Technical Assistance for Integrating Vitamin A Capsule Supply into Ethiopia’s National Pharmaceutical Supply Chain, Seconded to the Ministry of Health

• Duration: 12 months
• Expected Start Date: June 2026

1. Background

Ensuring the continuous availability of essential health commodities is fundamental for the successful implementation of life-saving interventions such as Vitamin A Supplementation (VAS), which contributes to reducing morbidity and mortality among children under five years of age.

In Ethiopia, the Ministry of Health (MoH) implements the VAS program as part of its broader child survival and nutrition strategies. To improve efficiency, sustainability, and government ownership, the MoH is working with partners to integrate VAC management into the IPLS managed by the Ethiopian Pharmaceutical Supply Service (EPSS).

Effective integration also requires strong coordination among national and regional stakeholders.

To support these efforts, as per the Ministry of Health’s Nutrition coordination office (MoH/NCO) request NI plans to hire technical assistance to the MoH who will work closely with the MoH/NCO, Pharmaceuticals and medical devices (MoH/PMD), EPSS, Nutrition International and UNICEF and other relevant stakeholders to facilitate the integration of VAC into the national supply chain system.

Integrating VACs into the national supply chain requires coordinated technical support to ensure alignment with existing systems, processes, and tools under the IPLS. The integration process involves several technical components including:

1. Forecasting and quantification: Annual national VAC supply forecasting and feeding the forecasted quantity into the global VAC supply system using NutriDash
2. VAC integrated and managed through IPLS: VAC included into the logistics management information systems, inventory management, distribution planning, and reporting mechanisms at different levels (EPSS, PMD and service delivery points)
3. VAC distribution aligned with program delivery strategies: Customizing logistics to VAS program delivery strategies (routine through primary care, Child Health Day activities, national and sub-national campaign). Orientation, socialization of logistics and supply management practices and monitoring and review of adoption of reporting, requesting and refilling of VAC using IPLS
4. RED capsule introduction: coordinate RED VAC introduction and national scaling up plan, support MoH design and implement learning pilot, support RHBs and EPSS to streamline RED capsule introduction activities with logistics and program management activities (supervision, review meeting, monitoring and orientation)

2. Objectives

General objectives: To provide technical assistance to the MoH and EPSS for an effective integration of VACs into the IPLS.

Specific objectives:

• Provide TA to MoH and EPSS in strengthening systems and processes related to forecasting, distribution, reporting and monitoring of VAC commodities.
• Support the planning, coordination and implementation of activities related to the integration of blue VAC into the national system, including orientation, monitoring and documentation of the integration process.
• Provide technical support for the planning and preparation of the introduction of the red VAC, including pilot planning, implementation arrangements, monitoring mechanisms and documentation of lessons learned.
• Support coordination and collaboration among key stakeholders to ensure effective planning, implementation and monitoring of VAC integration into IPLS and the introduction of red VACs.

3. Key duties and responsibilities

The TA will work under the guidance of MoH and Nutrition International to provide hands-on technical support to relevant MoH directorates including NCO, PMD as well as EPSS. The key duties and responsibilities include the following:

a. VAC integration into IPLS

• Support integration of blue and red VAC into IPLS and tools.
• Provide TA in the development and revision of guidelines, SoPs, job aids, orientation materials.
• Actively participate in the forecasting and quantification of blue VAC ensuring alignment with the Nutridash system.
• Support in the planning and facilitation of orientation sessions at national and sub-national levels.
• Facilitate and participate in supportive supervision and review meetings to Quality Assure VAC integration into the IPLS.
• Track the international procurement process of VAC including shipment timelines, expected arrival dates in collaboration with UNICEF.

b. Planning and introduction of red VAC

• Support the development of red VAC introduction plan (pilot and scale up).
• Lead the learning documentation and dissemination from red VAC pilot phase and prepare the national scale-up plan.
• Actively participate in the forecasting and quantification of red VAC ensuring alignment with the Nutridash system.
• Support the development and execution of communication materials, and orientation materials to red VAC.
• Support the preparation of red VAC distribution plan including starter stock based on context including delivery mechanisms.
• Support in the planning and facilitation of orientation sessions at national and sub-national levels.
• Facilitate and participate in supportive supervision and review meetings to Quality Assurance of red VAC introduction.

c. Coordination and technical facilitation

• Coordinate the planning and implementation monitoring of the VAC logistics integration transition strategy
• Provide TA in organizing and facilitating TAG meetings, stakeholder consultations and technical workshops related to VAC integration.
• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with MoH, EPSS and relevant partners through active sharing of information and knowledge to enhance effective VAC logistic management.

d. Deliverables and reporting

• Produce comprehensive monthly technical progress reports, highlighting achievements, bottlenecks, and risks encountered during the VAC supply chain integration to MoH/NCO and Nutrition International.
• Work with EPSS to produce monthly VAC stock status reports, including required KPI analysis on hubs stock out rates, RRF reporting compliance, and specific utilization rates for both blue and red capsules.
• Quarterly map and document lessons learned, good practices and recommendations to inform future program improvements and scale-up.
• Conduct bi-weekly progress update meeting with Nutrition International child survival Senior Program Officer and Deputy Country Director.
• The TA expected to provide additional support to MoH in the integration of nutrition commodity supply and logistics activities into IPLS aligning with VAC supply and logistics integration initiatives

4. Duration of assignment

• The contract duration will be for an initial period of twelve (12) months with the possibility of extension upon satisfactory performance. The TA will be expected to start work on June 1, 2026.

5. Reporting and duty station

• The TA will be seconded at Ministry of Health to support Nutrition Coordination and Pharmacutical and Medical Devise Lead Executive offices. The TA also expected to spend as much as 25 -30% her/his time supporting EPSS. He/she will directly report to the MoH NCO – Lead Executive Officer and Nutrition International Senior Program Officer (SPO) for child survival program, and he/she will submit monthly progress report.

6. Required Qualifications and Experience

6.1. Essential Technical Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in public health, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a closely related field.
• Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of comprehensive, Public health Nutrition program and supply chain management (SCM) at the national or sub-national (Regional/Zonal) level in Ethiopia.
• Supply Chain Management Expertise: Proven practical experience with the Ethiopian health commodity SCM ecosystem, including in-depth knowledge of the IPLS and the operations of the EPSS. Direct working knowledge of key supply chain tools such as the Report and Requisition Form (RRF) and Logistics Management Information Systems (LMIS) or Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems is highly desirable.
• National Nutrition program management: Proven and practical experience with the National Nutrition Program including in-depth knowledge of the Food and Nutrition Strategy and nationally prioritized nutrition flagship initiatives. Experience in developing program annual plan, program implementation and scaling up strategy, stakeholder coordination and implementation monitoring, coordination of social behavioral change interventions…

6.2. Required Competencies

• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret complex logistics data and calculate KPIs (e.g., stockout rates, consumption trends).
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and coordination skills to effectively liaise between government bodies (MoH/EPSS) and international partners (such as UNICEF, NI).
• Demonstrated ability to work independently, manage complex technical tasks, and meet strict deadlines.
• Experience in providing capacity building training.
• Computer literacy and competence, Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point and spreadsheets.
• Ability and experience with group communication applications – Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype, and other social platforms.
• Fluency in written and spoken English and Amharic is mandatory.