ROSTER: Routine Immunization Coverage & Equity, Immunization Section, Global Programme Division, Remote with possibility of multiple duty stations for deployment as required, Req # 594759

Consultancy Title: ROSTER: Routine Immunization Coverage & Equity

Section/Division/Duty Station: Immunization Section, GPD

Duration: 17 September 2026 to 30 August 2029

Home/ Office Based: Remote (with possibility of multiple duty stations for deployment as required).

About UNICEF –

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), which aims to halve the number of unvaccinated zero-dose children by 2030, and the Gavi 6.0 strategy 2026-2030 recognize the critical importance of addressing inequities across and within countries for the global immunization goals to be achieved. The equity reference group (ERG) which is a group of immunization experts has identified four priority areas which contains the bulk of zero-dose and under-vaccinated children including the remote rural, urban poor, conflict settings, ethnic minorities and addressing gender dimension so as to make significant strides in reaching every child with vaccinations. Some of the interventions needed include tailoring strategies such as conducting a robust coverage and equity assessment (CEA) to map inequities in immunization access and utilization, multiple deprivation amongst the zero dose children and communities as well as define the major drivers and what interventions will need to be implemented to address these inequities. Other interventions will include addressing the peculiarities seen in remote rural, urban, conflict and other underserved populations, as well as mainstreaming gender dimensions into immunization programming. Gender related issues in immunization are relevant for the equity agenda in immunization. The gender analysis needs to have strong links with the equity analysis, as well as strategies to address these, even if separate consultancy has been engaged on this topic. In addition, several countries mostly Gavi eligible countries are required to undergo a holistic planning incorporating findings from the CEAs and enhanced gender analysis as part of situational analysis and prioritization of interventions.

In line with IA2030, Gavi 6.0 and UNICEF’s global focus on equity, the roster will also support: (i) zero-dose implementation monitoring (ZDIM) and use of data for adaptive management; (ii) design and implementation of targeted interventions for underserved populations, including urban slums, peri-urban settlements, ethnic minorities, pastoralist and nomadic groups, migrants, and remote rural communities; (iii) implementation of recommendations from equity and gender analyses; (iv) perform multideprivation analyses and design systematic integrated service delivery, strengthening health systems (v) expanding coverage of New Vaccines, and (vi) sustaining the gains of the “Big Catch-Up” and progressively routinizing catch-up approaches within routine immunization systems.

Scope of Work:

Countries and regions will need timely synchronized technical assistance in facilitating to conduct CEAs, multideprivation analyses, identifying the key interventions to reduce the number of zero dose children and to address multiple deprivations through integrated service delivery, along the life course. These supports will include technical assistance in developing and implementing zero-dose reduction strategies in these contexts, establishing and/or strengthening zero-dose implementation monitoring, and ensuring the systematic follow-up and routinization of catch-up activities within routine immunization programming.

Areas of Expertise:

The consultant will be required to provide technical assistance with the tasks listed on the following three technical areas or some of the relevant tasks from these areas, in a certain country or multiple countries, and depending on the specific programme needs.

1. Technical Area 1: Technical assistance to target countries on Coverage and Equity Assessments (CEAs) and multideprivation analysis

Countries are periodically required to conduct CEAs as part of equity analysis to identify missed children and make recommendations on how to reach them. Often these CEAs should align with national or subnational programme planning cycles or events such the holistic planning and development of immunization or health strategic plans such as National Immunization Strategy (NIS). The CEAs has a defined toolkit developed by UNICEF and WHO with findings meant to assist countries in strengthening their strategies in reaching un/under-vaccinated, investment cases and funding proposals for immunization through better evidence generation on the bottlenecks and root causes of under-performance as such factors must be addressed before any tangible progress towards improved coverage can be realistically made. In addition, the CEA could also provide directions for the technical support requirements to countries by immunization partners within Gavi’s Country Assistance.

The consultant will work on all or a selection from the following activities:

1. Engagement with countries identified for CEAs and develop a costed country action plan with timelines on when to finalize the CEA keeping in mind the need for it to be used for action as part of the country holistic application or other national plan or proposal development
2. Conduct a multideprivation analysis on services such as immunization, MNCH, nutrition, education, WASH, social policy and protection for zero dose children and communities for appropriate integrated service delivery and integration/convergence of services.
3. Facilitate an orientation session with the country team and stakeholders at the national and subnational levels on the updated coverage and equity assessment (CEA) guidelines
4. Assist countries to review existing national and or subnational data including administrative and survey data, including data beyond immunization, to analyze their coverage and equity situation and determine why coverage is lower in specific population groups, geographical areas or pockets of under-immunized children.
5. Assist with the design and collection of additional qualitative or quantitative data to supplement available existing data as part of the CEA plan or multideprivation analysis of a country or district
6. Provide support to countries to ensure gender analysis is incorporated in the CEAs and other relevant analyses, and liaise with gender expert support to the country
7. Compile final coverage and equity assessment (CEA) or multideprivation or other relevant reports including recommendations
8. Work with the Centres of Excellence teams to assist with other relevant activities to help countries plan, implement and finalize strategies to improve coverage and reduce inequities through CEAs, Gavi holistic planning, NIS and other planning or assessment activities.

1. Technical Area 2: Developing and Implementing Zero-Dose Reduction Strategies (Urban/Peri-Urban, Remote Rural, Conflict, Gender and other Special Populations) and integrated service delivery and integration, along the life-course, such as 2YL, adolescents

Through routine monitoring of the immunization programme, periodic surveys and CEAs or equity analyses, multideprivation analyses, countries identify and monitor coverage and equity trends at the national and subnational levels including in specific contexts such as urban and peri-urban settings, remote rural, conflict and other populations such as ethnic minorities, nomadic and pastoralists or persons affected by disasters. Countries often require targeted technical assistance in implementing the recommendations of these assessments or survey findings meant in improving coverage and reducing inequities and deprivations, through designing and rolling out specific strategies to reach zero-dose and under-vaccinated children and missed communities, and establishing or strengthening zero-dose implementation monitoring (ZDIM) systems to track progress over time, or establishing/strengthening integrated services and integration along the lifecourse.

The consultant will be required, in line with these efforts, to provide the following support as per country request:

1. Based on data trends in the country, use findings from equity assessments and other analyses to help countries prioritize and design strategies which aim to overcome immunization and access challenges encountered in zero dose and missed communities, including the settings to reach the urban poor and peri-urban settlements, refugees and displaced persons, persons affected by conflict, remote rural and other special populations in the country with vaccines and integrated services. This may include looking at this from the angle of health systems strengthening pillars for a systematic integration and service delivery, along the life course, and looking at different stages of life such as 2YL, adolescents.
2. Assist countries to design and roll out monitoring and learning plans including adapting SMART indicators to monitor and evaluate progress.
3. Provide technical support to strengthen zero-dose implementation monitoring frameworks and indicators, and to use the data for adaptive management, course correction and continuous improvement of strategies targeting missed communities.

1. Provide technical support to regional and country coordination mechanisms, including the Regional Working Group, to advance the zero-dose agenda, promote cross-country learning and strengthen implementation of equitable immunization strategies.

1. Support the documentation of lessons learnt, case studies and best practices as it relates to strategies and interventions designed and rolled out in these specific contexts.
2. Assist with the dissemination of captured lessons learnt through webinars, case study reports, and drafting manuscripts as may be applicable.
3. Provide support with other related assessments, interventions and strategies as may be required.

1. Technical Area 3: Technical Assistance for Zero-Dose Reduction and catch-up on missed children in Fragile and Humanitarian Settings

Emergencies, conflict and humanitarian situations may disrupt routine immunization services and countries with Fragile and Conflict settings are facing challenge to catch up the left-out children. 40% of the ZD children reside in fragile and conflict settings. In addition to supporting time-bound catch-up activities, there is a growing need to sustain the gains of the Big Catch-Up and progressively routinize catch-up approaches within routine immunization systems. In addition there is need for country support to operationalize the Fragility and Humanitarian (F&H) Approach, including strengthening equitable immunization, zero-dose reduction, immunization recovery and health system resilience.

The consultant will provide technical assistance in the following areas:

1. Provide technical assistance to countries to identify, characterize and analyse zero-dose and under-vaccinated children (projected targets and achievement), by geography, gender, ethnicity and other equity dimensions, to inform targeted immunization strategies.
2. Support the development and implementation of context-specific zero-dose reduction strategies, catch-up vaccination plans and routine immunization recovery interventions.
3. Provide technical assistance in developing operational plans for catch-up in targeted areas and restoring of routine immunization services.
4. Provide technical support to sustain gains achieved by embedding periodic and opportunistic catch-up strategies within routine immunization, outreach and integrated primary health care services.
5. Provide technical assistance to country offices in analysing immunization gaps, identifying missed children, including potentially through multideprivation lens, prioritizing underserved populations and facilitating planning and implementation of targeted interventions.
6. Provide technical support to regional and country coordination mechanisms, including the Regional Working Group, to advance the zero-dose agenda, promote cross-country learning and strengthen implementation of equitable immunization strategies.
7. Support the documentation and dissemination of best practices, operational lessons and country experiences in implementing zero-dose reduction and catch-up interventions

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Travel

The consultant may be deployed to support countries undergoing the coverage and equity assessment (CEA) or other assessments, holistic application to Gavi, or countries developing and or rolling out strategies to reach zero dose children in urban/periurban, remote rural, conflict or other contexts including gender mainstreaming. The duration of deployment may be between weeks to a few months depending on type and depth of support needed. Prior to each deployment, a clear deployment plan and decision will be made in consultation with the Center of Excellence, and CO teams on the duration of such assignments. Such plans will be incorporated into the contract by the hiring offices.

Expected Results (Based on Country Needs):

The pre-screened pool of experts/roster established through this solicitation process is expected to expedite the contracting and fast-track the deployment of targeted technical assistance to countries aligned to their programme needs without delays.

The consultant will be expected to provide appropriate technical support in all or some of the technical categories listed above based on identified country needs.

Experts Pool will be managed by UNICEF Global Health Practice– Immunization section. Technical supervision for the tasks will be provided by the Vaccines Delivery and Optimisation Team VDOT), Regional and Country focal points in the country of deployment. This expert pool will be accessible to all UNICEF offices.

Products to be delivered by the consultant will be aligned to the country need but could include and not limited to:

1. Coverage and equity assessment (CEA) reports/ multideprivation analysis reports of acceptable standards,
2. Specific strategies to reach zero dose children and missed communities in urban, remote rural, conflict, pastoralists, ethnic minorities and other settings,
3. Strategies and activities for integration and integrated service delivery along the lifecourse (2YL, adolescents) through the systematic lens of health systems pillars or opportunistic, as the situation permits.
4. Operationalized catch-up campaigns which includes situation analysis, SIA microplanning, advocacy for campaign and monitoring plan etc
5. Updating ZD information system including in country capacity building
6. Tools and guidelines to reach zero dose children in specific contexts, integrated service delivery and integration into Primary Health Care, along the life course
7. Documentation of case studies, lessons learnt,
8. Draft manuscripts for publication
9. Other relevant products as defined by Centers of Excellence and CO needs.

Qualifications

Education:

• Advanced university degree in Medicine, Public Health, Health Policy and Management, Social or Behavioural Science, other related fields.
• Additional qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the university degree.

Work experience

• Minimum of 5 years relevant professional experience in planning, management and implementation of immunization or health programs.
• Very good understanding of national immunization programs, Primary health care and health systems.
• Experience in supporting countries to design and implement coverage and equity assessments, equity analysis, strategies to reach zero dose and under vaccinated children etc.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Knowledge and experience with reaching every district or community (RED/REC) approach.
• Immunization programming field experience in contexts such as urban, remote rural, conflict, gender, and related areas an advantage.
• Proficiency in use of statistical software an advantage.
• Strong analytical skills and experience synthesizing information from multiple sources.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Excellent writing/documentation skills

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English, and/or French both spoken and written, is required.
• Knowledge of French or other UN languages an asset.

Desirables:

• Experience with manuscripts for publication

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal

- 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.