National Consultant to Support Effective Vaccine Management - 6 Months (Iranian National only)

Under the general supervision of the UNICEF Health Specialist, the consultant will provide technical support to assessment of the vaccination programme, including revision and upgrade of the national vaccination monitoring system. In this regard the consultant will monitor the vaccine cold chain and assist MOH in monitoring vaccine stocks.

Job Title: Effective Vaccine Management Consultant

Place of Work/Location: Tehran, Iran

Reports to: Health Specialist

Duration: 6 months

Expected Start Date of Assignment: December 2019 -  July 2020

Work Type: National Consultancy

1. Background

Due to the successes in the nationwide immunization programme of Iran, many of the diseases that used to claim the lives of many Iranian children, have been mostly eliminated. Currently, 99 per cent of children in Iran are vaccinated against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, polio, measles, rubella, mumps, tuberculosis, Hepatitis b and haemophilus influenza type b. Congenital measles and rubella are on the verge of eradication. Iran has been polio-free for 18 years now while diphtheria, pertussis and mumps are under control. The number of chronic hepatitis b carriers, which used to comprise 3 percent of the population in 1991, has fallen to less than half in recent years.

However, taking into consideration the US sanctions on Iran and the resulting difficulties in procurement of vaccines and import of vaccine production technology, as well as the low immunization coverage of children in neighbouring countries and the possibility of diseases such as polio and measles entering Iran, there is a need for strategies to maintain the high level of vaccination coverage. These strategies call for design and implementation of a series of activities by a national consultant, including monitoring of the current programme, identification of shortcomings and addressing them.

2. Objective

Under the general supervision of the UNICEF Health Specialist, the consultant will provide technical support to assessment of the vaccination programme, including revision and upgrade of the national vaccination monitoring system. In this regard the consultant will monitor the vaccine cold chain and assist MOH in monitoring vaccine stocks.

3. Methodology and Technical Approach

The duty station for the consultant is in the Department for Communicable Diseases Control. He/she will be required to work closely with the MOH, both at central level, as well as in provinces, as well as with members of the H&N team.

The Consultant will be in close contact with the FDA and the D.G. of Communicable Diseases Control in MOH. This will include the following activities:

• Assess annual vaccine needs of the country for 2020
• Support development of guidelines on effective vaccine management and cold chain management
• Support activities related to Effective Vaccine Store Management
• Develop technical standards and monitor cold chain vaccine management in universities of medical sciences
• Develop standard operation procedures and monitoring the implementation
• Forecast the cold chain needs, including forecasts of required physical space and its maintenance and logistics procurement
• Build capacity to manage vaccine stocks with wVSSM software
• Coordinate with vaccine producing companies to ensure uninterrupted supplies
• Support relevant MOH staff on vaccine management and vaccination
  • Conduct of trainings on wVSSM software
  • Conduct of trainings on effective vaccine management and cold chain management
• Participate in MOH meetings related to immunization, prepare minutes and do necessary follow-ups
• Participate in activities related to Health Transformation Plan and electronic health files

4. Activities, Deliverables, Indicators, Timeframe, and Schedule of Payment

1. Preparation of a document, specifying how the deliverables of the contract will be achieved, including a roadmap with timelines for field visits, training programmes and other schedules. The document will also specify the contents of the progress reports.
   1. Corresponding Deliverable: 1
   2. Indicator: Submission of deliverable 1
   3. Timeframe: End of Month 1
   4. Payment: 30 percent
2. Progress report on above plan.
   1. Corresponding Deliverable: 2
   2. Indicator: Submission of deliverable 2
   3. Timeframe: End of Month 4
   4. Payment: 30 percent
3. Final report
   1. Corresponding Deliverable: 3
   2. Indicator: Submission of deliverable 3
   3. Timeframe: End of Month 6
   4. Payment: 40 percent 

N.B.  All reports and presentations should be submitted in English

5. Management and Organization

5.1. Management: The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNICEF Iran's Health specialist. The D.G. of the Center for Communicable Diseases Control -  Ministry of Health and Medical Education will be the responsible government partner.

5.2. Travel: Required travel to provinces will be covered by MOH.

6. Budget and terms of payment

The assignment will be funded from regular resources.

7. Conditions of Work

The consultant will be stationed in the MOH, with frequent travels to provinces. Costs for the consultants travels will be borne by the consultant.

8. Qualifications

 The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Minimum M.S. university degree in medicine, health, public health, or nursing
• Minimum ten years experience in immunization programmes and cold chain management;
• Proven knowledge in immunization and cold chain programmes
• Knowledge and experience in vaccine stock management
• Completed training and experience in vaccine management software

Knowledge & Skills:

• Effective communication, planning, analytical and training skills;
• Good knowledge of computer skills including vaccine management software, proficient in MS Office (Word, Excel, Power Point);
• Ability to work in a team and establish effective working relations;
• Ability to manage immunization projects and coordinate multiple stakeholders;
• Previous working experience with UNICEF/UN is an asset.

Languages:

• Fluency in English & Farsi is required
• Good English writing skills

9. Evaluation (Optional):

The individual will apply for the consultancy. The minimum threshold for the technical evaluation is 70 scores.

Evaluation Criteria for Consultant / Total Score 100

1. Minimum M.S. university degree in medicine, health, public health, or nursing (or equivalent combination of education and experience) / 20 Scores
2. Minimum ten years experience in immunization programmes and cold chain management; 50 Scores - 5 Scores per year
3. Proven knowledge and experience in immunization and cold chain programmes, vaccine stock management and related software / 30 Scores - 5 scores per year of proven experience