International Polio Consultant (Cold Chain, Logistics, and Vaccines Management), Lusaka, Zambia, 11 months

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, strength.……

The UNICEF Programme of Cooperation with the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) is designed to address and mitigate the threat of poverty the country’s children face, while responding to the needs with interventions addressing the multiple causative factors.

To find out more about UNICEF’s work in Zambia, please visit https://unicef.sharepoint.com/sites/ZMB/SitePages/About-us(1).aspx 

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant works under the direct supervision of Immunization Specialist (P-3) and in close collaboration with ZCO Immunisation Specialist (CCLVM) to channel UNICEF technical support to MOH, ZNPHI, Polio EOC, and GPEI partners to effectively plan and implement polio SIA campaigns.

Scope of Work:

• Develop costed plan of action on cold chain, logistics, and vaccines management (CCLVM) for polio OBR, and the CCLVM updated tools, guidelines, and reporting templates.
• Review and analyse cold chain storage capacity to accommodate the required polio vaccines for each round of polio campaign as well as the functionality assessment of cold chain equipment (CCE) at national and provincial levels.
• Develop the detailed monthly CCLVM report / update on CCLVM interventions having a concise snapshot on the achievements, progresses, gaps and challenges, on-going needs or issues for further attention and planned or upcoming events / activities, in addition to regular update to the weekly polio Situation Report (SitRep).
• Develop the detailed plan on vaccines requirements, procurement, last-mile distribution, and end-user monitoring with technical forecasting, and quantification of bundled polio vaccines, CCE and other logistics with timely distribution of vaccines and other tools to all provinces and districts implementing polio vaccination campaign.
• Review and analyse vaccine wastage, vaccine containment and final disposal of nOPV2 with proper documentation and reporting on Vaccines Accountability Monitoring (VAM) in line with national and GPEI global guidelines.

Detailed Terms of Reference can be viewed here:  TOR_Polio CCLVM International Consultant_2 Jan 2024_Health.pdf

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

Education

Master’s degree in supply chain management, Social Sciences, Medicine, Health Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, International Development, or a field relevant to technical assistance in immunization Supply Chain, Vaccines and Logistics management.

Work Experience

• At least 7 years’ relevant experience in immunisation supply chain, cold chain, vaccines and logistics planning and management at the national or international level preferably in a developing country.
• Relevant experience in immunisation programme, polio supplementary immunisation activities (SIAs), project development and management in any UN systems agency or organization is an asset.
• Experience of working in an emergency setting is required.
• Ability to work in most extreme hardships.
• Ability to work independently and to meet deadlines.
• Ability to write clear and concise reports in English.
• Computer literacy with high ability to use excel spread sheets.
• Completed training on Basic and Advanced Security in the Field.
• Proven ability to work effectively in cross-cultural and multi-cultural settings and teams, and to deliver high-quality results within expected time frames.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

  UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check. 

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.