Consultancy Duration: 2 months (April 15, 2024 to June 15, 2024)

Background

The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Uganda has taken a significant stride in public health by introducing several new vaccines into the routine immunization schedule to prevent, control and eliminate targeted vaccine preventable diseases.  In October 2022 additional vaccines namely yellow fever vaccine, the second dose of the inactivated polio vaccine (IPV2), the Hepatitis B birth dose (Hep B Birth dose), and the second dose of the measles-rubella vaccine (MR2) were introduced on Uganda’s routine Immunisation schedule through the annual Child health days. The EPI program plans to introduce Malaria Vaccine and 3^rd dose of Rotavirus vaccine and switch to a one dose schedule of HPV vaccine. A PIE rapidly identifies problem areas needing correction within the immunization either pre-existing or resulting from the introduction of a new vaccine and provide valuable lessons for future vaccine introduction. Uganda will be conducting an integrated PIE in May/June 2024 that will cover the entire spectrum of the immunization program, from the national level down to the community level. 

Overall

The primary objective of this Post-Introduction Evaluation (PIE) is to assess the impact and effectiveness of the newly introduced vaccines within the Uganda National Immunization Programme. 

Specific Objectives:

·         Highlight planning activities that went well and should be maintained

·         Identify and document problems and bottlenecks needing corrective action, so that they can be prevented in future introductions of new vaccine as well as improve further operationalization

·         Inform recommendations to improve successful introduction of future vaccines

·         Identify ease or complexity of the vaccine introduction

·         Identify any best practices to generate knowledge and scale up

It will encompass all relevant stakeholders including health officials, health care workers, community leaders and the general public. Several reviewers will be assembled drawn from the national and international community. The review process will include both a desk review and field work using the WHO guidance document for PIE. There is need to have a national consultant who will coordinate the various levels of the evaluation.

Deliverables

At the end of the two (2) months assignment, the consultant will be expected to have delivered the following:

1.      Coordinate the review and finalization of data collection tools by May 10, 2024

2.      Coordinate the desk review process with compilation of inputs from reviewers in a draft report by May 1, 2024

3.      Lead the organization of the initial day of consultation and field deployments of the reviewers

4.      Participate in the field data collection activities

5.      Support preparations of the national stakeholders preparatory and feedback meetings including the flow of information between the various participants

6.      Coordinate the aggregation the findings and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data from the desk review and field to assess the impact and effectiveness of the new vaccines introduced into routine immunization program

7.      Lead the identification and documentation lessons learned and best practices from the integrated vaccines introduced into the Ugandan immunization program

8.      Participate in weekly virtual preparatory meetings with all stakeholders and provide updates on preparation for the PIE

9.      Coordinate the writing of a final evaluation report including findings, analysis, lessons learned, and recommendations

10.  Submit the final evaluation report within 30 days of completion of the exercise. 

Qualifications, experience, skills and languages

Educational Qualifications:

·         MBCHB with a master’s in public health; added advantage experience in immunization

·         Extensive experience in conducting program evaluations, particularly in the context of public health or development interventions.

·         Strong analytical and research skills, with the ability to collect and analyze both quantitative and qualitative data.

·         Good organizational and coordination skills

·         Excellent communication and report-writing skills.

·         Familiar with immunization programs with an added advantage in conducting external surveillance review, FEPI review or PIE activity

Experience: At least 5 years and more

Skills/Knowledge: Knowledgeable in post-vaccine introduction evaluations 

Languages and level required: English