Technical Assistant to NPHCDA and NAFDAC at John Snow Incorporated (JSI)

John Snow Incorporated (JSI) - We are public health care and health systems consultants and researchers driven by a passion to improve health services and health outcomes for all.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Technical Assistant to NPHCDA and NAFDAC on MPOX Vaccine Deployment Strategy and Operationalization

Location: Nigeria

Background

• JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a public health management consulting and research organization dedicated to improving the health of individuals and communities throughout the world. JSI manages the USAID-funded MOMENTUM Routine Immunization Transformation and Equity project.
• The project is working in 18 countries with the overarching goal of strengthening routine immunization (RI) programs to overcome the entrenched obstacles contributing to stagnating and declining immunization rates and barriers to reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children with life-saving vaccines.
• The project works with countries to implement COVID-19 vaccination, including supporting strategies to reach hard-to-reach and priority populations.  The project also provides country, regional, and global technical support for routine immunization of children and older populations.

Objectives

• To provide support to the Government of Nigeria (NPHCDA and NCDC) to develop and / or review MPOX policies, implementation plans, training tools, IEC materials, and reporting tools and mechanisms  
• Support the Government with overall coordination arrangements to facilitate the implementation of the National MPOX vaccination roll out
• Support the Gov of Nigeria in oversight and monitoring of the plan implementation, contribute to exploring bottleneck and provide TA for remedial actions where feasible

Background
USAID funded support for the MPOX vaccination in Nigeria, centers around two main objectives:

• Support vaccine access for Nigeria that will receive 10,000 USAID funded doses, and
• Targeted support for country readiness and delivery of USAID funded doses in Nigeria.

Scope of Work

• Proposed activities to meet Nigeria’s country readiness and delivery objective should take into account and utilize  the existing health care infrastructure, and particularly those developed for deployment of COVID-19 and routine immunization vaccines. Nigeria will likely receive limited quantities of the JYNNEOS™ vaccine (at most 10, 000 doses)  and as such, existing structures and systems should be generally adequate to support the rollout and administration of this vaccine.
• Care should be taken not to displace essential health services, such as routine immunization and COVID-19 vaccination and care. Technical support will be provided in close coordination and oversight by the USAID/Nigeria POC and the scope will be shaped by requests for assistance from the GoN.  Technical assistance for policy, planning, coordination, can include:

Technical Resource for Immunization:

• Support strategic, programmatic, operational  and micro-planning for MPOX vaccination program that target contacts and high-risk groups based on the country epidemiology;
• Support demand generation activity planning/risk communication and community engagement plans and implementation plans;
• Support development of a monitoring, evaluation, research and learning plan for the MPOX response;
• If necessary, support the national coordination for MPOX vaccine response, including National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGS), Immunization Interagency Coordination Committee (ICCs). National Vaccine Deployment Plan (NVDP) Committees and National Technical Working Groups and support periodic implementation review and monitoring including evidence based decision making and align with current epidemiology;
• Collaborate with the Government of Nigeria immunization team members to develop and implement strategies to improve USAID support for MPOX vaccination;
• Participate in interagency, domestic, and global meetings, consultations, working groups, and negotiations related to MPOX vaccine technical assistance in coordination with USAID/Nigeria;
• Prepare and present technical presentations at meetings and workshops as appropriate; and
• Monitor and analyze equity trends and issues related to MPOX vaccination

Program Management Support:

• Through MRITE Sr. Immunization Technical Advisor will provide state of the art technical and programmatic expertise to the NPHCDA, NCDC and USAID
• Serve to advance project management of USAID’s MPOX immunization programming, as well as immunization-related research and evaluation activities.
• Assist in monitoring the MPOX implementation technical performance; and
• Support site visits to monitor MPOX immunization field activities, as needed.
• Provide regular progress reports and a final report with a slide deck    

Professional Skills Required of MRITEs Consultant

• Master's Degree and a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in the field of global public health, Emerging Infectious Diseases (EID), Global Health Security (GHS) or related field.
• Minimum 3 years direct experience managing or advising on routine immunization programs, reactive vaccination campaigns for outbreaks or targeted vaccination of priority populations for EIDs.
• Demonstrated knowledge of RI vaccination efforts and routine immunization systems strengthening best practices; and familiarity with global immunization policies and strategies
• Experience working with an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) preferred
• Experience in evaluation design and iterative learning, using data and predictive analysis for design, performance monitoring and decision making
• Prior experience working in Nigeria and with NPHCDA and/or NCDC and FMOH is an advantage
• International immunization experience required
• Understanding of health systems in LMICs.
• Excellent interpersonal and team skills--demonstrated ability to interact professionally with culturally and linguistically diverse staff, clients, and consultants
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple tasks concurrently, and meet deadlines with attention to detail and quality
• Excellent written, oral communication, computer and emotional intelligence skills
• Fluent spoken and written English preferred
• Willingness to travel in country up to 40% of the time

Performance and Period of Performance:

• The period of performance will be for 12 months, beginning March 1, 2024 and February 28, 2025 and at 100% level of effort. This TA will be provided primarily in Abuja with possible travel of the consultant to other parts of Nigeria. The period of performance may be adjusted depending on the vaccine donation and the roll out timeline.

Relationship and Responsibilities:

• The Senior Immunization Technical Advisor will maintain close working relationships with USAID and US interagency staff, host government counterparts, implementing partners, donor groups, and other partners as directed.

Application Closing Date
20th February, 2024.