Covid-19 and RI vaccine supply chain management Technical Assistance (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 candidate on behalf of our client.

Location   Adama and Kombolcha  

No. Required – 2 (Two)

Start date – as soon as possible 

Background and Justification

The partnership between the MasterCard Foundation and the Africa CDC, known as Saving Lives and Livelihoods (SLL), has been established to facilitate the acquisition of 60 million COVID-19 vaccines and aid in their distribution to millions of people throughout Africa. Additionally, the partnership aims to lay the foundation for vaccine manufacturing in Africa by focusing on the development of human capital and strengthening the Africa CDC.

To move forward with the SLL Program, Implementing Partners prepared for collaborative micro -planning with Member States Ministry of health, which is an essential step in the pre-implementation process. The SLL projects, which aim to enhance the COVID-19 vaccination program by strengthening the EPI program, are being implemented in cooperation with the implementing partners and regional health bureaus. The national immunization program is closely monitoring the progress of these projects.

Accordingly, Client has been sub-granted the responsibility of procuring and managing the logistics of the COVID- 19 vaccines at the country level. According to the micro-plan, activities have been carried out to procure cold chain equipment and handle in-country logistics. As part of the efforts to strengthen in-country logistics, Vaccine logistic Technical Assistants (TAs) are to be hired and deployed to EPSS Hubs.

The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia has successfully launched the COVID-19 vaccine rollout on March 13, 2021, prioritizing healthcare workers, support staff, and vulnerable groups. Various strategies, such as fixed/static, outreach, mobile, and temporary fixed post services, have been employed to ensure widespread access to vaccination. The country has conducted four nationwide vaccination campaigns with the aim of vaccinating as many people as possible in a short period of time.

As of July 2023, about 54,206,986 individuals have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, which is about 60% of the target. The country’s target is to vaccinate 70% of the total population by the end of 2023.

However, inadequate stock management can lead to negative consequences, including increased costs, inequities, reduced demand, and difficulties in reaching underserved populations. The Client and WHO Joint Reporting Form (JRF) analysis indicates that 46% of developing countries experienced service interruptions due to stock outs in 2019, an increase from 30% in 2014. Timely and equitable immunization services are crucial for long-term health and economic development, and effective vaccine stock management plays a crucial role in achieving these objectives. It ensures a consistent supply of life-saving vaccines, even in remote areas, helps meet coverage targets, and ensures that no individual is left without access to vaccines. Moreover, different vaccines have varying technology platforms, safety profiles, and cold chain requirements. These factors affect their storage, distribution, logistics data visibility, and use at national, sub-national, and service delivery levels.

To address challenges related to vaccine stock management using the grant from SLL project, the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with Client Ethiopia Country Office, is seeking 11.5 months of technical assistance to strengthen the Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS) immunization supply chain activities. This assistance aims to integrate COVID-19 vaccines with routine services in the future, ensuring a reliable vaccine supply for health facilities at each EPSS Hub. It also involves coordinating and monitoring vaccine logistics management effectively and ensuring that health facilities have the necessary cold chain equipment for storing and distributing vaccines at the sub-national and woreda level. Ultimately, the goal is to prevent the transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases within the community.

Purpose

The main goal of this consultancy is to offer technical support regarding the EPSS vaccine and cold chain management, which includes assistance in the future integrating COVID-19 vaccines into routine immunization activities. The consultancy aims to provide guidance on various aspects such as vaccine logistics stock management, cold chain management, capacity building for vaccine supply chain management, and overall monitoring and evaluation of activities related to immunization logistics and supplies at EPSS Hus and its catchment health facilities. To support the coordination of immunization supply chain (iSC) main activities, including the integration of COVID-19 vaccines, by offering technical assistance for the EPSS sub-national Hubs. The support encompasses activities like Vaccine logistics and cold chain management, capacity building activities for vaccine supply chain management, as well as the overall monitoring and evaluation of the vaccine and related logistics and supplies involved in the COVID-19 vaccination integration.

Specific Tasks

With the overall direction and supervision of the respective EPSS Hub manager, Warehouse, and inventory management (WIM) team lead, and technical support from the immunization officer of Client Ethiopia’s Health Section, the consultant will assume the responsibility of coordinating the technical working group for vaccine logistics at subnational hubs. The primary objective will be to enhance the efficiency of the immunization supply chain and ensure the improved quality and availability of vaccines.

Key responsibilities of the consultant include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Provide technical support to regional vaccine logistics Technical Working Groups (TWGs) by sharing agendas, regularly participate in meetings and take minutes and facilitating the implementation of decisions and action points.

• Ensure effective vaccine cold chain management through coordination with regional EPSS hubs to the lower levels.

• Assist EPSS WIM in managing vaccine arrivals, storage, temperature monitoring, and control during storage and distribution, redistribution, and vaccine accountability.

• Support EPSS Hub in adopting national manuals, guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), Terms of Reference (ToRs), and training materials related to immunization supply, cold chain management, and waste disposal.

• Provide technical assistance at the Hub and lower levels to estimate and quantify the required vaccines and supplies based on the program’s target population, stratified by target group and geographic location.

• Facilitate the integration of COVID-19 related supplies into the routine Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) supply and logistics system, following the national EPI programmatic guide and logistics system.

• Support capacity building activities by facilitating training for the immunization supply chain workforce, including coordinators, storekeepers, fleet managers, and immunization personnel at regional and sub- regional levels.

• Conduct regular supply readiness assessments for the ongoing COVID-19 vaccination rollout and identify areas requiring support.

• Plan for AEFI incidents handling, ensuring the availability of AEFI supplies and monitoring tools.

• Support and advocate for the economic use of vaccines, reducing vaccine wastage, and identifying and addressing discrepancies between consumption and actual service data.

• Participate in the planning and monitoring of vaccine distribution and logistics management in the EPSS Hub, including monitoring pipeline supply and vaccine availability.

• Support vaccine receiving, distribution, and data triangulation of stock, consumption, and coverage at all levels, considering data use barriers and implementing mitigation strategies.

• Facilitate and ensure the visibility of third-level stock data using newly established and existing tools such as Google sheet, and mBrana.

• Support EPSS hub to conduct VRF data quality analysis and provide regular feedback to districts and Direct delivery health facilities.

• Exercise logistics data triangulation using administrative and other program data sources, provide feedback for the concerned bodies.

• Update Cold Chain Equipment (CCE) inventories quarterly using the CCEI database, and document and follow-up on CCE maintenance and waste management plans.

• Develop and review distribution plans, routes, and transportation arrangements for vaccine supply and logistics at the sub-national levels.

• Support Regional Health Bureaus (RHBs), zonal health departments, and Woreda Health offices in managing vaccines during campaign implementation.

• Gather information about the immunization supply chain to assess strengths and weaknesses and provide recommendations for reinforcement to managers.

• Assess dry storage and cold chain capacity at all levels to identify supply and logistics gaps related to the characteristics of the vaccine and take appropriate measures to address them.

• Submit monthly reports to the EPSS Hubs manager or Hub’s WIM process owner, and a detailed final report at the end of the assignment.

• Plan, receive, store, and monitor immunization related logistics, including waste management, following manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Follow and coordinate new initiatives in iSCM like EVM 2.0, Temperature Monitoring Study, Vaccine Wastage study, DRIVE, etc.

• Perform any other activities related to the assigned post as required by the EPSS Hub manager or Hub’s WIM process owner.

Reporting

• The consultant will be directly recruited by third party HR contractor and will report to the EPSS Hub manager or WIM team leader in close collaboration with Client ECO Immunization officer.

Expected Deliverables and Timeline

• Monthly performance report with detailed vaccine logistics and CCE management activities conducted, including achievement, timeline, challenges, and way forward.
• Updated CCE inventories (using the CCEI database), documented and follow-up maintenance activities, quantified spare parts required.
• Regular summary report on opened and unopened vaccine vial wastage dataand feedback provided for HFs
• Quality Woreda and HF level vaccines and supplies stock data reported timely (Using Google sheets and digital tools)
• Remote Temperature monitoring report from health facilities summarized and timely reported
• Meeting minutes of the regional vaccine Logistics TWG meetings agendas
• Detail training report on training to immunization supply chain workforce at regional and sub-regional levels.
• Vaccine consumption and service level data triangulation conducted, and well- developed action plan containing the identified root causes of discrepancies and recommendations to the regional EPI team
• Compiled EVM status result of the Woredas and EPSS Hubs in the region with well-developed improvement plan
• Regional vaccine logistics and cold chain component readiness assessment status
• Submission of documentation of the COVID-19 vaccine supply management and integration process including lesson learned, good practices and human- interest stories

Expected background and Experience.

The consultant must meet the following criteria:

• University degree in Pharmacy with advanced degree in Supply chain management or public health, or other relevant fields
• Minimum of three years of relevant health supply chain (preferably in immunization supply chain) in the public health sector.
• Capacity in designing, planning, monitoring, evaluation, training, and skills-transfer of participatory governance in immunization supply chain interventions.
• Proven ability to work effectively with government and multi-stakeholders.
• Professional experience with Client or other partners working in immunization.
• Capacity in documentation of best practices and lessons learned in iSCM interventions.

Language skills: Fluent oral and written communication skill in both Amharic and English. Knowledge of the relevant local language/s would be an asset.

Other Skills: Computer literacy with proficient in use of Microsoft Office applications; other data collection tools like EVM2.0, ODK, mBrana, Dagu, Google Sheet, CCE data base etc.

Suitable candidate:

• Excellent facilitation, coordination, organizational and analytical skills.
• Ability to write in a clear and concise manner and to present information in relevant formats.
• Ability to manage and analyze basic data in Excel and produce charts/graphs.
• Basic familiarity with Client and other bilateral agencies work in support of immunization programs and implementation and their practices and procedures.
• Strong interpersonal skills and work effectively in a team at all levels.

Desirable: Previous experience working with Client or International agencies. Familiarity or experience with immunization supply chain management will be an asset.

• The consultant will not be provided with lodging and/or meals.
• The consultant will work from their assigned EPSS Hubs.
• The consultant should use his/her own materials, i.e., a PC, mobile phone, internet, printer, etc.
• The consultant will be paid monthly upon completion of deliverables as indicated on this TOR and approved by the supervisor monthly through the third-party HR firm.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• Third-party HR firm will manage all the administrative issues and aspects based on the HR’ policies and procedures.
• All remuneration must be within the contract agreement through the third-party HR firm.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both third-party HR firm and the consultant.
• Travel will be facilitated after travel requests approved by the consultant’s supervisor and managed by the third-party HR firm.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the Client budget.

How To Apply

Interested applicants with the appropriate qualifications and experience should submit their most recent and detailed CV only, via email to recruitment@lonadd.com , by putting Application for ‘’Covid-19 and RI vaccine supply chain management Technical Assistance (TA) and Location you are applied‘’ in the subject box.

Only Shortlisted Candidates will be contacted

Application Deadline: May 30, 2025