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:

Nigeria has just concluded a nationwide wastage rate study by collecting immunization session data in more than 1,300 health facilities (primary, secondary and tertiary) across rural and urban settings. The detailed findings are being prepared for wider dissemination and adoption, including the 5-year road map towards reduction of wastage rates while attaining optimum unavoidable wastage rate in the country.

Purpose Of the Assignment:

The preliminary findings suggest the development and use of wastage rate monitoring and service delivery session planning tools. These are expected to further shape and reinforce the existing forecasting tool thereby increasing accuracy of the forecast. The monitoring tools will facilitate regular monitoring of wastage to enable the evaluation of the road map for the wastage rate reduction strategy.

Similarly, the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) plans to conduct Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA), covering all the levels of the supply chain to assess the Availability, Quality and Efficiency (AQE) of immunization supply chain systems in the country. The assessment is expected to culminate into the development of continuous Improvement Plans (cIP) using the Supply Chain Improvement Planning (SCIP) tool.

 The consultancy will involve providing technical guidance to Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency in improving vaccine supply and supply chain management and reducing vaccines wastage in the country, through the digitalization of the wastage rate monitoring tools as well as the training of the service providers on their use. In addition, the consultancy is will provide technical support to the NPHCDA in the overall conduct of the EVMA and cIP development.

How can you make a difference? 

Scope of Work?

Under the joint supervision of UNICEF Health Manager (Immunization) and Health Specialist (Vaccine Management), working under the guidance of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the wastage rate study PMT, the focus of the assignment will include:

1.Develop the following 3 Excel based wastage rate tools, and customize to the Nigeria context:

• A forecasting tool - to forecast vaccine needs at national, state, LGA and health facility level
• A service delivery planning tool - to demonstrate the wastage rate implications and cost implications of changes to session frequency, vial size and discard time, at the national level, or by state, LGA or health facility
• A wastage monitoring tool - to be used at national level, state level or LGA level, to compare actual health facility wastage rates with acceptable ranges, monthly, quarterly, or annually, and to monitor the different components of vaccine wastage

2.Work with a software developer to implement all 3 tools as Web-based tools, integrated with, and drawing data from, other data management tools.

3.Work with the local firm develop training materials and implement training courses on vaccine wastage and on the 3 tools

4.Work with the local firm to train staff at national and state level on how to use all 3 tools.

5.Conduct any deep dive analyses as may be required by UNICEF/NPHCDA during the period of the engagement on the wastage rate data collected during the concluded study.

6.Facilitate training of EVM assessors, supervisors and managers.

7.Support the conduct of EVMA field assessment at all levels of supply chain

8.Conduct EVMA data cleaning, analyses and report writing

Work Assignment Overview:

1.Develop the 3 Excel based wastage rate tools, and customize to the Nigeria context.

   Develop EVMA training materials and facilitate set up of parameters on the site

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Availability of forecasting tools, Service delivery planning tools, Wastage monitoring tool.
• Training materials/ readily available sites.

2. Facilitate training of manager, assessors and supervise on EVMA.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• List of trained personnel and deployment plans for assessors

3. Work with the local firm/software developer to implement all 3 tools as Web-based tools, integrated with, and drawing data from, other data management tools.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Availability of web based/digital applications such as forecasting tool, service delivery planning tools, wastage monitoring tool.

4.Work with the local firm develop training materials and training courses on vaccine wastage and on the 3 tools.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Availability of the training modules on the wastage rate and the 3 tools.

5.Work with the local firm to train staff at national and state levels in how to use all 3 tools.

Deliverables/Outputs:

• Number of staff trained on the wastage rate tools. Training reports.

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

• An advanced university degree in supply chain management, public health, industrial engineering, economics, logistics, business, operations management, any other relevant field.
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience at the national and international levels, on immunization supply chain management, cold chain management, monitoring and evaluation, logistics or operations management and at least 3 years of experience on immunization/public health programs.
• Familiarity with vaccines and supplies stock management practices, cold chain systems, effective vaccine management, inventory policies, logistics, outsourcing, segmentation strategies, integration of health products, and other system design strategies.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas. Experience conducting similar study in low and middle-income countries is an advantage.
• 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_Post Wastage rate study_Consultancy.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.