Consultancy, Polio Outbreak Response Technical Lead, Luanda Angola

Job Number: 528089 | Vacancy Link

Locations: Africa: Angola

Work Type : Consultancy

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

Angola is facing several cVDPV (circulating Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus) outbreaks of type 2 since May 2019, the first in the Lunda Norte Province (Cambulo district) bordering the D.R. Congo’s Kasai province where cVDPV2 is also circulating in Kamonia district, and a second in Huila Province (Cuvango district). As of 12 September 2019, a total of twelve (12) cases have been confirmed, ten of them circulating, the latest eight outbreaks occurring in Xa-Muteba district (2) in Lunda Norte province, one in Saurimo district in Lunda Sul province, one in Amboim district and one in Cassongue district, both in Cuanza Sul province, one in Cuvango district, Huila province, one in Cuemba district, Bie Province, and one in Tchikala Tcholohanga district in Huambo Province.

Since the month of June 2019, the country has been organizing blockade vaccination campaigns around these outbreaks, using type 2 monovalent oral polio vaccine to contain the transmission of the vDPVD2 within the population. UNICEF has been in the forefront providing support to Government at national level in planning the respective responses, and at the provincial and district levels, in implementing the plans. As per global division of labour among polio eradication partners, UNICEF is responsible for overseeing and providing technical support in the areas of vaccine management including reverse logistics, as well as communication and social mobilization. To meet up with its global and country level commitments, UNICEF ran a human resource surge bringing on board one international vaccine/cold chain management consultant and seven national consultants. In the area of communication and social mobilization, three international consultants are on board, together with five national consultants. This surge personnel, together with UNICEF staff from both the child survival and Development (CSD) Section and the Communication for Development (C4D) Section have been working with Government staff at national and decentralized levels in the affected provinces and district, organizing and running the outbreak response vaccination campaigns.

Considering the complexity of the context, the increasing number of outbreaks and the number of actors from UNICEF in both areas of focus, it has become necessary to have a dedicated team on Polio with an experienced lead to oversee UNICEF’s contribution to the response

How can you make a difference?

The Outbreak Technical Lead is responsible for the overall management of the operational response to the poliovirus outbreak, working under the supervision of the Head of UNICEF office and in collaboration with health authorities and other partners.

Summary of assigned duties:

Support head of UNICEF country office with strategic and operational oversight of polio outbreak response operations, ensuring that they address the needs of the population and are aligned with the government/Ministry of Health (MOH) plans and strategies and the polio outbreak response SOPs.

Lead and guide the Country Office Team on outbreak response strategies and technical oversight of the response activities.

Foster close coordination with MOH, in-country health and other partners, and regional offices and HQs and assist in the organization of regular coordination meetings, teleconferences, and updates.

Work with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to develop a national outbreak response plan, including a budget, chronogram of activities, and human resources (HR) surge plan, periodically adjusting and adapting the plan, as needed.

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to establish outbreak response structures that include the four components of outbreak response: outbreak investigation, outbreak response immunization, strengthening AFP surveillance, and strengthening routine immunization.

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to produce updates of outbreak response activities (e.g., SITREPS, bulletins, and newsletters) for distribution to relevant partners.

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to organize periodic external outbreak response assessments.

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to document the closure of the outbreak.

Collaborate with MOH/WHO/UNICEF teams to assess the security situation in the geographic areas included in the response; as necessary, engage appropriate partners to discuss special strategies and resources for insecure areas.

Collaborate with the communications team to ensure the preparation of an overall outbreak response communication plan and the appropriate content of advocacy and messaging.

Payment terms:

The lump sum payment option will be applied and tied to the completion of tasks/activities (deliverables) on workplan agreed with Consultant, that meet UNICEF’s quality standards. Payment will be made at the end of each month upon receipt of the deliverables.

There will be no interim payments as all payments are linked to deliverables for each month. Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion of deliverables.

The final monthly fees will be negotiated by HR.

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

Advanced university degree in one or more of the disciplines relevant to the area of the expertise in Medicine or Public Health, Communication, Sociology.

At least 8 years of professional work experience at national and international levels in outbreak response, routine immunization, public health and other relevant programs.

Demonstrated experience providing technical assistance to governments on the implementation of outbreak responses (polio)

Demonstrated experience in leading multidisciplinary teams (communication and vaccine management) for mOPV2 outbreak responses

Emergency work experience is an asset.

Familiarity with the UN system and Polio Eradication efforts is desired

Willingness to immediately take up the assignment.

Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of Spanish, Italian is a strong asset

Interested consultants must indicate ability, availability and rate (monthly) to undertake the terms of reference.

Financial Proposals must be all-inclusive lump sum. Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The functional competencies required for this post are…

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Closing Date Fri Dec 06 2019 23:55:00 GMT+0100 (Afr. centrale Ouest)