National Immunization Consultant

Purpose:

The consultant will provide technical assistance to the MOH and EPI in-country to provide direct technical support to the Ethiopia MOH and EPI program to develop a switch application, plan, and implement a compulsory RVV switch at national level.

Place of Performance:          

The consultant will be based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with some local travel for meetings or technical activities. He/she will be based at MoH/Immunization service desk

Duration of contract: October 2023 – March 2024 with possibility of extension

SERVICES/SCOPE OF WORK: The Contractor shall use all reasonable efforts to perform the following services in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this agreement:

 A.      Background

 CHOICES (Choice Optimization for Immunization: Country Exercises in Sustainability) aims to engage countries currently or formerly eligible for Gavi support who may be interested in conducting optimization and prioritization exercises. CHOICES provides evidence-based decision-making support to countries in navigating the expanding vaccine options and optimizing products, schedules, and vial sizes for pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV), rotavirus vaccines, HPV vaccines, measles-containing vaccines (MCV, MR, MMR), and others.

CHOICES provides technical guidance to identify and address key barriers to successful vaccine switches or introductions. CHOICES supports redefining tools and guidance to support decision-making in countries currently or previously eligible for Gavi support, in partnership with the WHO CAPACITI initiative.

At the start of 2023, CHOICES and Gavi have been working with country health teams that are interested in introducing or switching PCV and/or rotavirus vaccines by the end of the year. Currently in Ethiopia, the MoH and EPI team are preparing for a compulsory  Rota vaccine product switch. CHOICES is accepting applications from immunization technical experts with either introduction or switch experience to engage in the country with members of the Ethiopia MOH and EPI team. The staffing of successful applicants are subject to donor approval.

The consultant will be supervised by the JSI Activity Manager.  If travel is required for work plan activities, JSI will cover travel and accommodation costs.

 B.      Objectives

The Immunization Technical Consultant (ITC) will provide in-country expertise in coordination with in-country and  remote support from the CHOICES Project team in support of Ethiopia’s compulsory Rotavirus vaccine switch. The ITC will work with country experts (MOH/EPIs and multi-agency partners) to support switch application, planning, implementation and monitoring  immunization system strengthening as part of routine delivery systems as well as within the broader context of disease prevention and control. In all activities, the ITC will also be called upon to work with technical staff from other international partner organizations in the country to collaborate on key policies and program strategies.

 C.      Activities:

The consultant will work in coordination with the CHOICES in-country and home office team, and provide technical assistance to the MOH/EPI in their preparation for a compulsory Rotavirus  switch. Technical assistance may include but is not limited to:

•  Provide support to EPI to present the Rotavirus vaccine switch information; Rotasil characteristic to NITAG to obtain necessary approvals.
• Support EPI in co facilitation of Rotavirus vaccine switch during national technical working group meetings at all stages of the switch, including a national planning meeting with all stakeholders.
• Support the MOH/EPI to navigate the Gavi processes for the Rotavirus switch grants including any additional form, revisions or applications required.
• Support development of vaccine switch implementation plan.
• Support development of training materials and monitoring tools, including update of indicators in the DHIS2.
• Co-facilitate trainings at regional and zonal level.,
• Support to the EPI and appropriate partners to redesign advocacy, community and social mobilization (ACSM) and create materials related to the Rotavirus vaccine switch process.
• Review Policies, guidelines and tools to incorporate Rotasil.
• Support guidance development for supportive supervision for the implementation and management of the guidelines for the Rotavirus vaccine switch.
• Support Catch up planning – of children who missed the first dose of Rotarix due to a delayed switch.
• Provide other support as identified for vaccine product switches within the scope of the CHOICES consortium.
• Identify and support the collection of information for process documentation as appropriate and in coordination with the CHOICES home office team.
• Routinely meet with CHOICES backstopping and technical team (including participation at bi-weekly team meetings) to provide optimal technical support for the development of the Rotavirus vaccine switch application.
• Contribution to project/donor reports as requested.

 D.     Deliverables

The consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables under the supervision of or to be submitted to the activity manager.

•  Participation in regular check-in meetings with CHOICES country and home office team.
• Contributions to the documentation of switch activities.
• Provided technical support to MoH during application of switch grant to GAVI, training material development, switch guideline, and other documents needed for switching of the rota vaccine
• Summary presentation or report on project activities, lessons learned, and key findings.

• A Master’s degree in Public Health or a related field. MD or other advanced degree a plus.
• At least 10 years of experience, with at least 3 years working on immunization, especially working directly on routine immunization program operations, at all levels of Ethiopia’s health system. Having experience in new vaccine introduction is added advantage
• Demonstrated ability to liaise productively with senior officials from the MoH/EPI and development partners as well as to interact effectively with health personnel at woreda, PHCU, and health post levels. Experience of provision of technical assistance is a plus
• Experience and full understanding of government health policies and guidelines for immunization and how to make them operational at field level.
• Proven experience in applying principles of adult education and behavior change in training, supervision and overall technical capacity-building of frontline health personnel and their supervisors; this includes development of training and supervision tools.
• Outstanding written and verbal communications skills in both Amharic and English.  Able to assemble, analyze, and present evidence to make a compelling case. Energetic, forward-thinking and creative with intellectual flexibility and depth and strong ethical reasoning.
• Strong organizational and management skills, ability to multi-task, and ability to communicate and negotiate competing demands on time from managers and work effectively with distributed teams.
• Ability to travel up to 30% time