Individual National Consultany - Support to Strengthen Routine Immunization through the technical assistance on Cold Chain and Effective Vaccine Management (Nepales Nationals Only)

This is an Individual Consultancy under Health Section of UNICEF Nepal, Country Office

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.

For every child,

The major objective of hiring the consultant is to strengthen the National Immunization Programme at the Federal, Provincial and Local levels by ensuring there is no interruption in vaccine supply and cold chain is maintained at all levels. The consultant will be fully engaged in providing technical assistance through continuous capacity building of cold chain managers in provincial health office’s medical stores, provide regular verification of data on status of cold chain supplies and jointly monitor progress with the government counterparts.  During the period, the consultant will be responsible to conduct onsite mentoring and coaching that will enable skills transfer and increased capacity of the government counterpart in managing cold chain activities. He/she will work with the Child Health Specialist and Child Health Officer in the Nepal UNICEF Country Office, Health Officers in UNICEF’s Field Offices and Immunization consultants who are already placed in Province 2,5,6 and Sudurpachhim province to coordinate and provide coordinated technical support in several work streams that fall within the area of immunization Cold Chain Expansion and Optimization (CCEOP) and Effective Vaccine Management Systems Strengthening (EVM). 

How can you make a difference?

1. 1. Provide technical support to central, and provincial vaccine stores to strengthen Effective Vaccine Management (e.g. storage, temperature monitoring, stock management, vaccine and cold chain equipment and distribution plan.)
   2. Provide skills transfer support in vaccine forecasting, on-time and accurate recording, verification of and quality reporting
   3. Provide technical support to strengthen capacities of health workers at provincial and local level on Effective Vaccine Management
   4. Provide technical support to ensure CCEOP deployment plan is timely and accurate and monitor functionality after instalment
   5. Jointly with federal and provincial government counterparts conduct monitoring and supervisory visits to the provinces and local governments, identify issues and provide recommendations for improvement
   6. Establish coordination with Family Welfare Division and Management Division and support in conduction of meetings
   7. Provide technical support in documenting GAVI related documentation and provide monthly progress report to UNICEF
   8. Provide technical support to vaccine sub centers in maintaining SOP standards of Effective Vaccine Management
   9. Establish and strengthen coordination between Central and Provincial Medical Stores
   10. Report to Provincial Health directorate, Child health /immunization and LMD Sections and UNICEF

Duration of Contract

The duration of this contract is approximately 11.5 months and is expected to begin from December 2019.

Deliverable

1 (a). Submission of a situation analysis brief report on the status of cold chain information management and DHIS reporting system

   (b). Submission of bi-monthly activity report covering status of 9 EVM criteria relevant to level of deployment; joint monitoring visits  with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centers, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine sub centers; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centers; installation of CCE in year 2020, monitor functionality and report.

2. Submission of bi-monthly activity report covering status of 9 EVM criteria relevant to level of deployment; joint monitoring visits with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centers, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine sub centers; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centers; installation of CCE in year 2020, monitor functionality and report.

3. Submission of bi-monthly activity report covering status of 9 EVM criteria relevant to level of deployment; joint monitoring visits with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centers, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine sub centers; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centers; installation of CCE in year 2020, monitor functionality and report.

4. Submission of bi-monthly activity report covering status of 9 EVM criteria relevant to level of deployment; joint monitoring visits with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centers, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine sub centers; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centers; installation of CCE in year 2020, monitor functionality and report.

5. Submission of bi-monthly activity report covering status of 9 EVM criteria relevant to level of deployment; joint monitoring visits with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centers, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine sub centers; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centers; installation of CCE in year 2020, monitor functionality and report.

6. Submission of a final report of the progress made and a handover/exit plan for sustaining the TA.

1. Minimum Qualifications Required

   1. Education: University degree in social sciences, demography, statistics or a related technical field.
   2. Work Experience:  Minimum two years of progressively responsible professional work experience in data management at subnational level.  Specialized training in statistical software   knowledge of socio-cultural practices and language in relevant province will be an asset.

   3. Special skills: Good written and spoken Nepali and English languages, interpersonal skills and team work, self-motivated able to work with partners and work in very remote settings. Must have knowledge of health system in Nepal.

   4. Competencies:

      Core Values

• Trust
• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Accountability

Core Competencies

• Communication
• Working with people
• Drives for results

Functional competencies

• Analyzing
• Applying technical expertise
• Planning and organizing

Duty Station(s):

1. Kathmandu – Central Medical Store, Teku (also responsible to provide technical assistance to 3 districts of Kathmandu Valley)
2. Province 1- Medical Store (Biratnagar, supply’s vaccines to several districts of Province 2)
3. Province 3- Medical Store (Hetauda, supply’s vaccines to several districts of Province 2)
4. Province 5- Medical Store (Butwal)
5. Province 5- Medical Store Nepalgunj, supply’s vaccine to all districts of Province 6)
6. Sudurpachhim Province - Medical Store (Dhangadi)