Immunization Specialist (EPI)

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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.

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Job Description

Immunization Specialist (EPI) is accountable for professional leadership in and contribution to the development, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and administration of the Immunization programme in conjunction with Child Survival and Development, Maternal and Child Health, Health and Nutrition components within the country programme, to achieve the UNICEF's immunization plus goals and objectives for the country.

Provide technical assistance to Government and partners in achieving universal immunization coverage with quality vaccination program with particular attention to Immunization supply, cold chain and institutional strengthening for cold chain and vaccine management in the country.

Accountable for ensuring the UNICEF Immunization programme promotes gender equality, with an emphasis on gender disaggregation, gender disparity identification and gender mainstreaming.

Job Responsibilities

Within the delegated authority and under the given organizational set-up, the incumbent may be assigned the primary, shared, or contributory accountabilities for all or part of the following areas of major duties and key end-results.

Timely sectoral analysis (immunization), input, support and coordination contribute to the Situation Analysis with consistent integration of sex disaggregated data and its periodic update for effective project planning, development and management.

• Contributes towards the preparation of the Situation Analysis by compiling, analyzing and evaluating information and providing the technical input.
• Ensures the preparation of the Situation Analysis relative to Immunization (EPI) supply chain interventions in the country and its periodic update. Prepares sectoral input to the Country Programme Document, and all related documents (e.g., Plan of Operations, Project Plans of Action, Country Programme Summary Sheet, Programme Summary Sheet) of the Immunization programme.

Quality contributions are made to the development and implementation of the Immunization strategies and approaches through participation and collaboration with internal and external partners.

• Collaborates with other UNICEF sectors, particularly Health, Nutrition, HIV and programme communication to ensure integration of the Immunization programme with other sectors.
• Participates with UNICEF, Government, non-government organizations (NGOs) and other partners in the development of the immunization strategies and approaches. Ensures achievement of strategic results in line with agreed Annual and Country Programme objectives and adopts corrective action to meet programme/project objectives.
• Contributes to the identification of new approaches for improving programme delivery with emphasis on project management, evaluation, sustainability of intervention and community participation based on Human Rights framework and cross sector approach to programming and Community Capacity Development.

Work plan and objectives are strategically established, technical support is effectively provided, and planned results are timely delivered through exercise of strong technical leadership.

• As Immunization Specialist, exercises technical leadership for, and participates in, the development of the results-based sectoral work plan and technical decisions as well as for administration, implementation, monitoring and follow-up of sectoral project activity, consistent with the defined project strategies and approaches. Ensures objectives and targets are timely met and achieved, through full coordination between activities, by leading and supporting a team of professional and support staff.
• Meets with national and international agencies overseeing the management of programmes/projects. Participates in meetings with ministries responsible for programme/project review, and follows up on implementation of recommendations and agreements, and integration of gender mainstreaming across sectors.

Project implementation progress is monitored and evaluated for adjustment, acceleration and improvement of program delivery and sustainability. Gender/sex disaggregated data and inputs relevant to the Immunization Programme provided.

• Undertakes field visits to monitor programmes, as well as participates in periodic programme reviews with government counterparts and other partners. Identifies necessary action for programme adjustments. Provides technical advice and assistance to government officials and implementing partners in the planning and management of the Immunization programme and ensure sustainability of interventions.

Technical support is provided to government and NGOs at all stages of the programme cooperation, including capacity building of government personnel and beneficiaries.

• Provides technical support to government and NGOs at the national and provincial levels in the planning, development and implementation stages of the programmes/projects. Identifies training needs; plans, organizes and conducts training and orientation activities for government personnel and beneficiaries, for the purpose of capacity building, sustainability of programme/projects and promotion/expansion of coverage of services.

Technical support in strengthening of cold chain and vaccine management system under immunization program

• Provide leadership support in coordination with national and state government for strengthening of cold chain management. Plan for Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) assessments and development of its improvement plan. Develop strategic plans for capacity building of frontline workforce, manager and other stakeholder on vaccine management. Support in planning and implementation of supply side interventions related to GAVI health system strengthening project.

The capacities of Country Office staff are strengthened through effective capacity building programme in the development, implementation and management of the Immunization Programme.

• Plans and organizes a staff training/development programme to upgrade the capacity of the Country Office staff in the programme development, implementation and management of the Immunization Programme. Conducts relevant orientation, workshop, training and staff learning/development activities.

UNICEF and Government accountability is ensured for supply and non-supply assistance and disbursement of programme funds for the sector.

• Coordinates with Operations and Supply staff on supply and non-supply assistance activities ensuring UNICEF and Government partner accountability. Certifies disbursements of funds, ensuring those activities are within established plans of action and programme budget allotments. Monitors the overall allocation and disbursement of programme funds, making sure that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated. Submits financial status reports to management in compliance with the regulations and guidelines.

Strengthening of cold chain and vaccine management resource centres by providing leadership, coordination with national and state government

• Coordinates with NIHFW, Government of Maharashtra and government of India to provide technical support for planning, implementation, and monitoring of activities of the resource centres. Validates proposals and program budgets for the two centres, certifies disbursement of funds and ensures liquidation with monitoring and quality.

Effective vaccine management assessments and development of its improvement plan

• Coordinates with the Government of India to plan the schedule of EVM assessments at national and state levels. Coordinates and provides technical support to NCCVMRC for planning and conducting the EVM assessments. Provides technical support to relevant Field Offices for developing comprehensive improvement plans and follow up on implementation.

Supply interventions related to GAVI health system strengthening project

• Provides technical support to field offices for implementation of GAVI-HSS2 interventions. Coordinates with the Government of India to plan and implement national level GAVI-HSS2 interventions.

Performance assessment of capacity building interventions

• Maintains a close working relationship with the two national resource centres to monitor the completeness and quality of capacity building interventions at national and state levels. Coordinates and supports the development of regular updates for the Government of India and donors.

Effective partnership and collaboration achieved and maintained for advocacy, technical cooperation, programme coordination, information sharing and knowledge networking.

• Coordinates activities and exchanges information and knowledge with other programmes to contribute to achievement of overall country programme objectives. Participates in establishing effective monitoring, knowledge database/network and reporting systems to ensure the availability of current and accurate programme information/data, and contributes to the development of communication materials and strategies to support advocacy and community participation for the Immunization Programme.
• Maintains close working relationships to establish partnership and collaboration with external counterparts, including those of the UN and national partners, in order to improve the ability to collect and disseminate relevant data, exchange information on programme/project development and implementation. Ensures exchange of knowledge, information, experience and lessons learned.

The most relevant and strategic information is provided to support the Immunization Programme by the effective implementation of the monitoring system.

• In collaboration with monitoring and evaluation and program communication colleagues, conducts accurate and timely monitoring and data collection, and supports an integrated monitoring system.
• Participates in major evaluation exercises, programme mid-term review, annual sector review and preview meetings. Analyses and evaluates data to ensure achievement of objectives and recommends corrective measures as appropriate.
• Ensures the accurate and timely input of project information in the monitoring system, and issues status reports for monitoring and evaluation purposes.

All required programme reports are timely prepared in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures.

• Ensures the timely preparation of annual sector status reports in compliance with the established guidelines and procedures. Participates in the preparation of all programme reports for management, Board, donors, budget reviews, programme analysis, and annual reports.

Emergency preparedness is maintained, and in emergencies, emergency responses with effective coordination are provided.

• Collaborates in forming emergency preparedness plan relating to the areas of responsibility. In case of emergency, participates in monitoring and assessing the nature and extent of the emergency in the assigned area. Coordinates and provides assistance to the Country Office in identifying where support is required in terms of immediate response as well as long-term strategy and plan.

Other assigned duties and responsibilities are effectively performed.

Performs and delivers additional duties and services assigned by the supervisor.

Education Qualification/Required Skills & Experience

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Paediatric Health, Child Development, Child Health, Nutrition, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Social Policy, Social Development, Community Development, or other relevant disciplines.
• Five years of professional work experience at the national and international levels in planning, programming, implementation monitoring and evaluation of Immunization programme including supply chain / Health programme is required. Professional work experience in a technical expert position related to child survival & health care is desirable. Field work experience is desirable.
• Background/familiarity with International organizations, knowledge of latest theories, principles, methods and technology in Routine Immunization, Cold Chain and Logistics is desirable.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is required.
• Knowledge of local working language of the duty station is an asset.

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