UNICEF recruits 01 International Consultancy
International Consultancy: EPI Consultant, Lilongwe, Malawi
Job Number: 521131 | Vacancy Link
Locations: Africa: Malawi
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.
And we never give up.
For every child, hope
For many years, the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Malawi sustained a high national coverage (above 80%) for all antigens. However, there has been a gradual and significant decline in the number of fully immunized children from 81% in 2010 to 76% in 2015 (MDHS 205/16) putting Malawi in the top 10 of countries with the highest number of unimmunized children in this region. To reverse this trend, the immunization program with support of partners implemented activities to strenghen delivery of immunization services. Administrative data on routine immunization now shows an improvement of national immunization coverage in 2017 compared to the coverage in 2016. For instance, the coverage of Penta3 increased to 88% in 2017 compared to 84% in 2016. However, challenge remains to ensure equitable and effective coverage of immunization. While the geographical inequity for Penta3 coverage has improved in 2017, seven districts (25%) have Penta3 coverage less than 80%.
The Malawi Health Sector Strategic Plan (HSSPII) targets to achieve 95% coverage of children under one year of age fully immunized by 2021.The. Gavi has allocated USD 41 million for five years (2018-2022) under Gavi HSIS-III grant platform to support strengthening of health system for equitable and quality coverage of immunization in Malawi. Yet challenge remains to effectively operationalise the implementation plan of Gavi HSIS-III grant and managing vaccine introduction grants (VIGs) for new vaccines due to limited technical and management capacity at national and sub-national level.
How can you make a difference?
The consultant will work with UNICEF, the MOH and other immunization stakeholders at the national and sub-national level to provide techcnial support to EPI unit of the Ministry of Health for effective management of EPI Operational Plan inlcuding the implementation of Gavi HSIS-III grant. The expected output of this consultancy is a final EPI operational plan inlcuding the implementation plan of Gavi HSII-III grant with strategic guidelines to manage EPI Gavi grants. In addition, the consultant will also be expected to provide an orientation on Gavi work streams to EPI staff and selected partners to build in-country capacity to successfully complete key Gavi tasks and assignments.
This consultancy requires technical support for carrying out the following tasks:
Design and facilitation of HPV Lessons Learned Workshop
Develop the concept note inclusive of methods, agenda, stakeholders mapping for facilitation of the HPV lessons learned workshop;
Provide technical support to EPI unit of MOH in analysing the data of countrywide HPV vaccination that was conducted in January 2019 and prepare the presentations/ documentation on HPV vaccination for the HPV lessons learned workshop;
Facilitate HPV lessons learned workshop, prepare the workshop report;
Provide technical support to EPI unit of MOH and facilitate the development of workplans for 2nd dose HPV vaccination in June 2019 and Multi-Age-Cohort HPV vaccination in January 2020 integrated in the 2019-20 operational plan
2. Review of EPI operational plan 2016-18 and development of EPI Operational Work Plan 2019-2021
Provide technical support to EPI team in developing the framework for operational plan; Review and update the EPI coverage, Equity and Bottleneck analysis report, and address the recommendations in operational plan.
Prepare a detailed work plan with EPI team that can be used for annual planning of programme activities and periodic review of the progress;
Prepare a budgeting framework linking EPI operational plan to programme budget in conjunction with MOH budget plan for sustainable domestic for EPI.
3. Develop Results Framework for Health System Strengthening (HSIS) Grant:
Design the results framework for the HSS grant – reviewing and updating key indicators and milestones;
Support development of reporting framework for target districts that will receive funding through the grant;
Support negotiations and coordination with relevant partners on new areas of support for inclusion in the HSS grant.
Support operationalization of EPI REC guidelines with efficient use of Gavi HSIS grant to improve effective coverage of immunization and reduce the inequality.
4.Capacity development of EPI officers to manage Gavi supported programs
Orient EPI team and relevant in-country partners on Gavi related work streams, key activities, guidelines, processes/procedures and timelines
Facilitate workshop on Gavi related guidelines, processes, procedure and timelines such New Vaccine Renewal Requests, Gavi
Prepare and submit concise report on the workshop
Kindly click here TOR- EPI Gavi support_advert.docx to access the full Terms of Reference
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Advanced University degree in Public health management, Business management, Social science, Economics or in relevant field.
A Minimum of eight years of progressively responsible professional work experience at the national or international levels in health sector program analysis, management and leadership.
Good understanding of the Expanded Programme Immunization, including national level strategic planning and implementation across the health system tiers.
Familiarity with key Gavi related work streams, guidelines and processes
Languages -Written and spoken fluency in English
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.
The competencies required for this post are:
Strong analytical, negotiation, oral and written communication skills
Effective presenter including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations of primary health care interventions.
Effective facilitator with proven ability to engage and train a group of individuals at national level and for front line health workers as well
Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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 Apr 17 2019 16:00:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)