Country: South Sudan
Closing date: 13 Feb 2017
Background
The Expanded Programme for Immunization (EPI) in South Sudan is led by Ministry of Health with assistance from UN (UNICEF, WHO and others), donors (Bill and Malinda Gates Foundation, CDC, Rotary International, GAVI, USAID) and other implementing partners. This global programme aims to reduce mortality and morbidity caused by vaccine preventable disease. The 28 newly declared states of the country can be divided into two broader categories- peaceful states and conflict affected states. Routine immunization services for children and pregnant women are provided through static, outreach and mobile sites and occasional Supplemental Immunization Activities (SIAs) like National Immunization Days (NIDs). Peaceful states have comparatively better routine immunization and SIAs coverage. On the other hand, conflict affected states have much lower coverage due to interrupted implementation, wide-spread insecurity, broken cold chain system, poor infrastructure, limited mobility of people, natural barriers as well as low literacy rate. At this point, lack of information related to planning, monitoring and implementation of the programme is one of the greatest challenges South Sudan is facing.
Evidence based and data-driven micro-planning is crucial for decision making, to attain the ultimate objective of the programme. Since the inception of EPI services after the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, reporting of routine EPI performance has relied on a system that is plagued by poor staffing of the health sector at all levels, deficient skills in data management, incomplete reporting, inadequate supportive supervision and monitoring. Though an EPI Coverage Survey was conducted in 2011/12, it focus on basic data considering the context of the newly independent country.
Considering the new positive development in the political environment of the country followed by return of the former rebel leader to his acclaimed position, the Ministry of Health and its development Partners recognize that an immunization coverage survey, clear in concept and implementation, would help establish a reliable baseline on which a new multi-year plan (2016-2018) will be developed and implemented.
UNICEF/MOH is therefore seeking service of an independent consultant or an institution in planning, implementing, monitoring and reporting an immunization coverage survey to establish a scientific baseline in the areas noted above.
Objectives of the Survey
The main objective of the immunization coverage survey is to validate the quality and coverage of the EPI programme in all counties and states of South Sudan.
The specific objectives of the study are to assess-
Extent of fully immunized child aged 12-23 months
TT immunization coverage among mothers of children aged 0-11 months
Proportion of children protected at birth through the EPI programme
The quality and access to immunization services, and the factors affecting service provision
Assess the extent of valid doses of different antigens
The card retention rate for both mothers and children, and reason for not retaining
Identify parents’ sources of information, persuasion, motivation etc. in favor of immunization; also any other factors that discourage them from immunizing their child
Specific Tasks
The Coordinator / institution would work closely with the Inter-agency Immunization Coverage Survey (ICS) National Steering Committee in the planning and implementation process. S/he would be responsible for
Design the survey:
Methodology: Contextualize recommended methodology for South Sudan, determine sample size and select clusters with appropriate combination.
Questionnaire: Develop, share, pre-test and finalize questionnaire for data collection.
Training: Develop content and facilitate training of the data collectors and their supervisors
Data collection: With support from other concerned, led the data collection work.
Data compilation and analysis: Prepare, Select and institutionalize data compilation forms, formats, software as applicable, and facilitate whole process of data compilation and analysis.
Presentation and reporting: Prepare presentation and quality report based on the findings, and share through stakeholders’ workshop. Also support finalization of the report for printing ensuring appropriate content with visuals.
Budgeting and coordination: Work with the Steering committee to develop the budget for the survey, and work closely with the Survey Coordinators at state and county level.
Administration and logistics:
Led/ oversee travel arrangements/ movements related to the travel.
Guide and coordinate purchase, printing or any other logistic issue related to the survey.
Methodology
The WHO EPI cluster sampling survey methodology will be used. The method is described in details in the WHO manual titled ‘Immunization Coverage Cluster Survey – Reference Manual’. The survey will focus on counties, and the selection will be guided by a protocol in a manner that would allow findings to be statistically significant for extrapolation to the general population of South Sudan. This detailed process will be led by the Lead Consultant, in conjunction with the Survey National Steering Committee. The study populations will be children aged 12 – 23 months (to assess the infant immunization) and mothers of children aged 0 – 11 months (to assess tetanus toxoid immunization among women). The precise cut-off birth dates to be inclusive in this range would be determined at the time of setting dates for the field implementation of the survey.
Justification Immunization Coverage Survey needs a huge quantity of tasks to be done within a comparatively very short time period therefore requires dedicated effort of a full time professional at least for the duration of the survey. On the other hand, coordinating and leading this activity requires specialized academic and professional background with due experience. Considering other priorities, it is not feasible for a regular staff to take this responsibility that is why the need for a full time consultant with relevant background and
How to apply:
Interested companies are urged to obtain the full bid document by sending an email to fitwari@unicef.org before bid closing date in order to have sufficient time for preparation.