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 and nutrition 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Tajikistan has made substantial progress in expanding and modernizing its cold chain infrastructure, largely supported by national investments and technical assistance from development partners. New generations of Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) deployed through initiatives such as Gavi’s Cold Chain Optimization Platform (CCEOP) and UNICEF procurement efforts have helped improve temperature control and reduce vaccine wastage, particularly at primary healthcare levels. However, the continued functionality of this equipment—and the sustainability of the immunization supply chain—depends on the presence of a robust and responsive maintenance system.
Despite improvements in equipment quality, challenges persist. A large proportion of existing CCE is not covered by structured preventive maintenance systems, and many regional and district-level facilities lack access to trained technicians, spare parts, and clear service protocols. Routine inspections, data-driven maintenance scheduling, and emergency repair mechanisms are inconsistently applied. As a result, service interruptions and equipment failures continue to threaten cold chain reliability and vaccine potency, particularly in remote and underserved areas.

Tajikistan’s Country Programme Document (CPD) between the Government and UNICEF emphasizes systems strengthening and sustainability in immunization services. A critical element of this effort is the development of a national Cold Chain Equipment Maintenance Strategy.

The current absence of a centralized, costed, and policy-backed maintenance plan limits the country's ability to track equipment performance, ensure timely interventions, and optimize the lifecycle of CCE. At the same time, there is growing interest in exploring service models that incorporate public-private partnerships and localized technician networks, especially in regions where public sector capacity is constrained.

In response to these needs, UNICEF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) and the Republican Center of Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP), is commissioning a technical consultancy to support the development of a national CCE Maintenance Strategy. This assignment will provide a structured roadmap for preventive and corrective maintenance, define roles and responsibilities across system levels, and propose sustainable financing and monitoring mechanisms. The strategy will be essential to ensure reliable cold chain operations, prolong equipment lifespan, and ultimately safeguard the potency of vaccines for all children in Tajikistan.

How can you make a difference? 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Duration: 60 working days between July 2025 - October 2025
Supervisor: Health Specialist, UNICEF Tajikistan

TOR with detailed deliverables and concrete timeframes is at the following link  TOR_IP_CCE maintenance strategy.docx

The purpose of this assignment is to support Tajikistan in developing a comprehensive, structured, and sustainable Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) Maintenance Strategy that ensures the long-term reliability, safety, and performance of immunization-related refrigeration infrastructure across all levels of the health system.

As the country continues to expand its immunization cold chain with modern and energy-efficient equipment, the need for a robust maintenance system becomes increasingly critical. This assignment will aim to define and institutionalize preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance protocols, delineate roles and responsibilities from national to facility levels, and propose viable service models—including public-private partnerships—to enhance maintenance coverage.

The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP), the Republican Center of Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP), and other key stakeholders to review the current landscape, identify gaps and inefficiencies, and propose evidence-based and context-specific solutions. The strategy will also address essential elements such as spare parts management, technician training, transport and logistics, service tracking, and performance monitoring.

By addressing operational and policy-level bottlenecks, this assignment will strengthen the resilience of Tajikistan’s immunization supply chain, reduce vaccine loss due to equipment failures, and support the country's efforts to meet global standards for effective vaccine management. The final strategy will serve as a national framework for implementing costed maintenance plans, guiding investments, and ensuring accountability in cold chain operations.

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF Health Specialist and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population (MoHSPP), the Republican Center of Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP), and other key stakeholders. The overall goal is to support the development of a national Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) Maintenance Strategy that ensures sustained functionality, reliability, and environmental sustainability of vaccine cold chain systems.

Assessment of the Existing Maintenance System

The consultant will begin by conducting a desk review of existing national policies, strategies, technical guidelines, maintenance records, and previous assessments (e.g., EVM, CCEOP, and HSS reports). This will be followed by a structured assessment of the current maintenance practices across national, regional, district, and facility levels. The consultant will identify strengths, weaknesses /gaps and areas for improvement in preventive and corrective maintenance coverage, availability of spare parts, technician capacities, and documentation/reporting practices. The assessment will also review the use of performance indicators, existing SOPs, budget allocations, and data systems that support cold chain maintenance.

Stakeholder Consultations and Service Mapping

The consultant will conduct stakeholder interviews and field consultations with cold chain managers, regional logisticians, technicians, and relevant public and private actors. The assignment will map the service delivery landscape—examining current models in place (e.g., in-house, outsourced, hybrid)—and assess the availability and functionality of repair workshops, spare parts warehouses, transportation support, and communication mechanisms. Private sector involvement and opportunities for public-private partnerships in maintenance delivery will also be explored.

Development of the CCE Maintenance Strategy
Based on the assessment findings, the consultant will develop a structured and costed national CCE Maintenance Strategy. This will include:

• Definition of preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance protocols.
• Roles and responsibilities at national, regional/district, and facility levels.
• Maintenance scheduling and documentation mechanisms.
• Spare parts and tools management.
• Technician capacity-building and certification approaches.
• Transportation and emergency repair support systems.
• Monitoring and supervision framework with key performance indicators.
• Budget framework and financing mechanisms.

The strategy will be aligned with WHO/UNICEF guidance, reflect local operational realities, and propose a phased implementation roadmap. It will include standard operating procedures (SOPs), job aids, and service delivery templates adaptable for different levels of the health system.

Technical Working Group Engagement and Validation

A national-level Technical Working Group (TWG) comprising MoHSPP, RCIP, regional logisticians, UNICEF, WHO, and other partners will be established or engaged to provide iterative feedback on strategy development. The consultant will facilitate TWG sessions to review draft content, collect technical input, and guide consensus-building toward finalization.

Finalization and submission for endorsement/approval

The final outputs will include a comprehensive Cold Chain Equipment Maintenance Strategy, SOPs, a summarized two-page policy brief, and a PowerPoint presentation for dissemination to national stakeholders and development partners. The consultant will also support UNICEF and MoHSPP in presenting the strategy during national-level review meetings or workshops.

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

• Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in Public Health, Biomedical Engineering, Supply Chain and Logistics, Cold Chain Management, or a closely related technical field.
• Work experience: Minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in cold chain equipment (CCE) maintenance, health logistics, supply chain systems, or equipment lifecycle management, preferably in low- and middle-income countries.
• Technical expertise: Proven experience in designing and implementing national or sub-national CCE maintenance strategies, including preventive, corrective, and predictive maintenance approaches. Technical expertise in cold chain systems and infrastructure, including equipment performance monitoring, spare parts management, and maintenance service models (insourced, outsourced, hybrid).
• Skills: Demonstrated experience working with governments, UN agencies, or development partners in the areas of immunization supply chain, EVM, or CCE capacity strengthening.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to conduct system assessments, identify operational gaps, and propose practical, evidence-based recommendations.
• Excellent facilitation, coordination, and stakeholder engagement skills, including experience in supporting technical working groups and multi-sectoral consultations.
• Knowledge of languages: Excellent technical writing skills, with the ability to produce high-quality reports, strategic documents, SOPs, and policy briefs. Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required. Working knowledge of Russian or Tajik is an asset.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• CV and cover letter.
• Technical proposal describing approach/methodology to achieve the tasks of the TOR, workplan with concrete timeframes
• Financial proposal in USD-all inclusive, indicting fee per day and cost of the travel for DSA in Dushanbe - 15 days, DSA in the field - 7 days and transportation costs (Annex 3 to be completed)  Annex 3.docx
• At least 2 papers / concept notes previously developed by the candidate or when candidate provided substantial inputs to the documents.
• Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 26 June 2025 on UNICEF website.

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.

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.