Technical Assistant (Routine Immunization Coverage Survey)

Organizational Context

The Ministry of Health South Sudan through the support from WHO and GAVI has planned to conduct South Sudan EPI Coverage Survey to assess Immunization Coverage of children aged 0 - 23 months. The overall purpose of the survey is to validate the quality and coverage of the EPI Program across the 10 States and 3 administrative areas.

Further, the survey is specifically geared towards establishing the immunization coverage for all antigens among children aged 12-23 months, Tetanus Toxoid immunization coverage among mothers of infants aged 0-11 months, the quality and access to immunization services and the factors affecting service provision including the main reasons for immunization failure, card availability rate for both mothers of children aged 12-23 months and 0- 11months, enhance capacity to conduct standardized EPI coverage verification surveys, coverage with malaria prevention and control, access of antenatal care services and newborn care after delivery.

Purpose of the Assignment

The major reasons for conducting the EPI coverage survey in South Sudan are as follows:

1. The survey will be conducted to serve as a supplemental information to compare with administrative coverage reports, i.e. to assess the quality of reports on vaccinations done routinely in health facilities and outreach centers and provide additional information on the real immunization coverage achieved in the population. Also, to check on reliability and completeness of reports as well as why there are no routine immunization reports in certain areas.
2. To provide information for service assessment: assess the quality of immunization services, including access to different population groups, timeliness of protection and providers of immunization.
3. To assess the change in coverage over time: To provide information that can be compared to previous levels of immunization coverage. For surveys designed to assess change over time it is important to ensure that key variables such as age groups of children, immunization schedule, and catchment area are comparable.
4. To assess the coverage achieved through accelerated routine immunizations, mass measles or polio campaign, or intensified TT immunization to eliminate neonatal and maternal tetanus.
5. Providing EPI coverage information demanded by support agencies: For reporting and accountability required by funding agencies, government offices and other partners.

The EPI coverage Survey 2023 report will be used to validate administrative coverage calculated from administrative data collected from the immunization program in all health facilities and service delivery points which is normally summarized at the National EPI Program.

The coverage will also provide an opportunity for the health workers to identify children and women who are not receiving or completing their immunization series – and possibly other health services and reasons for not completing immunizations as per national schedule of immunization and to link them up with the necessary services.

Scope of work

The international consultant will work with the staff of Directorate of Primary Health Care, in MOH to carry out the following tasks:

1. Planning for the immunization coverage survey.
2. Conducting the immunization coverage survey.
3. Processing, interpreting and presenting coverage survey results.
4. Communicating coverage survey results and using immunization coverage survey results to the MoH, partners and stakeholders.

The coverage survey would be designed to validate the quality and coverage of the EPI Programme in all counties and States of South Sudan. In particular, the coverage survey would establish:

1. The immunization coverage for all antigens among children aged 12-23 months
2. Tetanus Toxoid immunization coverage among mothers of children aged 0-11 months
3. The proportion of children protected at birth from tetanus
4. The quality and access to immunization services and the factors affecting service provision; including the main reasons for immunization failure
5. The card availability rate for both mothers of children aged 0-11 months and children aged 12-23 months
6. Enhanced capacity to conduct standardized EPI coverage verification surveys at national and state levels
7. Coverage with malaria prevention/control (IPT, ITN), Antenatal Care and newborn care after delivery as part of Health Basic Package Integrated to immunization such as IPT, ITN, ANC visits, Practice after delivery & newborn care.

Deliverables

The consultant will be expected to submit the following deliverables:

• Inception report developed detailing the next steps.
• Final data collection tools.
• Final dataset used for analysis and code book for any additional variables created from the raw dataset.
• Dissemination of the immunization coverage survey findings to MoH, partners and stakeholders.
• Final consultancy report submitted.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• Strong analytical, negotiation and communication skills, including ability to produce high quality practical advisory reports and knowledge products.
• Professional and/or academic experience in one or more of the areas of international development, Biostatistics, public health, or related field

Project and Resource Management:

• Ability to produce high quality outputs in a timely manner while understanding and anticipating the evolving client needs.
• Strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently, produce high quality outputs

Communications and Advocacy:

• Strong ability to write clearly and convincingly, adapting style and content to different audiences and speak clearly and convincingly.
• Strong analytical, research and writing skills with demonstrated ability to think strategically.
• Strong inter-personal, negotiation and liaison skills

Language:

• Excellent oral and written English

Qualifications of the Successful International Consultant

• Advanced degree (Master’s level) in a relevant field (Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, Biostatistics, econometrics, advanced statistical analysis, data/information/health management).

Experience

• At least seven years expertise in participatory research methods
• Seven years’ experience in immunization programs
• Previous work experience supporting countries in conducting immunization coverage survey in sub-Saharan countries.
• Previous work experience of research work in South Sudan will be an added advantage.
• Excellent skills and experience in training facilitation, mentoring and capacity development
• Demonstrate oral and written communication skills, including presentations.

Institutional arrangements

The consultant will be based in Juba on a full-time basis for a period of 4 months

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• In the event that your candidature is retained for an 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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• Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply.
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