Immunization programme

Purpose:

National individual consultant, providing professional technical support to the Health and Nutrition section of UNICEF for the priority activities essential to strengthen the immunization programme and address current challenges to maintain effective coverage of the immunization services in the country.

Goal and Objective:

Under the supervision of the Health and Nutrition Manager, the consultant will support priority activities essential for immediate vaccine deployment and scale-up preparations and support the Health and Nutrition section in activities related to strengthening the Immunization Programme including addressing current challenges to maintain quality immunization services in the country. Overall, the consultant will ensure the planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and administration of activities under the immunization programme including COVID-19 vaccine delivery support (CDS)/Immunization/COVAX programme and project activities are delivered in a timely manner and aligned with UNICEF’s roles and responsibilities.

Description of assignment:

Planning, implementation, monitoring, evaluation and reporting of all the activities under the COVID 19 vaccine delivery support (CDS,) working closely with the focal point at the Ministry of Health, Epidemiology Unit of Ministry of Health, and other Departments of the Ministry of Health as required

• Support the UNICEF and Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry of Health in the implementation of recommendations from the Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) conducted in 2022.
• Follow up, implement, monitor, evaluate and report on the activities related to the Cold Chain Equipment Strengthening in the facilities at the central level and the districts including solar electrification of divisional-level vaccine stores (Divisional level primary healthcare institution) and MOH offices.
• Continue to ensure the availability of accurate, complete, and up-to-date information required for effective Immunization/COVAX programme and project design, implementation, management, monitoring and evaluation and ensure accuracy and appropriateness of data and coding.
• Procurement of vehicles for vaccine transport at the field clinic level
• Work closely with the WASH officers of UNICEF and relevant partners in strengthening WASH facilities and vaccine waste management in the immunization clinics
• Continue to assemble and provides updated data and information on national immunization/COVAX programme and on financial/administrative status for monitoring, and analysis.
• Continue to work closely with UNICEF’s supply team to monitor UNICEF inputs, and timeliness of supply and non-supply assistance to MOH and local authorities in CCE strengthening through the CDS and CanGive grants. In collaboration with the supply team, record supply and non-supply inventory and bimonthly update on cold chain equipment, distribution, and utilization.
• Continue to work closely with UNICEF Communication and Communication for Development sections on inputs required for SBC strategy development and implementation, social mobilization, promotional and visibility activities relate to COVID immunization.
• Continue to work closely with Epidemiology Unit and Health Promotion Bureau in all the activities related to addressing vaccine hesitancy and the recent measles outbreak.
• Work closely with the Consultant recruited for assessment and preparing the final report on gender disparities in MNCH including immunization service provision.
• Work closely with the Consultant recruited to assess MNCH and Immunization quality landscape analysis and development of the road map for quality improvement in MNCH and Immunization
• Prepare reports and documents required for discussions with in-country partners and UNICEF Regional Office
• Support the Health and Nutrition team in the development of new proposals and timely reporting of activities related to immunization
• Undertake field visits to districts and sub-districts for monitoring activities as relevant.
• Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

Work relationships:

Based within the UNICEF Sri Lanka Health and Nutrition section, the consultant will report to the Health and Nutrition Manager and will work closely with the Health and Nutrition Officer, and Health and Nutrition Programme Associate. The consultant is also expected to work in collaboration with UNICEF’s Supply team that support all procurement-related work and the Communication for Development and Communication teams closely as per the requirement. The consultant would work with the WHO immunization focal point in completing the joint activities. The consultant will also work in coordination with the County Offices’ relevant programme sections, health/immunization personnel in other Country Offices and Regional Offices, and external partners in relation to EPI.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

• Master’s degree in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Health, Public Health, or a field relevant to international development assistance in Immunization and Child Survival & Health Care
• Background/familiarity with Emergency

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Years of experience:

• A min of 5 years of experience at the national and/or district level immunization programmes
• Experience of EVM assessment and cIP development in Sri Lanka
• Experience in conducting cold chain equipment inventory
• Experience in temperature monitoring systems implementation, and studies
• Experience in risk communication related to immunization
• Experience in SOP adaptation support

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/job/571192/national-consultancy-immunization-programme-colombo-sri-lanka-12-months-home-based