Immunization Coordinator (Expert) UNV

Details

Mission and objectives

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child, in everything we do. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere. In all of its work, UNICEF takes a life-cycle based approach, recognizing the particular importance of early childhood development and adolescence. UNICEF programmes focus on the most disadvantaged children, including those living in fragile contexts, those with disabilities, those who are affected by rapid urbanization and those affected by environmental degradation. UNICEF was created with a distinct purpose in mind: to work with others to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. We advocate for measures to give children the best start in life, because proper care at the youngest age forms the strongest foundation for a person’s future. We promote girls’ education – ensuring that they complete primary education as a minimum – because it benefits all children, both girls and boys. Girls who are educated grow up to become better thinkers, better citizens, and better parents to their own children. We act so that all children are immunized against common childhood diseases, and are well nourished: no child should suffer or die from a preventable illness. We work to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS among young people because it is right to keep them from harm and enable them to protect others. We help children and families affected by HIV/AIDS to live their lives with dignity. We are UNICEF, the United Nations Children’s Fund.

Context

UNICEF initiated co-operation with Nepal in 1964. UNICEF/Nepal's country programme seeks to advance the respect, protection, and fulfilment of the human rights of children and women in Nepal. UNICEF develops a country strategy to address the key priority issues based on the organization's mandate. Subsequently, the programme of cooperation is jointly drafted and signed with the Host Government with indicative resource allocations which are submitted for approval to the UNICEF Executive Board. Based on these plans, sectoral programmes and projects are developed for the whole cycle (usually five years) and are further dis-aggregated into Annual Work Plans. Programmes and projects are developed within the framework of the national development plans plan and implemented in close collaboration with the Host Government. The National Immunization Programme (NIP) is categorized as a Priority 1 programme of the Government of Nepal and has significantly contributed to the reduction of under-five mortality. The Ministry of Health and Population and WHO/UNICEF JRF reports 2022 outline increasing trends in full immunization coverage as compared to previous years. There is a significant increase in full immunization coverage (MR 2nd dose) from 77% in 2020/21 to 92% in 2021/22. To support the subnational governments in improving its immunization programme performance, UNICEF through support from Gavi has established technical support Units (TSU) in four low-performing provinces since 2019. The Immunization Coordinator ‘UNV’s have been based in these units to support the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the immunization programme activities at the provincial, district, and local levels. Moreover, incremental support is to be provided in the introduction and roll-out of new vaccines.

Task description

Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Health Officers in UNICEF’s Field Offices and technical supervision from Child Health/Immunization Specialist in the Nepal UNICEF Country Office his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UNV Immunization Coordinator will: • Provide technical support in evidence-based planning and budgeting: -Work at each level to improve capacity for evidence-based planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of immunization/RMNCAH -Improve capacity of implementing partners in planning and resource allocation and resources leveraging for immunization/RMNCAH program. -Support to integrate and make linkages between the microplanning and full immunization guideline as well as with the local level planning and budgeting process • Strengthening Linkage: Work with Provincial Health/Service Directorate/Provincial Health Logistic Management Center, Health/Services Offices and Public Health Offices, and other social development sector units (Nutrition, WASH, ECD, Education, Adolescent Programming) at Province, district and Local level in strengthen and making a) cross-sectoral linkages and create synergies, b) linkages between various levels of health systems in the areas of technical support, referrals, supplies, supportive supervision, and reporting, etc. • Ensure effective communication, networking and working relationship with EDPs working in immunization /RMNCAH. • Oversight other health activities: The Immunization Coordinator ‘UNV’ must closely work and oversight other health activities such as RMNCAH and IMNCI being implemented in the provinces and local government units to enhance local capacity in resource mobilization, effective implementation and monitoring of plan activities. • Provide technical support in Advocacy and Social Mobilization: Provide technical support in designing and applying a strong contextual communication for social change strategy based on community dialogue with clear and substantive participation of various community groups, including increased participation of community volunteers and leaders and ensuring their commitment. • Provide technical support immunization quality mechanisms by: -Strengthening defaulter tracing mechanism and significantly reduce immunization dropout rate and zero dose cases. -Identify training needs and provide on job as well as well-organized training on vaccine and cold chain management, immunization in practice, injection safety and waste disposal and others. -Support provincial/district level training for health workers and other stakeholders • Efficient Use of Resources: Provide technical support to the manager and health workers on effective and efficient use of resource like cold chain, vaccine and other logistics, consumables, and non-consumable supplies and on how to control stock and timely distribution of supplies and equipment to end beneficiaries • Reporting: Provide technical support at all levels to improve recording and reporting of monthly, quarterly, and annual NIP performance and provide strong support for the improved HMIS reports at the primary health care centre and health post levels. • Compiles immunization related training and orientation materials and share useful and appropriate information to promote knowledge sharing with Provincial and Local Government. • Evidence Generation: Collect, compile, document and sharing case study, successful approaches, innovative work relevant to immunization program and sharing with supervisors, government partner and stakeholders. • Support monitoring by conducting regular monitoring focusing on: -Routine immunization and new vaccine introduction, -Intensification of Routine Immunization (IRI) Activities, -Monitor the timely and quality immunization sessions -UNICEF-supported other Child health and Primary Health Care related activities. • The Immunization Coordinator ‘UNV’ will closely work and need to coordinate with stakeholders within the Government (province and local government), relevant formal immunization committees and partners (WHO and Others) at central and field levels working on immunization program including the immunization supply chain management system at their level to complete the assignment. • Any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor. • Strengthen their knowledge and understanding of the concept of volunteerism by reading relevant UNV and external publications and take active part in UNV activities (for instance in events that mark International Volunteer Day); • Be acquainted with and build on traditional and/or local forms of volunteerism in the host country; • Provide annual and end of assignment self-reports on UN Volunteer actions, results and opportunities. • Contribute articles/write-ups on field experiences and submit them for UNV publications/websites, newsletters, press releases, etc.; • Assist with the UNV Buddy Programme for newly-arrived UN Volunteers; • Promote or advise local groups in the use of online volunteering or encourage relevant local individuals and organizations to use the UNV Online Volunteering service whenever technically possible. • As an active UNICEF team member, efficient, timely, responsive, client-friendly, and high-quality support rendered to UNICEF and its beneficiaries in the accomplishment of her/his functions, including: Submission of a situation analysis brief report including a final report on all activities (micro-planning and budgeting; social mobilization, advocacy, and communication; routine immunization quality service provision; immunization data trend analysis; and cold chain system performance and bottlenecks) which includes lesson learnt and best practices • Age, Gender and Diversity (AGD) perspective is systematically applied, integrated and documented in all activities throughout the assignment • A final statement of achievements towards volunteerism for peace and development during the assignment, such as reporting on the number of volunteers mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed