Capacity Building Consultant for MoHS Staff on Self-Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA)

Job Number: 527495 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Sierra Leone

Work Type : Consultancy

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.

With financial and technical support from UNICEF, the government conducted Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) in 2016. The assessment focused on all the three levels of service delivery including the National Vaccine Store (NVS), 9 District vaccine stores and 10 selected health facilities (HFs). The findings of the assessment revealed that two of the components assessed had minimum scores of 80% and above, whilst all were below 80% at district level and one above 80% at health facility level. The assessment was followed by the development of improvement plan for improved immunization supply chain management at all levels.

Objectives of the consultancy:

The purpose of the consultancy is to build the capacity of MOHS staff on self- EVMA processes using WHO protocol and methodology. Specific objectives include:

To train national and district EPI teams to understand EVMA process and tools required for self-assessment, data compilation and analysis.

To guide self-EVMA team to conduct self- EVMA at selected sites, using latest version of EVM tool that will generate detailed analysis, and in alignment with immunization supply chain objectives and Gavi supply chain fundamentals.

To produce an end-of-consultancy report, documenting the above.

Methodology and Technical Approach

Under the direct supervision of the Immunization Specialist and the overall guidance from UNICEF Health Manager, in close collaboration with the EPI Manager in the MoHS, the consultant will provide technical support and guidance to the EPI staff on the processes and methodologies of conducting self-EVMA in Sierra Leone.

The capacity building will be done through on-the-job training, which will include: training session on methodology and procedures, facilitation of data collection from selected sites/districts together with the assessment team (comprising MOHS staff and partners), and subsequent participatory joint analysis and report writing. Based on the assessment findings, the consultant will guide participants to develop improvement plans for the sites visited for improved vaccine management practices

Specific Tasks of the consultant

Review the self-assessment tools and excel questionnaires and finalize them with the country team.

Finalize timeline and logistics of EVMA training and actual exercise – including the site selection.

Train national and district EPI teams on EVMA processes, methodologies and tools required for self-assessment, data compilation and analysis.

Support staff to conduct self-EVMA assessment in selected sites using latest version of EVM tool that will generate detail analysis and tagging by immunization supply chain objectives and Gavi supply chain fundamentals to be used for development of comprehensive improvement plan.

Create a customized data entry template for data analysis by criteria and categories.

To provide ‘hands-on’ guidance to self-EVMA team to develop improvement plans for the sites assessed.

Support self-EVMA team to enter, clean, and analyze the data, generate graphs and tables, and write a full assessment narrative report.

Present findings and recommendations to the EPI team and UNICEF.

Finalize and share self-EVMA report and data-set

Facilitate a reflection session with the self-EVMA team to discuss lessons learned from EVM process: (i) the training experience, (ii) the data collection and analysis issues encountered, (iii) observations about comprehension and communication barriers of the assessment team, (iv) general feedback on the questionnaire, tool, methodology, etc.

Produce end-of-consultancy report documenting the above (including lessons learned from EVM process).

The consultancy is for a duration of 20 working days and should be completed before the end of December 2019. It is expected that a brief report to UNICEF will be shared on the EVM process: (i) the training experience, (ii) the data collection and analysis issues encountered, (iii) observations about comprehension and communication barriers of the assessment team, (iv) general feedback on the questionnaire, tool, methodology etc.

Please see attached ToR for more information.  EVMA ToR.doc

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

Advanced university degree in epidemiology, medicine, public health or supply chain management, with further training on vaccine management, cold chain and supply management.

Familiarity with relevant WHO and UNICEF guidelines and tools.

Minimum of 5 years of practical experience in managing supply chain operations involving planning, organizing, implementing and advisory support, with experience in resource-limited settings.

Minimum of 3 years of relevant experience in conducting EVMA and related assessments.

Previous experience in Sierra Leone or in the region will be an asset.

Experience in having developed EVM Improvement Plans in at least one country outside his/her country.

Fluency in English is required.

Please attach your Financial proposal.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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

Closing Date Wed Nov 13 2019 00:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)