Consultancy: Outbreak Finance Reporting, Polio Eradication Programme at World Health Organization

• The Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), is steadfast in its commitment to securing a polio-free future for the next generation of children, eliminating the threat of polio paralysis. This mission relies on swift and effective responses to poliovirus outbreaks in polio-free countries. Polio eradication remains a paramount organizational priority and is recognized as a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC). Recent years have seen an unexpected surge in polio outbreaks worldwide. With the overarching goal of interrupting transmission in outbreak countries by the end of 2025, UNICEF, as the co-chair of The Outbreak Response & Preparedness Group (ORPG) within the GPEI, plays a pivotal role in overseeing outbreak preparedness and response efforts.
• The ORPG operates as a collective responsible for overseeing outbreak preparedness and response efforts. Serving as the primary interface between the GPEI global structure and the regions working to respond to polio outbreaks outside of endemic countries, UNICEF, as the co-chair of the ORPG, holds a central position in coordinating and supporting these response activities. The organization, as a key partner in the GPEI, contributes to country- and region-led initiatives to prepare for potential outbreaks. A core accountability for the ORPG is to provide comprehensive reports on outbreak finance management, covering outbreak budget approvals, allocations, and utilization for both the World Health Organization and UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

• In its dual role as the chair of the ORPG and a key partner in the GPEI, the Polio Eradication Programme of UNICEF is currently seeking to recruit a reporting consultant. This consultant will collaborate with HQ, Regional, and Country Offices to assist in developing and maintaining a monthly outbreak response finance report conducted in close coordination with key GPEI partners, aiming to ensure the timely availability of the report for informed decision-making. The recruited consultant will work remotely under the supervision and guidance of the Programme Officer for Polio Outbreak Response (OBR).

Key Tasks And Responsibilities Include The Following
Scope of Work: Under the supervision of the Programme Officer in OBR, the consultant is responsible for:

• Finalization of monthly global polio outbreaks response and preparedness finance report format and design: In coordination with UNICEF and WHO teams, review the data inputs for both agencies, objectives of the report, and users to design and finalize a formatted report in relevant format (i.e., Excel, PowerPoint, and PowerBI, etc.). The report should include
• The total OB budget ceiling, allocations, expenditure, encumbrances/commitments, and balances at country, region, and global level disaggregated by country and implementing agency (UNICEF, WHO)
• A 4–6-month Supplementary Immunization Activity (SIA) schedule that notes vaccine type and campaign delays/postponements/cancelations.
• Explanation for delays or underspending in Surge and SIA budgets.
• Surge human resource positions approved, filled, and vacant.
• Finalization of monthly global polio outbreaks response and preparedness group finance report timelines, coordination, and work plan: In close coordination with ORPG Finance Team:
• Set a reporting schedule to collect, collate, analyze, and report to relevant groups.
• Set up a coordination mechanism to ensure timely collection, analysis, and distribution of the report, maintain a list of contacts and systems providing report data, such as ORPG SIA calendar (Regional Outbreak Response Group (RORG) and Incident Management Support Team (IMST)), SIA and surge approval, allocation, and implementation status (ORPG finance team, Finance Management Group (FMG), and RORG/IMST), GPEI quarterly outbreak financial report (FMG)
• Participation in biweekly finance team meetings.
• Finalization of the global Outbreak Response and Preparedness FMG report: In close coordination with the ORPG finance team, FMG, and other relevant groups:
• Develop and maintain a monthly outbreak response finance and activity report that includes information on the GPEI-approved budget for outbreaks, allocations, and current utilization status per the set timeline.
• Identify areas of concern or underspend in the report and summarize them in a PowerPoint or agreed format for OPRG leadership.
• Compile and share the report within the decided timelines with relevant groups.
• Ensure the report facilitates timely decision-making and presents a consistent narrative on outbreak implementation across all levels in an agreed format.
• Address summary or data report/analysis requests from the ORPG or FMG.
• Maintain a repository of the background documents, data, and analysis for the report on ORPG SharePoint
• Review and Improvement Process: In consultation with ORPG and other relevant groups, after three months of reporting, assess the effectiveness of the reporting. Including solicit feedback from users on the report's usefulness and ways to enhance it, synthesize feedback and make suggestions for improvements, document and update the report template based on the review process.

Outline of the project
Outlined Below Are The Key Phases Involved

• Acquainting oneself with and obtaining access to relevant datasets.
• Manually completing the report template while exploring opportunities for template optimization.
• Assessing possibilities for automation and streamlining of processes.
• Initiating steps toward automation, recognizing the complexity due to data originating from diverse platforms.
• Facilitating the transition of functions to designated staff post-automation.
• Expected Deliverables / Outputs For The Consultancy Are Listed Below (kindly Reflect Each Deliverable With Your Fee In Your Fee Proposal)

Work Assignment Overview Deliverables/Outputs:

• Identify, gain access to and familiarity with all the relevant data sources. Review, optimize and populate template to produce draft first report. Draft pilot ORPG Monthly Finance Report
• Develop coordination mechanism, timelines, contact lists and workplan for putting together ORPG Monthly Finance Report Workplan with workflow diagrammed outlining coordination mechanism
• Finalize first pilot ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual process) Final pilot ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual) + Workplan
• Explore feasibility of automating data consolidation and streamlining coordination Second draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual) + Update on automation and streamlining  
• Implement initial automation steps for data consolidation and streamlining coordination Third draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual + auto) + Update on automation and streamlining
• Conduct a comprehensive mid-term review of the report design (including feasibility of automation), timelines, coordination mechanism and utility Mid-term Review report
• Continue implementing initial automation steps for data consolidation and streamlining coordination Fourth draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual + auto) + Update on automation and streamlining
• Implement any recommendations from Mid-term Review report, continue automation for data consolidation and streamlining coordination Fifth draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual + auto) + Update on recommendations implemented
• Continue implementing further automation steps for data consolidation Sixth draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (manual + auto) + Update on automation
• Continue implementing further automation steps for data consolidation Seventh draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (auto) + Update on automation
• Continue implementing further automation steps for data consolidation Eighth draft ORPG Monthly Finance Report (auto) + Update on automation
• Continue implementing further automation steps for data consolidation Finalized ORPG Monthly Finance Report +final update on automation
• Conduct a comprehensive review of the report design, timelines, coordination mechanism and utility Final Review report + Handover Notes (3-5 pages)

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A first university degree in Business Administration, Data Sciences, Project Management and Other relevant fields
• A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional work experience in project management, data science and data visualizing ideally in a public health context
• Proven ability to manage projects in complex partnership environments.
• Experience and/or training in data analysis, data visualization, ideally bridging programmatic and finance spheres.
• Proven ability to work to deadline.
• Proven experience working in a multi-cultural setting.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is considered a vital asset. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.