PAHO Consultant - Intercultural Health

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

July 8, 2026

Closing Date:

July 21, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

DHE Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Intercultural Health Consultant

In the framework of universal health, and leaving no one behind, the Member States of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have prioritized actions to improve access to comprehensive, appropriate, timely, and quality health services without any kind of discrimination. As stated in the report of the High-level Commission “Universal Health in the 21st Century: 40 Years of Alma-Ata”, there is a need to develop people- and community-centered primary-health-care-based models that include interculturalism and ethnicity. Likewise, in recognition of the health inequities that systematically experience certain ethnic groups— including Indigenous Peoples, people of African descent, and Roma people— the Member States unanimously adopted the Policy on Ethnicity and Health in 2017 (CSP29/7, Rev.1), stressing the need to act on social determinants and include cultural differences to improve people’s quality of life. Thus, to cooperate with Member states in its operationalization, PAHO launched the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025 as guidance. The five priority strategic lines of action of the Policy on Ethnicity and Health are 1) the production of evidence; 2) the promotion of policy action; 3) social participation and strategic partnerships; 4) recognition of ancestral knowledge and traditional and complementary medicine; and 5) capacity development at all levels.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to countries to incorporate an intercultural approach to health services. This includes preparing, coordinating, and providing training to different audiences, including Indigenous and Afro-descendant youth, on intercultural approaches to sexual and reproductive health. In addition, the consultant will also provide support in ongoing efforts to implement intercultural approaches in the prevention and elimination of communicable diseases. The consultant will also provide technical support to the Cultural Diversity Advisor in implementing other prioritized lines of the Policy (e.g., social participation, traditional medicine).

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

The Pan American Health Organization addresses the health needs of the diverse groups living in situation of vulnerability, considering their contexts and views. In this regard, Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendants, Roma people, and members of other ethnic groups in the region of the Americas face challenges that affect their health and well-being. For this reason, the Pan American Health Organization has worked with its Member States to address and ensure a coherent and culturally adequate approach to health that takes into consideration the diverse contexts in the Region.

As a follow-up to the approval of the first policy on Ethnicity and health in 2017, a Strategy and plan of action on Ethnicity and health (2019-2025) was approved. The Strategy and Plan of Action include 3 impact indicators and 17 progress indicators. In 2023, a progress report was presented to Member States. The report showed the need to strengthen intercultural health services and promote the effective participation of the diverse groups from the region. One impact indicator addresses maternal mortality among Indigenous and Afro-descendant women.

Many health indicators are worse for Indigenous Peoples, People of African descent, and other ethnic groups. Currently, various initiatives are being promoted by PAHO to provide technical cooperation to countries and respond to the needs of different communities. Among others, the application of knowledge dialogues and its adaptation to different priority areas, including trachoma, other communicable diseases and sexual and reproductive health.

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support to incorporate the intercultural approach to health, with a focus on visual health, sexual and reproductive health, addressing the needs of the different groups in situations of vulnerability and ensuring their participation in any process that affects their health and wellbeing.

Objectives

To provide technical cooperation and training to countries to incorporate an intercultural approach to health with a focus on priority areas. To participate in capacity-building activities (virtual and in-person) related to the adaptation and implementation of knowledge dialogues with a focus on sexual and reproductive health, prevention and elimination of communicable diseases and other priority topics. To contribute to the implementation of the main recommendations of the final report of the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025, with a focus on impact indicators.

DELIVERABLES:

Adaptation of the knowledge dialogues methodology to early pregnancy in selected Indigenous communities, from a human rights approach, and validation in selected countries Technical document with a detailed overview of the communities selected in countries (Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador) to implement knowledge dialogues in the context of trachoma and other neglected diseases Elaboration of a technical note with recommendations to address interculturality in early pregnancy, as a follow-up to the results of implementing knowledge dialogues with Indigenous Youth and midwives, and in line with the Strategy and Plan of Action on Ethnicity and Health 2019-2025 Validation of technical note with midwives and men and women of wisdom in selected countries, through the implementation of knowledge dialogues, to articulate ancestral traditional medicine and Western medicine.

Products:

• Document on the adaptation of the knowledge dialogues methodology to early pregnancy from a human rights-based approach and development of a technical note for its validation in selected countries
• Technical document with overview of selected communities (Paraguay, Colombia, Ecuador),
• Technical note to address interculturality in early pregnancy among Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities

Total: $12,900

Technical supervision: The consultancy is directly supervised by the PAHO’s Regional Advisor on Cultural Diversity.

Travel: It may be necessary to travel. In this case, the corresponding expenses will be borne by PAHO according to the per-country allowances. The consultant is expected to work remotely from his/her home with regular exchanges through email, phone, Teams, or other online platforms.

Consultant profile:

Education:

Essential: A university or master’s degree in public health, social sciences, or a related health field from a recognized university.

Languages:

Very good knowledge of English or Spanish with working knowledge of the other language. Knowledge of French and/or Portuguese would be an asset.

Years of relevant experience:

Essential:

• Experience in Intercultural health.
• Minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in public health projects.
• Strong interpersonal skills to be able to coordinate with multiple offices, partners, and counterparts.
• Strong communication skills, including writing, presenting, researching, etc., and using relevant IT applications.

Desirable:

• Past work experience with PAHO/WHO in a relevant field is an advantage.
• Past work experience in the Latin American region in relevant fields is an advantage.
• Experience working with Indigenous and/or Afro-descendant communities.

Contract Duration: 4 Months

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.