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, immunization is a must!

How can you make a difference?  

Liberia has recorded two positive environmental samples of polio (CVDPV2) as of March 1, 2024 indicating the risk of further positives (either environmental or human). There are ongoing polio transmissions in Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea and Sierra Leone which are all bordering Liberia. 

This situation coupled with the sub-optimal routine immunization data places Liberia as a high-risk country and an outbreak response including a nationwide immunization campaign needs to be conducted as soon as possible. The immunization campaigns need to be synchronized across the four countries to achieve maximum impact once all logistics, vaccines, surge requirements are in place. 

In this light, a Vaccine Management Consultant (NOC) is needed to coordinate and supervise the work of 15 Vaccine Management Consultants who will be deployed to the 15 counties of Liberia to support the planning, implementation and monitoring of the nationwide polio vaccination campaign.

Effective management of nOPV2 vaccines in an outbreak situation is critical to ensure that vaccines are deployed timely, enough vaccines are issued, and all vaccines issued are retrieved and accounted for. UNICEF is a key partner to support vaccine management during Polio outbreak response hence the justification to engage national field consultants who will be to be supervised at the national and operational levels. The consultant will work in close collaboration with international vaccine management consultant, the Immunization Specialists, MoH counterparts, WHO counterparts and UNICEF staffs a large.

Support the regional, county and health facility vaccine store managers, the national vaccine management consultants to plan the nOPV2 campaign, implement the campaign as well as to distribute vaccines and other related logistics to the various levels of the health system in efficient and timely manner.

Support national vaccine management consultants, the district and health facility Vaccine Accountability Coordinators to ensure that all vials are retrieved, and unused vials properly destroyed.

To identify gaps and put in place strategies and detailed plans on vaccine and cold chain management aspects of the polio emergency response based on field monitoring visits and report.

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

Education:

• Degree in health related discipline, logistics management, supply chain, health logistics, business management ).

Work Experience:

• Professional/Technical Experience: At least, 2 years of professional experience at related to Cold Chain, Vaccine Management, Waste Management, vaccination campaign logistics management, field experience of OPV management will be an asset.
• Relevant work experience in emergency response especially epidemics; Experience with public health supply chain and cold chain management issues.
• Leadership skills, teamwork and ability to conduct training.
• Masters EPI logistics tools (SMT, Cold Chain Inventory tools).
• Additional training in immunization and cold chain is an asset

Other skills and competencies required:

• Results-driven and good writing skills.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English and a local dialect is essential.

• Office Based
• The consultant is expected to use his/her own ICT equipment.

The consultant will be supervised by Immunization Specialist.

VIII. Technical and Financial Proposals:

Applicants are invited to submit with their online application:

• A technical proposal that outlines their understanding of the task and proposed methodology or cover letter explaining why they are well placed to undertake this assignment
• A recently updated CV
• A financial proposal which must be an all-inclusive cost (consultancy fees, mission expenses, travels, etc.).

Applicants are invited to submit their financial proposals in USD using the template below:

Selection criteria will be based on qualifications, skills, expertise and experience in the required field, and quality of the technical and financial offer. Each application will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price.

Evaluation Criteria (This will be used for the Selection Report)

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)               

B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

Selection criteria will be based on qualifications, skills, expertise and experience in the required field, and quality of the technical and financial offer. Each application will be assessed first on its technical merits and subsequently on its price.

UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF and the partners are not followed, the performance is unsatisfactory, or work/deliverables are incomplete, not delivered or fail to meet the deadlines. The deliverables will remain the copyright of UNICEF.

The consultant must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

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/individual contractors 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 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.