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
The unfolding COVID-19 pandemic has caused unprecedented disruptions of international, regional and local supply chains, undermining national response efforts and putting a strain on other critical and routine health services. This multi-faceted crisis has critically exposed the structural and operational limitations of existing health systems and underlying supply chain models, and calls for increasing the investments aimed at supporting governments in their efforts to build and manage stronger supply chain systems that are able to leave no child behind, operate at minimum capacity and meet surging needs.
The COVAX Facility (COVID-19 vaccine) forms a key part of the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator, a global collaboration established to accelerate the development, production, and equitable access to COVID-19 tests, treatments, and vaccines. COVAX facility aims to accelerate the development and manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines and to guarantee fair and equitable access for every country.
A regional “COVID-19 Vaccine Readiness and Deployment Taskforce (ACREDT)” has been established and will work with the global COVID-19 Vaccine Country Readiness and Delivery Group (CRaD) and the African Sub-Regional COVID-19 vaccine Readiness and Delivery Teams (SACREDT) to facilitate the technical aspects of the COVID-19 vaccine readiness and delivery activities in the region.
The work of this Sub Regional Core Coordination Team will be organized through five technical working groups to focus on the following areas :
- Vaccine regulation and registration, and safety monitoring ;
- Country decision making, equitable vaccine service delivery and implementation ;
- Surveillance, data, monitoring & evaluation ;
- Demand, risk communication and community engagement ;
- Supply chain, logistics and vaccine forecasting.
Under the supervision of the Regional COVAX Coordinator, the incumbent of this position will work in the Supply chain, logistics and vaccine forecasting working group of the Sub-Regional Covid-19 Vaccine Readiness and Delivery working group ‘’SACRED-WG’’ for WCAR, which main responsibility is to ensure the rapid delivery of vaccine and associated supplies/equipment.
How can you make a difference?
PURPOSE OF THE TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT (TA) :
Under the supervision of the COVAX Country Support Coordinator, the incumbent will :
- Lead WCAR support to UNICEF country offices for COVAX cold chain / logistics and in-country supply chain readiness and support the implementation of COVAX supply chain related activities in WCAR as an active member of the Supply chain, logistics and vaccine forecasting working group and through national immunization logistics working groups ;
- Coordinate the WCARO COVAX Supply / Cold Chain Logistics, in coordination with all relevant internal and external stakeholders ;
- Ensure full buy in from all COs in the region on both Vaccine & Device Supply chain / Cold chain / In-country logistics readiness and implementation activities ;
- Share regular COVAX supply & logistics activities updates to the WCARO Health/immunization and Supply management ;
- Ensure that all supply chain challenges, and risks are shared with the management and adequate solution are implemented .
Key Deliverables :
- Responsible for facilitating the rapid delivery of vaccine and associated supplies/equipment to WCAR countries and their deployment to vaccination centers / target groups ;
- Conduct a supply chain assessment to identify the strengths and weaknesses to adequately store, deploy the vaccine and dispose the waste ;
- Enhance country Awareness and readiness on the COVID-19 vaccine deployment and the required supply chain & logistics interventions ;
- Contribute to develop an implementation & monitoring framework to guide countries on supply chain / cold chain and logistics matters and ensure close monitoring of the planning and the implementation phases ;
- Prepare Countries for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines and rapid delivery to the central vaccine store/Hub ;
- Prepare Countries for the arrival and rapid delivery of any bundled cold-chain equipment and devices ;
- Support the modelling / conception of deployment strategy from central level to the periphery, identify and fulfil the supply chain gaps ;
- Update guidance and tools (incl. waste collection and treatment) to support the adequate implementation of the COVID-19 vaccination strategy ;
- Support countries to ensure a close supervision & monitoring of supply chain & logistics interventions ;
- Identify and document enabling factors, challenges and lessons learnt from the vaccine deployment activities.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have :
- An Advanced University Degree in one or more of the following areas ; Supply Chain Management, Cold chain / Logistics or equivalent ;
- Minimum of five years of progressively responsible relevant work experience in Immunization logistics and Supply 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 ;
- Fluency in French and English is required.
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.
Core Competencies :
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (2) ;
- Works Collaboratively with others (2) ;
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (2) ;
- Innovates and Embraces Change (2) ;
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (2) ;
- Drives to achieve impactful results (2) ;
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (2).
Functional competencies :
- Leading and supervising ;
- Formulating strategies/concepts ;
- Analysing ;
- Relating and networking ;
- Deciding and initiating action ;
- Persuading and influencing.
To view our competency framework, please visit here.
Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.
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 :
- 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.