Current vacancies

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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Technical Support New Vaccine Introductions, Optimization, and Integrated Delivery

Duty Station: GPD HEALTH

Duration: 28 Dec 2025 – 31 Jul 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

UNICEF’s Immunization Section, Health Programme Division, is seeking to contract consultants to provide technical and analytical support to the New Vaccine Introduction, Integrated Delivery and Reach Team, with emphasis on Asian Pacific countries.

UNICEF, as a key partner in the global immunization agenda, continues to support countries in introducing, scaling up, and sustaining equitable access to new and underutilized vaccines. The organization plays a leading role in vaccine introduction, system strengthening, and delivery optimization, working closely with governments, Gavi, WHO, and other partners.

With the acceleration of Gavi 6.0 strategy implementation and increasing country demand for support in new vaccine introductions (NVIs) and vaccine portfolio optimization, UNICEF provides high-quality, coordinated, and evidence-based global thought leadership and technical assistance to countries. This includes optimizing country vaccine portfolios, guiding investment prioritization, and ensuring readiness and long-term integration into primary health care and health systems strengthening frameworks. In furtherance of this effort, UNICEF would like to contract a senior expert/s to carry out the below tasks.

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To provide technical expertise to countries in new vaccine introduction, optimization, and integrated delivery, ensuring timely, evidence-based assistance to selected Gavi-eligible low- and middle-income countries. The consultant will strengthen the planning, coordination, strategy design, documentation, and deployment of technical assistance for new vaccine introductions, optimization and prioritization, integrated delivery and improving reach of the vaccines

Scope of Work:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Senior Health Adviser within UNICEF’s Health Section.

Key Responsibilities include:
1. Strategic Advisory Services New Vaccine Introductions, Optimization, and Integrated Delivery in Asean Pacific countries
   - Expertise provided to Asian Pacific countries Gavi-eligible countries in prioritizing new vaccine introductions and optimizing vaccine portfolios (VPOP).
   - Provide technical guidance to UNICEF country teams on National Immunization Strategies (NIS) and support countries with quality strategic planning in immunization and PHC in the Asean Pacific

- Work with countries in the development of the Gavi holistic application, based on the National Immunization Strategic plan in the Asean Pacific

- Consolidate and summarize country progress, highlight gaps, and recommend follow-up actions to strengthen program performance.
2. Strategic Advisory Services - Integration, Monitoring, and Technical Support
   - Monitor and guide integration of rotavirus, PCV and HPV and other new vaccines into existing immunization and primary health care platforms, using the infant platform, 2YL, school based outreaches and out of school platforms for adolescents.
   - Review and synthesize data from countries, identifying bottlenecks and facilitating solutions with partners.
   - Develop concise technical briefs and progress summaries for management and partner review.

3. Deployment Support- Knowledge Management and Coordination
   - Document lessons learned, promising practices, and country experiences on new vaccine introduction and integrated delivery.
   - Contribute to the preparation of presentations, reports, and analytical summaries for internal and external dissemination.
   - Facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-country learning on optimization and integrated delivery approaches.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

Phase 1 – Inception

- 1 inception report outlining workplan, methodology, and plan for support of countries to receive technical support for VPOP, NIS, holistic applications (cash and vaccines support)

30 Jan 2026

Phase 2a – TA to planning

- VPOP, NIS, holistic application prepared in Gavi eligible Asian Countries

31 Jul 2026

Phase 2a – Implementation -scale up of NVI and integration in system platforms

Quarterly progress summaries with key milestones on integration of rotavirus, PCV and HPV vaccines in EPI and PHC and education sectors prepared.

31 Jul 2026

Phase 3 – Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

Synthesis of key findings, lessons learned, and good practices on NVI and integration, including 3–4 case studies and a technical brief on system strengthening and integrated delivery. 5 knowledge exchange and cross-country learning assets on optimization and integrated delivery approaches done in at 5 countries

31 Jul 2026

Phase 4 – Final Reporting

Final consultancy report summarizing deliverables, outcomes, and recommendations for the next phase of work this includes presentations, reports, and analytical summaries for internal and external dissemination

31 Jul 2026

Travel:  Up to 5 trips with 20 days of travel

Qualifications

Education:   

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Global Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, or Health Policy and Management.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

Minimum 8 years of professional experience in immunization programme design and management, new vaccine introduction, and/or health systems strengthening in LMIC and MIC contexts.
- Demonstrated experience supporting Gavi-eligible countries on vaccine introduction or related health systems processes.
- Proven analytical, coordination, and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical information for decision-making.
- Fluency in English (required); French or another UN language (an 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.

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 offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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.