Individual Consultant - Vaccine Wastage Rate Study at the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF)

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (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.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Individual Consultant - Vaccine Wastage Rate Study

Location: Abuja
Job no: 574624
Job type: Contract
Duration: 5 Months
Level: Consultancy
Categories: Health

Purpose of Activity / Assignment

• Nigeria has shown the occurrence of high wastage rates of vaccine and essential medicines in its public health program.
• This maybe contributed in part by the large and often sparse population (in certain parts of the country), coupled with logistical difficulties in reaching hard to reach communities including those with difficult terrains. Identifying the key drivers and influencers of wastage will assist efforts for increased program efficiency especially as Nigeria transits from Gavi support, thereby ensuring more guaranteed vaccines and lifesaving interventions to reach all children.
• The consultancy will involve providing technical guidance to Nigeria’s National Primary Health Care Development Agency in improving vaccine supply and supply chain management and reducing vaccines wastage in the country; through conducting a comprehensive vaccine wastage assessment, developing a comprehensive vaccine wastage reduction strategy (without impacting service delivery goals), and drafting a multi-year action plan to reduce vaccine wastage in Nigeria.

Scope of Work

• Under the joint supervision of UNICEF Health Manager (Immunization) and Health Specialist (Vaccine Management), working under the guidance of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the wastage rate study PMT, the focus of the assignment will include
• Draft a vaccine wastage assessment protocol and methodology covering all vaccine antigens used in Nigeria.   UNICEF Nigeria Health Specialist, UNICEF Regional Office and NPHCDA will sign off the assessment protocol and methodology
• Coordinate and provide technical assistance to conduct a vaccine wastage assessment collecting at least three-year retrospective data and/or possible 3 months prospective wastage or as may be determined by the PMT data from the national, states, LGA, health facilities, and outreach locations. Data collected for each vaccine and commodity should include stocks received, distributed and balances at each level as per developed protocol.
• In a statistically selected (e.g., using EVM sampling) subset of supply chain locations (i.e., National, States, LGAs, Health Facilities and outreach locations), embed stakeholders (without disrupting service deliveries) to identify, collect and record real-time vaccine wastage data for a minimum of two vaccine requisition and receipt cycles at each supply chain location, or a frequency as determined by the PMT at national, stated, LGA and health facilities.
• Analyze collected data, computing closed vial wastage, open vial wastage, and avoidable and non-avoidable wastage for each of the vaccines. Compare wastage rates with both historically used ones as well as with international standards and make appropriate recommendations.
• Draft a comprehensive report on the findings from the wastage assessment, which summarizes the findings, methodology and analysis showing the vaccine wastage rates and wastage factors for each individual vaccine antigen and dose presentation being used in Nigeria.
• Draft a costed 5-year action plan to reduce vaccines wastage (adapted to context for the four supply chain levels), with clear accountabilities and, M&E framework. Emphasis should be placed on the 1st and 2nd year priority activity planning.
• The consultant will identify competent hands from within the public service in the state for skills and technical knowhow transfer to engender sustainability of the support beyond the engagement period.

Requirements
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:

• Advanced University degree is required in supply chain management, public health, industrial engineering, economics, logistics, business operations management, any other relevant field.
• At least 10 years of experience, at the national and international levels, on immunization supply chain management, cold chain management, monitoring and evaluation, logistics or operations management and at least 3 years of experience on immunization/public health program.
• Familiarity with vaccines and supplies stock management practices, cold chain systems, effective vaccine management, inventory policies, logistics, outsourcing segmentation strategies, integration of health products, and other system design strategies.
• Ability to work in the multi-cultural, inclusive and diverse environment
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. 

Application Closing Date
22nd August, 2024.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online