Technical Facilitator Immunization Supply Chain Consultant

Overview of position    

• Providing immunization services to children & others has been identified as one of the most cost effective development interventions, with both health & economic benefits. Nigeria’s Expanded Program on Immunization EPI has made significant efforts at ensuring increase in immunization coverage over the last three decades. However, there are gaps at national & sub national levels.
• To mitigate against iSC challenges in Nigeria, last mile vaccine delivery initiatives have been proposed or implemented including outsourcing, direct delivery in a few states, supply chain level skipping etc. all of these contributing to increased product availability, reduction in stock outs etc. 
• Nigeria’s direct Delivery of Routine Immunization Vaccines & other PHC commodities for Equity DRIVE initiative is designed to scale innovative direct delivery & similar supply chain interventions up to the last mile, prioritizing the most underserved & unreached populations. This will support Nigeria’s immunization program objective of increasing vaccines & other child health commodity availability for every child & others, reducing the time spent on logistics by health workers, reducing out of pocket expenses for logistics a disincentive for health workers & contributing to higher coverage & increasingly targeting & reaching underserved & zero dose populations.
• Therefore, one Technical Facilitator is required to support DRIVE implementation across selected states.

Role objectives    

• Facilitation of the implementation of DRIVE at both national & subnational level.
• Support the conduct of state engagement with the selected states to ensure delivery & achievement of the set DRIVE targets.
• Tracking the functionality of CCE at the service delivery level & providing support in establishment & the operations of an efficient system for CCE maintenance.
• Supporting the deployment of appropriate planning & data collection tools for DRIVE implementation in the states. 
• Support the state in tracking the distribution of all EPI vaccines to health facilities & in maintenance of records of utilization.
• Support the state in the planning & implementation of an efficient & effective waste collection & reverse logistics system for the state.
• Support the analysis of all data from vaccine storage facilities, the use of such data for action with provision of regular feedback to state & national level.
• Provide technical & administrative support in the management of the contracts of all vendors that may be engaged for the DRIVE implementation.
• Facilitate the implementation of innovative ways of vaccine delivery, including the engagement & management of other stakeholders such as CSOs etc.
• Review the temperature records for each distribution routes & delivery points & escalate accordingly. 
• Facilitate the development of detailed micro plans for commencement of DRIVE in assigned states. This will include supporting the states in:
• Identification of the target delivery sites.
• Efficient mapping of routes from state store to delivery sites.
• Quantification of commodities for delivery to sites.
• Scheduling of deliveries based on appropriate session planning etc.

Deliverables:

• Availability of report of state engagement meeting.
• Availability of detailed microplan towards commencement of DRIVE in assigned states.
• Weekly report of functionality status of CCE.
• Availability of tailored data collection tools for DRIVE implementation in the states. 
• Provision of detailed EPI vaccine distribution plan & its implementation.
• Provision of detailed waste management plan & its implementation.
• Weekly report of management of vendors’ contract.
• Weekly report / review of temperature records for each distribution routes & delivery points.
• Consultant must submit a detailed work plan to his / her supervisor at the beginning of the contract period for the entire contract period.  
• Supervisors will have the flexibility to review with the consultant as needed on a monthly or quarterly basis.  
• A monthly progress report should be provided by each consultant to their supervisor for payment of consultant’s fees.   
• A detailed assignment report will be required at the end of the current contract period. 

Project reporting    

• This role reports to the line manager,

Key competencies    

• Bachelor’s degree in basic sciences, health & allied / material management / engineering or equivalent minimal with a minimum of five years of progressively responsible work experience in supply chain management with emphasis on vaccine delivery systems, vaccine management & cold chain, monitoring or other relevant disciplines.
• Experience in public health data science a strong asset.
• Experience working with NLWG / SLGs & NPHCDA / SPHCMBs is an asset.
• Basic data management, interpretation & reporting skills are mandatory.
• Demonstrated expertise / skills in data analysis for immunization health commodities.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Proven ability to conceptualize, develop, plan & coordinate.
• Demonstrated experience with global health surveys & data validation / analysis.
• Logistics activities as well as to transfer knowledge & skills.
• Proficiency in computer applications including Excel & Power Point. 
• Good analytical & negotiating skills.
• Ability to work as a team member.