Organization: UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund
Location: Nairobi
Grade: Consultancy – Consultant – Contractors Agreement
Occupational Groups:
Public Health and Health Service
Logistics
Disaster Management (Preparedness, Resilience, Response and Recovery)
Emergency Aid and Response
Transport and Distribution
Supply Chain
Malaria, Tuberculosis and other infectious diseases
Closing Date: 2024-08-01

This generic vacancy announcement is published to fill the Global Polio Outbreak Response Roster – Please see context and background below

* This generic vacancy announcement is published to fill the Global Polio Outbreak Response Roster – Please see context and background below*

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

Context & Background – UNICEF Global Polio Outbreak Response Roster

Polio eradication is a UNICEF Corporate priority. Although there are only two endemic countries with wild poliovirus type-1 (WPV1), the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) is currently facing multiple distinct polio outbreaks (30 countries have active outbreaks in 2024) across many UNICEF regions.

UNICEF and WHO work closely together within different fora and at different levels to ensure a well-coordinated outbreak response and synchronized approach with Regional and Country offices in alignment with the outbreak SOPs. Faced with an outbreak of polio, country offices must quickly identify and recruit Social Behavior Change (SBC), Vaccine Management (VM), Cold Chain Logistics (CCL), Coordination, Human Resources (HR), Operations, and other specialized personnel needed to respond adequately.

With a mounting number of Polio outbreaks and the need to rapidly implement responses in multiple geographies, we developed a roster of experts, the UNICEF Global Polio Outbreak Roster, which consolidates existing HQ and RO rosters into one easily accessible, updated database for Polio teams globally. This efficient talent management system has been designed to facilitate country-level outbreak response activities.

With this generic vacancy announcement, we are looking for talented professionals that are interested to be part of our Polio Outbreak Response Cold Chain Logistics and Vaccine Management (CCL&VM) Consultant Roster

How can you make a difference?

The CCL&VM Consultant assists country programs in proper planning, utilization, stock management, disposal (if necessary), and reporting for all vaccines used in polio SIA rounds. The CCL&VM consultant may be deployed to countries/regions as part of the Outbreak response team and will be working under supervision of UNICEF Country Office (reporting lines to be determined as appropriate for the country context).

The Cold Chain Logistics and Vaccine Management (CCL&VM) consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF Country Office (reporting lines to be defined by CO as appropriate for the country context) and will closely coordinate with UNICEF HQ and RO.

Key accountabilities and responsibilities will be determined for each deployment, but may include:

Before campaign:

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF/other GPEI partner teams and the Outbreak Technical Lead/Coordinator to work on vaccine forecasting, develop cold chain and logistics aspects of the country outbreak response plan, and adapt the outbreak SOP and the SOP for vaccine management to the country context.
Engage with key partners and apply appropriate or specific logistics strategies to make vaccines available in hard-to-reach or insecure areas.
Support and facilitate the development and timely submission of the Vaccine Request Form.
Liaise with UNICEF Programme and Supply Divisions and support the vaccine logistics teams at WHO/UNICEF country offices and MOH to streamline.
Planning, ordering, and arrival of vaccines and consumables through international or national procurement and shipment mechanisms
Necessary clearances from national regulatory authorities for receiving the vaccine supplies concerning type 2 virus containing OPV (mOPV2, tOPV, novel OPV2)
Ensure the updating of active and passive cold chain equipment inventory, the proper functioning of the cold chain, and the optimization of storage capacities.
Ensure that the National Logistics Plan is updated.
Ensure that vaccine management tools are updated and compliant with standards and develop mechanisms to expedite the collection, analysis, and transmission of paper reports and ODK questionnaires.
Ensure that vial monitors and their supervisors are on board and are adequately trained in all aspects of vaccine logistics and management at least three days before the SIA.
Capacity building: training all staff and partners involved in responding to polio epidemics on vaccine management and the cold chain in the context of polio AVS according to the available training modules. This includes training on management tools, the use of ODK questionnaires for vaccine management, online dashboards, and the deployment of these tools and training modules throughout the country.
During campaign:

Monitor the implementation of all aspects of vaccine management and cold chain strategies as set out in the National Logistics Plan and technical guides on vaccine management and cold chain during polio SIAs.
Monitor health center performance indicators on the online dashboards and take corrective actions to optimize results and improve the quality of vaccine management.
Ensure that vial monitors complete the paper system and ODK questionnaires daily and that supervisors use the online dashboard to monitor inventory, missing vials, cold chain status, and consumption.
Provide frequent and regular reports to the GPEI Coordinator on all aspects of vaccine and cold chain management and contribute to updates for situation reports (SITREPS), bulletins, and newsletters.
After campaign:

In the case of SIA rounds using type 2 virus containing OPV (mOPV2, tOPV, nOPV2), the CCL&VM manager will provide technical assistance to MOH and GPEI partners to ensure that all procedures are followed as per relevant VM SOPs, such as:
At the end of each round, all unusable vials are disposed of as per WHO, and national guidelines and all usable vials are retrieved at a predetermined level of the supply chain for future use.
At the end of the final round, all usable and unusable vials are disposed of as biological waste per WHO and/or national guidelines. MOH attests to the country’s restoration of PV2-free status.
Facilitate the timely transmission of the Daily Summary Sheet, Vaccine Vial Monitoring Forms, and Form A at all levels and destruction reports where appropriate.
Collect and analyze vaccine stocks and their state of use at all levels of the supply chain – At the end of each round.
Evaluate the work of Vaccine Accountability Monitors and their supervisors and provide necessary advice and guidance.
In between rounds:

Support the development of an improvement plan to ensure all weaknesses observed during the first round and previous campaigns are addressed.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Be available for deployment when requested as far as practically possible.
Meet the criteria outlined below.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

A first-level university degree. Additional training in Logistics, Cold Chain, or related areas (pharmacy, engineering) is an asset.
A minimum of five (5) years of relevant professional experience in vaccine and cold chain management with an international or UN organization.
A proven track record of technical knowledge and experience using tools in vaccine stock management and cold chain maintenance (including Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessment methodologies per WHO and UNICEF guidelines).
Experience in undertaking/analyzing inventories of cold chain equipment and suggesting long-term plans.
Experience working in emergency contexts is preferred.
Strong facilitation skills, with prior training experience in immunization supply chain (ISC) management.
Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.
Ability to write clear and concise reports in English.
Demonstrated ability to work and communicate in a multicultural environment effectively.
Computer literacy with a high ability to use Excel spreadsheets.
Fluency in one of the following languages is required: English, French, Arabic, or Portuguese. Fluency in any other UN language is an asset.
PERSONAL SKILLS AND QUALITIES

Applicants must be able to demonstrate:

Strong self-awareness and ability to self-manage and operate safely and securely in rapidly changing emergency contexts.
Drive to achieve impactful results Personal drive for results.
Ability to work effectively in a diverse and multi-cultural team to achieve goals.
Ability to develop new and nurture existing internal and external networks, partnerships, and relationships that deliver results.
Ability to communicate confidently and persuasively, orally and in writing.
Ability to analyze information, solve problems, and make decisions in complex, challenging, and rapidly evolving environments.
Ability to think and act strategically. The highest levels of personal integrity and commitment to adhering to required standards of conduct and behavior.
A willingness and commitment to serve the children and their communities affected by disasters in the face of potential hardship and personal sacrifice.
PERSONAL CONSIDERATIONS

Working in an emergency is challenging and can sometimes be done on short notice. It is, therefore, essential applicants consider their circumstances before registering an interest in this type of assignment. This includes:

Consider whether any aspect of your circumstances (e.g., a new baby or a sick relative) could make it difficult for you to deploy at short notice. Discussing the possibility of emergency deployments with your family is recommended so their views can be considered.
Realistically assessing your mental and physical health to ensure you are fit and well. This includes ensuring you have had the essential vaccinations recommended by UNMD (UNMD recommendations).
Ensuring you have up-to-date and valid travel documents, including passport.
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.

APPLY