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Consultancy Title: Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) Assessment and Development of Comprehensive Improvement Plan(CIP)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Survival and Development

Duration: 19 Nov 2025 to 05 January 2026 (34 Working Days)

Home/ Office Based: Both on-site and Remote (International Consultancy)

For every child, Commitment

How can you make a difference? 

A reliable and efficient vaccine supply chain is essential to ensure that vaccines and related commodities are available in the right quality, quantity, place, and time to protect communities. Effective vaccine management contributes directly to high immunization coverage, equity, and improved health outcomes.

Eritrea has conducted three Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessments to date, in 2012, 2017 and 2021/22. The most recent assessment used the EVM 2.0 tool and covered national and targeted sites. The overall national score was 77%, with seven out of thirteen criteria surpassing the 80% benchmark, including temperature management, storage capacity, distribution, vaccine management, waste management, annual needs forecasting, and supportive supervision. However, persistent gaps remained in vaccine arrival procedures, infrastructure, equipment maintenance, stock management, and immunization supply chain performance monitoring. In comparison with the 2017 assessment, progress was noted in areas such as staff training, use of PQS cold chain equipment, and adoption of standard temperature charts, but several systemic weaknesses continued, including inadequate customs clearance arrangements, weak documentation practices, insufficient supportive supervision, and gaps in contingency planning. The forthcoming EVM assessment aims to build on these achievements, close the identified gaps, and ensure that Eritrea’s immunization supply chain can meet the demands of new vaccine introductions.

Eritrea has made significant progress in expanding its immunization program, including:

• Introduction of HPV vaccine in 2021,
• Hepatitis B birth dose in 2025,
• Finalization of CCEOP 2.0
• Planned switch from pentavalent (Penta) to hexavalent (Hexa) vaccine in the near term, and
• Anticipated introduction of the malaria vaccine within the next 3–4 years.

These new vaccines, combined with the country’s efforts to sustain high coverage, require a robust supply chain system capable of forecasting, storing, distributing, and managing vaccines effectively.

Thus, conducting an EVMA in Eritrea is critical for the following reasons:

Assessing progress: To evaluate the current status of vaccine and cold chain management and measure progress made in addressing gaps identified in the previous EVM.

System strengthening: To identify gaps and prioritize actions to improve the vaccine supply chain and ensure quality, safe, and potent vaccines.

Building on past investments: Eritrea has benefited from cold chain equipment and logistics support from Gavi and partners; EVMA will help assess the efficiency of these investments.

Supporting new vaccine introductions: The introduction of Hepatitis-B birth dose and other vaccines in the future will increase supply chain complexity and costs, requiring strong management systems.

Equity and last-mile delivery: To ensure remote and underserved areas benefit equally from new vaccines.

 Scope of Work:

The consultant, in collaboration with the MoH and partners, will:

Assessment Preparation:

• Collaborate with MoH and stakeholders to finalize objectives, methodology, and scope.
• Adapt and contextualize the data collection tools jointly with the MoH and stakeholders.
• Complete country setup on the EVM platform (locations, vaccine schedule, tracers, ISC parameters).
• Develop an inception report and detailed assessment plan (responsibility matrix, sampling, travel plan).

Training and Orientation:

• Adapt training materials to the Eritrea context.
• Train assessors, observers, and managers involved in the EVMA.
• Prepare a clear travel and fieldwork plan for data collectors and assessors

Field Assessment:

• Conduct data collection using standardized EVMA tools.
• Conduct monitoring activities and supervisory visit to ensure quality and completeness of the field work.

Data Cleaning and Analysis:

• Use the EVM data quality tool to validate and clean the dataset.
• Analyze results according to global EVMA standards.

Reporting and CIP Development:

• Draft and present preliminary findings to MoH and partners.
• Facilitate a national workshop to present the Continuous Improvement Plan (CIP).
• Incorporate feedback from stakeholders and finalize the EVMA report and CIP.

Key Deliverables

• Consolidated deliverable that includes: (i) inception report, detailed workplan & timeline, (iii) training materials adapted to Eritrea context, and (iv) training completion report.
• Field data collection conducted across all selected sites, with daily supervision reports.
• Data cleaning using EVM quality tools; validated and finalized dataset shared.
• Draft report with key findings, strengths, and gaps presented to MoH and partners.
• National workshop facilitated to present EVMA findings and Continuous Improvement Plan (cIP); workshop report produced.
• Final validated EVMA report and cIP incorporating stakeholder feedback.
• Overall consultancy report summarizing activities, challenges, lessons, and recommendations.

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

Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field

Work Experience: 

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in immunization supply chain assessment and improvement planning.
• Proven experience with WHO/UNICEF EVM2 tools and methodologies.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

Curriculum Vitae

Technical proposal

• The Technical Proposal should include but not be limited to the following:
• Methodology:  Detailed Methodology / approach to requirement detailing how to meet or exceed UNICEF requirements for this assignment
• Profile: Ensure to include information related to the experience of the consultant Including similar assignments.
• References: Names and contact details of supervisors/refences for similar assignments undertaken.

Financial proposal

• Please provide indicative travel costs to/from Asmara with separate budget line for each item/expense category.
• Professional fee and other expenses:  include all expenses related to the assignment professional fees.
• Complete the attached financial proposal form and upload it in this application  Financial Proposal template.xlsx

Applications submitted without both the Technical Proposal and Financial Proposal will not be considered.

ADMINITRATIVE FORMALITIES

UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback, guidance, and necessary support to achieve the objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work.

As per policy on consultants, the individual will be expected to complete a list of mandatory training, including policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption, Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgement upon acceptance of the offer.

Before issuing the official contract, the consultant must complete the applicable training. The consultant will be provided with office space, access to office resources and other administrative arrangements necessary to complete the assignment.

CONDITIONS

• The consultancy will be for 34 working days.
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
• No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
• The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from the section before the commencement of the journey from the duty station.
• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
• Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. They 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 assignment is both on-site and a remote support.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables.
• UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

 For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

To view our competency framework, please visit our competency framework

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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, overtime, weekends, public holidays 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.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposals will not be considered