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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.

In Nigeria, UNICEF works in a complex humanitarian and development setting to fulfill and protect children's rights in partnership with the government, civil society, children, and families.  UNICEF Nigeria is one of the largest UNICEF Country Offices globally - click the link to learn more about UNICEF in Nigeria: https://www.unicef.org/nigeria/

Background:

CONTEXT OF IMMUNIZATION AND HSS IN NIGERIA

Nigeria has the highest number of unimmunized children in the world, estimated at 4.3 million children in 2018. In recent years, the coverage of DPT3/Penta 3, a key indicator of a country’s performance of Routine Immunisation, has fallen from 52 per cent in 2014 to 33 per cent in 2016. Fluctuations have also been observed in the coverage of other antigens given in the country. Evidence form 2016 MICS/NICS surveys indicated that wide variations exist in RI performance across the Country’s zones with the South East and South West zones showing high RI performance, while the North East and North West show low performance. The disparity is driven by several factors which include socio-economic status, and personal beliefs of the care givers. The decline in DPT3/Penta 3 in Nigeria from 52% in 2016 to 33% in 2018 has left more than 3.2 million children under the age of 12 months under immunized in 2018, adding to the already existing huge pool of susceptible under-fives which has led to outbreaks of vaccine-preventable disease across the country. Implementable and sustainable strategies to vaccinate very eligible child are critical if we are to save the lives of every Nigerian child. Bottlenecks to the low immunisation coverage include poor community sensitization on available routine services with prioritization of immunization campaigns rather than on health system strengthening and provision of commodities for routine services; frequent and prolonged public sector health worker strikes in some states; prolonged periods of non-payment of salaries; inadequate funding and fund disbursement delays; insecurity in the north-eastern states affecting the most marginalized communities; inadequate integration of routine immunization services with broader PHC services; poor community linkage, trust and community engagement, which slows the Reach Every Ward immunization approach; weak demand at community level due to low awareness of benefits of immunization; poor quality of immunization data at LGA and health facility levels; and poor maintenance of cold chain equipment.

How can you make a difference? 

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW AND LLE

The main purpose of this assignment is mostly on learning and less on accountability. While some aspects of the review look at the merit and comparative advantages of strategic interventions in the GAVI’s HSS at the sub-national level in Nigeria, the findings from this assignment are expected to inform the Government of Nigeria (Federal and States), the GAVI Board and UNICEF about current and future investments in HSS, refine strategies and capitalize on lessons learned. It will also serve two major uses: (a) objective assessment of achievements, implementation context, and risks; and (b) inform future stakeholders' engagement. Therefore, the overall purpose of this review and lessons learned harvesting exercise is to facilitate the understanding of what worked/didn’t work, why it worked/didn’t work, and how interventions adapted to local contexts including innovations at the local level.

OBJECTIVES

Deliverables:

Description:

• Inception Report:

Suggested Content: Detailed methodology, work plan, and data collection, list of documents, data sources and people to be contacted (Key Informants) tools

Timeline: Week 2

Description

• Draft Report:

Suggested Content: Preliminary findings and DLL-driven lessons learned.

Timeline: Week 7

Description

• Final Report

Suggested Content: Comprehensive analysis and recommendations

Timeline: Week 9

Description

• Presentation

Suggested Content: Key findings shared with stakeholders.

Timeline: Week 10

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

• Minimum 10 years' experience in health systems strengthening
• Proven expertise in successful health program evaluations in the context of Nigeria
• Proven expertise in implementation research
• Strong understanding of double loop learning and reflective practice
• Experience with GAVI HSS projects
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Experience in Nigeria's health system
• Knowledge of immunization programming
• Expertise in participatory evaluation methods
• High level of professionalism and an ability to work independently and in high-pressure situations under tight deadlines.
• Excellent written and spoken English skills required.
• Experience in participatory approach is a must as well as facilitation skills and ability to manage diversity of views in different cultural contexts.
• Ability to produce well-written reports demonstrating analytical ability and communication skills (consultant may be asked to provide sample work)
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

To view the complete TOR, click here  Terms of reference - Review and Documentation of Lessons-Learned arising from GAVI Support to HHS in 8 Selected States in Nigeria.pdf

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. 

Applicants must submit their financial and technical proposals along with this application. Applications without these will not be considered. Use this form to provide your financial proposal. 

 All-Inclusive Financial Proposal Form-Current.docx

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.