Health Specialist (Cold Chain) at UNICEF

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

Programme development and planning

• Plan and provide technical support and guidance for the preparation, design and updating of the situation analysis to establish a comprehensive and updated strategic plan for development, design and management of immunization cold chain and supply chain related programmes.
• Consult and collaborate with colleagues and partners to provide technical and operational support on programme planning, management and implementation, and to ensure integration, coherence and harmonization of programmes/projects with other UNICEF sectors throughout all stages of programming processes.

Programme management, monitoring and delivery of results

• Lead and guide the Federal and States Health authorities to the preparation of the Situation Analysis for immunization cold chain and supply chain management programme development.
• Support preparation of iSCM programme work plans/rehabilitation plan/maintenance plan as required.
• Provide technical support to the EPI managers of national immunization programme and State managers to conduct capacity building of the EPI managers responsible for cold chain equipment rehabilitation, expansion, maintenance and logistics management.
• Guide and lead to conduct cold chain inventory updating, cold chain gap analysis of capacity needs, effective vaccine management (EVM) and supply chain analysis and management at national and state levels.
•  Conduct capacities on preventive and repair of cold chain equipment, (WIC, ILR, Freezer, solar refrigerators/ SDD, RTMD and voltage stabilizers). Provide technical support for the installation and commissioning of new CCE, its spare parts at each level.
• Provide technical support to the national immunization programme and NLWG to maintain an updated cold chain inventory and spare parts up to the last mile of the supply chain.
• Strategic leadership in expansion of the iSC system in Nigeria through availability of functioning cold chain equipment in 3 hubs and all levels of the immunization supply chain.

Advisory services and technical support

• Collaborate and consult with key government officials, NGO partners, UN system partners and other country office partners/donors on policies, strategies, best practices, and approaches on related issues to support immunization cold chain system development planning, management, implementation, and delivery of results.
• Participate in strategic programme discussions and planning to provide technical advice and to contribute to policy discussions and agenda setting to promote health and development issues especially in the areas of gender, emergency preparedness, maternal and neonatal health, and child survival and development.
• Participate in emergency preparedness initiatives for programme development and contingency planning and/or to respond to emergencies in country or where designated.
• Help to manage allocation and disbursement of programme funds, ensuring that funds are properly coordinated, monitored and liquidated.
• Takes appropriate actions to optimize use of programme funds. Ensure programme efficiency and delivery through transparent approach to programme planning, monitoring and evaluation.

Advocacy, networking and partnership building

• Build and sustain effective close working partnerships with health sector government counterparts, national stakeholders, as well as global partners, allies, donors, and academia.
• Through active networking, advocacy and effective communication, build capacity and exchange knowledge and expertise to facilitate the achievement of the iSC and cold chain system strengthening and programme goals.
• Prepare communication and information materials for CO programme advocacy to promote awareness, establish partnerships/alliances, and support fund raising for health programmes (iSC and cold chain rehabilitation, expansion and maintenance). Prepare donor reports and updates for the partners, government and within organization.

Programme monitoring and evaluation

• Undertakes field visits to monitor and assess iSCM & cold chain programme implementation and decides on required corrective action. Carry out a rigorous and transparent approach to evaluation and participate the major programme evaluation exercises in consultation with the Representative, the Operations Officer, the Evaluation Officer and others to improve efficiency and quality of programme delivery.
• Participate in annual sector review meetings with government counterparts and ensure the timely preparation of annual programme status reports.