Job Description

Posted on February 11, 2022

In consultation with the MOH EPI, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance and all EPI partners, the consultant will provide technical assistance and facilitate the development of the Gavi full portfolio proposal in accordance with requirements of Gavi and rules and regulations of the Zambian MOH. The consultant will facilitate workshops, working to gain consensus amongst government and partner organisations to develop the country’s strategy five-year strategy. The consultant will work closely with all relevant stakeholders; conduct a desk review and analyse EPI data; compile the required data, documents, and reports for the FPP; and ensure all timelines are met. The consultant will ensure the FPP submission is aligned with the Gavi Alliance’s 2021-25 5.0 strategy and all Gavi requirements.
The consultant will work with the MOH EPI team and partners to develop the new EPI strategy working to gain consensus, manage stakeholder and ultimately to develop a new EPI comprehensive multi-year plan (cMYP); a Theory of Change for Gavi support, including goals, objectives, activities, and accompanying request for financing; the country’s HSS request; TCA, and any vaccine introductions or campaigns during the period.
Deliverables and timelines:
The consultancy will be managed through an output-based approach listed below.
Work-plan and Desk review of EPI and EPI performance (10%):

Develop a work-plan and Gantt chart for completing the FPP by April 2022, including the desk review, stakeholder meetings and consultation, and finalisation and submission of all FPP documents.
Conduct a review of EPI performance including analysis of vaccination coverage and equity in services and immunisation outcomes. Identify lessons learnt, best practices, programme risks, and bottlenecks for effective service delivery. Analyse the current EPI situation to understand gaps and areas of low coverage and inequity, as well as the solutions needed to address these, including analysis of programmatic risks.
Outputs:
1) Work-plan and Gantt chart
2) Theory of Change and supporting narrative

Strategy development & consensus building (20%)

Lead an iterative consensus-building process with EPI and its stakeholders to guide EPI strategy development. Ensure government ownership and accountability of the FPP process and in the development of all related documents. Promote a systematic and evidence-based situation analysis and facilitate translation of the findings into a concrete, realistic and achievable EPI and FPP strategy which includes the development of the Theory of Change and narrative and cMYP.
Outputs:
1) Stakeholders workshop reports

FPP documents and grant proposal development (60%)

Facilitate the translation of the strategy for quality and timely completion of GAVIs FPP process and document development, in the correct Gavi template formats, including the costed workplan, the current vaccine portfolio, new vaccine support, and the Monitoring & Learning Plan as evidenced by the stakeholders workshop reports.
Outputs:
1) cMYP
2) Gavi support detail
a. Costed workplan for HSS, TCA, and vaccine support
b. Current vaccine portfolio
c. New vaccine support requests
d. Monitoring & Learning Plan
3) Budget

Immunisation financing and analysis (10%)

Support an annual EPI budgeting exercise which results in an updated and comprehensive estimate of resource needs versus available resources. Conduct assessment and analysis of the adequacy of EPI funding, including a mapping of donors. Conduct a bottleneck analysis to identify bottlenecks in the disbursement of resources at national and sub-national levels and geographic areas. Identify and develop measures to address identified bottlenecks.
Outputs:
1) Immunisation financing report

Work relationships and reporting:
The consultant will be embedded within the MoH EPI team but will also receive guidance from CIDRZ. The consultant is expected to work independently and take end-to-end responsibility for delivering the activities and achieving the objectives in the contract. S/he will actively facilitate coordination between EPI and immunisation partners and stakeholders in and outside of the country.
Required expertise and qualifications

Master’s Degree in Public Health, Development Studies, Health Management or related field.
At least 10 years practical experience in the health sector with health systems strengthening and analysis.
Demonstrated ability in strategic planning, effective proposal writing and reporting.
Broad technical knowledge and skills in EPI with in-depth experience in EPI implementation or the provision of technical support to national immunisation programmes.
Strong stakeholder management, consensus building and facilitation skills
Excellent communication, writing and budget development skills.
Ability to work independently and to deliver targets on time.
Preferred knowledge/experience of Gavi processes, requirements, and application forms.

Suitably qualified candidates are invited to apply; however, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Please send application letter quoting Reference Number above, relevant academic and professional certificates, and detailed CV with day-time telephone number(s) to:
CIDRZ Human Resources Director, P. O. Box 34681, LUSAKA, via email: [email protected]