National Cold Chain Support Contractor

1. Background

Since the emergence of COVID-19 virus (SARS-CoV-2) in Asia in December 2019, COVID-19 remains one of the most concerning pandemics across the globe. Lesotho is also one of the countries battling with the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the first case of COVID-19 that was reported on May 13, 2020, the virus has been spreading. By 26 August 2021, the country had reported a cumulative number of 14,395 positive cases and 403 deaths.

UNICEF has provided financial and technical support to the Government of Lesotho with the COVID-19 vaccines procurement and deployment, as well as vaccination rollout countrywide. Vaccination is ongoing in Berea, Butha Buthe, Leribe, Maseru, Mohale’s Hoek and Qacha’s Nek districts and approximately 226,765 people have been vaccinated as of 31 August 2021. 

 So far, Lesotho has received the following vaccines:

• 72,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine, through the COVAX facility, which were used between March and June to vaccinate health workers and people with comorobidities in Maseru District;
• 410,400 doses of J&J vaccines, donated by the US government and private sector, that started being administered since 2 August in districts hit by COVID19 outbreaks.
•   203,400 doses of Sinopharm arrived on 20 August, of which 3,400 doses have been allocated to the Chinese Embassy, and are stored in Mafeteng for the next phases of the vaccination roll out.

Additionally, there are 100,620 doses of Pfizer vaccines on the on the pipeline through the COVAX round 5 in the 4^th quarter of 2021 and over 1.3 million doses of J&J vaccines through the AU/AVAT, which will be deployed in batches in the coming months.  

The effective supply of immunization comodities  and cold chain management are critical for the successful introduction of new vaccines and vaccination roll out. The logistics, storage and transportation of vaccines require appropriate planning, technical expertise and coordination with all stakeholders from central to district and community levels.

For this purpose, UNICEF has provided technical support for the deployment of 174 units of cold chain equipment for 173 out of 216 health facilities, ensuring adequate cold chain capacity for both COVID19 vaccines and routine vaccination.

UNICEF is also seeking to recruit an experienced national individual contractor to provide technical support to the Ministry of Health in cold chain management during the COVID-19 vaccination roll out and strengthening routine immunization cold chain capacity.

2. Objective

The objective of this contractor is to support the Ministry of Health in planning, storing and deployment of  vaccines and immunization supplies and  managing cold chain equipment and processes required to ensure a successful COVID19 vaccination roll-out and EPI routine immunization.

3. Description of Assignment

 Under the general oversight of the Chief Child Survival and Development, direct supervision of the Cold Chain Officer and in close collaboration with Ministry of health the selected contractor will:

• Support cold chain logistics planning through coordination with EPI Team.
• Provide technical support on cold chain logistics arrangements, facilitating issue of cost-effective efficient customs clearance, inventory management and distribution of supplies and equipment.
• Provide technical support to the safe storage of immunization supplies and equipment awaiting distribution country-wide.
• Coordinate on a regular basis with EPI Team to ensure supplies and equipment are released to projects and to end users in a timely manner.
• Provide guidance on the  proper storage of vaccines and consumables at each level of supply chain and distribution based on the distribution plan.
• Support maintenance/update of inventory of vaccines and consumables at central store. Assist in preparing, updating regularly and maintaining cold chain equipment inventory
• Support MOH to implement the comprehensive improvement plan based on the Effective Vaccine Management Assessment report.
• Facilitate regular maintenance of the cold chain equipment to ensure that all functional EPI centres are equipped with WHO Prequalified cold chain equipment
• Support MoH to implement operational deployment plans for COVAX CCE and related documentation, including development of evaluation report  .
• Support strengthening of the national logistics working groups and facilitate monthly Immunization Supply Chain meetings with national and district officers.
• Based on the distribution strategy, map the potential fallback facilities in the country (especially at distrit level) with their respective cold chain storage (2-8C, -20C, -60/70C) and transportation capacity for vaccines and ancillary products. 
• Together with the EPI Team improve warehouse practices by facilitating implementaion SOPs for buildings and other infrastructure such as generators, air conditioners and Voltage stabilizers;
• Provide technical inputs to  the development/review of COVID19-appropriate standard operating procedures (SOPs), protocols, or guidelines for collection and disposal of medical waste, both hazardous and non-hazardous, to the relevant stakeholders.
• Help the EPI team identify/operationalize properly licensed waste management providers (especially for hazardous waste storage, transportation and disposal).
• Support regular vaccine stock management and reporting mechanisms for national and districts 

5. Deliverables

• Workplan with monitoring schedule, indicators and timeline for implementation and reporting
• Monthly reports indicating technical support provided to partners
• Monthly reports for capacity building related activites conducted and partnership created/strengthened
• Monthly reports for field monitoring activities conducted

6. Payment Schedule

Monthly payments will be made each month upon submission of a report and invoice, based on the pre-approved workplan deliverable. 

 

7. Qualification Requirements

1. Education 

• A University Degree in one or more of the following areas; Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Supply Chain Management, Cold Chain / Logistics or equivalent. 

2. Work experience 

• Minimum of two years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in Immunization, Logistics and Cold Chain management in a developing country is required. 
• Experience working in the UN system agency or organization is an asset.  
• Familiarity with emergency response is an asset. 
• Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural settings. 
• Fluency in English and Sesotho is required

3. Competencies  

• Core Values 
  • Commitment 
  • Diversity and Inclusion 
  • Integrity 
• Core Competencies 
  • Communication 
  • Drive for Results 
• Key Functional Competencies 
  • Planning and Organizing 
  • Adapting and responding to Change 

4. Languages 
   • Fluency in English and Sesotho is required.
   • Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships with both headquarters and field staff. 
   • Proficiency in MS Excel, PowerPoint, Word. 
5. Administrative Issues

• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
• The  contractor will work on their own computer(s), internet/data and materials in the execution of this assignment.
• The work of the contractor is office based; but is required to visit districts for supervision and monitoring purposes.
• The  contractor’s  payment is in monthly lump sum. Living  allowance will be paid for field trips, estimated at 5 working days per month. Field travel will be supported by UNICEF.
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
• Please also see UNICEF’s Standard Terms and Conditions attach
• Contractors are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• Contractors are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance. Medical/health insucrance should also cover COVID-19. Contractors who are required to travel beyond commuting distance to duty station(s) shall also certify that their medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. 

8. How To Apply

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on  https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Rates must be submitted in the local currency and include all expenses related to the assignment (e.g. consultancy fee, travels, living allowance for field trips only).

Submission of proposals

Interested persons will be required to submit the following documents:

1. A cover letter, CV and online consultants application form
2. Another letter, indicating monthly financial Proposal
3. Please note, offers without financial proposal will not be considered.
4. Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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.