UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to health

Ethiopia is situated in the Horn of Africa and is the second most populous country on the continent with an estimated population of 115 million. It borders six African countries: Djibouti, Eritrea, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan, and covers 1,104,300 square kilometers. Approximately 85 percent of the population lives in rural areas. Ethiopia represents a melting pot of ancient cultures with Middle Eastern and African cultures evident in the religious, ethnic, and language composition of its people.

Over the past couple of years, children and their families across Ethiopia faced multiple and complex emergencies, such as the conflict in the northern Ethiopia and the drought, which resulted in millions of people in need of urgent humanitarian assistance. UNICEF has programmes in Child Protection, WASH, Health, Nutrition, Social Policy, and Education and serves over 15 million children in Ethiopia. Join UNICEF Ethiopia to contribute to improving the lives of children and women.

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

Over the past two decades, Ethiopia has made significant progress in expanding and improving its immunization program. According to WUENIC 2024 estimates, national DTP1 coverage stands at 81%, which is below the global average of 89% and the regional average of 85%. Despite this, Ethiopia still faces a major challenge with zero-dose children: in 2024, there were approximately 768,000 zero-dose children, accounting for 35% of all zero-dose children in the Eastern and Southern Africa Region. The AHEAD initiative, launched in late 2024, has addressed critical data quality issues, harmonized DHIS2 datasets, and introduced alternative denominators to produce more reliable coverage estimates, marking a significant step toward improving immunization performance monitoring at national and subnational levels. The sub optimal immunization coverage is attributed to a variety of factors, such as political instability and ongoing conflict/insecurity that have adversely affected last-mile delivery of vaccines and essential primary health care health commodities, including access, availability, and provision of vaccination and essential services in the country. Frequent vaccine stockouts, weak vaccine stock management at the woreda and health facility levels, and limited stock data visibility at subnational levels are among the health system bottlenecks affecting equity and coverage in immunization programs.

The role of the consultant aligns directly with the optimization of the PHC concept by ensuring vaccines are accessible at the community level, increasing coverage, and ensuring timely delivery of vaccines and other PHC commodities through the country’s immunization supply chain management system. Their efforts in optimizing the cold chain and vaccine stock management system within PHC settings are crucial for maintaining vaccine potency, reducing wastage, and preserving the efficacy of immunization efforts. The consultants will also contribute to achieving broader health goals like universal health coverage (UHC) and the Immunization Agenda 2030 by supporting innovative supply chain technologies and the effective management of health commodities. This, in turn, strengthens PHC systems and leads to improved health outcomes. 

Scope of Work:  

The Senior immunization supply chain consultants will assist MoH or the assigned structures under the ministry  in managing the immunization supply chain. This includes planning, forecasting, procurement, storage, distribution, monitoring, and reporting. The consultants will also help build capacity at the regional and local levels to manage vaccine supply and cold chain systems effectively.

Strategic and Technical Advisory

• Provide technical guidance and advisory support on logistics and supply chain components for strategic documents, applications, and guidelines within the EPI program, including contributions to the development of the National Immunization Strategy (NIS).
• Support MoH in vaccine co-financing discussions with the responsible units and stakeholder.
• Collaborate closely with UNICEF Supply Division and national logistics working groups on vaccine and supply chain matters.

Forecasting, Procurement, and Distribution

• Provide technical assistance for vaccine forecasting, procurement, shipment, clearance, and distribution.
• Conduct VRF (Vaccine Request Form) analysis and provide feedback to EPSS hubs, RHBs  and health facilities.
• Support the application process for new vaccine introductions and planned SIAs.

Digital Systems and Data Visibility

• Provide TA on the use of digital tools on immunization supply chain such as mBrana, Dagu, VIVA, and other systems for stock monitoring and visualization.
• Advocate for supply chain digitalization and support the  eLMIS.
• Ensure timely submission of e-VAR (Vaccine Arrival Report) within 72 hours for at least 85% of shipments.

Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) Management

• Support availability, maintenance, and rehabilitation of CCE at all level of the supply chain.
• Develop and implement CCE improvement plans, including decommissioning and eco-friendly disposal of obsolete equipment.
• Support on CCE post installation inspections evaluation and studies
• Support  any new initiatives such as GAVI-HFSE learning agenda

Monitoring and Evaluation

• Support on the national (full and periodic) EVM 2.0 assessments and lead the development and implementation of the Continuous Improvement Plan (cIP).
• Actively monitor and report supply chain performance indicators (DISC or IA2030-related) and ensure data use by EPSS and MoH.
• Prepare regular reports on supply chain performance using global standards.
• Provide technical support on temperature monitoring and wastage monitoring studies.

Capacity Building

• Organize training and on-the-job coaching for healthcare workers on vaccine supply management and cold chain optimization

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Pharmacy, Public health, Logistics and Supply chain management or related fields
• Work Experience: At least Five [5] years of relevant work experience in the immunization supply chain, storage, logistics, and inventory control of supplies, including in emergency situations, preferably in the health sector. 
  • Expertise in health logistics, supply planning, forecasting and customs clearance.
  • Strong knowledge of the Ethiopian health sector and supply chains.
  • Experience in developing national CCE inventories and rehabilitation plans.
• Skills: 
  • Skilled in WHO PQS-listed equipment and Gavi CCEOP processes.
  • Proficient in temperature monitoring, cold room mapping and RTM installation.
  • Familiar with strategies to reach zero-dose children.
  • Proven track record in engaging with Ministry of Health and its agencies like EPSS.
  • Experienced in training, technical assistance and SOP/guideline/training guide development.
  • Strong skills in data quality, reporting and analytics.
  • Excellent analytical, communication and presentation abilities.
  • Collaborative in diverse team and partner environments.
  • Proficient in MS Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of other official UN languages (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, or Spanish) is considered an asset.

Desirables:

• Relevant experience at country level, particularly in development, fragile settings and humanitarian contexts. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable female candidates and persons with disability are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.