Regional consultants on Cold Chain and Supply Logistics, Ukraine, 10,5 months (Remote)

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

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For every child, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference? 

Background: 

Immunization supply chain is the backbone of the immunization programme. An intact and responsive supply chain ensures the availability of the potent and safe vaccines for the vaccination sessions for the children and pregnant women. The cold chain infrastructure not only ensures the safety and potency of the vaccine but also expands the reach of the programme. Investments in the cold chain infrastructure and immunization supply chain are crucial for achieving the global and regional targets. 

The entry of the COVID-19 vaccines to respond to the pandemic and planned introduction of new vaccines in routine immunization overburdened the immunization supply chain, especially the cold chain infrastructure. Therefore, towards achieving high immunization coverage the need for a robust and responsive immunization supply chain equipped with standard cold chain equipment are important in helping Ukraine primarily to reaching children with potent lifesaving vaccines to protect them against vaccine preventable diseases as well as ensuring the availability of C19 vaccines. UNICEF, with the support of donors has updated and expanded the cold chain infrastructure in the country for ensuring the reach of the programme and reducing the “Zero Dose Children” and under vaccinated children in the country. 

Purpose of assignment:

UNICEF Ukraine Country Office is supporting the MoH in strengthening immunization supply chain with expanding the Cold Chain Infrastructure with PQS qualified cold chain equipment (CCE), ensuring better vaccine management. 

To ensure vaccines safety during storage, transportation and distribution, UNICEF is updating and expanding the cold chain infrastructure by increasing the storage capacity at national, regional and subregional levels, while also replacing the currently used domestic refrigerators for the storage of the vaccines with WHO prequalified equipment in 4,000 health care facilities. UNICEF CO is implementing the following components: 

• Procurement and delivery of CCE (WICRs/WIFRs, refrigerators, freezers, spare sets, 30-day temperature loggers, remote temperature monitoring system);
• In-country logistics;
• CCE installation and training;
• Inventory of the current situation on CCE with site readiness evaluation and implementation IGA platform as well as UNICEF Dashboard updating to ensure proper cold chain management;
• Capacity building activities including training on proper use of CCE (uploading of vaccine, unloading, transportation and temperature monitoring);
• Providing technical support to the programme managers at oblast, rayon, and facility levels;
• Development, support with implementing of SOPs on proper vaccine storage and management using novel CCE.

With the expanded support from the donors, there activity continues with procurement of more cold chain equipment, installation and capacity building of the staff concerned with vaccine and cold chain handling. The successful implementation of the additional scope of work requires the presence of the consultants for the identification and preparation of the site for cold chain installation, capacity building of the vaccine and cold chain handlers as well as updating the cold chain inventory, trouble shooting in case of any cold chain related issue as well as monitor the vaccine and cold chain related practices.

Scope of Work:

Keeping view the geographical spread and the workload, the programme has considered hiring three national consultants and assigning these consultants to the following regions: 

1. Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Zakarpattya, Volyn, Rivne, Khmelnytsky, Ternopil, Chernivtsi;
2. Kyiv region, Kyiv city, Chernihiv, Sumy, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, Poltava, Donetsk, Luhansk;
3. Dnipro, Zaporizhya, Odessa, Mykolaiv, Kirovograd, Kherson, Vinnytsya.

Under the general direction of the UNICEF country office and the PHC/MOH, the consultant will provide relevant technical support to their respective regions at the levels of primary health care facilities, primary health care centers and regional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 

• Regular monitoring and evaluation of cold chain infrastructure, including CCE capacity, dry stores, site readiness, transport/logistics and staff responsible for storage and transportation of vaccines. Providing timely reports on projects activities, gaps, and bottlenecks to be addressed.
• Technical consultation and other relevant support to the health facility staff in their respective regions regarding procured cold chain equipment including active and passive cooling equipment, temperature monitoring system, refrigerated vehicles for the transportation of vaccines and injection safety devices.
• Providing technical consultations to PHC/MoH/rCDC, relevant health care facilities, local authorities, counterparts in collaboration with UNICEF field offices, Ukraine CO, Supply Division concerning complaints, claims and other technical issues with procured CCE.
• Consulting and controlling the quality delivery of cold chain equipment (CCE) and other related equipment verifying the compliance and providing recommendations.
• Monitor and supervise the installation, handover, and commissioning of the CCE in accordance with the requirements and procedures set by the organization.
• Updating the CCE inventory and UNICEF CCE Dashboard on a regular basis and site readiness for CCE installation according to the requirements.
• Consult the local level cold stores by preparing recommendations based on the Effective Vaccine Management guidelines, as well as identifying gaps based on data and evidence for capacity building of staff on vaccine and cold chain management.
• Training on proper use of CCE (uploading of vaccine, unloading, vaccine placement in CCE, transportation, temperature monitoring).
• Monitoring visits to health care facilities and vaccination points, preparation reports on supplied equipment, knowledge and skills of trained personnel at using cold chain equipment and temperature monitoring devices, actions in emergency situations and providing on-the job training to the staff.
• Monthly reporting on the work done in accordance with the agreed workplan.

Work assignment overview:

Deliverable 

Deadline 

# of w/days 

A comprehensive inventory report and evaluation of CCE (Cold Chain Equipment), including a site readiness assessment for installation. 

Four detailed inventory and site readiness reports, including a list of current CCE, condition, and readiness for CCE installation based on predefined criteria. 

15-Aug-25 

35 

A monthly report on complaints, claims, and technical issues related to procured CCE. 

Ten reports, documenting the number and nature of technical issues, complaints, or claims, with a resolution timeline and outcomes. 

01-Sep-25 

35 

Reports on capacity-building activities for personnel responsible for CCE and immunization supply chain management at oblast, rayon, and facility levels. 

Four reports detailing the number of training sessions conducted, the number of personnel trained, and the evaluation scores from at least 90% of participants, aiming for a 15% improvement in knowledge and skills after each session. 

01-Dec-25 

24 

Reports from regular monitoring visits to assess health facilities’ readiness and adherence to CCE standards, regulations, and SOPs. 

Fifty-seven reports with findings from monitoring visits to at least 50% of health facilities in each region, outlining areas of compliance and non-compliance including vaccine availability, and specific recommendations for improvements, taking follow-up actions with timelines. 

20-Dec-25 

57 

Regular progress updates to UNICEF, detailing challenges and action points. 

Ten progress reports, highlighting key achievements, challenges, and at least 3 priority action points, including proposed solutions with deadlines. 

20-Dec-25 

21 

Regular reports on CCE installation progress, updated in the UNICEF CCE Dashboard. 

Ten progress reports, with updated data on CCE installations in the UNICEF CCE Dashboard, covering the number of installations completed and any challenges faced, ensuring 100% accuracy in data reporting, including complaints, claims, and technical issues. 

25-Dec-25 

23 

Documentation of the implementation of recommendations, regulations, tools, and SOPs for CCE and immunization supply chain management. 

Four reports documenting the implementation of at least 95% of recommendations, regulations, tools, and SOPs at oblast, rayon, and facility levels, with a clear action plan for any remaining tasks. 

25-Jun-25 

35 

A final consultancy report with comprehensive technical recommendations. 

One report at the end of the consultancy period, including at least 10 actionable technical recommendations, their impact on the cold chain system, and a detailed timeline for implementing each recommendation. 

31-Dec-25 

1 

Sub-total: 

231 

Travels *: 

• Different regions of Ukraine: 114 days (57 round trips).
• Before any field mission, Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments (SSAFE) and Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK) trainings must be completed. The 4-day training schedule must be agreed upon with the security team.

Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.

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

Education: A Bachelor’s degree in one or more of the following areas is preferred: refrigeration engineering, power engineering, or medicine/public health.

Professional experience:

• Minimum 3-year work experience in relevant work area, experience in managing public health programs and/or cold chain and vaccine management will be an asset.
• Knowledge of the rules and regulations of MOH of Ukraine in vaccine and cold chain management
• Knowledge of WHO/UNCIEF recommended vaccine and cold chain management practices and assessment tools will be an asset.
• Work experience in resource-limited settings, monitoring and evaluating supply chains, and risk management and mitigation will be an asset.
• Strong interpersonal communication and writing skills, with ability to lead/train a group of individuals and impart knowledge.
• Experience in conducting trainings, seminars, good trainer skills is required.

Languages: 

• English: Intermediate [B1];
• Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2].

Skills and competencies: 

• Product knowledge on cold chain equipment, new cold chain technologies and understanding of the principles of vaccine management, and reporting are essential. Knowledge of procurement processes and good distribution practice will be an asset.
• Skills in adult training methodology are strongly preferred.
• Technical skills.
• Working with People.
• Drive for results.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit here. 

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

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