1. Background
UNICEF supports countries in achieving their national immunization goals with an increased focus on strengthening their immunization supply chain systems to ensure that potent vaccines are available and are delivered efficiently.
Concerned with the demands on the national immunization programs that will further stress the immunization supply chain systems, the WHO Immunization Practices Advisory Committee (IPAC) members in 2014 issued a “Call to Action” on national immunization programmes and the global community to review and renew investment in their Immunization Supply Chain and Logistics (ISCL) systems; otherwise, the benefits of immunization programmes will be jeopardized by obstacles limiting access to, and use of, effective vaccines.
UNICEF with WHO will support countries in evaluating their vaccine management performance of their national immunization programs in order to identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness and efficiency for vaccine management, to build local capacity, to strengthen national ownership and accountability over cold chain systems, and to develop routine information systems that provide timely and reliable data on availability, quality and costs to allow to measure progress towards system optimization.
In 2010, WHO and UNICEF launched the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) initiative to help countries evaluate the current performance of their vaccine management practices against a benchmark of performance standards. For this purpose, an EVM Assessment (EVM A) tool was developed measuring performance standards in nine areas of vaccine management using well-established principles and standards for quality management that are applied throughout the industrialized world.
Generally the EVM process can be described as having four steps:
Country preparation
This first step ensures that the EVM process is anchored within the country’s national planning and policy framework. This step ensures that the expectations about the EVM process are clearly communicated and that the required human and non-human resources required from the national stakeholders are available. The preparation is important to ensure all stakeholders are aligned and allow the EVM process to link up with national planning and funding processes (e.g. cMYPs, GAVI or other HSS funding opportunities).
Assessment
During the assessment phase the EVM assessment is implemented. However, the EVM A is only one of several inputs that is used to perform the situation analysis. The results and recommendations of other assessments, e.g. EPI review, PIEs, Joint Appraisals, HSS bottleneck analysis, etc. need to be taken into consideration. In addition to the EVM A additional assessments and evaluation may take place that allow for a more comprehensive assessment. These may include: (i) a new vaccine supply chain readiness assessment; (ii) a cold chain equipment inventory; (iii) a temperature monitoring assessment; (iv) an assessment of the strengths and weakness of human resources in logistics; (v) a health systems and financing bottleneck assessment; and (vi) a survey to gather the necessary information for a supply chain network optimization modelling exercise. The ultimate goal is to have a solid evidence base to formulate a comprehensive plan for improving the immunization supply chain.
Improvement planning
During the planning phase a multi-year improvement plan with prioritized goals, activities, and investments is being developed to address the current and anticipated challenges. The improvement planning process needs to involve a national strategic dialogue to ensure political buy-in and an accountability framework. The resulting improvement plans should be integrated into country planning processes (e.g. cMYP), and leverage available funding opportunities (e.g. GAVI HSS proposals).
Implementing change
The final step is that the country, guided by a national immunization supply chain manager, implements the cEVM Improvement plan in coordination with national stakeholders (e.g. through national logistics working groups, or under the auspices of the ICC). Implementation status needs to be tracked and implementation bottlenecks need to be identified on an ongoing basis.
It should be noted that due to limited funding availability in the past years UNICEF and WHO have prioritized the Assessment step. But under the GAVI Supply Chain Strategy the EVM process has been prioritized to evolve towards a more comprehensive assessment and to also strengthen the improvement planning and implementation steps.
2. Purpose: Assessment and improvement planning
The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to countries in the Assessment phase and the Improvement Planning Phase of the EVM process. This work will be programmed in close collaboration and coordination with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF and WHO Country and Regional Offices and other immunization partners.
3. Objective of this Request for Expression of Interest (EOI)
Discussions with countries established that the EVM Process, while nationally owned, benefits from dedicated capacity that could facilitate and steward the process.
In order to make such resources available to countries as needed, a pool of EVM experts is being established by UNICEF Headquarters. This pool of experts will be deployed rapidly and flexibly to work with countries to support the EVM process, at the request of countries and in coordination with the country and regional offices.(UNICEF Headquarters are spearheading the recruitment & development & quality assurance of the candidate pool; it is expected that typically, contracts will be issued and managed by UNICEF country programmes).
The EVM experts will be categorized in two (2) levels providing services under two (2) functional areas:
Level 1 Lead cEVM Coordinator:a person that has attended or facilitated an EVM training workshop and
· has led or co-led the EVM process (Assessment and Improvement Planning) in at least one country outside his / her own country; or
· has supported the EVM process in the role of a Level 2 cEVM Consultant in at least two countries
Level 2: cEVM Consultant:a person that has attended or facilitated an EVM training workshop and has lead or co-lead an EVM process in his / her own country.
Functional Area 1: comprehensive EVM Assessment (cEVM A): Support the development the EVM Assessment report and data as per the Lead Assessor guidelines.
Functional Area 2: comprehensive EVM Improvement Plan (cEVM IP):Support the development the comprehensive EVM Improvement plan (cEVM IP)
4. DeliverablesFunctional Area 1: cEVM A Functional Area 2: cEVM IP Level 1: Lead cEVM CoordinatorDeliverable packageŒDeliverable packageŽ Level 2: cEVM ConsultantDeliverable packageDeliverable package
Deliverable packageŒ
Functional Area 1: Comprehensive EVM Assessment (cEVM A)
Level 1: Lead cEVM Coordinator: responsible to develop the EVM Assessment report as per the Lead Assessor guidelines. Detailed deliverables are to be found in Annex 1, but include:
§ Use latest versions of tools and guidance documents from the EVM website and select sites
§ Develop questionnaire and train assessors and supervisors
§ Clean data and analyze results
§ Present recommendations to government and key partners (e.g. ICC or equivalent body)
§ Finalize and share report and dataset
§ Definition and plan of preparatory measures necessary prior to the preparation of the Comprehensive EVM Improvement Plan (cEVM IP).
§ Brief report on the performance of the Level 2 EVM Consultant
§ Brief report on lessons learned from EVM process: (i) the training experience, (ii) the data issues encountered, (iii) observations about comprehension and communication barriers of the assessment team, (iv) general feedback on the questionnaire, tool, methodology, etc.
Deliverable package
Functional Area 1: Comprehensive EVM Assessment (cEVM A)
Level 2: cEVM Consultant:works under the supervision of the Lead cEVM Coordinator and assists in all tasks, this includes amongst others:
§ Work with the Lead Assessor to identify/list relevant background documents and assist the MoH and country partners in conducting a desktop review of these documents
§ Work with the MoH to prepare/supervise the different events of the finalized timeline
§ Assist the MoH to prepare the materials and equipment for the training and site assessments
§ Assist the Lead assessor in the facilitation of the Training of field assessors and supervisors
§ Assess at least one facility at each of the SN, LD and SP levels and lead one pilot test and field team
§ Follow up supervisors to make sure they send results in time, collect reports and photos from supervisors
§ Assist the Lead assessor in the facilitation of all workshops
§ Work with the Lead Assessor and the MoH and partners to analyze the assessment data, identify strengths and weaknesses and draft the findings and recommendations
Deliverable package Ž
Functional Area 2: Comprehensive EVM Improvement Plan (cEVM IP)
Level 1: Lead cEVM Coordinator:responsible to develop the EVM Improvement plan:
§ A retrospective situation analysis based upon the results and recommendations of the cEVM A, EPI reviews, PIEs, the equipment inventory or equipment management tool, transport and maintenance statistics, the Management Information System (MIS), a selection of resource documents made available (incl. comprehensive Multi-Year Plan), and additional information provided by UNICEF.
§ A prospective situation analysis for 5 years based upon plans for new vaccine introductions and other information available, as directed by UNICEF country programme and WHO.
§ A collaborative workshop with EPI management to solicit and formulate strategic and programmatic decisions and to review and adopt policies based on cEVM A findings, retrospective and prospective situation analyses.
§ In coordination with national EPI partners, a comprehensive EVM Improvement Plan that is costed over multi-years and prioritized and details interventions in the following areas:
o Cold chain capacity, rehabilitation and management
o Physical infrastructure
o Maintenance (buildings, vehicles, cold chain equipment)
o Transportation and network design
o Human resource capacity and professionalization of the supply chain manager position
o Logistics Management Information Systems
o Innovations and operations research
o Waste management system
§ The EVM IP also needs to include the following elements:
o A detailed and prioritized workplan that is fully budgeted, showing which intervention will be implemented by whom and where.
o Overview of the technical assistance and outsourcing needs
o A indicative chronology for the implementation
o Description of how recommendations link to E1 to E9 of the cEVM assessment and strategic measures to achieve strategic objectives: (i) availability of vaccines, (ii) quality of vaccines and (iii) efficiency of the immunization supply chain logistics system.
o Detail of the management and accountability structure for the implementation phase
o A description of the identified implementation risks and mitigating factors
§ Endorse the EVM IP and its governance process by the EPI Program Manager and the ICC.
§ Support the process of linking the EVM IP to GAVI HSS applications or cMYPs.
§ Brief report on lessons learned from EVM IP process
Deliverable package
Functional Area 2: Comprehensive EVM Improvement Plan (cEVM IP)
Level 2: cEVM Consultant:Throughout the EVM IP process the EVM consultant supports the Level 1 (EVM Lead Coordinator) in all activities, e.g. preparing workshops, writing and editing the EVM IP document, costing interventions and coordinating with national EPI stakeholders.
UNICEF Country Offices and Regional Offices will provide a focal point for the consultant(s) and will support the process by providing insights for the situation analysis, preparing the country counterparts, coordinating and supporting the implementation of activities on the ground. UNICEF Country and Regional offices will also be responsible to fill out the evaluation forms for the consultants.
1. Duration
The start and end dates will vary according to each consultancy based on specific country needs but a typical expected commitment would be 1-2 months per functional area, which may involve a combination of field-based and home-based work (depending on the actual needs). Terms of reference specifying location, detailed/specific deliverables and timeframes tailored to the country programme needs will be shared at the time of recruitment.
- Key competences, technical background, and experience required
The successful candidates shall meet the following minimum requirements:
Competencies
· Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills
· Proven track record in building and influencing complex multi-stakeholder partnerships
· Proven track record in project management with the emphasis on assessments/evaluations
· Self-starter with ability to plan and execute projects in a timely manner
· Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
Technical skills and knowledge
· Advanced level education in public administration, policy, monitoring & evaluation, health, engineering, supply chain management, or related field
· Familiarity with WHO-recommended vaccine management practices an advantage
· Proficiency in the use of the Microsoft Office applications including Excel, Word and PowerPoint
Work experience
Level 1: Lead cEVM Coordinator
Individuals at this level are expected to be seasoned experts in the field of vaccine management and immunization with a strong leadership and capability in facilitation
· At least 8 years of experience in international public health programme management including 3 years in immunization, with experience in resource-limited environments
· Experience as Lead EVM Assessor in at least one country outside his/her country or has supported the EVM process as a Level 2 cEVM Consultant in at least two countries
· Attained a formal EVM assessor training course
· Experience in having developed EVM IPs in at least one country outside his/her country
· Proven experience in strategic negotiations and planning in multi-stakeholder settings
· Experience in writing complex strategic proposals, developing multi-year budgets and operational plans
· Experience in training, planning and delivery of technical assistance
· Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries of health a distinct advantage
Level 2: cEVM Consultant:
· At least 3 years of experience in programme management
· Experience as Lead or co Lead EVM Assessor in one country
· Attainment of formal EVM assessor training course
· Experience in assessments, monitoring and evaluation
· Experience in the writing of reports an advantage
· Experience interfacing with national governments and civil society an advantage
Languages
· Written and spoken fluency in English
· Proficiency in French, Portuguese, Arabic, or Russian a distinct advantage for assignments to relevant countries
· Proficiency in a local language of the country of assignment an advantage
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