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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, Safety... 

Economic, environmental, and social sustainability require a combination of approaches that leverage modern technology. This use of technology becomes even more vital when addressing disasters or global challenges. In many parts of Africa, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), or drones, provide efficient and expedient solutions across various sectors, including humanitarian response, health, food security and agriculture, and environmental and wildlife management. Today’s drones are smaller, smarter, and more affordable, enabling widespread adoption in both developed and developing countries. Use of Geographic Information System (GIS) is also a solution to map all the people living in hard-to-reach areas who are underserved with other social needs including immunization.

In Malawi, drones are increasingly deployed for humanitarian and development purposes. UNICEF has led these efforts by integrating drones into healthcare delivery, including HIV-related services, responding to flood emergencies, mapping and monitoring infrastructure, and strengthening the national disaster preparedness and response framework. UNICEF Malawi’s approach focuses on building local capacity, fostering an innovation-enabling environment, and ensuring the sustainable use of drones and drone-related technologies to provide timely and effective humanitarian and developmental solutions. To support this vision, UNICEF established a drone testing corridor, facilitated the development of a national regulatory framework, and founded the African Drone and Data Academy (ADDA) to train a skilled workforce of drone pilots and data analysts. Additionally, UNICEF Malawi leverages drone-acquired imagery and Artificial Intelligence to create "vulnerability maps," aiding response efforts in health outbreaks, floods, and other emergencies. The organization also integrates aerial and satellite imagery with Big Data sources—including geospatial data, social media, crowdsourced information, and sensor data—to enhance decision-making and crisis response.

Malawi's immunization program faces significant challenges, including reliance on handwritten Microplans, limited real-time data collection, and poor-quality target population estimates below the district and health facility levels. These gaps hinder the health system’s ability to generate accurate coverage estimates, track unimmunized or zero-dose children, and implement targeted interventions effectively. Some communities are missed during microplanning due to limited and inaccurate visualization, relying on hand-drawn maps. The absence of precise mapping for health facility catchment areas forces the program to depend on ad-hoc decision-making based on incomplete and outdated information.

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will provide technical assistance and enhance local capacity for managing vaccine supply chains for routine immunization nationwide. This will involve developing a sustainable model for incorporating drone delivery into the vaccine supply chain, emphasizing financial sustainability and government ownership.

The consultant will also work to strengthen the capacity of stakeholders and partners to support drone delivery for both routine immunization and emergency responses. Additionally, the consultant will assist in the rollout of the drone delivery system to all districts, particularly those with hard-to-reach communities, expand Geo-enabled Microplanning across all 29 districts in Malawi, and improve routine immunization planning and execution by implementing GIS-driven recommendations for outreach clinics, routine immunizations and campaigns.

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

Academic qualification:

An advanced university degree in Public/ Environmental Health, Logistics, Supply Chain Management, or a related field is required. 

Work experience:

• At least 5 years of professional experience in immunization or health supply chain management, with a specific focus on data Management is required.
• Proven experience in supporting vaccine delivery using drones and GIS microplanning, including routine immunizations and emergency campaigns is required.
• Experience working government health systems, NGOs, or international organizations, particularly in low-resource settings is required.
• Familiarity with WHO guidelines on cold chain and vaccine storage is required.
• Experience in Capacity-building including training health workers Drone delivery and GIS, is desirable.
• Experience working with the UN will be an asset.

Technical skills, knowledge, and strength areas:

• Strong expertise in integrating drone delivery solutions into existing healthcare systems, including coordination with District health authorities, data management systems, and immunization programs to ensure smooth vaccine distribution is required.
• Cold chain management, including temperature monitoring, equipment maintenance, and data integration systems knowledge is required.
• Analytical skills for assessing immunization data, identifying gaps, and recommending improvements.
• Proficiency in managing immunization logistics for both routine and emergency settings, for maintaining vaccine integrity during transportation to hard-to-reach areas.

Languages:  

Good in English – both written and spoken skills are required.

Please refer to the attached full Terms of Reference  Terms of Reference National EPI Data and Health Innovations.pdf for more details on the consultancy and requirements.

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 committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

HOW TO APPLY...

Interested consultants should provide the following:

1. Curriculum Vitae
2. Brief technical proposal (no longer than five pages) demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the assignment and approach/methodology to the assignment
3. Financial proposal including a breakdown of their all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, living cost, visa and other costs). Financial Proposal for Consultancy.xlsx Complete the attached form.
4. References details

Remarks:  

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

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.