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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.  

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.  

And we never give up.  

For every child, health. 

We operate in the Pacific, specifically in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. These 14 Pacific islands countries are home to 2.3 million people, including 1.2 million children and youth. They inhabit more than 660 islands and atolls that stretch across 17.2 million square kilometers of the Pacific Ocean. This area is comparable to the combined size of the United States of America and Canada. Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu are classified as Fragile States according to World Bank/OECD criteria. 

All 14 Pacific Island countries and territories have ratified the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. However, only a third are on track with reporting obligations. You can explore the different areas of our work at the link provided here: www.unicef.org/pacificislands . 

Background of Assignment:  

Fiji has always acknowledged the pivotal importance of digital health and implemented several digital health solutions. During the Pandemic, Fiji emerged as a prominent country in the Pacific region for the implementation of several new digital systems to address COVID-19 pandemic, including the Vaccine Registration System (VRS) and the contact tracing programme called ‘care Fiji’. However, the routine immunization data system remains analogue, lacking digitization, and there is a notable absence of an integrated digital immunization register. Health staff are currently required to devote substantial effort to generate monthly reports based on indicators using paper-based immunization record systems. The lack of timely and reliable data limits the systematic implementation of defaulter tracing and micro-planning, which are essential for ensuring efficient and equitable coverage of immunization services. Digitizing the routine immunization data system and establishing an integrated digital immunization register would greatly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of immunization services in Fiji. By streamlining data collection and analysis, health staff can focus more on providing quality care and reaching vulnerable populations with necessary vaccinations.

With financial backing from the Government of Japan and technical and operational assistance from UNICEF, the Fiji Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS) has commenced the process of converting immunization records into digital format and creating a comprehensive immunization information system. The objective of this electronic immunization registry (EIR) initiative is to provide frontline health workers with the essential tools and procedures to improve the delivery and standard of immunization services. Additionally, it aims to enable access to real-time, high-quality, combined data for informed strategic decision-making at both the national and sub-national levels. The Master Patient Index (MPI) is a cutting-edge technology that matches individual information across different health data systems and prevents the creation of duplicate patient records. This technology ensures that each patient has a unique identifier, allowing for accurate tracking of immunization history and reducing errors in data management. By streamlining information across various platforms, the MPI enhances the overall efficiency and effectiveness of the immunization registry system.

UNICEF, working with MHMS, is looking to hire a committed, business-focused national consultant to coordinate and facilitate the implementation of the EIR/MPI initiative. This is in line with the Fiji digital health strategy 2023-2027 and its implementation plan, which emphasize the business and change management process beyond technically focused product implementation. The project coordinator will play a crucial role in ensuring successful implementation and integration of the EIR/MPI initiative within the existing healthcare system. Strong communication and organizational skills are essential for this position to effectively engage stakeholders and drive sustainable change.

OBJECTIVE / SCOPE OF WORK 

This consultancy's overall objective is to facilitate and coordinate the implementation of digital health initiatives and technologies, particularly the EIR/MPI project.

More specifically, the consultant is expected to:

• coordinate overall project management activities, in terms of resources, equipment and information/knowledge
• support the implementation, monitoring, quality assurance, reporting and documentation of EIR/MPI initiative
• ensure effective communication and collaboration among all stakeholders involved
• monitor and evaluate the progress of digital health projects to ensure successful implementation
• identify any potential (ICT related, programmatic, and/or managerial) challenges or barriers that may arise during the process and develop strategies to address them in a timely manner
• report regularly to project stakeholders on the status of the project and any key milestones achieved

Please refer to the ToR ( Digital Health Fiji.pdf) for further information on the deliverables and the timelines. 

GUIDANCE FOR APPLICANTS:  

Please submit a separate financial offer along with your application. The financial proposal should be a lump sum amount for all the deliverables but should show a break down for the following:

• Monthly / Daily fees– based on the deliverables in the Terms of Reference
• Miscellaneous - to cover health insurance, communications, and other costs.

Note: In-country travel costs do not need be included in the financial proposal, as the details of field missions are yet to be defined.

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

 Education:   

• Bachelor's degree is required in Computer Science, Health Information System or other related fields.

Work Experience/Skills:

• Minimum of five (5) years of experience in ICT with emphasis on Information system development and implementation
• Proven work experience as a Project Coordinator.
• Experience in project management from conception to delivery.
• Ability to prepare and interpret flowcharts, schedules, and action plans.
• Solid organizational skills, including multitasking and time-management.
• Strong teamwork skills.
• Familiarity with risk management and quality assurance control.
• Hands-on experience with project management tools.
• Experience in coordinating or managing country level ICT projects would be advantageous.
• An understanding of Health Information Systems and or Health experience is an added advantage.
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and interpersonal skills with the ability to build strong relationships with diverse stakeholders.
• Demonstrated experience coordinating between multiple remote teams and stakeholders.
• Fluency in English. Excellent communicator of concepts both verbally and in writing to a developing country government and international audience.
• Experience planning, writing, editing, and collating official reports.

 Language:   

• Fluency in English

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. 

Remarks:

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 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.  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process for this consultancy.