Vacancy Announcement COVAX Vaccines and Cold Chain Logistician Contractors UNICEF

Vacancy Announcement Provincial/ District COVAX Vaccines and Cold Chain Logistician Contractors

Vacancy Announcement COVAX Vaccines and Cold Chain Logistician Contractors UNICEF

Summary of Position

Terms of Reference (ToR) for Technical Assistance to UNICEF Partners

Job Title:

Provincial/District COVAX Vaccines and Cold Chain Logistician Contractors (13), based in all 7 Provinces (Provincial Health Logistics Management Centers)

Duration: 6 months

Objective and Tasks:

The major objective of hiring the contractors is to support Government of Nepal in implementing NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT AND VACCINATION PLAN 2021 FOR COVID-19 at the Provincial and Local levels by ensuring there is no interruption in vaccine supply and cold chain is maintained at all levels. The contractors will be fully engaged in providing technical assistance through continuous capacity building of cold chain managers in provincial health logistics management center, provide regular verification of data on status of cold chain supplies and jointly monitor progress with the government counterparts. During the period, the contractors will be responsible to conduct onsite mentoring and coaching that will enable skills transfer and increased capacity of the government counterpart in managing cold chain activities. He/she will work with the Child Health Specialist and Child Health Officer in the Nepal UNICEF Country Office, Health Officers in UNICEF’s Field Offices and Immunization consultants who are already placed in provinces to coordinate and provide coordinated technical support in several work streams that fall within the area of COVAC Cold Chain Expansion and Optimization and Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) systems strengthening.

Description

Specific tasks

Ensures the availability of accurate, complete and up-to-date information required for effective COVID-19 immunization programme planning and implementation, management and monitoring and post-introduction evaluation
Enhances project efficiency and effectiveness through implementation follow-on, including monitoring UNICEF inputs, local conditions and resources, flow of supply and non-supply assistance and COVID-19 immunization project status.
Undertakes field visits to districts and municipalities for monitoring and supervision of project activities and to improve immunization coverage.
Analyses collected data and information and prepare progress reports; drafts changes in COVID-19 immunization project work plans at sub-national level and in identification of required supplies and equipment
Monitors flow of supply and non-supply assistance to local authorities. Records supply and non-supply inventory and quarterly update on cold chain equipment, distribution and utilization
Conducts relevant orientation, workshop, team work facilitation and immunization staff learning/development activities: ensures that vaccination teams are properly trained on the various aspect of COVID-19 vaccination; uses the appropriate training guidelines; participates in the training of cold chain managers, mid-level managers; facilitates in training activities and micro-planning workshops
Establish coordination with Family Welfare Division and Management Division and support in conduction of meetings
Provide technical support in documenting GAVI related documentation and provide monthly progress report to UNICEF
Establish and strengthen coordination between Central and Provincial Medical Stores
Report to Provincial Health directorate, Child health /immunization and LMD Sections and UNICEF

Deliverables

Submission of a situation analysis brief report on the status of cold chain information management and DHIS reporting system within first month after deployment.

Submission of monthly activity report covering status of milestones relevant to COVID-19 vaccines deployment as per below:

Establish/strengthen the sub-national working groups with appropriate terms of reference as per NATIONAL DEPLOYMENT AND VACCINATION PLAN 2021 FOR COVID-19 and standard operating procedures to coordinate COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary products deployment.
Mapping key roles and responsibilities needed for vaccine and ancillary products deployment at local level; collect and confirm contact information for key personnel and facilities.
Distribution strategy, including mapping the points of storage (stores) and stocking, and fallback facilities at sub-national level with their respective cold chain storage (2-8C, -20C) and transportation capacity for vaccines and ancillary products, and ensure necessary human resource capacity is in place locally.
Mapping and develop plan to provide for infrastructure needs, including for energy (primary and back-up power, especially in cold chain), IT/communications (including internet connectivity) and water.
Assess dry storage and cold chain capacity and infrastructure needs at all levels with regards to the COVID-19 vaccines characteristics and fill the identified supply and logistics gaps.
Implementation of COVID-appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, or guidelines for collection and disposal of medical waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous, to the relevant stakeholders. Assure that properly-licensed waste management providers (especially for hazardous waste storage, transportation and disposal) are identified and can be operationalized.
Implement systems and protocols for tracking and monitoring the stock management and distribution of vaccines and key supplies through the Government’s existing Vaccine Logistics Management and Information System (VLMIS), including operating procedures to reflect the characteristics of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e. vial size, VVM., etc.).
Disseminate delivery and acceptance protocols, ensure monitoring arrangements are in place, and identify supervisory focal points at each facility. Establish security arrangements to ensure the integrity of COVID-19 vaccines and ancillary products throughout the supply chain.
Joint monitoring visits with government counterparts/UNICEF immunization consultants to vaccine sub centres, provide recommendations and follow up; meetings and coordination actions taken between central, provincial and vaccine subcenters; trainings and onsite coaching to cold chain teams located at the provincial Medical store and vaccine sub centres; installation additional provincial WIC/WIF and other cold chain equipment and supplies, monitor functionality and report.

Qualifications:

Education: University degree in engineering, pharmacy, health sciences, or a related technical field

Work experience: Minimum two years of progressively responsible professional work experience in supply, logistics and cold chain management. Specialized training in immunization supply chain software knowledge of socio-cultural practices and language in relevant province will be an asset.

Special skills:

Good written and spoken Nepali and English language
Good working relations with local authority and Health Offices very crucial.
Good interpersonal skills, team-oriented work style, work adaptation in multi-cultural environment, proven ability to facilitate cooperation in a multidisciplinary team.
Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision, seriousness about quality and timeliness of work.
Current knowledge of development and technology in related field.
Knowledge of the health system in Nepal is an asset.