Consultancy, Immunization Experts(UN Children's Fund)-Job vacancies in USA

Job title:Consultancy, Immunization Experts
Organization: UN Children's Fund
Job Location: United States of America
Deadline: 18 Feb 2014
Background:
Immunization is widely recognized as one of the most successful and cost-effective health interventions ever introduced. It prevents between 2 and 3 million deaths every year and now protects children not only against diseases for which vaccines have been available for many years, such as diphtheria, tetanus , polio and measles, but also against diseases such as pneumonia and rotavirus diarrhea, two of the biggest killers of children under 5. Despite this success, 1 in 5 children are still missing out. In 2012 an estimated 22.6 million infants were not reached with routine immunization services. Routine immunization—an area of programmatic strength for UNICEF and a platform for a broad range of life-saving health interventions—is today a strategic, equity-focused priority that deserves renewed attention.

It is against this backdrop of persistent inequity that UNICEF proposes to help governments scale up their immunization services to ensure all target populations, wherever they live and whatever their status, can access and choose to access these services; and furthermore, ensure that immunization is used as a tool to reach vulnerable and under-served populations with a range of health services.

In collaboration and coordination with key stakeholders in priority countries and with partners in the international community, UNICEF is intensifying efforts to scale up immunization services, including an increase in human resource capacity. Initial funding for strengthening of UNICEF technical support at global, regional and national levels has been negotiated through the GAVI 2014 Business Plan and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Grants. Focus countries include: CAR, Chad, DRC, Ethiopia, India, Liberia, Madagascar, Mozambique, Nigeria, Pakistan, Vietnam, Uganda and Yemen.

Purpose:
The consultant (s) will be requested to support UNICEF country offices to effectively assist governments to strengthen capacity of integrated health systems to deliver immunization in one or more of the following areas:

a) Provide technical support to UNICEF country offices and governments in collaboration with in-country immunization partners to develop, refine, and monitor equity and coverage improvement plans to reach every child;

b) Provide technical support to UNICEF country offices and governments in collaboration with in-country partners towards improving the utilization of existing data through conduct of secondary data analysis and integration of geographic mapping to inform, refine and monitor equity assessment and improvement activities;

c) Provide technical support to governments on conducting systematic review and update of strategies to reaching the unreached, especially the most disadvantaged through review of prioritization, microplanning process, service provision issues, defaulter tracing at the operational level for all immunization services;

d) Provide Subject Matter Expertise for development of e-learning for EPI staff in one of the following areas: (1) Communications, (2) Data management and Use, (3) Planning Immunization Services or (4) Vaccine Management and Logistics

Expected results: (measurable results)
a) Technical support provided to develop, refine and monitor equity and coverage improvement plans to reach the unimmunized.

b) Technical support provided to governments on improving the utilization of existing data through conduct of secondary data analysis and integration of geographic mapping to inform, refine and monitor equity assessment and improvement activities.

c) Technical support provided to governments on conducting systematic review and update of strategies to reaching the unreached, especially the most disadvantaged through review of prioritization, microplanning process, service provision issues, defaulter tracing at the operational level for all immunization services;

d) Monitoring plan for regular progress tracking and action;

e) Document the results of implementing a plan to reduce identified drivers of Immunization inequity in one country;

f) Completion of e-learning documents in any of the selected EPI areas(Communications, Data Management, Planning Immunization Services or Vaccine Management and Logistics)

Duration: Start date: 24 February 2014 End date: 19 December 2014

Timeframe: 30 to 60 days in 2014, as requested by the Immunization team for one or more of the following deliverables. Some traveling is anticipated.

Deliverables Duration
(Estimated # of days) Deadline
Technical support provided to countries to identify communities with most inequity in immunization coverage, the reasons for it and possible solutions and to develop equity plans to reach the unimmunized including a monitoring plan for progress tracking 30 days By Dec 2014
Write-up on the results of implementing activities to address immunization inequity 30 days By Dec 2014
Content developed for e-learning on one of the following subjects: (1) Communications, (2) Data management and Use, (3) Planning Immunization Services or (4) Vaccine Management and Logistics 30 days By Dec 2014
Trip Report provided after each country visit; and final summary report of activities undertaken. – By Dec 2014

Key competences, technical background, and experience required:
Advanced university degree (Medicine and Public Health)
At least ten years of experience of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in social development, management, monitoring and evaluation on immunization.
Relevance of technical expertise with regard to implementing programmatic goals, visions, positions, policies and strategies for sectoral programmes, with knowledge of UNICEF immunization programme guidelines and financial, supply and administrative rules an advantage.
Expert knowledge of at least one of the following fields: (1) Communications, (2) Data management and Use, (3) Planning Immunization Services or (4) Vaccine Management and Logistics
Demonstrated oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships with both headquarters and field staff.
Fluency in French or Portuguese an asset
General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

Legal Status:
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.

Obligations:
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.

Title rights:
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.

Travel:
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

Statement of good health:
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

Insurance:
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

Service incurred death, injury or illness:
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

Arbitration:
(a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
(b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

Penalties for Underperformance:
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

Termination of Contract:
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

Taxation:
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor

How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website  to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultant, Immunization Experts” by 18 February 2014, 5:00 pm EST. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above.
Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.