Consultancy: Partnership Specialist, Vaccine Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen

The Vaccine Center within UNICEF Supply Division seeks suitably qualified professional with experience in monitoring, reporting and partnerships engagement for a 7 month period (maternity leave).

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you.

For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

 

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Consultancy Title: Partnership Specialist, Vaccine Centre

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration: 7 months (April 3-October 20, full time)

Location: Copenhagen, Denmark, 10-12 Oceanvej, 2150 Nordhavn.

On-site working days: 5 days (includes 30 days of paid Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) 50%)

Field Missions/Travel: Travel may be required to Geneva, Switzerland to participate in meetings and will be funded as per UNICEF authorized entitlements with the most direct and economic transportation, daily subsistence allowance (50% DSA), terminal expenses and miscellaneous expenses (visa, airport, taxi, etc). No other travel is foreseen for this consultancy.

Start Date: April 3, 2017

Reporting to: Heather Deehan, Chief, Vaccine Centre, UNICEF Supply Division, Copenhagen. 

 

BACKGROUND:

The Vaccine Center seeks suitably qualified professional with experience in monitoring, reporting and partnerships engagement for a 7 month period (maternity leave).

Under the overall guidance of the Chief of the Vaccine Center, Supply Division, the consultant will be responsible for meeting the reporting requirements to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance under the memoranda of understanding (MOU) between Gavi and UNICEF, and will play a key role in building external relationships through collaboration with stakeholders such as Gavi, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to ensure mutual learning and development of effective analysis, monitoring and evaluation of UNICEF as procurement agency of vaccines and vaccine related equipment on behalf of Gavi.

The incumbent will also leverage communication and reporting tools to improve overall supply and contracts management; ensure coordination of any media related and publication of reports and data on vaccine related activities (knowledge management and exchange); and contribute to the development of best practices, capacity development and knowledge on reporting of vaccine supply and procurement with consideration of the influence of UNICEF procurement on vaccines markets to achieve the goal of securing affordable, quality assured supply of vaccines to countries.

The consultant is expected to build relationships and collaborate with relevant internal functions in UNICEF to ensure data and reporting to Gavi and other partners is aligned with the strategic direction of the organization.

 

OBJECTIVE:

• Delivery of reporting to support partnerships (MOU reporting activities and deliverables);
• Timely coordination and review of Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance policies, and analysis of impact on UNICEF (Vaccine Center) operations;
• Development of monitoring and reporting tools to increase efficiency, accuracy and timeliness of reporting in accordance with the MOU;
• Contribution to culture of monitoring and evaluation towards performance improvement;
• Coordination and Networking with external partners.  

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT: 

• Monitor compliance with the Gavi MOU8, including monthly, bi-annual and annual reporting requirements.
• Work with relevant Supply Division Centres to ensure Non-financial reporting to partners is delivered in a quality and timely manner, with specific reference to reporting and monitoring requirements under the framework of the Memoranda of Understanding with GAVI and GAVI Supply and Procurement Strategy 2016-2020.
• Engage and collaborate with critical vaccine partners including Gavi, BMGF, and WHO to ensure alignment on meeting the Gavi Supply and Procurement Strategy 2016-2020, including coordination of monthly and bi-weekly calls, face to face meetings and other meetings as required/deemed necessary.
• Coordinate the policy reviews Gavi policies and their impact on Vaccine Center and Supply Division operations.
• To ensure that relevant functions within UNICEF and partners have useful, valid and reliable information to support sustainable vaccine supply and procurement in connection with new vaccine introduction, routine immunization and eradication/elimination programmes.
• To develop and institutionalise use of monitoring and evaluation indicators to support improvements in vaccine supply and procurement and help support strategic partnerships, such as GAVI, BMGF and WHO.
• Contribute to the development of best practices, capacity development and knowledge sharing through data analysis, documenting lessons learned and packaging knowledge on vaccine supply and procurement.
• Any other duties as requested by the supervisor 

 

KEY DELIVERABLES:

Requirement	Deliverable	Due date
MOU8 mid-term evaluation (2018) planning: Establish working group with SD and Gavi to develop the RFP for external consultants to conduct the review including background, objectives, data sources, deliverables/expected outcomes	RFP	July 15, 2017
Review Gavi Program and Policy Committee papers in advance of the meeting identifying operational implications for supply and procurement and propose UNICEF position to support UNICEF representative; coordinate input from other Centres/Divisions in UNICEF to prepare Briefing Note	Briefing Note	May 5, 2017
Review Partnership Engagement Framework deliverables in advance of the meeting identifying operational implications for supply and procurement and propose UNICEF position to support UNICEF representative; coordinate input from other Centres/Divisions in UNICEF to prepare Briefing Note	Briefing Note PEF submission on behalf of Vaccine Centre	May 5, 2017
Review Gavi Board papers in advance of the meeting identifying operational implications for supply and procurement and propose UNICEF position to support UNICEF representative; coordinate input from other Centres/Divisions in UNICEF to prepare Briefing Note	Briefing Note	June 16, 2017
Prepare, plan and implement workshop for Gavi Senior Country Managers (and other identified Gavi Secretariat staff) on UNICEF Supply and Procurement	Workshop	June 1, 2017
Plan and implement bi-weekly Gavi calls	Meeting agenda Meeting notes Follow-up on action items	Bi-weekly for the duration of consultancy
MOU deliverable: 6 monthly report	6 monthly report	July 31, 2017
MOU deliverable: KPI updates, quarterly reports	Quarterly updates	Quarterly (June 30, September 30)
Review of Authorization Schedule submitted by Gavi	Review and sign-off of AS	September 30, 2017
Monitor trilateral (Gavi, UNICEF, BMGF) workplan	Monitoring report	Quarterly
Updating strategic tender calendar	Update tender calendar	Monthly

 

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, public health, law, or other associated field

• At least five years (three of which international) of relevant professional work experience
• Experience working with and coordinating with external partners (e.g. WHO, Gavi, donors, other)

• Experience in conducting monitoring and evaluation in the area of immunization or other commodity areas relevant to the UNICEF Supply Function to support strategic programmes and/or partnerships

• Strong writing skills and experience drafting and preparing reports, documents and other materials for internal and external partners

• Fluency in spoken and written English is required; working knowledge of another UN language is an advantage

 

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application.
2. Financial quote at a daily rate in US Dollars excluding all taxes.
3. CV.
4. Examples of previous, relevant work.
5. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project
6. At least 2 References.

Applications must be submitted through the UNICEF electronic application system by 31 March 2017. Applications submitted by email or without a financial quote will not be considered.

UNICEF considers best value for money as a criteria for evaluating potential candidates. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the "best value for money" principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

Successful applicants will be invited to a telephone interview and will be evaluated by the following criteria:

 

	Applicant x
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION   (max. 80 points)
Overall Response (10 points)
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal
Proposed Methodology and Approach (20 points)
Quality of proposed approach/methodology
Quality of proposed work plan
Technical Capacity (50 points)
Relevance of consultant's experience with similar projects and as per required qualifications
Quality of previous work
References
TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION - Total Points
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL     (max. 20 points)
daily rate, lump sum, per deliverable
Economy Air Ticket
Total estimated cost of contract (proposed contract fee only)
FINANCIAL PROPOSAL - Weight Combined Score
TOTAL SCORE   (max. 100 points)

 

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

1. Legal Status

 

The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractor (the "Contractor") is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representative of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946 ("the Convention"). The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Expert on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and if the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

 

1. Obligations

 

The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

 

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract shall neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.

 

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

 

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

 

1. Title rights

 

UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

 

1. Travel

 

If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor's travel costs shall be set out in the contract. In cases where travel costs have not been set in the contract, travel may either be organized by UNICEF or reimbursed upon submission of receipts within ten (10) days of completion of a specific travel on the following basis:

 

• UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route, provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis. 
• UNICEF will pay for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel, up to an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

5. Statement of good health

Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings "H" and "A", a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor's medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be incurred in relation to the statement of good health.

6. Insurance

The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

7. Service incurred death, injury or illness

If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF's prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF's approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF's prior approval and at UNICEF's expenses in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF's approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Consultants and Individual Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

8. Arbitration

• Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
• If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

9. Penalties for Underperformance

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contract, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor's full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF's satisfaction, and UNICEF's certification to that effect.

10. Termination of Contract

This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF's satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph.

11. Taxation UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.

 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.