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. In West and Central Africa, the COVID-19 pandemic response has affected immunization programme with millions of children missing out on critical vaccines. This has put some countries at risk of outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases such as measles. 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 incumbent of this position will work primarily with the Sub-Regional Covid-19 Vaccine Readiness and Delivery working group ‘’SACRED-WG’’ for WCAR, to provide oversight, coordination and facilitation for UNICEF WCARO support to in-country activities that will ensure successful roll out and optimal uptake of COVID-19 vaccine.
The work of this Sub Regional Core Coordination platform is 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.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work : Under the supervision of the Regional Health Advisor, the incumbent will primarily provide technical support to countries in WCAR for the COVID-19 vaccine introduction and lead coordination with the national and sub regional working groups.
SUMMARY OF KEY FUNCTIONS/ACCOUNTABILITIES :
- Facilitate and analyze the result of the Vaccine introduction readiness assessment using primarily the VIRAT (Vaccine Introduction and Readiness Assessment Tool) and identify the strengths and weaknesses to adequately import, store, deploy the vaccine and dispose the waste ;
- Prepare countries for the arrival of COVID-19 vaccines, cold chain equipment and bundled supplies for rapid delivery to the central vaccine store/Hub ;
- Support and monitor the implementation of National Deployment and Vaccination Plans (NDVP). This includes development and implementation of progress tracking tools and mechanisms ;
- Coordinate identification and documentation of enabling factors, good practices, challenges and lessons learnt from the vaccine deployment and actual implementation activities
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have:
Education : An advanced University Degree in one or more of the following areas : public health, supply chain/logistics management, Project management or equivalent area.
Work experience :
- At least 8 years’ experience of progressively responsible relevant work experience in Immunization and Supply Chain management; of which 4 years in developing countries ;
- Experience working in the UN system agency or organization is an asset ;
- Experience in emergency response is an asset ;
- Good analytical, oral, & written communication skills ;
- Fluency in both French and English is required.
For every Child, you demonstrate
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are :
Core Competencies :
- Nurtures, Leads and Manages People (2) ;
- Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (3) ;
- Works Collaboratively with others (3) ;
- Builds and Maintains Partnerships (3) ;
- Innovates and Embraces Change (3) ;
- Thinks and Acts Strategically (3) ;
- Drives to achieve impactful results (3) ;
- Manages ambiguity and complexity (3) ;
- Functional Competencies ;
- Analyzing (2) ;
- Applying technical expertise (2) ;
- Planning and Organizing (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.