Immunization/Strategy development Specialist

BACKGROUND

Following the “Global Vaccine Action Plan (GVAP)’, “Regional framework for implementing of the global vaccine action plan in the Western Pacific” and National Health Strategic Plan (NHSP 2016-2020), Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) developed and implemented the third Comprehensive Multi-Year Plan (cMYP 2016-2020) for the National Immunization Programme, which already ended.

The global vaccination agenda now entered a new decade with the “Immunization Agenda 2030 – A Global Strategy to Leave No One Behind” (IA2030) replacing the Global Vaccination Action Plan (GVAP) to address key challenges in immunization over the next decade. In this regard “Regional Strategic Framework for Vaccine-Preventable Diseases and Immunization in the Western Pacific 2021-2030” already developed and endorsed by the Member States in 2020.

Based on the need to adapt, WHO and partners working in immunization programme have collaborated and developed the new guidance document, the “National Immunization Strategy” to provide an update of the cMYP guidance for countries to:

• • Make strategic choices to develop the national immunization strategy that aligns with IA2030, is linked to the national health strategy and contains a vision to protect all children and adults against vaccine preventable diseases, that includes the introduction of new vaccines and changes in service delivery strategies;
• • Support immunization programme to secure its appropriate place in the national political dialogue on the health sector strategy and primary health care; and
• • Help to make more strategic use of domestic resources and external partners’ investments for the national immunization programme and related functions.

Therefore, the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) has taken over the cMYP and three countries have already been developing NIS.

National Immunization Programme of Ministry of Health has decided to develop the NIS following

“Regional framework for implementing of the global vaccine action plan in the Western Pacific” and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance zero dose strategy.

World has been facing unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic. Lessons learnt from ongoing pandemic, preparedness and response to future pandemic should need to be addressed and strategies should be developed in the NIS.  

NIS 2021-2025 should be both credible and achievable for MoH and beyond the ministries under the Government of Cambodia. The document will be used for the strategic directions of the immunization programme and allowed to concentrate and refer to programmatic and financial credibility. Therefore, the NIS 2021-2025 in Cambodia should be closely linked to existing national health strategic plan, explore potential synergies with other primary healthcare programmes, consider operational and fiscal realities, and provide a realistic prognosis for financial sustainability.

 

PURPOSE/SPECIFIC OBJECTIVE OF THE ACTIVITY

The WHO Country Office, Cambodia is seeking technical assistance to facilitate development of National Immunization Strategy (NIS) 2021-2025 in Cambodia with following activities:

• • To prepare protocol, workplan, TORs for NIS Steering committee and NIS Core Planning Team and stakeholder’s engagement plan;
• • To conduct situation analysis of current performances of the National Immunization Programme (NIP) and identify key issues and challenges to be addressed, including the impact of COVID-19 and how to maintain essential health services;
• • To facilitate the development of priorities, objectives and strategies based on the situation analysis through dialogue and agreement with NIP, MoH and developing partners;
• • To support in development of NIS costing approach according to strategies identified, define resources and sustainable budget; and
• • To set indicators and milestones to track the progress of priorities, objectives and strategies.

 

DESCRIPTION OF ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT

Output 1

Preparation of protocol and stakeholders’ engagement plan

Deliverables:

• • Well-developed protocol and detailed workplan for all activities necessary to the NIS 2021-2025 development, considering COVID-19 situation
• • TORs for a NIS Steering Committee and a NIS Core Planning Team and activate it
• • Draft of engagement plan to initiate and maintain all relevant stakeholders’ collaboration and coordination throughout development of NIS 2021-2025

Output 2

Situation analysis

Deliverables:

• • Comprehensive situation analysis of the current performances of NIP including the impact of COVID-19
• • All existing documents identified and collected (plans, reports, reviews, assessments, surveys and so on) related to immunization and health system, including budgeting and financing
• • Summary of essential information including all data, results, analysed and identified major issues and challenges regarding national immunization programme
• • Clear background information is ready to help and lead the next stage of planning and bringing the process of strategic planning and budgeting into the in-country team

Output3

Development of priorities, objectives and strategies

Deliverables:

• • Identify key relevant health sectors’ capacities for health system, implementation process and human resources, policies and regulations that exist or can feasibly be developed within the strategic period of NIS 2021-2025
• • Realistic and achievable priorities and objectives to improve performances of the national immunization program over the next 5 years, which are guided and aligned with the National Health Plan objectives and strategies, other health sector and “Regional framework for implementing of the global vaccine action plan in the Western Pacific”
• • Feasible strategies to achieve priorities and objectives in NIS 2021-2025 with clear identification and agreement of roles and responsibilities across several and multilevel government sectors and partners to deliver the strategies

Output 4

Costing, budgeting and financing

Deliverables

• • Support to prepare credible estimates costs for the NIS strategies identified using both the new global NIS costing approach and tool, and validated standard local costs and costing principles
• • Define sustainable and credible budget for the development of partners in their collaborations with the government and other stakeholders in Cambodia

Output 5

M&E framework

Deliverables

• • Set indicators and milestones to track the progress of objectives and strategies.

Output 6

Submit the NIS 2021-2025 document as part of mission report

Deliverables:

• • NIS 2021-2025 document to submit to WHO Country Office by end of mission.

 

METHODS TO CARRY OUT THE ACTIVITY

A consultant will be working both remotely and in country based in Phnom Penh and work under the overall guidance of the Technical Officer, Expanded Programme on Immunization of WHO Country Office, Cambodia. She/he will be working and in collaboration with Ministry of Health and National Immunization Programme.

 

QUALIFICATIONS & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION

Essential: Postgraduate degree in public health from a recognized university and/or training/s in public health at postgraduate degree level or its equivalent is essential

Desirable: Training in EPI

 

EXPERIENCE

Essential: At least 15 years experiences in the field of immunization programme and/or other public health programmes in country level is essential.

Desirable: Working experiences in WHO or UNICEF and developing strategies

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS & KNOWLEDGE

Sound knowledge in the development of strategic document of immunization and vaccine preventable disease surveillance programme. Initiative and adaptability to work in developing country. Ability to work harmoniously as a member of a team, adapt to diverse educational and cultural backgrounds and maintain a high standard of personal conduct. 

 

LANGUAGES

Excellent knowledge of spoken and written English. 

 

COMPETENCIES

1. Producing results.
2. Fostering integration and teamwork.
3. Communicating in a credible and effective way
4. Respecting and promoting individual and cultural difference

 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• • Visit to provinces/ODs/HCs if requires
• • Duration of contract is for 3 months

 

APPLICATIONS

Qualified and interested specialists should submit their CV and Expression of Interest {cover letter} to the Supply Officer through WP RO UNGM at < wproungm@who.int > by 5 June 2021. 

The cover letter should outline how their experience and qualifications make them a suitable candidate for this position and should include their proposed daily consultancy fee and availability.

Please use Tender Notice No. 129360 as subject to all submission. Only successful candidates will be contacted.