UNICEF is seeking to recruit an Effective Vaccine Management Assessment Consultant for 4.5 months to be based in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

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, health. 

In the Pacific we work in Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu: These 14 Pacific island countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth, living on more than 660 islands and atolls stretching across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean, an area comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. 

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, but only a third are on track with reporting obligations. Explore the different areas of our work in the link provided here www.unicef.org/pacificislands. 

Background of Assignment: 

In recent years, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) /EPI programs in Solomon Islands have introduced new vaccines (PCV, Rota) into their immunization programme including COVID-19 vaccines. These have a significant impact on the vaccine storage volume particularly at the national level, and implications for additional need for improved effective vaccine management. At the same time, the country procured cold chain equipment including refrigerators and 30-day electronic temperature monitoring devices (Fridge tags) towards strengthening the overall cold chain system capacities.

The increased need for vaccine storage capacity and the significant investment in strengthening immunization supply chain management in the recent past including the above justifies the need to conduct an Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessment to assess the current situation of vaccine management and to identify strengths, weaknesses, and future requirements to improve the system. The last EVM assessment was conducted in the Solomon Islands in 2017, with an overall score of 47 per cent. An EVM Improvement Plan was instituted and has been implemented since then. While some improvement is noted at the national level, the situation at the sub-national level may seem to be lagging. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) in Solomon Islands therefore plans another EVM Assessment to follow up on the progress made and to further strengthen the effectiveness and impact of the EPI program.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant is expected to provide technical assistance to conduct the effective vaccine management assessment (EVM 2.0) in the Solomon Islands and will be working closely with the Suva team and the field office in the Solomon Islands and the MHMS under the overall guidance and technical support from Suva Office, and UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office (MCO).

Please refer to the  TOR-Effective Vaccine Management Assessment Solomon Islands.pdf for further information on the deliverables and the timelines

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

• A Masters Preferably Public Health, Epidemiology, Engineering, Supply chain, Public Health Policy, Global/International Health/ or other related fields.
• At least 8 years of experience, at the national and international levels, in supply chain management, cold chain management, logistics, or operations management, and at least 5 years of experience in immunization/public health programmes.
• Familiarity with cold chain systems, effective vaccine management, inventory policies, logistics, outsourcing, segmentation strategies, integration of health products, and other system design strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting EVM assessments, preferably using EVM 2.0, including work in developing countries
• Experience in immunization data handling and support analysis of monitoring and supportive supervision data
• Proven expertise in providing training, implementing, and monitoring immunization and/or health programs
• Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and have the initiative to work independently to meet deadlines.
• Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills, with the ability to lead/train a group of individuals and impart knowledge. Skills in adult training methodology are strongly preferred.
• Computer skills, including quantitative analysis and reporting tools.
• Fluency in English is required. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

Remarks:  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

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