Immunization Technical Officer( 6 consultants position) for Greater Equatoria

MOMENTUM- Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity (M-RITE), aims to strengthen routine immunization (RI) programs to overcome the entrenched obstacles contributing to stagnating and declining routine immunization (RI) rates and to address the barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children with life-saving vaccines. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the disruption of RI services, M-RITE supports countries with the maintenance and adaptation of RI services and provides strategic technical support for COVID-19 vaccine introduction and deployment in order to protect high risk population.

In South Sudan, Ministry of Health (MoH), with support from immunization partners, have adopted strategies to scaling up COVID-19 vaccination to increase country coverage to 70% of the target population by the end of 2022. This includes mass vaccination drive (MVD) using intensified COVID-19 vaccination optimization plan (ICVOP), for administering more than 2.5 million doses of vaccines.

M-RITE / JSI provide technical assistance to State/County, Core Group Polio Partners (CGPP) in 21 counties in three Equatorial States (Central, Eastern and Western) for accelerating the COVID-19 vaccination. M-RITE support to CGPP includes training of vaccinators, supportive supervision, microplanning, and risk-communication, address hesitancy, and increase demand for acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination. CGPP plans to double their outreach vaccination team – from 33 to 84 teams to maximize shots in arms of COVID-19 vaccines before rainy season starts in May when many areas become inaccessible.

M-RITE/JSI is recruiting for three communication consultants to support State and County Health Department and CGPP for risk-communication and community involvement (RCCI) activities including awareness creation, address hesitancy, and increase demand for COVID-19 vaccination in 21 counties of the Greater Equatorial states (Central, East and West)

M-RITE /JSI Purpose and objectives of the consultancy provision:

The Immunization Technical Officers will provide technical assistance to State MoH, County health Departments, and CGPP for acceleration of COVID-19 vaccination drive through providing support in training, microplanning, supervision, monitoring, and data transmission and use of data for decision making in COVID-19 vaccination and RI.

Objectives include providing technical support to State/County and CGPP in the above-mentioned states in readiness assessment, coordination, capacity building, microplanning, supervision, and quality data transmission.

Job roles

Specifically, Immunization Technical officers will:

● Support CGPP to conduct COVID-19 vaccination trainings at State/county levels

● Monitor and support to ensure quality of trainings at state/county levels

● Provide technical support to states during COVID-19 vaccination operational and technical working group (TWG) meetings

● Train state/county, CGPP supervisors on supportive supervision and coordinate / facilitate supervision visits amongst State/MoH and partners to vaccination centers and outreaches

● Support the State/MOH team leader in analyzing immunization (COVID-19 and RI) as well as supportive supervision data for decision making during TWG meetings

● Conduct supportive supervision and build capacity of vaccinators on development/updating microplanning and recoding (using ODK) and transmitting data to next level without error and any delay.

● Produce quality progress and immunization reports based on indicators for TWG meetings and for the donor.

● Represent M-RITE/JSI in different immunization forum such as EPI TWG meeting, COVID-19 vaccination operational and TWG meetings, ICC and SSITAG where needed

● Perform any other duties assigned by the supervisor in improving immunization program in South Sudan

Qualification, skills and experience required

· Degree either in Medicine and Surgery, Clinical Medicine, Tropical medicine Nursing or Public Health

· Master’s Degree in one of the related fields of Public Health, Health Services Management and Administration, Global Health, Health Science training and Education, Institutional management is an added advantage but not a condition

· Candidate must have more than 5 years of experience in public health with specialization in immunization, developing health related training materials, vaccine introduction, facilitating COVID-19 vaccination trainings, microplanning, and supportive supervision skills

● Experience with managing immunization programs and child health programs, including state and/or county-based work;

● Better understanding on COVID-19 vaccine introduction, ToT training, etc.

● Computer literacy required (Excel, MSWord and PowerPoint). Familiarity with other relevant computer software desirable;

● Fluent in both spoken and written English, plus one commonly-spoken local language in South Sudan (like Arabic);

● Good knowledge of computer ODK, KOBO Collect, DHIS2 or STATA software is an added advantage

● Candidate applying must have adequate knowledge of local context, language preferably within the State- This is a none relocatable position

● Ability to travel extensively to the State and Counties where vaccinations take place

● Knowledge of the South Sudan health system (BPHNS) at all levels will be an added advantage for this position;

● Experience working in a multi-agency/organizational environment and fragile context