Consultant to coordinate, monitor & assist in implementation of technical assistance workplan for introducing two new vaccines for children

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

 How can you make a difference? 

Immunization is one of the most important, efficient, and affordable ways to prevent infectious diseases. The Ministry of Health and Medical Education has introduced two new vaccines into the national childhood immunization programme namely, PCV and Rotavirus vaccines.

Despite significant progress, gaps remain in Iran’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and Effective Vaccine Management (EVM). Challenges such as cold chain limitations, logistical constraints, and the need for strengthened monitoring and evaluation mechanisms persist, particularly in ensuring equitable access and efficient vaccine delivery. These gaps pose risks to the successful introduction and sustainability of new vaccines, making it essential to provide targeted support to the MoHME.

Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) is a public–private global health partnership with the goal of increasing access to immunization. One of the GAVI priorities is supporting countries in adding new vaccines to their national vaccination program. One of these supports includes technical support to run the new vaccine introduction smoothly.

UNICEF, as part of GAVI’s work plan, tends to recruit a consultant to coordinate, monitor, and assist the implementation of the work plan along with providing technical support to the EPI department to monitor the cold chain and logistic system regarding adding two new vaccines and emerging new demands and considerations.

This technical consultancy will help UNICEF and the Ministry of Health to manage the cold chain and logistics system at this important stage of introducing the two new vaccines to the national childhood vaccination program. On the other hand, the consultant can monitor the implementation of the GAVI work plan for the introduction of the two new vaccines, which are embedded in UNICEF’s activities.

OBJECTIVE

The key objective of this service is supporting the immunization programme in Ministry of Health and medical Education to enhance cold chain management regarding addition and introduction of two new vaccines to provide safe, and effective vaccination to children.

Scope of work:

The scope of the consultancy is at the national scale and will cover 67 universities of medical sciences under the MoHME  for monitoring the cold chain equipment such as refrigerated vehicles and assisting in implementation of technical assistance workplan (GAVI).

Phases of work

Phase One: Coordination and communication

One of the tasks of the consultant is active coordination with all parties/stakeholders for full implementation of activities through different means of communication to achieve the best outcomes and results in line with the programme objectives.

Phase Two: Oversight and monitoring the implementation

In this phase, it aims to assist in the implementation, management, and monitoring of all UNICEF GAVI-related activities through formulating the executive timetable and all needed arrangements. 

Phase Three: Assistance in conducting the capacity building training workshops and awareness raising

The consultant should organize the training workshops from the first step like assistance in providing the content of training based on the agenda, selection of audience and number, place of conducting workshop and direct supervision on proper conducting them. The final report with all the detailed financial expenditures should be embedded in the final report.

Phase four: Financial management

Oversight of all process of fund transition from UNICEF to the target implementing partner. Ensuring utilization of the funds in line with planned activities in an efficient way. All financial documents should be collected, assessed and if needed the due feedback and follow-up should be provided as necessary.

Phase five: Vaccines custom clearance and distribution

The vaccines which procured through UNICEF Supply Division, PCV and RV, from GAVI catalytic funding should be pursing from the time it reaches to customs until reaching to the due destination.

METHODOLOGY

The key task is to assist in the execution of the GAVI work plan along with supporting the immunization programme, especially the cold chain and logistics management regarding adding new vaccines, PCV and RV. Constant monitoring and assessing the cold chain and logistic status through utilizing logistics from VSSM and inventory tools, besides direct contact with universities of medical sciences, is crucial.

In line with the execution of the GAVI work plan, there is a need for plenty of coordination with respective institutes, universities of medical sciences, and individuals to conduct the assessments, studies, and workshops. Furthermore, assist and coordinate to develop the information and awareness-raising materials for printing and assist to develop the training videos with the designated institutes and universities.

EVM assessment is quite a crucial task which needs international and national consultancies. Besides running it in the selected universities, which calls for precise coordination. 

Monitoring the whole progress of the GAVI work plan is essential, especially adopting the corrective measures on a timely basis.

The whole work plan should be terminated in 10 months, by the end of 2025, so precise planning and monitoring are quite essential. 

Payments are linked to deliverables as per the table below in IRR and are payable upon UNICEF’s and EPI approval of the deliverable.

The financial proposal should include all consultancy fees and on average 4 trips for EVM assessment.

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

The consultant should possess the following qualifications:

• Fluency in Farsi language and English
• MS university degree in medicine, public health, nursery and relevant disciplines.
• At least 10 years of solid experience in working on the immunization programme especially familiar with cold chain and logistic system.
• Previous working experience with UNICEF/UN is an asset.
• Familiar with financial MoHME process

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. 

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.