Consultancy: Senior Consultant: Immunization 2030 Roadmap Revision, Health Section, PD, New York, Req # 540584

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BACKGROUND

UNICEF is working on immunization across more than 130 country programmes with partners in government, NGOs, other UN agencies, international organizations, and the private sector to provide immunization to children across the globe. Countries and their partners have achieved major progress towards reducing vaccine-preventable deaths in recent decades, which has contributed to the ongoing global decline in under-five mortality. However, important challenges remain.  The COVID-19 pandemic is a grim reminder of the ways in which disease outbreaks can upend lives and livelihoods, with knockdown effects on children’s education, mental health, access to health services, social protection and overall well-being.

Vaccines are among the greatest advances in global health and development. For over two centuries, vaccines have safely reduced the scourge of diseases like polio, measles and smallpox, helping children grow up healthy and happy. They save more than five lives every minute – preventing up to three million deaths a year, even before the arrival of COVID-19.

Thanks to immunization efforts worldwide, children are able to walk, play, and learn. Vaccinated children do better at school, with economic benefits that ripple across their communities. Today, vaccines are estimated to be one of the most cost-effective means of advancing global welfare.

Despite these longstanding benefits, low immunization levels persist. Some 20 million children miss out on life-saving vaccines annually. The most poor and marginalized children – often most in need of vaccines – continue to be the least likely to get them. Many live in countries affected by conflict, in urban slums or in hard-to-reach remote areas. Among the children who lose their lives before their fifth birthday, nearly 30 per cent die from diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. Low immunization rates also compromise progress in areas of maternal and child health and well-being.

The UNICEF Immunization Roadmap, developed in 2018, sets out the organization’s priorities on immunization through 2030, with detailed focus on the period of the UNICEF Strategic Plan, 2018–2021. The Roadmap complements UNICEF’s Strategy for Health, 2016–2030, clearly articulating UNICEF comparative advantage in supporting immunization programmes relative to other partners, organizational priorities on immunization and how these priorities contribute to overarching strategic goals on primary health care and health systems strengthening. UNICEF used the Immunization Roadmap to inform and influence the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA 2030) and Gavi 5.0, both of which now contain many of the principles and priorities of the roadmap.

The UNICEF Immunization Unit management team intends to revisit the roadmap 2018-2030 to align with current evolving programme needs. Much has changed in the world since the initial document was developed.  The IA2030 and Gavi 5.0 were created and now being implemented; the Global Action Plan for PHC was created; and very importantly, the global immunization efforts has been hugely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic – including the disruptions to immunization and widening of equity gaps plus the challenges in simultaneously rolling out a number of COVID-19 vaccines globally. In addition, the review will help to address gaps in the roadmap that have been identified in the three years of its implementation and also an opportunity to incorporate elements of programme resilience, new innovations, financial and environmental sustainability and greater programme integration with other aspects of Primary Health Care.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

 The current Roadmap seeks to contribute to the achievement of the following three major objectives:

1. Global and national policies based on evidence are adequately resourced to address the immunization needs of the most disadvantaged and underserved populations.
2. National systems, domestic resource allocation, and innovative products and approaches guarantee equitable access to immunization services and quality vaccines, contributing to the realization of global immunization goals, including eradication and elimination goals.
3. Communities that value and demand their right to immunization services.

Due to the evolving global scenario, there is a need to review and update the existing roadmap priorities. However, we do not see the need for a radical overhaul given that UNICEF’s comparative advantage relative to other  immunization and PHC partners has not changed substantially; on the contrary the last three years has served to solidify UNICEF’s position in the areas of comparative advantage.

The review will be conducted thorough desk reviews of key documents and progress reports as well as interviews with multiple stakeholders, both from within UNICEF as well as among key partners. Interviewees will include colleagues from global, regional and country level. Following the review, this consultancy will make recommendations to enhance the Immunization Roadmap and incorporate changes into the document for wider review prior to finalization.

This review is being proposed at a strategic moment in time as UNICEF develops its new Strategic Plan (2022-25), there is a reconfiguration of the PD/Health team and there is substantial turnover in the immunization unit. UNICEF’s compulsory rotation policy means that many new members are joining the team, including a change in the team’s leadership. Therefore, it is proposed that this review will be initiated during the tenure of the incumbent Chief of Immunizations, but concluded by the new Chief who is expected to take office by June 2021.

The consultant will work on the following specific tasks:

1. Conduct systematic review of the key documents, analysis and synthesize work areas/objectives to incorporate in the updated roadmap.
2. Conduct interviews with key internal stakeholders from HQ, RO and CO and high-level policy makers, and senior management of multi-stakeholder/partner agencies (global/country level)
3. Document findings of the desk reviews and interviews, outline key areas of needed interventions, including impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
4. Facilitate consultations and meetings with internal and external stakeholders to discuss the findings of the desk reviews and interviews and shape agenda for high level consultation
5. Prepare proposal of the revision and report back to PD/Health management following inputs from the key actors, including changes in strategies, milestones and indicators
6. Incorporate changes and finalize the updated Immunization Roadmap

Qualifications 

• An Advanced University Degree in public health, medicine or other health related area is desired. Candidates with PhD is an asset.
• At least 15 years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national and international levels in management, monitoring and evaluation on routine immunization or vaccine preventable diseases
• Demonstrated senior level experience in immunization program management and global immunization initiatives
• Experience of providing national-level technical assistance to immunization programs in at least five countries outside his/her country of residence is an advantage
• Experience in conducting EPI reviews
• Understanding of United Nations systems and international organizations in general
• Experience working on health system strengthening or maternal, neonatal and child health is an advantage
• Strong analytical, oral & written communication skills including scientific publications and presentations on vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Effective presenter, including ability to adapt the message and visual aids for multiple audiences to deliver concise, impactful presentations
• Proven experience working in multi-stakeholder and multi-cultural settings
• Proficiency in the development of technical guidance for immunization-related topics
• Fluency in English and excellent writing skills

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) (can be downloadedhere: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html 
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
  • your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above
  • 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.

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…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.