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Consultant Provincial Cold Chain Management – Northern Cape

Job no: 545480

Position type: Consultancy

Location: South Africa Division/Equivalent: Nairobi Regn’l(ESARO)

School/Unit: South Africa

Department/Office: Pretoria, South Africa

Categories: Health

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,

Nutrition

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Under the direction and guidance of the UNICEF South Africa Chief of Health and Nutrition, the provincial cold chain management consultants, will support 6 provincial department of Health to implement the optimal vaccine management to contribute to the reduction of morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 and other childhood vaccine preventable diseases.

SCOPE OF WORK:

1.

Optimal vaccine and cold chain management (30%)

1.1. Maintain and ensure a constant cost-effective supply and storage of heat sensitive products.

1.2. Ensure that relevant updated cold chain information is available to all staff involved in the cold chain.

Ensure adequate formal and in-service training of all staff involved in cold chain and vaccine management.

Ensure the efficient usage of vaccines by limiting wastage and monitoring of activities.

Conduct monitoring and evaluation visits to facilities.

In the event of a cold chain failure at any level assist the pharmacist with deciding on action to be taken and/or liaise with the national cold chain manager.

1.3. Ensure adherence to policies regarding safe disposal and destruction of used sharps, syringes, and expired/wasted stock.

1.4. Analyze and use data for action

1.5. Support implementation of the national cold chain audit recommendations

1.6. Risk management by identifying cold chain challenges through rapid assessment to determine adequacy (including transport and waste management capacities) at all levels, identify gaps and advise the medical depot and facilities on how to solve the problems.

1.7. Identify training needs of health workers including reverse cold chain, and conduct training to address them.

2. Gap analysis regarding cold chain equipment. (10%)

2.1. Facilitate and monitor audits of cold chain equipment and records at facility levels, ensuring that any new cold chain equipment purchased for the COVID-19 vaccine introduction is also included in the programme equipment inventory and maintenance plan

3. Assist the provincial program managers with the implementation of the policies during routine and during campaigns. (30%)

3.1. In conjunction with the EPI manager and provincial medical store, support microplanning, ensuring that the logistic needs for a cost-effective distribution of vaccine are well articulated (including but not limited to timelines, roles, and responsibilities, monitoring and implementation).

3.2. Assist with financial and quantity estimates of vaccines and related medical items necessary for immunization as needed

3.3. Develop procurement and distribution plans as applicable and follow up procurement processes.

3.4. Waste Management Maintenance of incineration facilities for SIAs

3.5. Adapt/update checklist for ensuring cold chain and waste management readiness prior to the campaign

3.6. Document lessons learned regarding cold chain during campaigns and share with provincial program managers and stakeholders to inform future immunization work.

4. District supportive supervision and training (20%)

4.1. Assist province with writing of SOPs and training of staff members regarding cold chain.

Evaluate the quality of the training with the designated health workers on correct use and preventive maintenance of the new cold chain equipment.

Evaluate the content and quality of the training to technicians on preventive maintenance, installation, trouble shooting and repair of the new cold chain equipment.

4.2 Conduct monitoring and evaluation and supportive supervisory inspections including during campaigns to identify and correct inappropriate cold chain practices, safety, and waste management.

4.3 During campaigns oversee daily data aggregation reporting and analysis

4.4 Assist with stock management, reinforcing the importance of adequate stock levels, forecast of vaccine requirements and reduction of wastage.

4.5 Advise on vaccine allocation during stock shortages

4.6 Make sure that vaccines collected after the campaign are accounted for and stored appropriately.

5. Risk Management (10%)

5.1. Identify and map cold chain risks, prepare management strategy in collaboration with national team and advise the medical depot and facilities on how to solve the problems.

5.2. Plan, evaluate and participate in random quality survey during and at the end of the campaign.

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

Education: Essential: B.Pharm degree, One year internship and one year community service completed. Registration with SAPC as a pharmacist. Additional experience especially in a similar function at the provincial level an added advantage.

Minimum

5 years, additional experience especially in a similar function at the provincial level an added advantage.

Knowledge of and work experience in: Cold chain management principles, Knowledge about policies and the format for compiling of Standard operational procedures, policies, circulars, and protocols.

Such as the Pharmacy Act, Medicines Control Act, National drug Policy, EDL, Drug supply management, Free state code list, Batho Pele principles.

Languages needed: Fluency in English (verbal and written) and another South African language.

Work Assignment Overview:

VA TOR Provincial Cold Chain support NC.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

Ability to communicate effectively to varied audiences. Strong sense of team spirit, diplomacy. Ability to build and maintain partnerships across government, UN agencies and NGOs. Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse conditions. Ability to work under tight

schedule, respond to multiple demands including within a changing environment. Innovative and resourceful mindset to make solutions work in adverse and stressful conditions. Excellent writing skills and demonstrable experience in qualitative and quantitative epidemiological information analysis, program monitoring and reporting.

How to Apply:

Interested and qualified candidates are requested to submit their application to the following link: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=545480 by

29 October 2021.

This notice will also appear on http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/, http://www.unicef.org/southafrica, UN Job List, UN Jobs

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in ZAR) to undertake the terms of reference above (including admin cost if applicable).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.

Advertised: Oct 19 2021 South Africa Standard Time Application close: Oct 29 2021 South Africa Standard Time