UNDP Jobs - 62358- Project Officer - Operations, GAVI Health System S

Project Officer - Operations, GAVI Health System Strengthening Project - (Open to Indian Nationals Only)

Location :

New Delhi, INDIA

Type of Contract :

Service Contract

Starting Date :

Application Deadline :

20-Dec-15 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

SB-4

Duration of Initial Contract :

One Year Initially

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

Routine immunisation (RI) against vaccine preventable diseases (e.g. measles, polio, TB, tetanus, diphtheria, and whooping cough) is one of the most cost effective interventions for reducing childhood illness and mortality. Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) is an ambitious programme of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) that aims to reduce morbidity and mortality due to vaccine preventable diseases (VPD). Joint Review Missions and Common Review Missions organized by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on a regular basis) have noted that whilst UIP performance in India has improved overtime, there still remain a number of key constraints impacting immunization coverage in the country. Further, there are significant inequities in vaccination coverage in different states based on various factors related to individual (gender, birth order), family area (area of residence, wealth, and parental education), demography (religion, caste) and the society (access to health care, community literacy level) characteristics.

Some of the main constraints currently preventing India from achieving a quality immunization programme with universally high coverage rates relate to Cold Chain and Vaccine Logistics Management. There is limited cold chain infrastructure and capacity in many states – even for routine UIP vaccines. Systematic efforts to identify gaps and address issues in cold chain and VLM have been conducted in recent years. Key constraints identified include: inadequate and poor infrastructure, HR issues including technical capacities; weak monitoring and MIS issues; and Vaccine management. These constraints have led to high breakdown rate of equipment, overstocking and stock outs, inadequate monitoring and supervision, poor management thus hampering improved vaccine coverage.

The GAVI Alliance-funded Health System Strengthening (HSS) programme is one of the efforts of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to improve the quality and level of immunization coverage in India. UNDP under the GAVI HSS grant 2014-2016 will address some of the above mentioned issues by the development of an integrated and innovative solution that aims to provide real time information of vaccines stocks at the various level of the Routine Immunization Programme as well as have real time information on the temperature at the various levels of storage in twelve States across the country. Moreover, UNDP will strengthen the evidence base for improved policy-making on programmatic areas through a well developed and implemented national M&E plan and research framework.

For the specific purpose above UNDP intends to recruit a Project Officer to be based at New Delhi. The position will require extensive travel to the designated districts.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Project Officer - Operations, will work under the direct supervison of Senior National Project Manager and be responsible for delivering on results of the project.

Programme Planning and Implementation

Provides advice and support to the national and State implementation teams of UNDP in development and phased implementation of the Electronic Vaccine Intelligence Network (eVIN) that includes vaccine logistics and cold chain management on one single information system platform across 12 Project implementing states. This activity will involve a systematic and phased scale up of a system for SMS-enabled real time Management Information system (MIS) for vaccine logistics management (VLM).

Support State Governments:

Support and facilitate the UNDP work in the implementing states by establishing linkages with the State Mission Directors and State Immunization Officers and other relevant officials. Also identify gaps and challenges in the states that could affect the roll out of eVIN there and provide solutions for the same.

Building Partnerships:

Partners with the state and district level health vaccine structures to assess and understand the capacity needs and support required for the effective and timely implementation of the eVIN in select states. This activity will involve working closely with Central and State Level Health officials, coordinating with the GAVI- HSS partners namely UNICEF and WHO and other development partners working on immunization.

Capacity Building and technical assistance for Government:

Assists national and state level government to identify capacity-building needs on eVIN and undertake capacity-building activities. This will include development of training modules for different levels of health professionals and field-level functionaries, facilitate learning exchanges as well as policy influencing and providing technical expertise as required.

Monitoring and Evaluation:

Facilitates the review of the system and capacities relating to the delivery of eVIN in conjunction with State rural health mission. This will include undertaking field visits to monitor the implementation of the system and providing technical inputs to address gaps and bottlenecks. Documentation to the implementation process and analytical learnings from the implementation to feedback into the effective scale up in all the districts of Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.

Report Writing:

Prepares periodic status reports, annual reports, case studies, etc. in a qualitative and timely manner.

Competencies

Corporate Competencies:

Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
Integrity and Confidentiality.

Functional Competencies:

Identifies problems and proposes solutions;
Generates new ideas and approaches, researches best practices and proposes new, more effective ways of doing things;
Should have analytical, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills;
Demonstrates ability to conceptualize, innovate, plan and execute ideas, as well as to impart knowledge and teach skills;
Ability to manage stakeholder relationships, perform status reporting, and managing / resolving project issues;
Ability to prioritize assignments and requirements, and multitask as needed;
Ability to work independently with limited instruction.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Bachelors degree in Health sciences with a Post graduation in Public Health/ Social Sciences from a reputed University / Institution.

Experience:

At least 5 years of professional work in public health programme and/or project management including, research and monitoring;
Of which at least 1 year of experience should have been spent in routine immunization programmes including areas of work such as State Immunization programs, M&E, vaccine logistics etc.;
Experience of working in the National Immunization Division and State Governments will be a preferred;
Should have computer knowledge in MS Office and other applications.

Language:

Fluency in English and Hindi essential (spoken and written).

Remuneration package is Rs. 136,331/- per month (taxable). UNDP also offers additional benefits which include medical insurance coverage and limited pension reimbursement for contract holder and encourages work life balance to its employees.

UNDP strives to have a workforce which reflects diversity and gender balance, and applies an equal opportunities approach. UNDP does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS status. All selections are on merit.