Job Description

To provide senior technical advisory support to Government of Ethiopia (GOE) in the COVID-19 response and especially in the vaccine rollout. Coordinate USAID ARPA-funded COVID-19 vaccine support activities with various stakeholders including MOH and regional health bureaus (RHB).

• Coordinate ARPA recipient activities in planning, implementation, and monitoring.

• Coordinate the USAID investment through ARPA with the MOH national plans on COVID mitigation, vaccine deployment, cold chain, and other plans.

• Monitor the implementation of various ARPA activities and document best practices, challenges, and solutions.

• Provide technical assistance to MOH, ICC, Ethiopia Public Health Institute (EPHI) and other relevant agencies on necessary areas to support implementation of the national COVID-19 vaccine roll-out.

• Support development of national guidance, implementation SOPs and monitoring tools.

• Support respective structures to ensure availability of vaccines.

• Support an integrated monitoring of vaccine delivery. 

Project HOPE is an international NGO of more than 500 engaged employees and hundreds of volunteers who work in more than 25 countries, responding to the world’s most pressing global health challenges.

Code of Conduct 

It is our shared responsibility and obligation to treat each other with respect, take affirmative steps to prevent matters involving Sexual Exploitation & Abuse and Trafficking in Persons, and to disclose all potential and actual violations of our Code of Conduct, which may include Conflicts of Interest, Fraud, Corruption, Discrimination or Harassment. Together, we can reinforce a culture of respect, integrity, accountability, and transparency.

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic is worldwide public health, social and economic threat for which efforts have been made to prevent and control the spread around the globe. As of September 30, 2022, more than 614,385,693 COVID-19 cases and 6,522,600 deaths were reported worldwide and more than 8,814,632 cumulative cases and 173,471 deaths in Africa. Similarly in Ethiopia, since the first COVID-19 case was reported on March 13, 2020, about 493,588 cases and 7572 deaths were reported. Like the global situation, the pandemic had a significant impact on Ethiopia’s economy. As there are no specific treatment options available for COVID-19 infection other than the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended public health measures, vaccine development has hastened at an unprecedented pace to control the pandemic. Different countries, research institutes, universities and other concerned organizations have been working to urgently develop and deploy safe and effective vaccines as part of the critical intervention of this pandemic.

COVID-19 vaccination is considered as an effective intervention for controlling the burden of the pandemic. However, vaccine hesitation is increasing and hindering efforts targeting to reduce the burden of the COVID-19 disease. Hence, to promote   COVID-19 vaccine acceptance is crucial to effectively improve COVID-19 vaccine uptake.

To this effect, Project HOPE has planned to coordinate vaccine promotion, demand creation, vaccine delivery and monitoring activities in collaboration with MOH, regional health bureaus (AA, Amhara, Oromia, Gambela, SNNP, Sidama & SWEP) and other stakeholders. To achieve this, Project HOPE is seeking competent professionals to support COVID 19 vaccine promotion and provision activities in all PEPFAR supported regions.

Purpose of the assignment; The purpose of this assignment is to provide TA for MOH and its agencies, all regional Health Bureaus and local implementing partners (LIP) on COVID 19 vaccine demand creation, delivery and integrated monitoring activities through participation in coordination and monitoring platforms, implementation of community-based mass education, prepare flayers, prepare audio visual education materials, support RHBs on provision of trainings for service providers, provide logistic support on vaccine transportation and support joint monitoring activities within the target regions. 

Major Tasks and Activities:

The COVID-19 Vaccine Advisor will support implementation and monitoring and evaluation of USAID COVID 19 vaccine support activities; ensure the workplans are aligned with the national vaccine deployment plan and are well coordinated among each other and any other vaccine support activities. The adviser will prepare monthly and quarterly reports of the mechanism and conduct site visits to ensure effective and efficient implementation. The adviser will also participate in technical working group (TWG) meetings and coordination platforms at federal level that are supported by the activities to provide the necessary guidance and support. She/he will lead ARPA-funded activities for regular touch-base meetings to ensure efficient and consistent flow of information and coordinated support for the national COVID 19 response and vaccine roll out. She/he will liaise with the National Vaccine Lead at the Minister's office and relevant directorates of MOH, and the ICC lead, USAID Vaccine Task force (VxTF) lead and COVID 19 vaccine program lead at Project HOPE to ensure better alignment of activities but also ensure gaps are addressed at the earliest and in an efficient manner. The adviser will report to the program lead at Project HOPE and VxTF lead at USAID Ethiopia for planning, reporting, and monitoring and evaluation of the implementation of USAID COVID 19 vaccine support activity. She/he will:

• Review COVID 19 vaccine support work plan and give input to ensure alignment with USAID/Ethiopia guidance as well as MOH priorities.

• Plan for the entire assignment including timeline and measurement

• Identify any challenges that needs attention related to COVID-19 prevention and treatment programs, including vaccine rollout, and help address them or escalate them to relevant bodies.

• Support and coordinate vaccine rollout campaigns.

• Participate or conduct joint monitoring sites visits.

• Participation in TWG, ICC, review meetings, and other COVID-19 response and vaccination coordination platforms to provide necessary technical support and input to the overall COVID 19 mitigation program

• Organize review meetings in collaboration with MOH to document lessons learned and best practices and share among the various stakeholders.

• Track the progress of the vaccine roll out at national and regional level per target and brand of the vaccine and share it with Project HOPE and USAID.

• Prepare regular COVID 19 vaccine support reports

• Biweekly, monthly, quarterly and end of contract performance reports

• Document Meeting minutes of the various TWGs and share to PH and USAID respective teams.

• Synthesis of the intervention plans, reports, and best practices for the ARPA mechanism

• Execute other related activities assigned by immediate supervisors at PH and USAID. 

  Deliverables

• Plan for the entire assignment including timeline and measurement

• Biweekly and monthly performance reports

• Quarterly performance report

• Meeting minutes of the various TWGs

• Supervision visits reports to regional and vaccination sites

• Synthesis of the intervention plans, reports, and best practices for the ARPA mechanism

• End of contract report

• Monitoring plan for the COVID 19 vaccine support activities

Job Requirements

MINIMUM EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• Bachelor Degree in Public health with relevant COVID 19 mitigation and COVID vaccination coordination and roll out experience

• 10 years of related work experience

• Good coordination and leadership skill

• Strong experience of working in developing context and demonstrable experience in documentation and monitoring and evaluation of complex public health programs

• Effective verbal and written communication

• Strategic thinking and planning, ability to build effective partnership within an organization as well as with host country government counterparts

• Demonstrated ability to complete deliverables with minimal supervision

  MINIMUM HOURS OF WORK: 40 Hours per Week

How to Apply

Apply using This Link

No phone calls please!

EEO Statement

Project HOPE provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, or status as a veteran. Project HOPE complies with all applicable laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including, but not limited to, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Project HOPE expressly prohibits any form of unlawful employee harassment based on race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, handicap, disability, or status as a veteran. Improper interference with the ability of Project HOPE employees to perform their expected job duties is not tolerated.

REPORTS TO: COVID-19 Task Force at USAID AND HIV Prevention, Care & Treatment Program Director at Project HOPE