Immunization and Cold Chain Consultant

Terms of Reference  |  Independent Consultancy  |  Kaduna or Katsina State, Nigeria

Location: Kaduna or Katsina State, Nigeria (one state to be selected), with travel within the state as needed to complete agreed deliverables

Engagement type: Independent consultancy, deliverable-based

Start date: To be confirmed

Duration: 24 months from contract start, contracted in two phases of up to 12 months each. Continuation into Phase 2 is subject to acceptance of Phase 1 deliverables and availability of funding.

Coordination: Nigeria Project Manager, with technical guidance from the Project Lead

1. ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

Summary

VillageReach seeks an independent Immunization and Cold Chain Consultant to provide implementation support for agreed project activities and deliverables under its work to improve immunization outreach through context-appropriate cold chain solutions in the selected implementation state. Working in coordination with the Nigeria Project Manager and with technical guidance from the Project Lead, the Consultant will deliver agreed state and local stakeholder engagement activities, support field assessments and planning exercises, and document implementation experience in accordance with the consultancy scope of work.

The Consultant will work closely with state and local government area (LGA) health authorities, facility teams, community representatives, and partners to understand outreach requirements, assess cold chain configurations, and test practical planning approaches. The assignment provides state-level implementation support needed to generate credible evidence and ensure recommendations and tools reflect real service delivery conditions.

Nature of the Engagement

This is an independent consultancy assignment. The Consultant will perform the agreed scope of work independently and will be accountable for specified deliverables and timelines. Nothing in the assignment creates an employer-employee relationship between VillageReach and the Consultant.

•       The Consultant will determine the methods, sequencing, and scheduling of work needed to deliver the agreed outputs. The assignment does not carry fixed daily working hours or a requirement to work from a VillageReach office.

•       Progress will be reviewed against agreed milestones and deliverables, not through routine staff supervision or employee performance management.

•       The Consultant is expected to use their own computer and communication tools. Project-specific equipment, assessment tools, and planning tools required for field testing will be provided by VillageReach for the purpose of the assignment.

•       The Consultant is responsible for their own tax obligations, insurance, and statutory contributions, and is not eligible for VillageReach staff benefits.

•       The Consultant may undertake other engagements during the assignment period, provided these do not create a conflict of interest or affect delivery of the agreed deliverables and timelines.

•       The Consultant will comply with VillageReach safeguarding, data protection, code of conduct, and security policies as conditions of the consultancy agreement.

•       The assignment carries no supervisory or line management responsibilities. The Consultant will facilitate field activities and work alongside participating teams without assuming line management of government personnel or VillageReach staff.

2. SCOPE AND DELIVERABLES

Scope of Work

The Consultant will deliver the scope below in accordance with the agreed consultancy workplan, deliverables, and timelines.

State Government and Community Engagement

•       Deliver agreed state and local stakeholder engagement activities in accordance with the consultancy scope of work, including engagement with state and LGA authorities, facilities, and partners to support site selection, approvals, and scheduling of project activities.

•       Engage Ward Development Committees and other community representatives on outreach preferences and access barriers, and document agreed follow-up actions.

Outreach and Cold Chain Assessments

•       Review microplans, session records, and logistics arrangements; conduct observations and stakeholder discussions using agreed assessment tools.

•       Document outreach requirements, cold chain constraints, and effective practices, and verify local information to support mapping and planning.

Field Implementation and Planning Support

•       Organize agreed field visits, workshops, and planning exercises, supporting participating teams to compare outreach models and cold chain options.

•       Provide agreed technical and implementation support for equipment deployment, orientation activities, and field testing; document user experience and promptly flag equipment, temperature-control, or other implementation concerns to VillageReach.

Data Collection and Operational Learning

•       Collect and check quantitative and qualitative data, maintain supporting records, and prepare concise field reports and progress updates at agreed milestones.

•       Document how geography, staffing, transport, financing, community preferences, and gender-related workforce considerations affect implementation.

Tool Validation and Deliverable Management

•       Facilitate testing of draft planning tools by state, LGA, and facility users against local outreach scenarios, and document feedback on clarity, usability, and feasibility.

•       Maintain agreed project activity and deliverable trackers necessary for completion of the consultancy scope, arrange logistics for consultancy activities, and submit agreed deliverables and progress updates.

Deliverables and Timeline

The Consultant will submit the deliverables below. Timelines are counted from the contract start date and will be confirmed in the approved inception workplan. Phase 1 covers Months 1 to 12 and Phase 2 covers Months 13 to 24.

•       Deliverable 1: Inception note and workplan. Due within 2 weeks of contract start. Approach, activity schedule, stakeholder list, site visit plan, and deliverable tracker. Accepted when approved in writing by VillageReach.

•       Deliverable 2: Stakeholder engagement and site selection summary. Due by end of Month 2. Confirmed sites, documented state and LGA approvals, and summary of Ward Development Committee and community engagement with agreed follow-up actions.

•       Deliverable 3: Outreach and cold chain assessment report. Due by end of Month 5 for Phase 1, with an update by end of Month 15 for Phase 2. Completed assessment tools, verified and cleaned data, and a summary of outreach requirements, cold chain constraints, and effective practices to inform mapping and planning.

•       Deliverable 4: Field implementation and testing report. Due by end of Month 10 for Phase 1 and end of Month 21 for Phase 2. Documentation of equipment deployment, orientation activities, and field testing, including user experience, issues log, and actions taken.

•       Deliverable 5: Planning tool validation report. Due by end of Month 11 for Phase 1 and end of Month 22 for Phase 2. Results of user testing of draft planning tools against local outreach scenarios, with feedback on clarity, usability, and feasibility and recommended refinements.

•       Deliverable 6: Quarterly progress updates. Due at the end of Months 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, and 21. Brief updates against the workplan and deliverable tracker, highlighting progress, risks, and support needed.

•       Deliverable 7: Final consultancy report and data handover. Due by end of Month 24. Synthesis of implementation learning, including contextual factors affecting implementation, with complete datasets, records, and supporting files handed over to VillageReach.

Reporting, Review, and Payment

•       The Consultant will report progress to the Nigeria Project Manager at agreed milestones. The Project Lead will provide technical guidance and review the technical quality of deliverables.

•       VillageReach will review each deliverable within 10 working days of submission and either accept it or return it with consolidated comments. The Consultant will address comments within 5 working days.

•       Payment will be made on acceptance of deliverables in line with the payment schedule in the consultancy agreement. Level of effort and fees will be agreed with the selected consultant and set out in that agreement.

•       Approved field travel and activity costs will be covered in line with VillageReach consultant travel and expense policy.

•       All data, tools, and materials produced under the assignment remain the property of VillageReach and will be handled in line with agreed confidentiality and data protection requirements.

Requirements

3. CONSULTANT REQUIREMENTS

To deliver this assignment successfully, the Consultant should bring the knowledge, skills, and experience below. VillageReach welcomes applications from qualified individuals of all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities.

Education and Experience

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in public health, health sciences, supply chain management, or a related field required.

Experience

• At least five years of relevant experience supporting immunization or public health program implementation, with demonstrated understanding of immunization service delivery and cold chain equipment, including how equipment is used to support vaccine storage, transport, and service delivery.
• Practical experience working with state and LGA health authorities, facility teams, and community stakeholders in Nigeria.
• Experience supporting routine immunization outreach, including microplanning, session preparation, and vaccine supply and cold chain arrangements for outreach services.
• Experience conducting field assessments, interviews, observations, or routine monitoring, including checking data quality and documenting findings.
• Experience organizing field activities, facilitating local planning discussions, and supporting health worker orientation or on-the-job learning.
• Experience working in Kaduna or Katsina and familiarity with local health structures and service delivery conditions strongly preferred.
• Experience using maps or geographic information for outreach planning, or supporting introduction of new equipment or tools, is desirable.
• Experience with temperature-controlled powered vaccine storage (TPVS) devices is an added advantage.

Other Qualifications

• Strong organizational and follow-through skills, with the ability to manage multiple field activities and maintain accurate records.
• Practical problem-solving ability and sound judgment, including recognizing when to seek technical guidance from VillageReach.
• Proficiency in Word and Excel and comfort using digital data collection tools; ability to learn project-specific tools and equipment workflows.
• Ability to interpret basic maps and connect geographic information with local knowledge of routes, communities, and service delivery conditions.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in English; Hausa proficiency strongly preferred.
• Ability to build respectful relationships with government officials, health workers, and communities and facilitate participation across diverse groups.
• Attentiveness to gender, equitable access, and respectful handling of information collected from health workers and community members.
• Ability to independently organize and execute agreed activities and deliverables, providing progress updates at agreed milestones and adapting to changing field conditions.
• Ability to maintain sufficient presence in the selected implementation state and undertake travel necessary to complete the agreed deliverables, in accordance with VillageReach security procedures.