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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF Mozambique is in the process of identifying Vaccine Management Consultants for 4 months with a possibility to be extended. Vaccine Management plays a crucial role in the polio programme ensuring that the vaccines are stored and delivered properly, from arrival in provinces to administering it to the children. UNICEF Mozambique assists the Ministry of Health to have effective SBC to support national immunisation programmes and disease outbreak campaigns. Six (6) consultants will be hired that will be based in; Maputo, Zambezia, Cabo Delgado, Sofala, Nissa and one “roaming” VM that will be responsible for Southern Provinces.

The Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus type 2 – cVDPV2 and cVDPV1 cases reported in the provinces of Cabo Delgado and Nampula and Zambezia, raise particular concerns, given the virus was probably circulating by approximately two years. This is posing a treat for the entire country due to the existence of pockets of unimmunised/under-immunised children.

As a key partner of the GPEI, UNICEF has the mandate of providing assistance to ensure evidence-based, fast track and effective SBC response whenever a polio outbreak is confirmed, as well as the support to strengthen routine immunization. The organisation relies on highly trained and experienced personnel of staff and consultants to meet this obligation.

It is against the above premise, that UNICEF Mozambique needs to hire a polio vaccine management individual consultants, who are willing and will be available for immediate deployment to support the Mozambique logistics team and the Ministry of Health, and also to coordinate multiple partner agencies including WHO, CDC, BMGF, etc., for Polio Outbreak Response (OPR) and nOPV2 introduction

Scope of Work:

The consultants will be based in the capital of provinces with frequent travel to the field to support the polio campaign activities   in the provincial and district levels including health facilities. The consultants will use their own office equipment. The consultants must have high internet connectivity and must be available/reachable online throughout the consultancy in the provinces.

The consultants will work under the supervision and guidance of Polio Team Lead, Vaccine Management Specialist and Supply and Logistics Specialist and closely work with Cold Chain Officer and Immunization Specialist in UNICEF Country Office Mozambique. UNICEF will be responsible for the management of the contract, assess the consultant’s work, and evaluate performance based on deliverables.  The consultants will be expected to provide proof of insurance coverage prior to commencing the contract.

Deliverables and payments

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Work Assignments Overview    

Prepare relevant provinces for nOPV2 vaccination campaigns in terms of materials, micro plans, vaccination forms, and plan trainings together with key GPEI partners and counterparts.

Deliverables/Outputs   

Clear plan for provinces, as per direction from central level, micro-plans in place

Timeline

1st September -20th October

Work Assignments Overview    

APES trainings conducted in high-risk districts with GPEI partners according to GPEI workplan

Deliverables/Outputs   

Trainings conducted and followed upon

Timeline

1st September 15th October

Work Assignments Overview    

Engage with key partners and apply appropriate logistical tactics or special strategies (e.g. pre-positioning, opportunistic low-key campaigns etc.) for making vaccines available in insecure areas.

Deliverables/Outputs   

Evaluate previous campaigns to ensure that weak spots are covered

Timeline

Ongoing

Work Assignments Overview    

Provide frequent and regular reports to the vaccine management specialist and Outbreak Technical Lead on all aspects of CCL&VM that will contribute updates for SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters. Prepare reports as per GPEI requirement at end of each round and at end of final SIA round.

Deliverables/Outputs   

Reports and Updates produced as agreed

Timeline

Ongoing

Work Assignments Overview    

End of year analysis of key aspects of VM activities in key provinces

Deliverables/Outputs   

Analysis

Timeline

20th December

Work Assignments Overview    

Collaborate with DPS/SPS at provincial level and WHO and other GPEI partner teams and the Outbreak Technical Lead/Coordinator to work on vaccine forecasting, develop cold chain and logistics aspects of the provinces outbreak response plan and adapt the outbreak SOP and nOPV2 management technical guidance at provincial level.

Deliverables/Outputs   

Tasks done

Timeline

Ongoing

*Payment will be made at the end of each month, upon satisfactory submission of deliverables.

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

Bachelor’s + 2 years’ experience or high school + 4 years’ experience in vaccine management

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A bachelor’s degree in supply and logistics, vaccine management, cold chain management or relevant field + 2 years of experience required.
• A high school diploma and/or technical degree combined with 4 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of a bachelor’s degree.
• Candidates with a minimum of three years relevant experience working with logistics or/and cold chain management preferably with vaccines and vaccination campaigns, especially polio campaigns will be prioritized.
• Practical experience in the management of vaccines is desired.

Annex 3 Terms of Reference for Provincial Polio VM Consultants Aug 2024.docx

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

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.

Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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.