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For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference?

Background:

Immunization supply chain is the backbone of the immunization programme. An intact and responsive supply chain ensured the availability of the potent and safe vaccines for the vaccinations sessions for the children and pregnant women. The cold chain infrastructure not only ensures the safety and potency of the vaccine but also expands the reach of the programme. Investments in the cold chain infrastructure and immunization supply chain are crucial for achieving the global and regional targets.

The entry of the COVID-19 vaccines to respond to the pandemic and  planned introduction of new vaccines in routine immunization have overburdened on the immunization supply chain, especially the cold chain infrastructure. Therefore, towards achieving high immunization coverage the need for a robust and responsive immunization supply chain equipped with standard cold chain equipment are important in helping Ukraine primarily to reaching children with potent lifesaving vaccines to protect them against vaccine preventable diseases as well as ensuring the availability of C19 vaccines.

Purpose of assignment:

UNICEF continues its collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) to enhance the immunization supply chain (iSCL), particularly focusing on upgrading the cold chain infrastructure. UNICEF is actively involved in strengthening the capacity of staff involved in vaccine and cold chain management. An assessment of Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) was conducted, leading to the creation of an interactive CCE dashboard for Cold Chain Gap Analysis. The data helped identify remaining gaps in WHO-prequalified cold chain equipment to address these gaps in 2024 – 2025. UNICEF CO is implementing the following components:

• Procurement and delivery of CCE (Refrigerators, freezers, spare sets, 30-day temperature loggers, remote temperature monitoring system);
• In-country logistics;
• CCE installation and training;
• Inventory of the current situation on CCE with site readiness evaluation and UNICEF Dashboard updating to ensure proper cold chain management;
• Capacity building activities including training on proper use of CCE (uploading of vaccine, unloading, transportation and temperature monitoring);
• Providing technical support to the programme managers at oblast, rayon, and facility levels;
• Development, support with implementing of SOPs on proper vaccine storage and management using novel CCE.

With the expanded support from the donors, there activity continues with procurement of more cold chain equipment, installation and capacity building of the staff concerned with vaccine and cold chain handling. The successful implementation of the additional scope of work requires the presence of Cold Chain consultants for the identification and preparation of the site for cold chain installation, capacity building of the vaccine and cold chain handlers as well as updating the cold chain inventory and trouble shooting in case of any cold chain related issues.

Scope of work:

Under the general direction of the UNICEF country office and the PHC, the consultant will provide relevant technical support at the levels of national, oblast, primary health care facilities.

• Technical consulting and other relevant support of health facilities staff regarding procured cold chain equipment including active and passive cooling equipment, temperature monitoring system, specialized refrigerating, and other transport for vaccine delivery, power generators, voltage regulators and other electrical systems/devices supported cold chain such as air conditioning and ventilation, fire and security alarms systems.
• Regular monitoring and evaluation of cold chain infrastructure, including CCE capacity, site readiness, transport/logistics and staff responsible for storage and transportation of vaccines. Providing timely reports on projects activities, gaps, and bottlenecks to be addressed.
• Consulting and controlling the quality delivery of cold chain equipment (CCE) and other related equipment verifying the compliance and provide solutions.
• Monitor and supervise the installation, handover, and commissioning of the CCE in accordance with the requirements and procedures set by the organization.
• Updating the CCE inventory, UNICEF CCE Dashboard on a regular basis site, readiness for CCE installation according to the requirements.
• Consults the local level cold stores by preparing recommendations based on the WHO Effective Vaccine Management guidelines, as well as identifying gaps based on data and evidence for capacity building of staff on vaccine and cold chain management monitoring and maintenance.
• Training on proper use of CCE (uploading of vaccine, unloading, transportation, temperature registration and monitoring).
• Monitoring visits to selected health care facilities and vaccination points, preparation reports on supplied equipment, knowledge and skills of trained personnel at using cold chain equipment and temperature monitoring devices, actions in emergency situations.
• Regular (weekly) reporting on the work done in accordance with the agreed plan.
• Monthly reporting on the work done in accordance with the agreed form.

Work assignment overview:

Number of travel days: 54 days.

Regions of Ukraine: Kyiv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Odesa, Volyn, Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Cherkasy, Chernihiv, Sumy, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv regions.

Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.

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

Education: Bachelor’s degree or higher in one of the following fields is required: refrigeration engineering; and/or power engineering; and/or power supply of enterprises; and/or medicine/public health (immunization supply chain management, cold chain supply logistics is an advantage).

Professional experience:

• Minimum 5-year work experience in relevant area work experience in managing public health programs and/or cold chain, vaccine management and supply management will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of Ukraine in cold chain management.
• Knowledge of WHO/UNCIEF recommended vaccine management practices and vaccine management assessment tools will be an asset.
• Work experience in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management and mitigation will be an asset.
• Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills, with ability to lead/train a group of individuals and impart knowledge.
• Experience in conducting trainings, seminars, good trainer skills is required.

Languages: 

Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2];

English: Upper-Intermediate [B2].

Skills and competencies:

• Product knowledge on cold chain equipment, new cold chain technologies and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, and reporting are essential. Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice will be an asset.
• Skills in adult training methodology are strongly preferred.
• Working with People, drive for results.
• Technical skills.

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.