Consultant - provide technical support to the planning, organization and implementation of the EPI comprehensive review and Data Quality Self-Assessment by the WCO Jordan

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1. Purpose of the Consultancy

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the planning, organization and implementation of the EPI comprehensive review and Data Quality Self-Assessment by the WCO Jordan under the EU Trust Fund project on the strengthening primary health care services for Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians.

Specifically, it aims to provide high-level strategic support to the in-depth review of the National Expanded Programme on Immunization, including review of available documents, development of the review tools, training of the international and national reviewers, oversight of the field work/data collection and analysis, coordination of inputs of the review teams, and preparation of the situation analysis and final report. The review and assessment findings will serve as baseline for strengthening programme management and management information system for immunization programme in Jordan.

2. Background

The World Health Organization (WHO) and Ministry of Health (MOH) Jordan started collaboration with support from the European Union Trust Fund for the Syrian Crisis (EUTF).

The project agreement was signed on the March 1, 2021, and the “Jordan Health Programme for Syrian Refugees and Vulnerable Jordanians” initially aimed to strengthen primary health care services with focus on routine immunization for Syrian Refugees and vulnerable Jordanians whilst strengthening integrated health system approaches. As COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, EU contributed additional EUR 11 million to strengthening national COVID-19 preparedness and response as well as COVID-19 vaccination (total of EUR 43 million over the period from March 2020 to December 2023).

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, implementation of the activities planned for PHC strengthening had to be deferred to the second year of project. As the number of COVID-19 cases recently declined and the travel to the country resumed, WHO CO is embarking on the implementation of the core project objectives.

Overall project objective:

To contribute to improved Primary Health Care by expanding access to equitable quality immunisation services for refugees and vulnerable Jordanians within improved integrated health systems governance, in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak.

Project Component 1: Primary Health Care, Vaccine-Preventable Disease Immunisation and Surveillance, and COVID-19 Preparedness and Response

Specific Objective (SO) 1: To strengthen VPI activities and disease surveillance at the primary health care level to address the needs of Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanians, and to support COVID-19 preparedness and response.

EPI comprehensive review and Data Quality Self-Assessment will be conducted to identify major gaps and areas of improvements in all components of the national EPI as well as management of the immunization records and reports.

3. Planned Timelines

• 48 days consultancy (remote work and field work in Jordan)
• Start date: 20 June 2021
• End date: 14 December 2021

4. Work to Be Performed

Output 1: EPI comprehensive review is planned, organized and implemented according to the WHO guidelines with support of the collaboration with national and international reviewers. Separate Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessment will be conducted outside of this consultancy.

Deliverable 1.1: Conduct a Comprehensive EPI review planned and organized; and develop EPI review tools:

• Submit A plan for conducting the review with timetable is developed
• Develop Data collection tools
• Formulate Teams of external and internal reviewers

Deliverable 1.2: prepare, organize and conduct EPI field review

• Select The governorates and health facilities
• Conduct trainings for Team of international/national reviewers
• conducted The field visits

Deliverable 1.3: Submit a Narrative summary report and strategic analysis of the findings of the field visits and meetings with the MoH responsible focal points

• Develop Summary account of the field visits to all governorates of Jordan and discussions with the senior management of the Ministry of Health, National EPI, NITAG chair/members, Governorate Health Directorates, national and international partners, with important findings and recommendations;
• Submit a Summary of the strategic analysis of the NEPI and NITAG activities in addressing the routine immunization challenges in Jordan based on interviews and discussions with stakeholders.

Deliverable 1.4: Submit An EPI review report that includes:

• Submit a Narrative report on the findings
• Submit an Analytical report on the findings and main recommendations of the field visits
• Submit a Strategic account of the main achievements, challenges and lessons learned from the available documents and stakeholders’ feedback
• Provide Main recommendations on the strengthening NEPI programme management

Output 2: The Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) is planned, organized and conducted according to the WHO guidelines with support of the collaboration with national and international reviewers.

Deliverable 2.1: Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) planned and organized and assessment tools developed:

• A plan for conducting the Data Quality Self-Assessment (DQS) with time-table developed
• Data collection tools developed
• Teams of external and internal reviewers formulated

Deliverable 2.2: The DQS is prepared and the field work is planned and organized

• The governorates and health facilities are selected
• Team of international/national reviewers trained
• The field visits are conducted

Deliverable 2.3: Narrative summary report and strategic analysis of the findings of the field visits and meetings with the MoH responsible focal points

• Summary account of the field visits to selected governorates of Jordan and discussions with the senior management of the Ministry of Health, National EPI, NITAG chair/members, Governorate Health Directorates, national and international partners, with most common findings and recommendations;
• Strategic analysis of the NEPI/NITAG role in addressing the routine immunization data quality gaps and challenges in Jordan based on interviews and discussions with stakeholders.

Deliverable 2.3: DQS report that includes:

• Analytical report on the findings and main recommendations of the field visits
• Recommendations on the strengthening data management information systems in routine immunization with the summary action plan

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Master’s or PHD degree in public health is an asset.

Desirable: University Degree in Medicine

Experience:

• Over years’ experience with WHO at the senior management position; knowledge of health leadership and policy planning from WHO perspective at country, Regional and/or HQ levels.
• Previous experience with EPI comprehensive reviews and Data Quality Self-Assessment.
• Robust high-level communication skills.
• Previous experience with writing analytical reports

Skills/ Technical knowledge

• Technical skills and knowledge: High level of expertise in vaccine preventable diseases and immunization
• Strong communication skills
• Good report writing skills in English.

Language

• Very good command of the English language (speaking/writing).

Location: Remote assignment and field visits in Jordan

Medical clearance : The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

Travel (If travel is involved, a medical certificate of fitness for work will be required.) All travel arrangements will be made by WHO – WHO will not be responsible for tickets purchased by the Consultant without the express, prior authorization of WHO. While on mission under the terms of this consultancy, the Consultant will receive subsistence allowance. Visas requirements: it is the consultant’s responsibility to fulfil visa requirements and ask for visa support letter(s) if needed.

Additional Information section

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• Remuneration is in line with WHO consultant established rates
• Successful candidates will be included in the roster for consideration for future contractual engagement via a consultancy, as they become available. Inclusion in the roster does not guarantee any future contractual relationship with WHO
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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  (a) Your profile on Stellis is properly completed and updated;
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  (c) Your experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.