Background and Justification

In 2021, seven new cVDPV2 cases (AFP cases) with the onset of all cases between 18th August 2020 and 02nd July 2021 have been reported. These all cases are outside areas of previous mOPV2 campaigns. Ethiopia remains vulnerable for poliovirus importation due to the continued circulation of cVDPV2 in neighboring countries (in 2020, Somalia, South Sudan, and Sudan had reported 13,38 & 56 cases of CVDPV2, respectively). In addition, Ethiopia has high chances of subsequent transmission due to low population immunity resulting from the low routine immunization coverage and high dropout rates (OPV3 and IPV).

To respond to the recently reported cases a nOPV2 risk response synchronized campaign is planned in the Horn of African countries including Ethiopia, Kenya, Somali, and South Sudan.

UNICEF, as one of the main partners in the GPEI team to respond to vDPV2 UNICEF, is taking the lead in 2 pillars of the polio program – “communication and nOPV2 vaccine management”.

The objective of this consultancy is to support vaccine management preparedness and to ensure that vaccine management is sufficiently and properly managed prior, during up to the vaccination points, and after the vaccination rounds including proper retrieval process of new vaccine nOPV2 vaccine in 2021. Given the wide geographical scope of the nationwide risk response campaign, the urgency of the campaign, and the risk of the emergence of a new vDPV2 the local capacity to handling these tasks is limited. Thus, an additional skilled workforce with local knowledge is required to mentor the existing human resource, coordinate and support the operation as a GPEI partner.

 Summary

Purpose: To provide technical support to Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (EPSA) hubs in regions, Regional Health Bureaus, zonal and district health offices on planning and response to vaccine-derived Poliovirus outbreaks with the focus on vaccine management which is consistent with the latest SOPs for outbreak responses.

Duty station: One each in following regions – (Afar, Amhara, B/Gumuz, Gambella, Sidama, Tigray and Somali)

Duration: Three months (tentatively September, October, and November 2021)

No. of consultant one for each region (Afar, Amhara, B/Gumuz,Gambella, Sidama, Tigray and Somali)

Start Date & End date 90 days from the date of Joining

Reporting to UNICEF Polio country focal person

Purpose

To provide technical support to Regional Hubs of Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Agency (EPSA), Regional Health Bureaus, zonal and district health offices on planning and response to vaccine-derived Poliovirus outbreaks with the focus on vaccine management which is consistent with the latest SOPs for outbreak responses.

Specific Tasks

• The consultant will work closely with national and regional emergency operation center (EOC), the Cold Chain and Vaccine Management -technical working group, regional health bureaus, and authorities of the national immunization Programme to accomplish the following: Develop/review the outbreak response SIAs supply and logistics plan to regional and district level.
• Establish cold chain functionality and failure report tracking method and coordinate the maintenance activities at the regional and sub-regional level.
• Develop/review the distribution plan, route, transport and organize the distribution of the nOPV2 outbreak response supply and logistics at the regional and sub-regional level.
• Develop/review reverse logistic plan, route, and transport and organize the nOPV2 vaccine and vaccine retrieval from the region to the central hub for destruction.
• Provide training to SIA facilitators at regional and sub-regional levels on nOPV2 vaccine management
• Support Woreda health offices in the management of nOPV2 during the SIA including reverse logistics to a central hub.
• Supervise the use of nOPV2 by vaccination teams during outbreak response SIA and participate in region/ district command post daily coordination meetings and report daily performance to central outbreak response team/command post.
• Support Mobile population mapping (nomadic, pastoralist, and other mobile population) with Geo-coordinates and good quality pictures of nomadic sites with Geo-Coordinates in their regions.
• Organize reverse logistics regional and sub-regional level for used and unused/broken/partially used/ and report on unaccounted nOPV2 vials within three days after campaign rounds (R1 & R2).
• Other responsibilities as per the need related to polio vaccine management.

Expected Deliverables and Time frame

Deliverables Deadline

• Monthly performance progress reports  Monthly
• Logistic and vaccine management plan for each SIAs For each SIAs
• Vaccine utilization reports After each SIAs.
• nOPV retrieval report after each SIAs After each SIAs.
• Analysis of vaccine management indicators Polio  After each SIAs.

Reporting

The consultant will be directly recruited by tABH and reports to the ECO UNICEF Polio Focal Person

Payment Modality and Schedule

The fees for this contract shall be paid on monthly basis based on the submission of monthly reports against the deliverables indicated above.

Job Requirements

Expected background and Experience

The consultant must meet the following criteria

•  University degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the area of the expertise – Supply Chain and logistics, Biomedical Engineering, Public Health. Training in Cold Chain & vaccine Management will be an asset. A Diploma in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.
•  At least 2 to 3 years of professional work experience at national and decentralized levels in outbreaks response, routine immunization, public health, and other relevant programs.
•  Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to governments on the implementation of outbreak responses (polio) and for routine immunization activities.
•  Demonstrated experience in managing vaccine and reverse logistics for nOPV2 released for outbreak responses
•  Demonstrated experience in reverse logistics for mOPV2 released for previous outbreak responses
•  Familiarity with the UN system and Polio Eradication efforts is desired
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
•  Fluency of the English language both speaking and writing is a requirement. Fluency and Working knowledge of the local language will be an asset.
•  The consultant will be based at regional capitals with the location as decided by the UNICEF country/regional office.
•  The consultant will not be provided lodging and/or meals
•  The consultant will use his/her own materials, i.e. computer/laptop, phone etc.
• For the duty travel, the consultant will be provided a rented car by ABH Partners and also DSA as per the guideline.
• The consultant will be paid monthly by ABH Partners Plc. upon completion of deliverables as indicated in this TOR and submission of the monthly progress report.

Policy both parties should be aware of: