NEW Immunization Supply Chain Management Consultant, UNICEF Jordan Country Office, Amman, Jordan (120 days) Consultancy – Consultant – Contractors Agreement UNICEF – United Nations Children’s Fund Closing in 7 days Amman

The UNICEF Jordan Country Office is looking for a dynamic consultant to conduct a comprehensive cold chain equipment inventory assessment with geospatial analysis to understand, at a minimum, the cold chain capacity, quantity, and functional status of cold chain equipment at all levels throughout Jordan’s 14 Health Directorates.

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, health

Jordan’s National Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), established in 1979, originally covered five antigens (Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG), Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTP), and Oral Poliovirus Vaccine (OPV)). The country achieved universal child immunization in 1988 and has been polio-free since 1995. Over the years, the EPI program has expanded to include 12 antigens, with plans underway for the introduction of additional new underutilized vaccines yet very important for child survival.

In 2021, Jordan conducted a cold chain equipment assessment, revealing that 90 per cent of the refrigerators used in health facilities were domestic models and not pre-qualified by the World Health Organization (WHO) to store vaccines. In 2022, an Effective Vaccine Management Assessment (EVMA) was conducted and confirmed these findings. In 2023 Ministry of Health (MOH conducted a temperature mapping studying focus on its central and subnational vaccine stores and the study revealed that three of the walk-in rooms were non-functional and 30 per cent were functional sub optimally compromising the quality and efficacy of the vaccines. Late last year MOH received significant cold chain equipment supported by UNICEF and WHO for health facilities across the country. It is essential to evaluate the current cold chain infrastructure to determine its capacity to handle the increased volume of vaccines and ensure the continued improvement of immunization service delivery in the country.

The planned cold chain assessment will play a critical role not only in understanding the functionality of the existing cold chain infrastructure and space but also help the country to identify the required storage capacity and preparing the country for the introduction of new but underutilized vaccines, such as the Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine (PCV) among others. The quality and safety of vaccines throughout the cold chain system are essential for maintaining their effectiveness and ensuring that the cold chain can efficiently manage the additional demand is crucial for preserving vaccine potency, minimizing wastage, and enhancing overall immunization service delivery in Jordan. This assessment will enable Jordan to make informed decisions about the investments needed to strengthen its cold chain system, ensuring it can meet both current and future immunization needs.

The cold chain assessment will focus on evaluating Jordan’s current cold chain system to ensure it can meet the increasing demands posed by new and routine vaccines. This assessment will:

• Evaluate cold chain capacity: With the increasing temperature sensitive vaccines requiring storage of +2°C to +8°C, the assessment will analyze whether the current infrastructure can accommodate the routine vaccines as well as the planned introduction of new vaccines.

• Assess Cold Chain Equipment: The assessment will focus on equipment at all levels across the 14 Health Directorates in Jordan, identifying the quantity, functionality, and capacity of cold chain equipment, including those provided by UNICEF and WHO since 2022. A critical component will be assessing whether facilities are using WHO-prequalified equipment and ensuring the overall system meets WHO standards.

• Use of Geospatial Analysis: A GIS analysis will be conducted to map out the distribution of cold chain equipment, identify underserved regions, and guide efforts for future cold chain expansion efforts.
• Recommendations: This assessment will highlight any gaps in equipment, storage, and logistics capabilities. It will provide recommendations for bolstering Jordan’s immunization supply chain to ensure it is robust enough to handle both current and future vaccine introductions, including PCV and other antigens planned for the immunization program.

The objective of the assignment

The main objective is to conduct a comprehensive cold chain equipment inventory assessment with geospatial analysis to understand, at a minimum, the cold chain capacity, quantity, and functional status of cold chain equipment at all levels throughout Jordan’s 14 Health Directorates.

Specific objectives and deliverables are:

1. To provide an in-depth understanding of current and future immunization supply chain needs.
2. To Inform the Government of Jordan’s planning for vaccine storage and distribution.
3. To identify gaps and potential areas for cold chain system expansion, supporting future interventions to strengthen the cold chain for routine immunization and new vaccine introductions.

How can you make a difference? 

The assessment will begin with a thorough review of existing documentation, including the 2021 Cold Chain Equipment Assessment and the 2022 Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) reports. This phase will involve analyzing data on cold chain equipment recently received from UNICEF and WHO, as well as determining how the equipment has been integrated into the national immunization supply chain. A comprehensive cold chain equipment inventory will then be conducted across all levels of the health system in Jordan’s 14 Health Directorates.

The inventory will cover equipment such as refrigerators, freezers, and other related items, with an emphasis on determining the quantity, capacity, and functional status of this equipment. This will include an assessment of whether the equipment is pre-qualified by WHO and if it meets the temperature and storage requirements for routine immunization and new vaccines like PCV. The functional status and potential maintenance needs of the equipment will be evaluated to ensure it can handle the increased storage needs due to the introduction of PCV and other vaccines.

The assessment will also employ geospatial analysis to map the distribution of cold chain equipment and identify areas with gaps or underserved regions. This geospatial analysis will help visualize the cold chain capacity across health directorates and identify any logistical or transportation bottlenecks that may hinder vaccine delivery. Stakeholder consultations will be held with key actors, including the Ministry of Health (MOH), UNICEF, WHO, and health facility staff, to gather insights on the operational status and challenges of the cold chain system. Additionally, the scope of work will include evaluating the risks associated with cold chain management, such as equipment breakdowns or failures, and proposing solutions to mitigate these risks. The assessment will provide a detailed analysis of the country’s readiness for the introduction of PCV and offer recommendations for improving cold chain capacity to meet both current and future vaccine storage needs.

Deliverables: 

• Inception Report: A work-plan outlining the specific activities to be conducted with objectives and timelines; methodology, including key stakeholders to be involved.

• • Regular weekly check-in meetings with monthly update reports outlining country specific timelines, status of implementation, anticipated challenges, risks, and proposed way forward.

• Tailored cold chain inventory assessment and data collection tool for Jordan’s context developed and approved.
• Cold chain inventory database and a summary of key findings on the cold chain equipment status.
• A dashboard with all cold chain equipment inventory data. This will require the following: 

• • A coding system for cold chain equipment that links with the health facilities master list and the Geospatial information.
  • GIS maps for cold chain facilities in each health directorate

• Cold chain replacement plan, including recommended cold chain equipment.

• • Mapping of key stakeholders involved in cold chain implementation and their roles and responsibilities.

• Final Report with the following annexes:      

• • Present findings on cold chain equipment inventory, capacity, and functionality and Highlight gaps and provide actionable recommendations.
  • Include geospatial analysis of equipment distribution and an evaluation of cold chain capacity for PCV introduction.
  • Brief report on good practices in Jordan throughout the process including challenges, lessons learned and critical success factors.
  • Prepare a presentation to MOH, UNICEF and other stakeholders summarizing the key findings and recommendations.

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

• A Bachelors University Degree in Engineering, Public Health, Supply Chain, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business or Public Administration or related field is required or other relevant fields. Additional qualifying experience in cold chain maintenance will be an added advantage.
• At least 3-5 years of experience in international public health programmes with experience in resource-limited environments.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

Additional desired criteria:

• Demonstrated solid experience in conducting impact assessment for new vaccine introduction, development of the Gavi CCE OP, EVMA and temperature monitoring studies.
• Experience in developing dashboards.
• Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills
• Effective presenter including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations.
• Effective facilitator with proven ability to engage and train a group of individuals (through an interpreter if necessary).
• Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural settings.
• Experience in developing inventories and cold chain rehabilitation and expansion plans at country level.
• Experience in GIS mapping, training, planning and delivery of technical assistance.
• Proven track record in interfacing with national ministries of health.   
• Proficiency in WHO PQS-listed cold chain equipment.
• Proficiency in the development of technical SOPs for cold chain equipment management is an advantage.

Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered.  The financial offer should be a lump sum for the whole assignment and include Travel if applicable. The financial proposal must be ‘all inclusive’ of all expenses related to the assignment

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 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. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

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.

This assignment will require the consultant to spend 80% of the time in the field to collect data and mapping, 10% of the time in MOH for verification and 10 at UNICEF office for concurrence, data validation.

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. 

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