National Consultant – GAVI-CIFF-UNICEF project coordinator, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopia has been implementing various strategies to improve immunization coverage However, many gaps and challenges related to health systems, supply-demand, and programme management constrained immunization service delivery and uptake. The major bottlenecks in accessing health services, including immunization and Nutrition, include Geographical factors (remote and hard-to-reach areas), Service disruptions due to conflicts and other humanitarian contexts; Community characteristics, such as pastoralists and mobile communities and Personal factors such as competing priorities of caregivers, These challenges are further compounded by inadequate logistics and demotivation of service providers, Inadequate knowledge skills and poor attitudes, of service providers.

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For every child, 

Ethiopia has been implementing various strategies to improve immunization coverage However, many gaps and challenges related to health systems, supply-demand, and programme management constrained immunization service delivery and uptake. The major bottlenecks in accessing health services, including immunization and Nutrition, include Geographical factors (remote and hard-to-reach areas), Service disruptions due to conflicts and other humanitarian contexts; Community characteristics, such as pastoralists and mobile communities and Personal factors such as competing priorities of caregivers, These challenges are further compounded by inadequate logistics and demotivation of service providers, Inadequate knowledge skills and poor attitudes, of service providers.

Strengthening the primary health facilities to be able to deliver vaccination services using multisectoral approach is paramount and an efficient way to reaching populations in remote rural, non-remote rural, peri-urban, and urban areas with multiple overlapping deprivations in Ethiopia.

GAVI has provided funds to be implemented by UNICEF, aiming to address the immunization and nutrition needs of the most disadvantaged and underserved populations in Ethiopia and promote demand for immunization and nutrition services through a multi-sectoral approach. GAVI expects UNICEF to demonstrate the use of multisectoral interventions as an entry point to systematically reach children and communities that were not reached by immunization services in selected 50 high-priority woredas; 20 woredas where nutrition will be the entry point (CIFF woredas)  in Somali, Afar, and Oromia regions, and 30 woredas where immunization will be the entry point (from UNICEF immunization priority zones) in Amhara and Sidama. In addition to the extensive monitoring and measurement activities being planned, this project also comes with a strong learning agenda.

To bring intended result, the programme needs a dedicated Project Coordinator to ensure efficient and effective coordination mechanism is in place with different sections and field offices within UNICEF, and with several stakeholders and partners, including, regional governments, different line bureaus at regional, and zonal, woreda and kebele levels.

The purpose of Immunization Specialist position (National consultant /Multisectoral Project Coordinator,) is to support UNICEF team involved in these initiatives to effectively coordinate and monitor the implementation of the GAVI -CIFF funded multisectoral interventions as an entry point to systematically reach zero dose children and communities that were not reached by immunization and nutrition services in 50 selected high-priority woredas (estimated 70% of the time). The consultant will provide support to routine immunization programs and to Primary Health Care to be resilient for Vaccine-preventable disease breaks (an estimated 30% of the time).

The consultant will be based at UNICEF health section in Addis Ababa, with frequent travel to the field to provide technical support at subnational levels.

The Consultant will report directly to the Health Manager for DPC and will work in close collaboration with immunization team and focal points in health nutrition, child protection and social protection sections both at CO and FO level.

Please see the Video on Health Extension Program

How can you make a difference? 

The consultant will coordinate UNICEF CO GAVI-CIFF work aimed to address the immunization and nutrition needs of the most disadvantaged and underserved populations in targeted woredas and promote demand for immunization and nutrition services through a multi-sectoral approach. Under direct supervision of the health manager for DPC, the consultant will be accountable for the following key task.

Coordination and collaboration:

1. Ensure effective planning, overall coordination, implementation, monitoring documentation, information management, and reporting on all project interventions to reach zero-dose children through the Multisectoral approach is in place during all phases of implementation (Inception, Implementation Year I and Year II) as outlined in the work plan.
2. Coordinate and work closely with GAVI CIFF focal persons in health, Nutrition Child Protection, Social Protection, Social Behavior Change, Immunization Supply, and Logistics team, at the country and field office to ensure that there is effective coordination among program managers on convergence programming within UNICEF and counterparts and integration of services during the implementation of interventions of GAVI-CIFF funded project.
3. Coordinate with EPSS hub and RHBs and health and nutrition specialists at CO and FO to ensure availability of vaccines, injection devices, nutrition, and other supplies such as recording, reporting, and monitoring tools and effective use at service delivery level.   
4. Liaise with Field Offices and Regional Bureaus and to ensure the smooth implementation and monitoring of the project activities.

Programme management

5. Provide capacity building to service providers and programme managers at all levels through face to face or on job
6. Provide field-level support to the FO team, RHB, and ZHO Woreda, Kebele level during all phases of implementation and monitor the quality of House-to-House enumeration bottom micro-planning to identify and map zero-dose children and missed communities in selected high-priority zero-dose children.
7. Provide Support to the implementation of e-CHIS and community engagement. 
8.  Produce progress reports and updates using the Results Matrix and ensure activities are implemented on time and milestones are achieved. Alert the supervisor, and focal person in the sections of any challenges rewiring their attention and support.
9. Communicate progress, bottlenecks, and issues arising from the implementation of the project in a timely and effective manner.

Programme Monitoring

10. Actively monitor UNICEF-supported activities through field visits, surveys, and exchange of information with partners, to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems, and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely interventions.
11. Arrange joint field monitoring trips and donor visits, for UNICEF program sections, and other relevant stakeholders.
12. Organize regular meetings and calls to fast-track the implementation, identify operational challenges for timely action.

Data management

13. Review the appropriateness of recording, reporting, and monitoring tools for multi-sectorial intervention.
14. Ensure availability of based line data from head counting for Integrated services by woredas and provide regular feedback by analyzing local-level data.
15. Ensure the availability of evidence-based project data and prepare and submit progress reports, project briefs, and any other documentation of lessons learned on time.

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

• Master’s degree or equivalent in one of the disciplines relevant to the following areas: Medicine, Health Sciences, Public Health, Nursing; with a post-graduation in Public Health, Epidemiology etc.

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in immunization program management, vaccine campaigns, supplementary immunization activities planning and management at the national or international level preferably in a developing country is required. Ability to work in most extreme hardships. Working experience on multispectral coordination engagement with partners e.g., Sector Wide Approaches, Delivering as One, Inter-sectoral partnerships, as well as networking with other key partners. Knowledge of Project Management and Project Monitoring and Evaluation. Ability to network with various stakeholders and handle partnerships to achieve results for children. Professional technical knowledge/expertise in demography, statistics, and data management. Professional/technical knowledge/expertise in Team Management, Coaching & Training. Understanding of GAVI and MOH policies and strategies to address issues related to reaching zero dose children. Experience with household data collection, monitoring, and database management. Working experience with cold chain logistics and immunization program.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1) 
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drives to achieve impactful results (1)
•  Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (I)

During the recruitment process, we test candidates following the competency framework. Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels: competency framework 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.
We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. 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 is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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 or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.