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For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

Purpose of the Assignment

Background

Tanzania is one of the few countries in Eastern and Southern Africa sub-region which has maintained immunization coverage above 90% for the past 10 years. This achievement has partly been attributed to a strong partnership that exists between the government and partners including UNICEF, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and WHO. Since the beginning of the immunization program in Tanzania, UNICEF has been providing technical and financial support especially in the areas of vaccines procurement and logistics, cold chain, immunization service delivery, communication and social mobilization.

In recent years, GAVI has become the major funder of Immunization and Vaccines Development (IVD) Program. GAVI is an international coalition of partners which includes national governments, international organizations such as UNICEF, WHO and the World Bank; philanthropic institutions, such as the Bill and Melinda Gates Children's Vaccine Program and the Rockefeller Foundation; the private sector, represented by the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations (IFPMA); research and public health institutions.

Since 2002 the country has been receiving support from GAVI to strengthen immunization service delivery. Specifically the country has received support for new vaccine introduction, injection safety and health system strengthening. As of 2016, GAVI had given Tanzania grants amounting to about US$ 258,493,880.

 In June 2017, a GAVI team visited UNICEF Tanzania Country Office to discuss the possibility of UNICEF to manage GAVI Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) grant on behalf of the Government of Tanzania following issues that came out from audit (Unsatisfactory vaccine and Financial Management, expenditure control, procurement and unsatisfactory fixed asset management ) which compelled GAVI to suspend sending HSS grant directly to the Government for an interim period while helping them to strengthen their systems. GAVI wants UNICEF to manage the remaining balance of the grant which amounts to about USD 8 million. UNICEF agreed to the request with agreement that part of the grant will be used to recruit two additional staff members in order to strengthen internal capacity. This TOR therefore is for a TA recruitment for a systems strengthening specialist which is one of the posts mentioned above.

Justification

For years UNICEF has been a dependable partner providing technical support to Ministry of Health’s Immunization and Vaccines Development (IVD) Program particularly in the areas of vaccines procurement and logistics, cold chain maintenance and expansion, advocacy, communication and social mobilization and immunization service delivery. Requirement for UNICEF support in 2017/18 is expected to increase due to the following reasons:

• GAVI has requested UNICEF to manage the HSS grant following issues that came out from audit which compelled GAVI to suspend sending HSS grant direct to the Government for an interim period while helping them to strengthen their systems. This will require close monitoring of activities implementation and financial accountability including timely liquidation of disbursed funds
• The government of Tanzania with support from UNICEF and other partners successfully applied to GAVI for Cold Chain Expansion Optimization Platform (CCEOP) grant. About 80% of this grant will be used for procurement of cold chain equipment through UNICEF Supply Division. An important part of this service is to conduct end user monitoring which will ensure that the supplied procured reach and benefit the intended beneficiaries.
• Since 2014 the government received support from GAVI to introduce Inactivated Polio Virus (IPV) vaccine. However, due to the global shortage of the vaccine introduction has been delayed and it has now been confirmed that vaccines will be available towards the end of 2017 and the country will be able to introduce IPV in the first quarter of 2018. Constant UNICEF support will be required during the preparations especially in ensuring timely delivery and distribution of the vaccine and capacity building to immunization managers and service providers.
• Tanzania is also due for Measles and Rubella campaign for under five children in the second half of 2018. Technical support will be required in the preparation, implementation and monitoring of the campaign in order to ensure good coverage.
  Currently UNICEF has only one immunization specialist who is responsible for all technical and program support. In order to effectively provide quality support and ensure efficient implementation of the planned activities, UNICEF need to strengthen its internal capacity by recruiting one additional staff to support immunization program.

Purpose

In light of the above background, UNICEF, with funding support from GAVI would like to recruit a full time Immunization systems strengthening specialist to provide technical and immunization logistics support to ensure effective and efficient implementation of activities under GAVI HSS grant which will be managed by UNICEF from October 2017 to December 2018, as well as support the existing immunization specialist in providing technical support.

Specific Tasks

The immunization systems strengthening specialist will support the available immunization specialist in providing technical oversight to immunization program with the following specific tasks:

• Participate in all immunization technical working group meetings and in absence of Immunization Specialist provide feedback to the team
• Regularly meet with IVD program team to plan for GAVI HSS  intervention and come up with monitoring schedule
• Participate in the discussions to develop Annual Work plan (AWP) with National and sub-national partners and ensure immunization health systems strengthening is properly addressed and agree on the monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Regularly participate in implementation of GAVI HSS supported activities to ensure value for money and financial accountability
• Conduct end user monitoring for GAVI HSS supplies procured by UNICEF and prepare reports
• Participate in preparations for the GAVI Joint Appraisal and provide technical development and incorporation of Targeted
• Country Assistance (TCA) plans to the JA document

Expected Deliverables

Expected outcome:

Ensure that GAVI HSS grant is managed based on HACT principles and that there is increased visibility of UNICEF role in supporting immunization program; and technical assistance provided is appreciated by GAVI and all partners.

Specific deliverables:

• In collaboration with IVD develop a roadmap for the implementation of HSS grant activities and share with all partners involved
• Funding requests from the government are received and processed on a timely manner and fund disbursement to respective regions/zones is done and notification sent
• Meetings with IVD technical working group are documented and reports are shared with supervisor and other members of the team.
• Travel plan for HSS activities implementation and end user monitoring developed and adhered to
• Timely submission of GAVI HSS monitoring report and liquidation documents from partners received on time
• Participate in the discussions related to CCEOP implementation and provide technical assistance in management of the supply chain and end user monitoring
• Plan to  address immunization system bottlenecks is developed and is part of the  overall IPV introduction and MR campaign plans

Competencies

1. Core values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

      2. Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (II)
• Drive for results (II)

      3. Functional Competencies

• Leading and supervising (I)
• Formulating strategies and concepts (II)
• Analyzing (III)
• Relating and networking (II)
• Deciding and initiating action (II)
• Applying technical expertise (III)

Reporting

The incumbent will receive monthly payments based on the accomplishment of aforementioned mentioned deliverables. He/She will also discuss and sign specific Performance Evaluation Review (PER) with his supervisor. The incumbent will also report on the progress of the GAVI HSS implementation and lead preparation and submission of narrative reports to the Government who will in turn upload the report in the portal.

Desired Qualifications

Qualification and Experience:

• University degree with  health background (MD, nursing or other relevant health discipline) plus a master’s, MSc, PhD in public health or related field
• A minimum of 5-10 years of progressively responsible experience in managing immunization  or other MNCH programs
• Proven expertise in managing, monitoring and evaluation of health programs is an added advantage
• Proven working relations with National, district & sub-district structures

Competencies:

• Strong analytical skills
• Knowledge of the Tanzanian mainland and Zanzibar context and EPI program
• Excellent facilitation skills, negotiation skills and oral and written communication skills;
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.