About the Job
Terms of Reference for hiring consultant to Conduct Assessment of Supply and Logistics System Management to Develop Transition plan for switching Vitamin A Capsule from Indirect to Direct Delivery Donation Program in Ethiopia.
Background
Through years Ethiopia’s supply and logistics management significantly improved. Ethiopian Pharmaceuticals Supply Service (EPSS) is parastatal organization responsible for providing pharmaceuticals, laboratory reagents, medical equipment and supplies in Ethiopia. Currently, EPSS has capacity to reach all Woredas and most of Health Centers through its 19 branches hubs that are grouped into 7 clusters. EPSS built capacity to distribute ART, Anti-TB, Anti-Malaria drugs and vaccines that needs meticulous logistics operation.
Regular and uninterrupted availability and access to supplies is a requirement for the effective implementation of life-saving public health intervention such as Vitamin A Supplementation. Ethiopia has been benefiting from NI’s Vitamin A Capsules CIK (Capsule in kind) program. To date, the NI’s in kind donation of Vitamin A capsules is implemented through the well-established UNICEF country, regional and global supply systems. Once NI approves and procures the capsules required for a given country including Ethiopia, these capsules are passed to UNICEF that is fully responsible to work with government for ensuring the logistics including custom and administrative clearance, dispatching up to the last miles and monitoring the utilization.
VAC is distributed to WoHOs and Health facilities based on population targets through a push system. The national VAS program review conducted in June 2024 identified, across all regions, that push distribution is resulting in erratic stock out and wastage of VAC. This VAC push dispatching system deviates from the principles of IPLS management. in the IPLS, the supply requisition and refill should be informed from consumption, it also improves inventory and stock management.
In February 2024, state minister of health of Ethiopia, and Nutrition international (NI) president and CEO, had a discussion on possibility of initiating Vitamin A capsule (VAC) direct delivery modality in Ethiopia. Direct delivery means distribution of VAC directly from Canada (NI) to countries port of entry and it has the potential to reduce logistic costs and time and improve government’s program ownership. They agreed on the direct delivery plan and put action point to have ongoing consultative meetings with key stakeholders to develop a clear transition plan. In this regard, NI conducted different high level consultative meetings with UNICEF, EPSS and FMOH to reach a consensus on the planning and implementation of VAC direct delivery transition plan. A consensus was reached with stakeholders on the need to conduct a rapid supply and logistic assessment that will inform the development of a stepwise plan for a successful transition to direct delivery.
Purpose
To assess the extent to which the Ethiopia national pharmaceutical supplies and logistics management system can and what it will take for the system to efficiently manage direct delivery of the NI Vitamin A capsules donation from port of entry up to last miles dispatching. Findings will be used to inform the development of VAC logistics transition plan including risk management, stakeholder coordination and capacity building activities for effective implementation of NI VAC direct delivery CIK program in Ethiopia.
Objectives
- To assess EPSS’s overall supply chain management capacity, procedures and requirements specific to the handling of health and nutrition commodities donation like IFA, Zinc or VACs (Using supply chain management key performance indicators such as policy, supply chain costs, ordering process & timeliness, delivery timelines/timeliness, inventory management (first in first out practices, stock out rates), proper storage, etc.).
- To map and identify critical risks throughout the key steps of logistics for donated health and nutrition commodities procurement and supply chain management in Ethiopia
- To closely work with and support the VAC logistics transition management working group to organize consensus workshop to develop agreed actionable plan for the implementation of VAC direct delivery in Ethiopia.
Key Deliverables
- Inception report: updated technical proposal informed from initial meetings and document reviews.
- Assessment methodology: Develop a comprehensive VAC supply chain assessment methodology.
- A comprehensive report and associated slide deck on the findings of the rapid procurement and supply management assessment with recommendations that will inform the next steps on the VAC direct delivery transition plan. The report must describe most critical technical and administrative logistics management steps (including forecasting, administrative and custom clearance, costs, financing and safeguarding…) for health and nutrition commodities donation in Ethiopia and identify potential opportunities, bottlenecks and challenges for direct delivery of the NI capsule donation. Also ensure that the report clearly identifies the roles and responsibilities and respective capacity of key actors including in the private sector, involved in the donation commodities (like VACs) supply chain management including lowest levels. The outline of the report and slide deck will be agreed with NI and MoH.
- Report from the consensus workshop including key action points for effective and efficient direct delivery.
- Actionable plan for the implementation of direct delivery in Ethiopia
Methods for the rapid assessment
- Desk review on key government policies, strategies and guidelines at federal and regional levels with a focus on donated non cold chain health and nutrition commodities supply chain.
- KIIs with relevant individuals from FMoH, EPSS, NI and UNICEF to frame the supply chain review in the context of the VAC donation in kind program.
- KIIs with relevant stakeholders and actors at federal, regional and woreda levels to document roles and capacities, capacities, forecasting, replenishment, reporting, supply challenges and recommendations.
- Consensus workshop to discuss and validate findings and recommendations
Tasks and responsibilities
The consultant will work closely with the VAC logistics transition management working group comprised of Nutrition International, UNICEF, MoH in developing and execution of detailed processes and scope of work including:
- Organize and facilitate working sessions and documenting and sharing agreed action plan and next steps with the working group.
- Design the supply chain assessment methodology in line with the objectives outlined in the TOR
- Mapping of stakeholders involved in the VAC and other non-cold chain health and nutrition commodities supply chain
- Undertake a comprehensive desk review of key documents, in-depth interviews with key informers (policy makers, health/nutrition program managers of key government ministries involved in commodities procurement, clearance and dispatching at federal, regional and woreda levels, warehouse and logistics team).
- Prepare reports using the outline provided
- Prepare and discuss slide deck presentation of the key recommendations based on the findings of the assessment with VAC logistics transition management working group.
- Facilitate consensus workshop for key stakeholders for discussions of key recommendations and identification of key action points for effective and efficient direct delivery in Ethiopia
- Together with the VAC logistics transition management working group, finalize actionable plan for the implementation of direct delivery in Ethiopia
N.B: The assignment needs travel out of Addis Ababa to organize meeting and workshops.
About You
Required Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- University degree in Logistics and supply Chain management, Business management, or a related field with five years of relevant professional experience.
- Professional certification in Procurement, Logistics or Supply Chain management is an advantage.
Experience:
- Experience in procurement, logistics and supply chain operations, and managing vendors and suppliers.
- Knowledge of EPSS rules, system and processes as they apply to procurement and logistics. Specifically, knowledge of and experience in Integrated Pharmaceutical Logistics Management system and Logistics management information system
- Experience of working with Ethiopian customs and EFDA in managing and clearing pharmaceuticals.
Skills:
- Basic computer literacy and knowledge of Microsoft Office package.
- Ability to meet deadlines under pressure and prepare clear, concise reports.
- Good communication, organizational and interpersonal relationship skills.
- Hardworking, good team player and ability to monitor and follow up on pending matters.
Languages: Fluency in English and Amahric is desirable.
Core Competencies
- Professionalism: demonstrates ability to work in a composed, competent and committed manner and exercises careful judgment in meeting day-to-day challenges.
- Teamwork: develops and promotes effective collaboration within and across units to achieve shared goals and optimize results.
- Delivering results: produces and delivers quality results in a service-oriented and timely manner; is action oriented and committed to achieving agreed outcomes.
- Communication: encourages and contributes to clear and open communication; explains complex matters in an informative, inspiring and motivational way.
Required Skills
- Teamwork
- Microsoft Office Pack: Word, Excel, Access, Publisher, Outlook, Powerpoint
- Communication
- Supply chain management
How To Apply
Method of application:
- If you are a qualified and Interested in this position, please email the following to Program.applicationETH@NUTRITIONINTL.ORG
- In your application, please send the below in zipped document
- Letter of motivation
- Up-to-date Resume/CV
- Technical proposal and work plan
- Financial proposal
- Please send your applications by Thursday, 8 November 2024, before 5:30 PM
- In the subject line of your email indicate: VAC Direct Delivery Transition Logistics Assessment and Planning
Incomplete applications will be rejected.
Female qualified candidates are strongly encouraged to apply