Background & Rationale
Without an adequate supply of vaccines at service delivery points, children would not be vaccinated against life-threatening diseases. The success of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in the past 40 years can be attributed to a large extent, to immunization supply chain and logistics systems. Ensuring that everyone involved in delivering vaccines to the child does so safely and efficiently is what guarantees that national immunization programmes worldwide can achieve their goals of coverage and equitable access to life-saving vaccines.
Requirements and resources needed for Vaccine Management have changed dramatically in the past 15 years: from the quantities of vaccines, increased transportation needs, and the technology and quantity of storage, to a shift in planning and reporting expectations from those providing vaccine funding (including national government agencies and international organizations). Across the globe however, investment in supply chains has remained stagnant and narrowly focused on cold storage equipment.
A comprehensive rethink of how to streamline, optimize and intensify technical assistance to countries has taken place at the global level. Since 2010, WHO and UNICEF have been supporting over 70 countries in assessing and addressing their immunization supply chain (ISC) bottlenecks. Using the Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) tool developed by WHO, the findings from the EVM assessments in many countries have highlighted a number of shortcomings. In response to these shortcomings, in 2014 the EVM strategy was expanded to a more comprehensive EVM (cEVM) approach. Spearheaded by the WHO-UNICEF Immunization Supply Chain and Logistics Hub, the cEVM approach responds to the need for countries to develop strategic immunization supply chain improvement plans that entail a health systems strengthening (HSS) rationale.
The cEVM approach is envisaged to become the tool and nexus at country level where innovative HSS-level strategies will support the implementation of all the elements of the GAVI Immunization Supply Chain Strategy (cold chain equipment, people and practices, immunization supply chain systems design, data for management), translating strategic plans into results through the rigour of the change management and project implementation processes underpinning cEVM.
The overarching objective of cEVM is to catalyse evidence-based change in countries, by moving from a single-step assessment to a comprehensive whole-lifecycle approach to technical assistance that enables continuous improvement, capacity development and sustainability of national systems. It not only looks at the sub-system of ISC but places it in the context of the three core pillars of comprehensive programming:
· Service delivery
· Supply chain management
· Demand creation
UNICEF recognizes that structured engagement with countries through the cEVM assessment, planning and capacity development process presents a unique opportunity to support countries in identifying and tackling their systemic bottlenecks to immunization programme outcomes, and in building effective, sustainable and equitable immunization systems that are capable of managing ongoing and future innovations. The quality of this engagement contributes to the quality of cEVM Improvement Plans (IP) and the broad commitment to their implementation at all levels.
Purpose
A cEVM Communications Consultant is needed to develop a communication strategy, content and tools to engage stakeholders in the cEVM process and encourage adoption of change, and promote its long-term success.
The consultant will develop the narrative and messaging of cEVM, work with stakeholders in formalizing messaging content, create support materials, and provide support in technical oversight of outside vendors, as needed to support the effective rollout of the cEVM initiative, including by strengthening the online community of practitioners of TechNet-21.
The consultant will be expected to contribute to the design of 2 global meetings and 2 regional workshops.
Expected results: (measurable results)
Under the supervision of the Coordinator, Vaccine Management Systems, and under the guidance of the Hub’s communication lead, the consultant will:
· Develop a resonant narrative and messaging of cEVM (with input from both internal and external stakeholders) and a robust evidence-based communication strategy (based on stakeholder analysis and audience segmentation) for disseminating the narrative to all stakeholders, incl. calendar of milestones.
· Generate briefs, presentations, guidelines, and other documents as necessary to promote buy-in of cEVM, both internally and externally.
· Develop, and oversee the production of, materials (utilizing outside vendors as necessary) to communicate the narrative and messaging to stakeholders that could include print, video, audio, and digital communications.
· In collaboration with TechNet21, develop a concept for online platform able to host a community of practice on cEVM. Work with internal and external stakeholders to build the platform within existing networks, including use of popular social media applications.
· Train stakeholders as needed.
· Implement formalized ongoing external stakeholder feedback.
· Develop a Hub communications strategy with a focus on the online community TechNet-21 platform. Support the development and finalization of key communication documents.
· Review and edit Hub-related materials as requested.
Duty Station
New York based assignment
Timeframe
Start date: 28 March 2016 End date: 31 January 2017
Deliverables
Deadline
1. Develop a compelling cEVM campaign strategy in the form of a working slide deck with an accompanying one-sheeter based on interviews with a sample of global and internal stakeholders.
30 April 2016
2. Develop a brand communication strategy for the immunization supply chain Hub, with a focus on reviewing the current TechNet-21 communications approach. Develop a slide deck with recommendations for improvement.
31 May 2016
3. Validate and refine the cEVM narrative & presentation. Develop the cEVM and the Hub messaging. Train the Hub on messaging content.
31 May 2016
4. Develop a detailed plan that aligns the cEVM campaign strategy with the Hub’s country-level and regional engagement, incl. rollout calendar leveraging scheduled regional and country-level activities. Validate and refine assumptions during a global meetings and in additional interviews.
30 June 2016
5. Support the development of technical requirements to produce the required campaign materials (incl. video, graphics, etc).
10 July 2016
6. Finalise the narrative following the validation during a regional ISCM workshop and additional interviews.
31 July 2016
7. Pilot the elements of the cEVM campaign and the accompanying training, ensure compliance of the development of key campaign materials with UNICEF requirements.
31 October 2016
8. Develop and facilitate training of countries through workshops and video conferencing/ webinars to support the rollout of the cEVM campaign. Develop a concept for online platform able to host a community of practice on cEVM. Work with internal and external stakeholders to build the platform within existing networks (incl. TechNet-21), including use of popular social media applications.
31 Dec 2016
9. Support the Hub’s communications focal point in developing, reviewing, editing and finalizing key communications materials.
31 January 2017
10. Lessons learned report published on TechNet-21: Document the process of assignment and lessons learned.
31 January 2017
11. Trip report after each country visit. Report on activities undertaken at the end of assignment.
Key competences, technical background, and experience required
· Bachelor university degree in marketing, communication, or related fields.
· At least 10 years of relevant mid to senior level professional work experience in international marketing, brand development, outreach, and production. Must include:
Experience in developing and conducting international training workshops to facilitate change, incl. proven ability to transfer knowledge and skills for ownership by participants.
Experience working with large groups (10+) of multi-cultural and multi-disciplinary stakeholders simultaneously whose commitment and resources vary greatly.
Experience in creation of web-based tutorials.
Experience in working with service providers, including but not limited to design agency, graphic designers, producers, and social media managers.
· Proven ability to write and edit materials and presentations, incl. the ability to express clearly and concisely complex ideas in a storytelling form.
· Proven track record in the development of creative communication tools that have successfully impacted change.
· Proven ability to conceptualize, plan and execute complex and successful integrated marketing and community outreach campaigns that include video production, print materials, presentations, email marketing, and guidelines.
· Languages needed: fluency in English.
· Sensitivity to cultural differences and self-awareness a must.
· Proven skills in communication, networking, strategic thinking, and advocacy.
· Ability to handle multiple assignments with competing deadlines. Able to work under pressure and to tight deadlines.
· Fluent in Microsoft Office including PowerPoint. Knowledge of PhotoShop and InDesign and/or Adobe Illustrator. Ability to edit on Premier and/or Final Cut Pro a plus.
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
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