curricula, and user manuals for effective rollout.
4. Facilitation of integration of national mobile application with TRVST
5. Ensuring sustainability through system maintenance, mentoring, and knowledge transfer.

The Consultant will be responsible for the following areas of work:

1. Review of the Current Traceability Landscape

• Review of existing policies, strategies, regulations, and guidelines related to traceability
• Identify roles and responsibilities of key stakeholders in traceability
• Assess existing digital supply chain systems to identify integration opportunities with TRVST
• Develop a high-level implementation roadmap

2. Support In-Country Deployment of TRVST across Central Medical Stores and Health Facilities

• Prepare a deployment concept note, invitation letters, meeting agenda,
• Lead rollout workshops at the National Medical Store and district-level warehouses
• Orient District Health Officers (DHOs) on vaccine traceability under the TRVST initiative
• Conduct regional workshops at Referral Hospital level
• Capture lessons learned during the pilot and developed a national deployment roadmap for scale-up to subnational facilities once adequate infrastructure is in place.
• Conduct a Training of Trainers (TOT) programme for at least 20 participants (national and regional staff), ensuring interactive sessions, hands-on practice, and knowledge transfer.
• Support the rollout of the TRVST mobile app and dashboard, mentoring national trainers and providing on-the-job coaching to strengthen national ownership and sustainability.
• Draft and submit routine TRVST implementation progress reports

3. Lead Benchmarking and Technical Learning Visits

• Develop the scope of work for benchmarking engagements
• Coordinate and manage international technical visits
• Compile benchmarking reports and capture key learning from participating countries

4. Support Serialization Implementation by Local Manufacturers

• Identify local manufacturers and the traceability standards currently in use
• Engage manufacturers on implementing serialization on packaging
• Draft an adoption roadmap for serialization
• Develop a sustainability plan for long-term implementation

5. Final Reporting and Knowledge Dissemination

• Compile a comprehensive final activity report
• Present findings to key stakeholders
• Draft knowledge products such as advocacy briefs or publications based on the TRVST implementation experience
• Document key lessons learned, challenges, and success factors to inform the national rollout and provide recommendations for integration with other public health supply chain systems. Contribute to the development of a comprehensive final report that summarizes all activities undertaken, outcomes achieved, and practical recommendations for future sustainability and scale-up.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health, Health Information Systems, Biomedical Engineering, Supply Chain and Logistics, Cold Chain Management, Information Technology, Computer Science, or Software Engineering or a closely related technical field.
• Proven knowledge and hands-on experience implementing GS1 standards
• Over 8 years of experience supporting digital supply chain solutions across diverse health system contexts
• Advanced academic qualifications in Pharmacy, Health Supply Chain, Public Health, Project Management, Data Science, or Health Informatics
• Strong grasp of business process requirements and high-level IT architecture/design
• Demonstrated expertise in project management, including planning, budgeting, risk mitigation, team coordination, and time management
• Familiarity with project management methodologies such as Agile, Waterfall, and the full software development life cycle
• Capacity to manage and coordinate multi-stakeholder engagements effectively
• Well-developed interpersonal skills, including communication, presentation, and team-building
• Proficiency in navigating Product Information Management (PIM) systems and
• related IT solutions
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to conduct system assessments, identify operational gaps, and propose practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent facilitation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience in supporting technical working groups and multi-sectoral consultations.
• Excellent technical writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, strategic documents, and policy briefs.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.