National Consultant to provide technical support for coordination of Immunisation Programme and Field Epidemiology Training Programme

To provide technical and coordination support across these two strategic areas—immunization strengthening and applied epidemiology training—to build a more resilient, data driven, and responsive public health system in Uzbekistan.

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For every child, the right to immunization! 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
Immunization remains the most cost-effective public health intervention to prevent, manage, and eradicate vaccine-preventable diseases, which continue to be major contributors to childhood morbidity and mortality globally. In line with this global priority, UNICEF provides extensive technical assistance to the Government of Uzbekistan to modernize and strengthen the national immunization programme.

This support encompasses a wide range of interventions, including modernization and expansion of the cold chain infrastructure; capacity building of Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) staff at national and subnational levels; digital transformation of immunization systems in collaboration with UzInfoCom (e.g., electronic immunization registries, vaccine tracking systems, and logistics management tools); institutionalization of continuous professional development for immunization personnel; strengthening of data quality and evidence-based decision-making; and enhancement of programme management, microplanning, and supportive supervision practices.

Another major direction of UNICEF’s technical assistance is its contribution to the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), delivered in partnership with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and funded by the U.S. Department of State. UNICEF’s role includes administrative and programmatic support for advanced-level FETP fellows studying at the Kazakhstan National Medical University, as well as logistical and operational support for frontline FETP training for epidemiologists from the Committee for Sanitary and Epidemiological Wellbeing and Public Health (Sanepidcom) and the Veterinary Committee (Vetcom). This involves coordination of training cohorts, facilitation of field assignments, strengthening mentorship systems, and ensuring alignment between FETP outputs and national surveillance priorities.

Overall, the assignment aims to provide technical and coordination support across these two strategic areas—immunization strengthening and applied epidemiology training—to build a more resilient, data-driven, and responsive public health system in Uzbekistan.

Scope of Work:
Under the supervision of the Chief of Child Health and Development, the consultant will provide technical and coordination support to advance the modernization of the national immunization programme and the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP). This includes contributing to the development, deployment and operationalization of key digital modules of the Immunization Programme Management Information System (such as the Electronic Immunisation Registry and the Vaccine Logistics Management Information System), organizing capacity-building activities, supportive supervision visits and hands-on training sessions for EPI staff at national and subnational levels, and supporting the institutionalization of continuous professional development across the programme. In parallel, the consultant will contribute to UNICEF’s role in the Field Epidemiology Training Programme implemented with CDC and funded by the U.S. Department of State, by providing administrative and operational support for advanced FETP fellows studying at the Kazakhstan National Medical University, coordinating frontline FETP training for epidemiologists from Sanepidcom and Vetcom, facilitating field assignments and mentorship, and ensuring that FETP activities remain aligned with national surveillance priorities and broader immunization strengthening efforts.

Objective/purpose of services:

• Coordinate the integration of existing electronic immunisation programme modules (EIR, VLMIS and related systems) with other components of the national Health Management Information System.
• Contribute to the development and operationalisation of the MOH’s policy documents regulating electronic immunisation systems and digital workflows.
• Coordinate supportive supervision visits and hands-on training activities for vaccinators, cold chain staff and immunisation managers at national and subnational levels to strengthen programme implementation.
• Contribute to the development, refinement and institutionalisation of training materials and continuous professional development modules for vaccinators and Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) staff.
• Prepare monthly national and regional vaccine stock reports for UNICEF’s Regional Office using data from the Vaccine Logistics Management Information System and MOH paper-based records.
• Liaise with national partners, including the Ministry of Health, SanEpidKom, VetCom, UzInfoCom, CDC and other stakeholders, to coordinate planning, implementation and monitoring of activities.
• Provide administrative and coordination support to the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (FETP), including advanced FETP fellows and frontline cohorts from SanEpidKom and VetCom.
• Facilitate field assignments, mentorship arrangements and alignment of FETP activities with national surveillance priorities and immunisation programme strengthening efforts.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline (days)

1. Develop a consultancy workplan articulating linkages with the national Health Management Information System to ensure synergies, as well as a draft consultancy report layout - Consultancy workplan - 2
2. Contribute to the training documents (agenda, modules, distribution materials) - Training materials improved - 15
3. Contribute to the development and operationalisation of MOH policy documents regulating electronic immunisation systems and digital workflows - Draft inputs, reviewed policy sections, consolidated feedback - 10
4. Coordinate supportive supervision visits and hands-on training for vaccinators, cold chain staff and immunisation managers in selected regions - Supervision and training reports - 30
5. Contribute to the reporting to partners/donors/UNICEF - Reports - 10
6. Assessing further needs and development of recommendations for sustainability - Lessons learned and recommendations in the reports/final report - 5
7. Prepare monthly vaccine stock reports based on VLMIS reports - Monthly stock reports - 15
8. Liaise with MOH, SanEpidKom, VetCom, UzInfoCom, CDC and other stakeholders on planning, implementation and monitoring of activities - Coordination notes, correspondence, stakeholder engagement summaries - 10
9. Provide administrative and coordination support to the Field Epidemiology Training Programme (advanced and frontline levels) - FETP coordination notes, training support documentation - 30
10. Facilitate field assignments, mentorship arrangements and alignment of FETP activities - Field assignment reports,
    mentorship tracking, technical inputs - 13

Total 140 days

Local travel is required. The consultant will be required to travel once a month (7 in total) to the fields to provide supportive supervision/Trip report along with supporting documents will be required after each journey.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University degree in Public Health and/or equivalent practical experience in the field
• Work Experience:
  •  At least 5 years of professional experience in public health, out of which three years should be in project management.
  •  Ability to translate complex ideas from various fields into unified, clear guidance.
  • Familiarity with Immunisation and Field Epidemiology.
• Language Requirements: Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English and Uzbek. Russian language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. 

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

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