National-Level Covid 19 vaccination TA

LonAdd HR Consultancy Plc (www.lonadd.com) is a Recruitment & Outsourcing Company based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with branch offices in Dukem, Hawassa and Bahir Dar. We are looking to recruit a qualified applicant on behalf of our client.

Location        Addis Ababa (MoH)

No. required   - Three (#3)

Start Date -   Immediately available.

Background:

On 30th January 2020, WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), WHO’s highest level of urgency. On 11th March, WHO made the assessment that COVID-19 could be characterized as a Global pandemic. As of 16th May 2022, globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 have reached 521,366,398 and 6,288,682 confirmed deaths. As of 16th January 2022, a total of 11,700,000,000 vaccine doses have been administered worldwide.

The first COVID-19 case in Ethiopia was reported on 13th March 2020, subsequently the government declared a five-month state of emergency in April 2020. As of 16th May 2022, there have been 4,827,846 total laboratories tested, 470,949 confirmed cases and 7,510 deaths. 

Ethiopia has taken significant steps in the preparations for COVID-19 vaccine introduction, including formation of a planning/coordination structure, indicating participation in COVAX and requesting support from Gavi for COVID-19 vaccine introduction and cold chain supply. Since the launching on March 13, 2021, Ethiopia has administered more than 29 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine from this 24.5 million took at least one dose and 21 million are fully vaccinated. So far four types of COVID-19 vaccines (AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, Jansson and Pfizer) are in use to vaccinate targets age 12 years and above.

Ethiopia used fixed/ static, outreach, mobile, temporary fixed post (IDP, Refugee, industry parks, schools, different public institutions) service delivery strategy to create access for vaccination. Besides consecutive campaigns were planned and so far, round one and round 2 nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaigns were undertaken and tried to reach more targets in a short period of time. We are now in a preparation phase to conduct third round nationwide COVID-19 vaccination campaign tentatively on the first week of June.

Purpose of the position:

To provide technical assistance on the national COVID-19 vaccine Rollout and the overall coordination of the monitoring and evaluation process, advocacy communication and social mobilization activities, AEFI surveillance and monitoring, and the capacity building of regions regarding COVID-19 vaccine.

Specific Tasks:

Under the overall guidance and supervision of the Ministry MCH/ EPI unit, the technical assistant will support the national COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the planning & coordination, vaccine supply and distribution, preparation, training, monitoring, and evaluation of the implementation to access the vaccine for the targeted population group equitably including security compromised areas.

The duties and responsibilities will include.

• Provide technical support to the functions the ICC (Interagency Coordination Committee) and the NITAG (National Immunization Technical Advisory Group) as setting agendas, meeting procedures and ensure that decisions and action points are being followed-up and implemented.
• Provide technical support to the National Technical Working Group (NTWGs) for COVID-19 vaccine national Rollout and participate in the meeting regularly.
• Support regions to establish and/ or revitalize the command post (Regional COVID-19 task force and TWGs to support the service delivery, vaccine cold chain & logistics, demand generation and communication, targeting (Microplanning), COVID-19 surveillance, monitoring and evaluation of the coverage among at-risk groups and monitoring of vaccine impacts, safety of vaccine AEFI (Adverse Events following Immunization) detection and response.
• Support in the revision of National Deployment and vaccination Plan (NDVP) with input from relevant bodies (COVAX, ICC, NITAG and the TWGs. Liaise with the national immunization program, national Regulatory Authority, AEFI Committee to enrich the plan.
• Support EFDA to confirm to the Ministry the existence of any expedited regulatory pathway for approval of COVID-19 vaccines (i.e., emergency use authorization, exceptional approval for the upcoming other COVID-19 vaccines).
• Provide technical assistance at all levels to estimate potential numbers of target population that will be prioritized for access to vaccines stratified by target group ad geographic location.
• Provide technical assistance in the development and revision of training materials by adapting and translating training materials developed by WHO.
• Develop training plan that include key groups of participants, content topic areas, key training partners and training methods and conduct training vaccinators, supervisors and other who participate in the vaccination
• Develop and adapt existing surveillance and monitoring framework with a set of recommended indicators (Coverage, acceptability, disease surveillance etc,) for COVID-19 vaccine.
• Develop and adapt necessary monitoring tools (Vaccination cards/ certificate, facility-based register, tally sheets, vaccination reporting formats and analytical tools to monitor progress and coverage.
• Identify potential COVID-19 vaccine delivery strategies leveraging both existing vaccination platforms and non-vaccination delivery approaches to best reach identified target groups.
• Conduct readiness assessment on regular basis till the start of the COVAX vaccination and identify areas for support.
• Plan for handling AEFI if happens and make sure on the availability of AEFI kits and forms
• Capture and share lesson learned and good practices that can potentially leverage the routine immunization and outbreak response practices.
• Plan, and assist the integration of covid-19 vaccination program with the routine immunization activities and health system.
• Participate in COVAX post introduction evaluation exercise.
• Perform any other activity as required by national MCH Director/ EPI manager.
• Ensure the operationalization of COVID 19 precautions during immunization services provision.
• Facilitate and monitor timely budget utilization and liquidation of COVID-19 implementation budget.
• Frequent traveling to regions as necessary.
• Summit monthly report the immediate supervisor (EPI manager).
• Submit a detail final report at the end of the assignment.

Reporting:

The consultant will be directly recruited by third party HR firm, and reports to the respective FMoH EPI team desk lead and immunization specialist to Client country office.

Expected Deliverables:

• Submission of monthly progress reports
• Submission of meeting minutes from COVID-19 coordination forums ICC (Interagency Coordination Committee), the NITAG (National Immunization Technical Advisory Group); and COVID-19 regional Technical Working Group (TWGs), etc.)
• Regular update on functionality of sub-national (RHB and zonal) COVID-19 Taskforce and TWGs
• Submission of trainings, monitoring, and supervision reports
• Submission of documentation of the detailed process including lesson learned, best practices and human-interest stories (HIS)
• Submission of guidance/protocol for the rapid assessment to identify areas for support and improvement.
• Support Data collection, analysis, and written report
• Report key findings from the readiness assessment for introduction and vaccination campaigns.
• Share regular progress report of the sub-national (RHB and zonal) performance
• Develop & report COVID vaccination implementation report including AEFI documentation & report
• Annual Report & recommendation

Expected educational background and experience:

Essential: Medical science /Public Health or related degree/Diploma with specialized training (Masters) in public health.

Experience: Essential: Over 10 years’ experience in public health programs, preferably in Immunization and vaccine preventable disease surveillance. Prior experience of implementing or supporting routine immunization programs at least from woreda level to higher in a developing country. Previous experience in quantitative and qualitative assessments and data analysis is essential.

Core competencies:

• Communicating in a credible and effective way
• Fostering integration and teamwork
• Building and promoting partnership and multi-sectarianism
• Moving forward in changing environment
• Strong analytical skills
• Promotes knowledge sharing and learning culture in the office
• Actively works towards continuing personal learning and development in one or more practice areas,
• Focuses on impact and result for the client and responds positively to feedback
• Demonstrates openness to change and ability to manage complexities.
• Ability to work in multicultural and stressful situation.
• Ability to work in team and independently.
• Excellent language skill (spoken and written) in English.
• Excellent skills in basic Microsoft office.

Note:

• The consultants will be based at MoH level
• The consultant will not be provided lodging and/or meals
• The consultai1t will use his/her own materials, i.e., computer/laptop, phone etc.
• For the duty travel, the consultant will not be provided rented car by HR firm and DSA as per the guideline.
• The consultant will be paid monthly by HR firm upon completion of deliverables as indicated on this TOR and approved by the supervisor

How to Apply: - Interested applicants with the appropriate qualification and experience should submit their most recent and detailed CV, via email to “ recruitment@lonadd.com ” with the subject “National-Level Covid 19 vaccination TA” in the subject box.

Application Deadline:  February 6, 2025

 Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted.