Cold Chain Officer

Details:
Mission and objectives:
UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.
UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.
UNICEF insists that the survival, protection and development of children are universal development imperatives that are integral to human progress.
UNICEF mobilizes political will and material resources to help countries, particularly developing countries, ensure a “first call for children” and to build their capacity to form appropriate policies and deliver services for children and their families.
UNICEF is committed to ensuring special protection for the most disadvantaged children – victims of war, disasters, extreme poverty, all forms of violence and exploitation, and those with disabilities.
UNICEF responds in emergencies to protect the rights of children. In coordination with United Nations partners and humanitarian agencies, UNICEF makes its unique facilities for rapid response available to its partners to relieve the suffering of children and those who provide their care.
UNICEF is non-partisan and its cooperation is free of discrimination. In everything it does, the most disadvantaged children and the countries in greatest need have priority.
UNICEF aims, through its country programmes, to promote the equal rights of women and girls and to support their full participation in the political, social and economic development of their communities.
UNICEF works with all its partners towards the attainment of the sustainable human development goals adopted by the world community and the realization of the vision of peace and social progress enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations.
Context:
Angola’s immunization program faces severe challenges, with low coverage rates and a high number of zero-dose children—those who have not received the Pentavalent 1 vaccine. As of the 2023 WHO and UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC), Angola is among the top 20 countries with the highest number of zero-dose children, and Pentavalent 1 coverage has consistently remained below 80% over the past decade. This ongoing issue highlights significant weaknesses in the health system’s ability to deliver vaccines effectively, leaving many children vulnerable to preventable diseases.
The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated these challenges, causing a decline in immunization coverage due to disrupted health services and resource diversion. Angola is now experiencing a widespread measles outbreak affecting 38 municipalities across 13 provinces. Additionally, the country is confronting an outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliomyelitis (cVDPV), a serious consequence of inadequate vaccination coverage. These outbreaks underscore the urgent need for improved immunization efforts and infrastructure.
The cold chain system, crucial for maintaining vaccine efficacy, is under considerable strain as only 60% oh health facilities in the country have cold chain equipment. Inadequate cold chain infrastructure and temperature monitoring systems, coupled with logistical difficulties, hinder effective vaccine distribution, especially in remote areas. There is an urgent need to assess and enhance cold chain capacity, ensuring vaccines are stored and transported at the correct temperatures.
Recruiting a United Nations Volunteer (UNV) Cold Chain Officer is essential to address these issues. The Cold Chain Officer will work under the supervision of the Immunization Specialist to support strengthen the cold chain infrastructure, improve temperature monitoring, and support vaccine distribution. This role is critical for enhancing Angola’s immunization program and achieving universal vaccine coverage.
Task description:
Within the delegated authority and under the supervision of the Immunization Specialist or his/her designated mandated representative(s), the UN Volunteer Cold Chain Officer will:
1. Assess needs for additional cold chain equipment, and develop operational deployment plans for new equipment to ensure reduction in cold chain capacity gaps.
2. Support the planning and implementation of cold chain infrastructure expansion, including the introduction of new technologies and equipment to meet increasing immunization demands.
3. Develop and implement contingency plans for cold chain failures or emergencies, ensuring that vaccines are safeguarded during power outages, equipment failures, or natural disasters.
4. Conduct regular training sessions for health workers and logistics personnel on cold chain best practices, equipment handling, and emergency procedures.
5. Regularly assess the performance and coverage of the cold chain system, identifying gaps and areas for improvement to enhance overall immunization program effectiveness
6. Ensure that all cold chain equipment, including refrigerators, freezers, and temperature monitoring devices, is regularly serviced, maintained, and calibrated according to manufacturers’ guidelines.
7. Support EPI programme to oversee the maintenance and integrity of the cold chain for vaccines, ensuring that all vaccines are stored and transported at the appropriate temperatures from the point of manufacture to the point of use.
8. Support implementation and management of temperature monitoring systems to ensure real-time tracking and recording of storage conditions, and promptly address any deviations.
9. Collaborate with supply chain teams to ensure the efficient distribution of vaccines, minimizing risks of temperature excursions during transport and storage.
10. Support the maintenance of accurate records of temperature logs, equipment maintenance, and any incidents of temperature excursions, and report these to relevant authorities for timely action.
11. Ensure that all cold chain activities comply with national and international standards, guidelines, and best practices, and participate in quality assurance audits.
12. Perform any other duties as may be assigned to him from time to time
Requirements:
Public health, Immunization, epidemiology, global/international health, logistics/vaccine management other relevant programmes at the national and/or international level

Knowledge of national and international systems for immunization logistics and/or cold chain management including IOTA/ReDIV, SMT etc

Excellent oral and written skills; excellent drafting, formulation, reporting skills.

Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including community members, religious and youth organizations, and authorities at different levels.

Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel.

Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.

Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

Have affinity with or interest in children’s rights and volunteerism as a mechanism for durable development, and the UN System.

Competencies and values:

Live the UNICEF Core Values of: Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, Sustainability

Competencies: Builds and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, Drive to achieve results for impact, Innovates and embraces changes, Manages ambiguity and complexity, Thinks and acts strategically, Works collaboratively with others.

Area(s) of expertise:

Health

Logistics and Inventory

Procurement and contracting

Required education level:
Bachelor degree or equivalent
Other information: As this is a national UN Volunteer assignment, the UN Volunteer will be responsible for arranging his/her own housing and other living essentials. This position is based in Luanda. National UN Volunteers are part of the malicious insurance plan. National UN Volunteers are expected to be culturally sensitive and adjust to the prevailing culture and traditions.
Conditions of Service for national UN Volunteers
The contract lasts for the period indicated above with possibility of extensions subject to availability of funding, operational necessity and satisfactory performance. However, there is no expectation of renewal of the assignment.
The applicable Volunteer Living Allowance is provided monthly to cover housing, utilities and normal cost of living expenses. Life, health and permanent disability insurance are included (health insurance for up to 3 dependents – except for UN Community Volunteers), as well as final repatriation (if applicable). You can check full entitlements at https://app.unv.org/calculator .

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