International Consultant of Vaccine Management Specialist to support the preparation of the introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine in DRC and routine Immunization, Kananga, Democratic Republic of Congo

If you're a committed individual, a creative professional and passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. UNICEF/DRC is recruiting an International Consultant of Vaccine Management Specialist to support the preparation of the introduction of COVID-19 Vaccine in DRC and routine Immunization for its in Kananga office for a period of 6 months.

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, dedication 

Timely and equitable immunization services are amongst the most cost-effective development interventions with sustained and long-term health and economic dividends for nations. And effective end-to-end vaccine stock management is at its core, ensuring life-saving vaccines are always available up to the last mile, coverage goals are met, and no child is left behind.

However, each year at least one-third of low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) experience one or more vaccine stockouts lasting for one month or more. By reviewing annual government reported supply chain indicators over the last ten years, LMICs have seen an increase in the number of stock outs of at least one routine antigen from 30% in 2010 to 45% in 2019.

Sub-optimal stock management not only increases the operational and opportunity costs of vaccination but can also play a significant role in broadening inequities and stagnating demand, specifically affecting under-served, urban poor, insecure and hard-to-reach populations. UNICEF and WHO Joint Reporting Form (JRF) analysis indicate 46% of developing countries has witnessed service interruptions due to stock outs in 2019, an increase from 30% in 2014.

To proactively address stock management (COVID-19 and RI) challenges and ensure relevant national and subnational authorities (NLWG/EOC/National EPI agency) have adequate capacity to received, store, distribute and monitor the upcoming major surge in COVID-19 vaccines, UNICEF would like to deploy vaccine management (VM) specialists at national and select field offices.

An organization is being sought to provide short-term support to countries, pending finalization of VMS recruitment.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the overall supervision of Immunization Manager, the VM specialist will be accountable for the following key deliverables.

1. Ensure issues in vaccine management are identified and actively addressed at local level.
2. Support revalidation of Supply Chain and Waste Management section of country National Deployment and Vaccination Plan (NDVP) for COVID-19.
3. Support NLWG/EOCs to effectively manage the arrivals, storage, temperature monitoring and control during storage and distribution and redistribution, vaccine accountability, disposal and waste management for COVID-19 and routine vaccines.
4. Plan, receive, store, deploy and monitor COVID-19 related logistics (UCC equipment, shippers) including waste management as per manufacturer’s guidelines.
5. Facilitate NLWG/EOC access to up-to-date stock management data including on forecast/actual quantities, stock-on-hand, consumption rates, expiry dates, open and closed vial wastage, critical operational challenges, and data use for action.
6. Lead the development of monthly vaccine accountability reports at national and subnational levels, including stock receipts, distribution, utilization, and wastage rates.
7. Support the deployment or where exist the strengthening of vaccine inventory tools to automate data collection on vaccine arrivals, dispatch, and closed vial wastage. Develop/adopt relevant SOPs and guidelines
8. Support vaccine forecasting, data triangulation of stock, consumption, and coverage at all levels of the supply chain, considering data use barriers and mitigation strategies.
9. Support countries with targeted assessment and monitoring of iSC performance, especially with stock management, per EVM2.0 guidelines and iterative development and implementation of improvement plans within a cycle of continuous improvement.
10. Update CCE inventories on quarterly basis. Document and follow-up UCC maintenance and waste management plans.
11. Support the integration and deployment of Thrive360 and iDash as well as vaccine verification systems.
12. Organize capacity development events and devise on-the-job training plans for key partners.
13. The VM Specialist will be deployed to a UNICEF country or field office and could be seated within the national EPI agency, National Logistics working group or emergency operation centre.

Work Assignment Overview and deliverables

 Terms of References - Consultant Vaccine Management Specialist (VMS) Surge Support.pdf

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

Education: A university degree (Advanced degree is an advantage), preferably in relevant field (e.g., business planning, supply chain management, economics, international development studies, medicine, procurement, logistics, or other quantitative degree).  Applicable work experience can substitute in cases where university degree is not aligned to a relevant field.

Work experience:

At least (8) years of experience in international public health programme management including at least three (3) years in immunization, with experience in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in the areas of:

• Logistics management systems
• Supply chain bottleneck and root cause analysis
• Familiarity with inventory policies, allocation, ordering and distribution strategies and other supply chain operations
• Health systems strengthening
• Assessing and measuring supply chain performance
• Experience interfacing with national ministries of health an advantage.

Technical Knowledge and Skills:

• Proven experience in strategic negotiations and planning in multi-stakeholder settings
• Experience in writing complex strategic proposals, developing multi-year operational plans
• Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance
• Effective presenter including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations
• Knowledge of supply chain management and operations
• Excellent analysis skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
• Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries of health a distinct advantage
• Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word
• Familiarity with ODK, U-Report, RapidPro and field data collection is an asset.

Languages

• Fluency in written and spoken in English and the official UN language of the duty stations is required. Knowledge of local languages is an added value.

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. 

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. 

Remarks:  

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

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. 

Qualified female candidates are strongly recommended.