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For every child, Health 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The 1992–1993 hostilities and the resulting destruction and isolation have negatively impacted the economic and social welfare in the Abkhazia, Georgia. For the last 30 years, the unresolved conflict has set back progress and continues to jeopardize human rights and living conditions of conflict-affected communities, impacting access to social services, human security, and peace. Since the mid-1990s, United Nations entities and international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) have been working in Abkhazia with the aim of improving living conditions for conflict-affected, displaced and vulnerable communities. UNICEF, being the key player in advocating and supporting the realization of the rights of children, as stated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and guided by the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, is implementing strategic interventions in the fields of health, education and child protection in Abkhazia. More specifically, since 2011, UNICEF has been actively supporting the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) including the establishment of immunization monitoring database software, introduction of an immunization calendar based on WHO standards and recommendations, introduction of key vaccines to the calendar, procurement services for vaccines, strengthening of the vaccine cold chain, and training of health professionals. Notwithstanding concerted efforts of UNICEF and international development partners, substantial gaps in health services in Abkhazia remain unsolved. The limited supply of essential medicines, significant shortages of health workers, lack of reliable health data and limited skills to effectively plan interventions, contributes to poor access to essential health services, including immunization which represents a critical component of the integrated public health framework. UNICEF’s immunization program review in Abkhazia (2024) highlighted the distressingly low immunization coverage, notably with DTP3 at 12 months, plummeting below 15%. Furthermore, Abkhazia was in the grip of an alarming pertussis outbreak, reporting over 691 confirmed cases in 2024 alone, equivalent to 284 cases per 100,000 population - with the unsettling potential for further transmission to neighbouring communities. The risk of vaccine preventable diseases extends beyond pertussis, encompassing looming threats of measles, rubella, polio, and diphtheria outbreaks, with MMR1 immunization coverage also perilously below 30%. The review has also reviled significant multifaceted gaps including in awareness among stakeholders. Addressing these issues is crucial for the successful implementation of immunization activities and achieving optimal vaccine coverage in Abkhazia.

 Scope of Work:

To address the urgent need to strengthen immunization activities, UNICEF is recruiting an Immunization Specialist (international) Consultant to support the development, planning, implementation, delivery, monitoring and oversight of catch-up immunization interventions. The consultant is expected to facilitate discussions amongst medical professionals on maternal and child health, including immunisation, as well as in the provision of oversight for the implementation of immunization catch-up activities for addressing critical coverage gaps. The consultant will be expected to support the development of a human-centred, behaviourally informed catch-up immunization plan with zero dose approach, focusing on identification of unvaccinated (zero dose) or under-vaccinated individuals. The plan will detail objectives, target groups, vaccine logistics, staffing, budgeting, and timelines. The consultant will support an adequate supply of vaccines and proper cold chain management, as well as set up of vaccination clinics and integration of catch-up services into existing healthcare facilities. The consultant will need to track progress and coverage rates to assess the impact of the immunization catch-up activities and identify areas for improvement using feedback to refine actions and address challenges encountered. For this to happen, adjustments will be required for the existing electronic platform on immunization. Namely, update of the reporting modules to reflect the relevant data and encourage utilization of the data to establish tailored actions. The consultant will need to collect relevant insights through focus groups discussions and/or review of available data to design information, education and communication activities. A targeted communication and awareness raising campaign will need to be developed and carried out utilising a spectrum of communication products and communication channels facilitating engagement with various segments of the society to build trust, dispel myths, and to promote the benefits of vaccination. Simplified behaviour insights strategies will be applied to design and customise solutions, including a campaign, to optimize outreach and messages amplification. Solutions may include use of SMS reminders, local and/or social media as well as engaging influential stakeholders, including health workers, to endorse and promote vaccination. In addition, health workers and volunteers will be mobilized to visit homes, especially in hard-to-reach areas, to inform and engage residents.

Duration and Location:

• Start date: 1 September 2025
• End date: 30 June 2026
• Travel to Tbilisi and Sokhumi is anticipated

The consultation envisages both online and hybrid modalities (to come as a part of the offer).

Work Assignment Overview:

Tasks, Deliverables, and Timelines

1. Task: Provide a mapping of key medical institutions and professionals in Abkhazia responsible for immunization.
   Deliverable: Mapping of key medical institutions and professionals in Abkhazia responsible for immunization.
   Timeline: September–October 2025
2. Task: Identify the medical professionals most appropriate to engage in discussions related to maternal and child health (MCH) and immunization, and engage them in an outbreak response group.
   Deliverable: Terms of Reference (ToR) for outbreak response group finalized.
   Timeline: October 2025
3. Task: Facilitate full participation and ownership of key medical professionals in the development of the catch-up immunization campaign concept.
   Deliverable: Immunization campaign plan developed and discussed with medical professionals.
   Timeline: October–December 2025
4. Task: Facilitate training of healthcare workers and managers on immunization best practices, interpersonal communication, and other relevant topics; conduct on-the-spot supportive supervision.
   Deliverable: All healthcare workers involved in the catch-up campaign are provided with training.
   Timeline: November 2025 – January 2026
5. Task: Support implementation of the catch-up immunization campaign through intensive field monitoring and ad-hoc technical meetings; recommend adjustments to strengthen service delivery.
   Deliverable: All healthcare workers trained on immunization under the project receive at least one supportive supervision visit in the field.
   Timeline: January 2025 – April 2026
6. Task: Facilitate full ownership of healthcare workers in data collection through continuous training and supportive supervision.
   Deliverable: All healthcare workers responsible for data collection benefit from at least one supportive supervision visit in the field.
   Timeline: Throughout the consultancy

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A medical degree and/or master's degree related to health or public health is required. An advanced academic degree is an asset.
• A minimum of ten years of work experience in the field of immunization is required.
• Experience in planning and/or implementing a catch-up immunization campaign is required.
• Proven experience in providing training in the relevant field is required.
• Relevant experience with UNICEF is considered a strong asset.
• Excellent communication skills are required.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Fluency in Russian is considered a strong asset.

Interested experts should apply for the whole scope of the assignment, indicating the daily consultancy fee, as well as travel-related expenses in the Cover Letter.

\For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.