Supply Chain Technical Assistant - Adamawa at Malaria Consortium

Reporting: Narrative Report to be submitted to the State Program Officer and signed off by the SPM.

Background

• The SARMAAN II Project, an acronym for Safety and Antimicrobial Resistance of Mass Administration of Azithromycin among Children 1-59 Months in Nigeria is a large-scale initiative aimed at evaluating the safety and impact of azithromycin mass drug administration (MDA) on antimicrobial resistance and child mortality. The project has both an intervention and a research component, which will be implemented across ten states in Nigeria: Sokoto, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Kaduna, Jigawa, Zamfara, Bauchi, Gombe and Adamawa. The research component will be led by the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in collaboration with the Federal and State Ministries of Health, national agencies such as Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), and international partners, including the University of Washington, University of California San Francisco, and the Institute for Disease Modeling. This research component will focus on monitoring drug safety (Adverse Drug Reactions), antimicrobial resistance, and mortality trends.
• The intervention component will however involve a bi-annual (every 6 months) mass administration of azithromycin to children aged 1–59 months and will be implemented by Malaria Consortium alongside other key partners, including Sightsavers, eHealth Africa, African Field Epidemiology Network (AFENET), Mission to Save the Helpless (MiTOSATH), Solina Centre for International Development and Research, World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF), and regulatory bodies such as NHREC and NAFDAC. Malaria Consortium will be implemented directly in Kaduna, Kebbi, Jigawa, Gombe and Adamawa states, while providing oversight to AFENET and MiTOSATH to implement in Katsina, Zamfara, Yobe and Bauchi States.
• The primary goal of SARMAAN II is to explore the potential of azithromycin in reducing under-five morbidity and mortality in Nigeria, where the under-five mortality rate (U5MR) currently stands at 105 deaths per 1,000 live births, and the infant mortality rate (IMR) at 60 deaths per 1,000 live births. By addressing the leading causes of child mortality including respiratory infections, diarrhea diseases, pneumonia, and malaria, the project aims to contribute to significant reductions in morbidity and hospitalization rates. To achieve measurable impact, the consortium is committed to reaching at least 80% coverage of eligible children across all implementing states during the MDA rounds.

Purpose of the Assignment

• To provide technical support on the supply chain management of Azithromycin Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the project States, to ensure rational and effective commodity management including Last mile distribution, reverse logistics, commodity tracking, security, accountability and end-to-end visibility across Adamawa and Gombe

Scope of work

• The Supply chain officer will be actively responsible for maintaining effective and efficient logistic management and inventory control of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the state level. S/he will be working directly within the State Logistic Management Coordinating Unit, NTD, SPHCDA and the Malaria Consortium office at the assigned state.

Key working relationships:

• The Supply Chain Officer will be a member of the programmed implementation team and report to programmatically to the State Program Manager and Technically to the Health Systems Country Supply Chain Manager in delivering programmed work plan.

Key accountabilities

• Ensuring that the supply chain activities meet the needs of the programmed in a timely manner and does so in accordance with donor requirements, MC policies and procedures.
• Carry out monthly stock status assessment of all AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the state central medical store and report on the assessment to higher levels flagging issues needing action
• Support AZM microplanning during which targets which form the basis for AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities quantification are determined
• Provide technical support to strengthen the procurement and supply chain management of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the assigned state
• Contribute to state level quantification of commodities as well as development of distribution plans using credible and verifiable data sources
• Support the management of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the assigned State Central Medical Stores (SCMS) and health facilities.
• Ensure the availability/access Pharmacovigilance forms during each implementation cycle.
• Provide guidance on reporting ADR using the Pharmacovigilance forms to the state teams
• Carrying out post-distribution gap analysis for all AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the assigned state
• Submit timely and accurate logistic report at the end of every AZM cycle and review all LMIS reports for AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities at the assigned state.
• Coordinate Reverse logistics for AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities from health facilities to the state central medical store after every cycle and at the end of the round
• Monitor the delivery of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities and escalate any discrepancies in the quantity of commodities delivered and any quality issues. This will be done at all the levels of the distribution of Commodities (SCMS, Health Facilities and Communities)
• Working with the state Logistic Management Coordination Unit and other relevant stakeholders on the management of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities and also serves as a link between Malaria Consortium and the state Logistic Management Coordinating Unit
• Work with the Monitoring and Evaluation team and reconcile logistic data with M&E data
• Maintaining and regularly updating a database of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities logistics data.
• Performs other duties as assigned to the SPM and/or the Supply Chain Specialist.
• Support collation and transmission of Pharma-covilance reports to NAFDAC and the state LMCU
• Coordinate micro-planning for the supply chain component of AZM implementation at the assigned state
• Facilitate routine monitoring and supportive supervisory visits to health facilities on effective supply chain management of AZM Mass Drug Administration (MDA) commodities.
• Coordinate review meetings for all LMIS AZM reports to provide feedback on the quality of LMIS reports
• Provide regular feedback to the country Supply Chain Manager in a timely manner
• Provides support to the State Program Manager on program implementation.

Person Specification
Qualifications and experience:
Essential:

• Proven previous experience in Supply Chain and Logistics Management of Malaria or HIV/AIDS commodities particularly in campaign and/or community level of implementation
• Have a Bachelor’s Degree in Pharmacy with at least 7 years’ post –qualification experience
• The person must be familiar with the National Supply Chain system of MoH and LMIS, including MCLS
• Experience working with and engaging stakeholders at the state and LGA level
• Ability to engage with stakeholders on the supply chain management of public health commodities
• Good interpersonal, communication and planning skills.

Desirable:

• Experience with good understanding of logistic management of public health commodities in Nigeria

Work-based skills and competencies
Essential:

• Strong analytical skills
• Proven writing skills in English
• Ability to work effectively and sensitively in developing countries
• A collaborative and flexible style, with a strong service mentality
• Negotiation, Facilitation and coordination skills.

Desirable:

• Demonstrable passion for Malaria Consortium’s mission; a strategic manager with integrity and a desire to work in a dynamic environment
• Excellent computer skills in Excel and knowledge and use of database tools.