Equity for Immunization Consultancy (for 35 Working Days) Lusaka Zambia, (For Non Zambians Only)

Exciting international consultancy for investigating key drivers of immunization inequities and drivers of high immunization drop-out rates among children in Zambia

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For every child, ...

The UNICEF Programme in Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the triple threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

In response to the combination these threats involve the Programme supports national efforts to improve service delivery in the key areas of: child health and nutrition and HIV and AIDS, quality basic education, water, sanitation and hygiene education, child protection and social policy, advocacy and communication. 

Background of the Consultancy

The Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) is a framework approved by the World Health Assembly in May 2012 to achieve the Decade of Vaccines vision by delivering universal access to immunisation. The mission outlined in the GVAP is to improve health by extending by 2020 and beyond the full benefits of immunisation to all people, regardless of where they are born, who they are, or where they live. Immunisation is, and should be recognized as, a core component of the human right to health and an individual, community and governmental responsibility. Vaccination prevents an estimated 2.5 million deaths each year. Protected from the threat of vaccine-preventable diseases, immunized children have the opportunity to thrive and have a better chance of realizing their full potential. These advantages are further increased by vaccination in adolescence and adulthood. As part of a comprehensive package of interventions for disease prevention and control, vaccines and immunisation are an essential investment in a country’s— indeed, in the world’s —future.

The Zambia Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan (CMYP), 2017-2021 is guided by the National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP), the principles of Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP) and Decade of Vaccines (DoV) goals. The cMYP addresses challenges and gaps facing immunisation performance reflecting some of the efforts to address the challenges beginning in the year 2017. This is an effort to reverse declining immunisation coverage. The cMYP guiding principles reinforce the objectives of assuring immunisation for all. The principles encompass equity and gender equality for all in accessing immunisation, ownership, partnership and accountability; strong district-based immunisation system; quality-assured immunisation service delivery; sustainability through technical and financial capacity building; and strategies based on evidence and best practices for both service delivery and demand generation. Furthermore, the framework for increasing the coverage in low performing districts or districts with many unvaccinated children is provided through the Reaching Every District/ Community approach.  

UNICEF, WHO and Gavi as core partners of Ministry of Health in immunisation are supporting activities to address inequities and dropout rates in communities.  Questions being addressed include Equity analyses (Is immunisation inequity a problem? What are the evidences? What populations are being missed?); And Barrier analyses (What are the reasons for non-vaccination of the identified populations? What are the programmatic barriers to reaching these populations?)

How can you make a difference?

The Chief, Health & Nutrition is responsible for managing the consultancy. However, the focal point person for day-day monitoring and supervision will be provided by the EPI Officer. The consultant will hold weekly updates with the section chief and report on consultancy progress through meetings and when off site through electronic channels such as emails and skype.

LOCATION AND DURATION

The consultancy will be based in Lusaka with field visits to selected districts. Period of engagement will be the first quarter of 2018.The duration of the consultancy is 35 days all inclusive.

Objectives / Target

The overall goal of this consultancy is to investigate the drivers for the high Immunization drop-out rates. Specific objectives of the study will include:

1. To explore and compare perceptions, experiences and expectations concerning immunization services among the rural and urban communities
2. To identify the key social, economic, geographical, structural and cultural drivers/factors contributing to high dropout rates particularly Rotavirus and Measles vaccines including equity disparities.
3. To develop action plans that will contribute to attainment of improved immunization outcomes, reduced drop-out rates and reduced inequities   

Description of the assignment (Scope of work) / SPECIFIC TASKS

This consultancy requires technical support for carrying out the following:

1)         Conduct a national immunisation equity and immunization dropout rates assessment

2)         Conduct an in-depth equity analysis focusing on the underlying factors (structural, cultural, social-economic) of uneven immunization coverage. The Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES) framework is a potential tool to use to uncover bottlenecks at enabling environment, supply, demand and quality of immunization services.   Develop recommendations and action plan to address inequities for immunisation

3)         Development of indicators and propose a tracking mechanism on progress in reducing inequities in immunisation.

4)         Organize consultations/ workshop with key experts to share findings from the equity analysis, facilitate discussion on strategies to accelerate reduction in equity gaps in immunisation, and summarize recommendations on strategies from the expert group

5)         Use results to support updating of immunisation plans at various levels of health systems (to include strategies for addressing the gaps, support to health workers to track the progress especially in high risk communities, support the implementation of the planned activities/outreaches)

Methodology:

The research design will use both qualitative and quantitative approach. Below is the proposed methodology:

1) Desk review of immunisation program reports [DHS/MICS surveys, (e.g. EPI review reports, EPI review, EVM, Cold chain inventory, Evaluations (CHWk, RED), C4D reports, surveillance reports, PIE, JRF, Gavi reports, etc.)

2)  Analysis of administrative and survey data for determinants of inequity and immunization coverage dropout rates in immunisation.

3)  Hold workshop (s) for selected representative rural and urban sites to review and revise RED/C micro plans using the 5- Why model/ Methodology - conduct an analysis of systems-based, cultural, supply-based and demand-related bottlenecks driving inequities and immunization coverage drop-out rates.

4)  Using the MORES framework to conduct a bottle neck analysis at enabling environment, supply of services, demand for services and quality of services

5)  Feedback and dissemination Workshop(s)

Ethical consideration:

Ethical aspects of the research are paramount. Qualitative or quantitative data collection from human subjects and communities require their informed consent and should therefore be covered in detail in the technical proposals. UNICEF has a set of ethical principles regarding research which must be upheld.

The research team/consultants will come into contact with children, families, caregivers and community members and therefore should take precautions to protect the rights and well- being of any children and other participating subjects.

Expected Deliverables

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have…

• Education: At least Master`s Degree (or equivalent) in Demography, Anthropology or Statistics or Epidemiology or in relevant areas of Social Sciences with developed statistics and analytical skills.
• Work experience;
  • Minimum of eight years of work experience, at least five years of which should be related to use and analyses of household survey data required. Strong analytical skills including use of sophisticated demographic /statistical analysis using MICS and/or DHS a must.
  • Demonstrated experience in using qualitative data collection and analysis tools such as Nvivo etc.
  • Familiarity with immunisation programmes and health systems in low-income countries
  • Previous experience with Ministry of Health EPI programs
  • Previous experience on Gavi and/or immunisation related research and evaluations is an added advantage.
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
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For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.