Immunization Catch-up Programme Management and Coordination Consultant - Re

at  UNICEF

Job no: 576834
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: New York
Level: Consultancy
Location: United States
Categories: Health
UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.
Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
And we never give up.

EDUCATION:

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of public health, epidemiology, health economics, international health relations, or related degree.

KNOWLEDGE/EXPERTISE/SKILLS REQUIRED *:

• At least five years of professional experience in public health, health programme management, health stakeholder management and coordination at global and/or regional level, preferably linked to immunization programmes.
• Experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, capacity building, monitoring, learning & evaluation in the area of immunization.
• Familiarity with IA2030, Gavi, and UNICEF immunization programming.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, including advanced PowerPoint/design skills.
• Strong analytical skills and experience conducting rapid surveys, and synthesizing information from multiple sources.
• Ability to use data management and analysis software, and digital tools for data visualization (i.e., ArcGIS, Tableau) is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and effectively collaborate across multiple teams.
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required. Good knowledge of French, Spanish or another UN language is a strong asset.

REQUIREMENTS:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Upload copy of academic credentials

• Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
• travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted the delivery of essential immunization services, leading to declines in childhood vaccination coverage, population immunity gaps, and increasing the risk and occurrence of vaccine preventable disease outbreaks. To tackle the issue, throughout 2022 and 2023 UNICEF and WHO advocated and provided technical support to countries to develop and implement essential immunization catch-up plans aiming to reach children who missed their vaccines with all the required antigens. In 2024, UNICEF has been working in close collaboration with WHO and Gavi secretariat to support the finalization of catch-up plans and vaccine forecasts, the allocation of resources in support of countries, the procurement and delivery of catch-up doses, the development of monitoring and learning agenda, and the deployment of technical support for implementation and monitoring of catch-up activities with focus on vaccine and cold chain management, demand, monitoring. By September 2024, the planning for the Big Catch-up in countries has been completed and the Gavi-approved envelop has been fully allocated. BCU initiative transitioned into the accelerated implementation and implementation monitoring phase.
The implementation, monitoring and reporting on the Big Catch-up activities require strong coordination and project management across levels and teams within UNICEF and with partners (WHO, Gavi secretariat, others). Having assessed the scope of work required for BCU coordination and project management and the existing capacities within UNICEF, PG/Immunization identified a need for a consultant to support this area and associated monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and knowledge management support.
Against this backdrop, UNICEF PG/Immunization seeks the services of the individual consultant who will work under the supervision of the Senior Health Advisor and Lead of Immunization Strategy and Management and in close consultation with the Senior Health Advisor (BCU focal point) in Coverage and Equity unit, as well as various BCU focal points in PG Health, DAPM, SD, to fulfill the scope of work as described below.