International Consultation to support Effective Vaccine Management Assessment and Continuous Improvement Plan in Algeria

Consultation to support Effective Vaccine Management Assessment and Continuous Improvement Plan in Algeria

Consultation to support Effective Vaccine Management Assessment

and Continuous Improvement Plan in Algeria

 

PROJECT/ASSIGNMENT TITLE:

The Effective Vaccine Management Initiative (EVM) uses the EVM 2.0 tool, questionnaires cIP assistance and tracking tool in Algeria.

I. BACKGROUND

The Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) process assesses supply chain functions, identifies bottlenecks, and develops recommendations for improvement and has long been a critical continuous improvement approach to strengthening immunization supply chains. The new mobile-based version—EVM 2.0—was developed, building on lessons from planning, executing, and evaluating the EVM process and is currently being rolled out across countries.

The EVM 2.0 initiative is designed to help countries implement quality vaccination programs based on an in-depth understanding of the national EPI system, following a structured approach focused mostly on supply chain management, monitoring, and record-keeping. Good storage and distribution practices for temperature-controlled pharmaceuticals and other products are increasingly the focus of national and international legislative and regulatory control in every country. The EVM assessment follows the well-established approach applied globally, and this important undertaking has never been done in the country before.

Immunization saves lives by protecting children against serious vaccine-preventable diseases; therefore, the continuity of quality childhood vaccination is a vital public health program in any country. Any decline in the quality and coverage of immunization will expose children to preventable diseases, disability, and death. Hence, there is a greater need to complete this assessment in Algeria as a priority to ascertain the current situation of vaccine management in key areas and to develop an evidence-backed continuous improvement plan. Algeria has decided to go for the full country assessment using the sampling technique of EVM 2.0. It will be a nationwide assessment conducted at the three levels of the immunization system: primary level (Central/national level), lowest distribution level (Wilaya level), and service point level (Health facilities), based on statistically agreed sampling.

It is planned to hire a short-term international consultant to build national capacity in planning, training, and conducting EVM assessments as well as developing continuous improvement plans (cIP).

II. OBJECTIVES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to the Ministry of Health, particularly the National Immunization Programme, for the roll out of the Effective Vaccine Management initiative in Algeria including conducting a nationwide EVM assessment and developing a continuous EVM improvement plan.

III. TASKS and DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to support all the critical components of the EVM initiative and ensure capacity building, skills, and knowledge transfer to MOH and country office staff so that they develop confidence for independently undertaking targeted EVM assessments or follow up EVM assessments after this full country assessment.

The consultant will specifically undertake the following tasks:

1. Background data collection for sampling, vaccine details in the prescribed format and preparation for trainings:

– Support uploading of a complete setup file with units, locations, vaccine details and Supply chain parameters on the EVM tool

– Generate facilities samples and create assessment on EVM tool

– Customize the EVM training presentations in French as required.

→ Deliverable 1: Algeria assessment created on EVM tool

2. Orientation/training of national managers:

– Organize the Managers training on EVM

– Prepare a brief training report with pre and post training evaluation and participant feedback

→ Deliverable 2: EVM manager training report

3. Assessors’ identification, account creation and Training of assessors

– Finalize the list of assessors  and team  for undertaking field assessment along with MoH

– Ensure the EVM account creation for all the identified assessors

– Organize the assessor’s training on EVM application and questionnaires

– Submit a brief training report with pre and post-training evaluation and participants’ feedback

→ Deliverable 3: EVM assessor training report

4. Data collection and Quality assurance:

– Ensure that all questionnaires of different supply chain level are uploaded by assessors

– Support questionnaires review and approval by the manager

– Provide support remotely to all the assessors for clarifying their doubts while doing an assessment in the field

– Undertake National Vaccine store assessment

– Undertake measures for data quality assurance

→ Deliverable 4: Data uploaded and approved on the EVM tool

5. Data validation, analysis, and presentation:

– Organize data review and cleaning workshop

– Conduct data analysis using EVM heat maps

– Prepare a Power Point presentation with preliminary findings with SWOT analysis

– Organize a debriefing meeting to disseminate the preliminary findings

– Produce a preliminary report

→ Deliverable 5: EVM preliminary report with SWOT analysis and key recommendations to guide cIP workshop

6. Development of a continuous improvement plan:

– Organize and facilitate cIP development workshop using cIP assistance and tracking tool.

– Lead finalization of cIP and put the approved cIP in the tracking tool

– Train CO staff on the cIP tracking tool.

→ Deliverable 6: Continuous Improvement Plan

7. Elaboration of a final report: A comprehensive report on the process, data, findings, and recommendations, inclusive of an executive summary, focused on the E1 to E9 and M1 to M4 criteria, categories C1 to C6 (Output and Performance) and Immunization supply chain performance with a SWOT analysis and clear recommendation for improvement of Immunization supply chain system

→ Deliverable 7: EVM final report with cIP as part of  it

IV. DURATION and PAYMENT SCHEDULE

The duration of the consultancy is approximately 40 days from the signing of the contract starting around mid-January 2023 and spread over 3 months until the final report.

Note: All submissions should be electronic. All materials submitted to UNICEF should be delivered in French.

V. LOCATION and SUPERVISION

The consultant will be based in Algiers with some visits with EVM national team to assessment sites. He/she will be supervised by the Health & Nutrition Specialist and will work closely with the National Immunization Programme Team, Direction of Prevention and Health promotion, Ministry of Health, and UNICEF MENA Regional office specifically the regional Immunization Team.

VI. QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Education:

• Advanced university degree in public health, health systems management or another related field

Work Experience:

• At least 8 years’ experience in Health System and Supply Chain Strengthening including vaccine management.
• Proven experience in undertaking EVM assessment preferably in MENA region
• Familiarity with the EVM 2.0. tool
• Capacity building of MOH staffs and skill transfer experience

Languages: 

• Fluency in French spoken and writing skills
• Good command of English

VII. APPLICATION SUBMISSION

Pre-selected candidates from the global iSCM roster are requested to submit:

1. An updated CV
2. A financial offer including professional fees, and lump sum for living expenses and travel to and from Algiers.
3. At least 3 professional references