Logistics Specialist (Vaccine Management & Polio RRT), P-3, FT, ESARO, Nairobi, Kenya

Job Number: 528620 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Kenya

Work Type : Fixed Term Appointment

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, an advocate

Despite the encouraging progress made in the Africa region towards polio eradication where no wild poliovirus has been reported since August 2014, the region continues to be affected by circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) outbreaks. Ten out of 12 type 2 CVDPV outbreaks reported globally have been in Africa (including Somalia). Children are vulnerable to Type 2  poliovirus than ever before and further geographic spread of these outbreaks seems more likely. New outbreaks due to continued use of  mOPV2 are also expected in and around areas of mOPV2 use. Hence, the ability of the polio program to respond more quickly and effectively to outbreaks anywhere in Africa over the next 12-24 months is a top global priority.

As a key partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), UNICEF has the mandate of providing technical assistance to countries to ensure fast and effective logistics and vaccine management support whenever a disease outbreak is confirmed.  As stated in the GPEI’s current Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs January 2019) a Rapid Response Team  (RRT) should be deployed to lead the initial response within 72 hours of laboratory result notification.

Effective logistics planning and vaccine management is essential to improve the results of supplementary immunization activities (SIAs) and any other outbreak response. The GPEI RRT for Africa will  assist polio outbreak countries, and national immunization programs to have effective vaccine management support to outbreak response planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the UNICEF ESARO Coordinator (EPI & Polio), and in close collaboration with the UNICEF/AFRO Rapid Response Team (RRT) Coordinator, the incumbent will be deployed as a member of RRT to polio outbreak countries within the African region and  according to RRT working plan and GPEI outbreak SOPs.

Main Responsibilities

The Vaccine Management Specialist (Polio) will be deployed to respond to a polio outbreak response within 72 hours of laboratory confirmation. Based on the local context of each country, the incumbent will be required to deliver the following results:

Support the MoH and GPEI teams to plan, implement, monitor and supervise all aspects of the Cold Chain Logistics and Vaccine Management as outlined in the SOPs and technical guidelines for the polio outbreak response:

Develop a budgeted national logistics response plan;

Liaise with UNICEF programme and supply divisions and support country office and MOH logistics teams to streamline planning, ordering and arrival of vaccines and consumables;

Ensure that the inventory of active and passive cold chain equipment is updated;

Train staff and partners and deploy management tools to support vaccine management, logistics and cold chain management in outbreak response in accordance with the guidance note and available learning modules.

Facilitate the distribution and optimal use of vaccines and consumables according to macro and micro-plans;

Ensure the proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of the supply chain;

Ensure good temperature management procedures followed

Collect and analyse vaccine stock and utilization status at all levels of the supply chain after each round;

Submit vaccine stock and utilization reports when submitting requests for additional vaccines.

In the case of SIAs using mOPV2, provide technical assistance to the MoH and GPEI partners to ensure compliance with procedures, such as:

Develop mechanisms to accelerate the preparation, verification, correction and compilation of reports (vaccine utilization reports and A forms) and their daily transmission at all levels (district, region and national);

At the end of each cycle, all open mOPV2 vials are disposed and reported in accordance with WHO and/or national guidelines and all unopened and in good condition vials are recovered at a predetermined store in the supply chain for later use;

Coordination of Independent Vaccine Monitoring activities includes: training of supervisors, coordinators and monitors, supervision, compilation of monitoring data and transmission of area of responsibility reports.

Provide frequent and regular reports to the MoH on all aspects of vaccine management, cold chain logistics and contribute to the drafting of SITREPS and bulletins. Prepare reports according to GPEI requirements.

Support outbreak response assessment teams (OBRAs) with information related to vaccine management, logistics and the cold chain.

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

An advanced university degree in logistics management, supply chain, health logistics or other health-related fields (pharmacy, engineering).

A minimum of 5 years of professional experience at national and international level in Routine Immunization and/or Supplementary Immunization Activities logistics management (Cold Chain, Vaccine Management, Waste Management), vaccination campaign logistics management.

Field experience or training in mOPV2 management will be an asset

“CCL/VM activities during polio SIAs” eLearning certificate is required.

Have skills in leadership, teamwork and training.

Be proficient in computer tools, including Excel, Word and PowerPoint software

Master the EPI’s logistics tools (SMT, DVDMT, Cold Chain Inventory tools).

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.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

Applying Technical Expertise [II]

Deciding and Initiating Actions [II]

Following Instructions and Procedures [II]

Analyzing [II]

Planning and Organizing [II]

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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

Closing Date Tue Dec 31 2019 21:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)