Job Title: elMIS System Consultant
Organisation: United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)
Duty Station: Kampala, Uganda
About Organisation:
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is mandated by the UN general assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. Together with our partners, we work in 190 countries and territories to translate that commitment into practical action, focusing special effort on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children, to the benefit of all children, everywhere.
Job Summary: Supply chain management and in particular immunisation supply chain is complex and processes need both automation and data to manage and ensure system performance. An electronic logistic management information systems (eLMIS) is at the heart of the supply chain digital ecosystem and is a force multiplier and can support the improvement of effective vaccine management and ultimately prevent deaths from vaccine preventable diseases.
Gavi sees investment in eLMIS not just benefiting immunisation but should be integrated across the whole supply chain, with immunisation being the entry point.. Though Health Systems Strengthening Phase 3 funding, Gavi is allocating approximately $4M to Uganda for this activity. To ensure quality, Gavi has set as a requirement that countries in which eLMIS investments are made, should follow the Target Software Standards (TSS) which sets minimum requirements to improve standardisation.
Within Uganda there have been several electronic logistic management information systems (eLMIS) that have been piloted but none of them have been able to capture vaccine and supplies visibility, particularly at the lower levels of the health system. As a result of this, the Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunisation (UNEPI) monitors vaccines and logistics manually using the vaccine immunisation material control book which is an excel based stock monitoring tool and monthly stock reports.
The lack of timely and accurate visibility of vaccines and supplies from health facility level up the chain to national level has led to inaccurate tracking of vaccine stocks, consumption, and forecasting data which has hindered optimisation of the national immunisation programme.
Through the Gavi Full Portfolio Planning process, this gap was identified and it was agreed with UNEPI that UNICEF would support the MoH to undertake a comprehensive assessment of current digital health and supply chain landscape including existing systems (e.g., HMIS, LMIS, EMS etc) to ensure alignment and interoperability of the recommended eLMIS within the national digital architecture. The consultancy will recommend, cost, implement and commission a standardised national, comprehensive eLMIS that captures the requirements of the immunization programme as well as all other medical supplies and commodities, is integrated into the national health management information system (HMIS) architecture in Uganda.
The purpose of eLMIS is primarily to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of logistics and supply chain operations, ensuring that health commodities are available when and where they are needed. A functioning eLMIS will:
Improve vaccine and medicines data visibility: providing real-time data on stock levels, inventory, accurate forecasting and supply chain operations.
Reduce medicines, vaccine and supplies stockouts and overstocking: through optimised inventory management to minimise stockouts and overstocking.
Enhance decision-making: through data-driven decision-making for logistics and supply chain operations.
Improve delivery times: Streamline logistics operations to improve procurement cycle, reduce delivery time, and improve access to health commodities.
This project will be undertaken using a phased approach that will use a mix of indvidual consultants and institutional contracts divided as follows:
Phase 1: Scoping, Recommendation and Approval: Global desk review, discussion with key stakeholders in Uganda, review of global suppliers of eLMIS. Includes the development of a business requirements document and project management plan. This must also include specifics on how the eLMIS should be integrated with existing HMIS. Set up of a PMT++. Upon approval of the PMT++ the consultant will then further develop hardware and software recommendations, connectivity requirements, international supplier matrix, draft training and communications approaches. Final sign off from the PMT++ and donor (Individual consultant).
Phase 2: Implementation: The national roll out of the selected eLMIS across health facilities by a chosen supplier.
Justification
The Ministry of Health lacks an integrated, comprehensive national eLMIS to ensure proper accountability and visibility of medicines, vaccines and supplies at the national and district level.
UNEPI has recognised that there is a need for technical support from UNICEF lead a comprehensive assessment, costing, planning, and implementation of an eLMIS that captures the requirements of the immunisation programme and is integrated into existing HMIS architecture.
Objective:
To undertake a comprehensive global scoping review of eLMIS systems including local stakeholder and international supplier engagement and attain approval of a costed implementation plan.
Outputs:
- Global desk review of countries with national eLMIS’ to include a review of software and hardware and international suppliers
- Set up of the Project Management Team ++
- Assessment of eLMIS requirements for Uganda through comprehensive stakeholder engagement
- Development of a roadmap and project management plan.
- Development of hardware and software recommendations, connectivity requirements, international supplier matrix, draft training and communications approaches
Key Duties and Responsibilities:
Inception Phase:
- Develop a detailed inception report including workplan detailing all proposed processes for undertaking and meeting the objective and outputs of the consultancy.
- Project kick off meeting with UNEPI and other stakeholders.
Global Desk Review:
- Undertake a global review of national eLMIS implementations, including 3–5 case studies from countries with relevant contextual similarities or use of similar digital solutions (e.g., OpenLMIS, mSupply, Logistimo and other TSS compliant solutions). The case studies should capture system design, interoperability, implementation challenges, and sustainability models.
eLMIS Digital Landscape Mapping:
- Support a national assessment to determine requirements for a national eLMIS system.
Hardware and software requirements:
- Develop a hardware and software plan including requirements for connectivity based on the business requirements document ensuring compliance with TSS.
- International Supplier matrix:
- Develop a comparative overview of TSS-compliant eLMIS providers based on available information from global implementations. This should include typical deployment models, high-level cost structures (where publicly available), and a Uganda-adapted assessment using the TSS scoring matrix to support future decision-making
Training Plan:
- With the MoH develop a national training plan including training methodologies, estimated days and associated training costs with timeframes.
- Communications Plan:
- Develop a communications plan in coordination with the MoH to highlight project progress, sensitize all stakeholders and promote donor and UNICEF support.
Validation Workshop:
- Validation workshop and final submission of all documents with incorporated changes from stakeholders
Deliverables
- Inception Report
- 1 workshop with key stakeholders to include kick off meeting Report
- Global desk review report 3-5 in depth case studies
- Digital landscape mapping: A report mapping the existing digital health and supply chain systems in Uganda, their functions, interoperability status, and alignment with national digital strategies.
- In-country 1 day workshop with key stakeholders to provide feedback including summary report and presentation
- Business Requirements Document
- Draft Project Management Plan
- Hardware and software requirements document
- International supplier matrix developed with summary of deployment models, indicative cost ranges (where available), and benchmarking using the TSS scorecard adapted to the Uganda context.
- Training plan document
- Communications plan document
- 1 workshop conducted
- All work products reviewed by stakeholders and feedback incorporated
- Submission of final draft of all work products
Qualifications, Skills and Experience:
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education background:
- Required Master’s/Advanced degree in public health, supply chain management or other relevant field
- Minimum of 10+ years work experience working in supply chain management with a focus on (e)LMIS. Preferred experience working in Uganda or East Africa.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
- Proven experience in undertaking eLMIS assessment for Ministries of Health or other national government entities
- Demonstrated experience undertaking global literature reviews
- Familiarity with eLMIS hardware and software options available on the market
- Proven experience in working closely with national governmental and non-governmental stakeholders
- Proven experience supporting the full life-cycle from conceptualization to commissioning of an eLMIS
- Preferred familiarity with the Ugandan context or context within the East African Region
- Excellent facilitation skills, negotiation skills and oral and written communication skills.
- Computer skills include MS Office and qualitative and quantitative analytical skills.
- Knowledge of the UNICEF/GoU EPI programs is an added advantage.
- Excellent working knowledge of English. Other local Ugandan languages an asset.
How to Apply:
All suitably qualified and interested applicants who wish to join United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) should apply online at the link below
Deadline: 28th July 2025
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Level of Education: Postgraduate Degree
Work Hours: 8
Experience in Months: 120