Immunization Technical Consultant At JSI

JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is seeking to hire an Immunization Technical Consultant.

Job Description

Technical Assistance support to Ministry of Health, Ghana under Targeted Country Assistance (TCA) 2022 – 25

School-based Vaccination in Tamale Metro Region to address Zero Dose and Missed Children

• Location:  1 position based in Accra
• LOE:    Maximum 100 days
• Reports to: Emmanuel Nuworzah (emmanuel_nuworzah@gh.jsi.com); copy to Senior Technical Officer, Lisa Oot lisa_oot@jsi.com, Technical lead for regional work in Tamale

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Purpose

1. JSI Research & Training Institute, Inc. (JSI) is a US-based not-for-profit organization that specializes in public health. For the past 30 years, JSI has been providing technical assistance to health programs in more than 106 countries across a wide range of technical areas.
2. JSI is currently recruiting for a consultant, pending the availability of donor funding, to support a program to increase the identification and reach of zero doses and under-vaccinated children in the Tamale region.
3. The overall project will be implemented both in Accra and Tamale, but this position will be based in Tamale.
4. The purpose of the project is to create a platform for the vaccination of zero doses and missed children from the creche up to kindergarten in both private and public schools in Tamale Metropolis in Northern Region and Ga South and Ashaiman in Greater Accra region.
5. The selection of these districts is based on current immunization coverage data (districts with low coverage and high numbers of zero-dose children) and working relationships established with the DHMTs and other collaborating government institutions. In addition, each of the proposed districts is resource constrained, furthering the rationale for additional technical and financial assistance. (Note: position is contingent upon funding).

JSI is a child-safe organization, and the safety and well-being of children is a priority of our organization. We have robust recruitment procedures to ensure that all staff are suited to work with the children served by our programs.

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Responsibilities

Specific responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:

• Work closely with the EPI at regional and district level to introduce, orientate and support in understanding of the program activities.
• Support the Department of Social Welfare to undertake a mapping of all crèches and kindergartens in the selected 1 district in Tamale.  Collect baseline data from each of the schools on the number of children enrolled in the school and baseline immunization status.
• Ensure the selected schools in each district have adequate copies of the vaccination tracker for distribution to participating schools
• Support the Senior Technical consultant in the development of a training module for the school-based vaccination tracker. Co-facilitate training for parent associations, school proprietors and school management committees on the tracker.
• Co-facilitate training of school management committees and SHEP teachers on the application of the tools.
• Support DSW, GHS/EPI. GES/SHEP to undertake periodic monitoring to assess and support schools in the application of the tools.
• Support the Senior Technical Consultant in the design of a strategy to establish and strengthen connections between the health systems and schools; document this strategy and lessons learned through rapid program learning (i.e. qualitative interviews with health staff and schools staff).
• Organize periodic experience sharing sessions between schools in each district to promote learning through peer support.
• Document the project process, lessons learnt and disseminate to the participating stakeholder.
• Collaborate on a regular (weekly basis) with the team in Accra. This will entail regular weekly meetings with the senior technical consultant and your direct supervisor, and regular meetings with the STO based in Washington DC.

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Deliverables

The core deliverables to be attained under this consultancy are:

• Document the process used for the school mapping and the outcome of the mapping exercise including baseline information for each school on student numbers, gender and immunization status;
• Support the development of training modules for the training of target stakeholders – parent associations, school management, teachers and others
• Track the application of the vaccination tracker in the selected schools and report on number of children vaccinated
• Develop a mid-program report to include information on mobilizing people for the training and barriers/enablers to using the tracker
• Produce reports on monitoring and supportive supervision to schools
• Prepare reports outlining the outcomes of the experience sharing sessions between schools and flag areas requiring critical attention
• Reports on organized stakeholder engagement sessions in each of the participating districts and regions.
• Prepare a process report on the critical elements of the activities implemented for dissemination to relevant stakeholders
• Weekly engagement with Supervisor and STO based in Washington DC (email and standing weekly calls)

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Required Skills or Experience

• A Master’s Degree in Public Health, Social Work, International Development or an equivalent field
• Minimum 5 years of experience in the health or development sectors

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• Ability to work collaboratively across teams, under pressure, demonstrating initiative and flexibility
• Experience working with a range of stakeholders from Ministry of Health, Ghana Education Service/SHEPS, Department of Social Welfare, to partners to frontline health care workers
• Professional proficiency in English and any Ghanaian language
• Exemplary interpersonal communication skills required to interact effectively with senior project leadership and partners
• Ability to travel within the country as needed

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