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For every child, the right toย Healthย
Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
South Sudan is currently facing a serious public health emergency due to the ongoing circulation of vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2). As of July 2025, 19 confirmed cVDPV2 cases have been reported across several states, including Unity, Upper Nile, Jonglei, and Central Equatoria. These cases represent continued transmission and highlight the urgent need for intensified outbreak response and surveillance efforts.
In response, the Ministry of Health, with support from GPEI partners, has conducted four rounds of outbreak response (OBR) campaigns using novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2). While these rounds have reached millions of children under five, gaps in coverage, supervision, and surveillance persist, particularly in hard-to-reach and conflict-affected counties.
One VDPV2 from an AFP case was confirmed from the lab on 7 July 2025 with a date of Onset of paralysis on 5 May 2025. Follow-up this confirm case, the MoH with support from GPEI partners have decided to conduct 2 OBR rounds to interrupt virus transmission, protect unvaccinated children, and prevent cross-border spread to neighboring countries.
The first round was originally scheduled from 26 to 29 August 2025. However, due to late fund allocation, the need for additional campaign preparations, and security considerations, this initial round will be postponed. The implementation is now planned for September 2025.
The second round is scheduled for October 2025. For counties experiencing security challenges, these campaigns will be conducted once the security situation improves.
UNICEF, as a core GPEI partner, is providing critical support for polio outbreak response operations across the country. With funding from Gavi and other partners, UNICEF is contributing to technical assistance, vaccine and cold chain management, service delivery coordination, and waste management all ten states. Given the scale of the response and the fragility of the health system, a dedicated technical consultant is required to strengthen surge capacity, coordinate response efforts, and improve the quality and impact of each campaign round.
The objective of this consultancy is to provide high-level technical support to the Ministry of Health and partners for the effective planning and implementation of additional polio outbreak response campaigns. The consultant will strengthen immunization systems by supporting microplanning, supply chain logistics, campaign monitoring, real-time data use, and waste management strategies. This role is essential to ensure that all children in targeted areas are reached during the upcoming rounds and that the campaigns are carried out with maximum effectiveness and accountability.
Main Duties and Responsibilities:
โข Support Outbreak Response Planning and Implementation: Lead national and sub-national planning for additional nOPV2 rounds, including readiness assessments, microplanning, vaccine forecasting, and campaign training.
โข Strengthen Monitoring and Real-Time Supervision: Support campaign supervision structures at state and county levels; conduct field visits to monitor campaign quality, data reporting, and adherence to standard operating procedures.
โข Support Cold Chain and Logistics Preparedness: Coordinate with UNICEFโs cold chain team and national vaccine stores to ensure the timely distribution, storage, and reverse logistics of nOPV2 supplies.
โข Coordinate with Key Stakeholders: Provide technical guidance to implementing partners (IPs), WHO, CORE Group, and BMGF-supported surge teams; ensure harmonized approaches aligned with GPEI standards.
โข Data and Accountability Systems Strengthening: Facilitate data triangulation between campaign reports, independent monitoring, and vaccine utilization to enhance decision-making and accountability.
โข Documentation and Reporting: Produce weekly progress updates and end-of-assignment reports for UNICEF, WHO, and the MoH; contribute to knowledge products on best practices and lessons learned from OBR implementation.
โข Ensure Proper Waste Management of Used nOPV2 Vials: Support implementation of national guidelines for safe handling, collection, and disposal of used vaccine vials and related medical waste. Monitor adherence to waste management protocols and ensure proper documentation and reverse logistics from health facilities to designated disposal sites.
Deliverables
โข Detailed county-level microplans developed for each targeted location, incorporating population data, vaccination targets, outreach strategies, and logistical requirements. These plans, along with comprehensive logistics distribution plans, were validated in collaboration with key stakeholders at national and subnational levels to ensure feasibility, accuracy, and alignment with campaign objectives.
โข Documented coordination records including meeting minutes from planning and review sessions, technical briefs outlining operational guidance, and regular partner coordination updates summarizing roles, responsibilities, and progress.
โข Cold chain capacity assessment report capturing detailed findings on vaccine storage infrastructure across all counties, accompanied by a record of maintenance and repair actions implemented nationwide. This includes replacement of faulty equipment, provision of spare parts, and training of cold chain technicians to maintain optimal storage conditions for vaccines.
โข Comprehensive distribution plan mapping vaccine and supply delivery routes from central storage to all campaign sites. The plan includes a confirmation log of delivery to each site, verified by signed receipts from receiving facilities. An updated inventory report documents vaccine quantities dispatched, received, used, and remaining, enabling accurate tracking and accountability.
โข Final consolidated report summarizing all aspects of the polio response, including campaign implementation strategies, coordination efforts, and system support provided. The report presents key achievements such as coverage rates and successful reach of high-risk populations, challenges encountered (e.g., accessibility and funding constraints), lessons learned from operational experiences, and practical recommendations to strengthen future malaria immunization programming and other public health campaigns.
All applications MUST be accompanied by detailed technical and financial proposals.
Minimum requirements:
Education:
A university degree is required in Pharmacy, Public Health, Epidemiology, Public Administration, Supply Chain Management, Logistics and Procurement, Engineering, or other relevant disciplines.Work Experience:
Work experience managing large-scale projects, working with governments, working in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating the immunization programme, and risk management, mitigation will be an asset.
Experience in Polio outbreak response and campaign coordination.
Experience in vaccine and cold chain equipment management.
Knowledge and experience with data collection, data management, analysis, and reporting are essential.
Have an organizational and managerial capacity.
Know how to maintain good relations with all partners.
Be a team player.
Ability to work in a multicultural environment.
Have the ability to communicate and train.
Language Requirements: - Fluency in English; knowledge of another UN language is an asset
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs 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 areโฆ
(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 othersย
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.ย 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 aย wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks andย 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.
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Remarks:ย ย
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. For this position, eligible and suitable female applicantsย are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally requiredย 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.ย
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Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEFโs 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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