Current vacancies

Consultancy Title: Big Catch Up Consultant – Strategic Planning and Programme Management – Risk Analysis

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health Section/Immunization

Duration: 1 March 2026 – 31 August 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

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 COVID-19 pandemic marked a significant downturn in coverage, representing the most severe decline reported in three decades. Prior to this, there was a ten-year period of stagnation in global progress on immunization coverage. It is imperative that urgent and continuous action is taken to reach the children who were missed.

As part of the Gavi Alliance, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in championing the Big Catch-Up (BCU) initiative, a worldwide effort launched in April 2023 to facilitate the recovery and enhancement of immunization systems. Reaching children who have missed routine immunizations necessitates aiding countries in recovering from the setbacks experienced since 2020. Additionally, countries require support to reestablish and resume essential services, such as routine immunization, which were disrupted by the pandemic. Sustaining the regained coverage of routine immunizations and essential services is crucial to resume progress towards achieving the goals and targets outlined in the IA2030 initiative.

UNICEF and partners have been supporting Ministries of Heath through tailored, country-specific response to urgently reach children who missed vaccination during 2019-2022 and close the immunity gaps due to the accumulation of a susceptible cohort. In December 2023, the Gavi Board approved fully financed vaccine doses for the Big Catch-Up (BCU), enabling support for all antigens included in countries’ routine immunization programmes during the 2019–2022 period, with eligibility extended to children up to five years of age

Countries are at different stages of final acceleration and completion of their Big Catch-Up (BCU) strategies. A critical element for success at this stage is the availability of high-quality strategic and operational plans, alongside robust programme management mechanisms, to accelerate delivery, address implementation bottlenecks, and manage residual risks.

Key risks to the successful completion of the BCU and proposed targeted mitigation measures to ensure countries achieve their catch-up objectives within the remaining implementation period have been identified. Beyond short-term recovery, BCU activities provide a strategic opportunity to institutionalize catch-up vaccination as a sustained component of essential immunization services, strengthening routine immunization systems through a comprehensive, system-wide approach.

As BCU implementation enters its final phase, countries require targeted support to accelerate delivery, resolve operational bottlenecks, ensure complete and accurate reporting, and prepare for structured close-out and integration into routine immunization.

UNICEF is recruiting a consultant to support the Programme Management Office (PMO) function for the Big Catch-Up (BCU), with responsibility for global coordination, progress tracking, risk analysis, escalation of critical issues, and strategic guidance on institutionalization of catch-up vaccination.

The consultant will work in close coordination with Alliance partners (including Gavi and WHO) to support coherence of planning, implementation, and close-out. The assignment will focus on strengthening coordination, mitigating implementation risks, and supporting effective transition and sustainability beyond the BCU period.

AWP reference: This assignment links to Strategic Plan Goal Area 1.2 Immunization services as part of PHC in that its main objective is to support countries in strengthening the immunization performance with focus on planning, implementation, and monitoring of Big Catch-up in countries.

Scope of Work:

1. Programme Management Office (PMO) Function

The consultant will support the Programme Management Office (PMO) function for the Big Catch-Up (BCU) by contributing to global coordination and maintaining visibility of implementation progress across regions. This will include engaging with countries on emerging issues, supporting coordination with Alliance partners, and contributing to discussions on planning and prioritisation for the final acceleration and close-out phases.

2. Risk Analysis, Escalation and Strategic Troubleshooting

The consultant will facilitate the identification and analysis of risks that may affect BCU delivery and close-out. This will include reviewing emerging implementation challenges, preparing escalation briefs for senior management, and proposing corrective actions for complex or stalled implementation, in coordination with regions and partners. The consultant will support proactive risk mitigation to protect delivery timelines and accountability commitments.

3. Institutionalisation and Sustainability

The consultant will provide strategic input on institutionalising catch-up vaccination within routine immunization systems beyond the BCU period. This will include contributing to conceptual approaches, guidance, and strategic thinking on sustainability and transition, and supporting alignment with IA2030 priorities and broader immunization system strengthening efforts.

4. Targeted Country Support

The consultant will provide targeted technical support to selected countries, where high - level troubleshooting or strategic engagement is required. This support will be selective and complementary to routine country engagement led through RWGs.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Travel to other countries – To Be Determined

Qualifications

Education: Masters Degree

• Advanced university degree in Medicine, Public Health, Health Policy and Management, Social or Behavioural Science, other related fields.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Minimum of eight (8) years of progressively responsible experience in international public health programme management, including at least three (3) years of substantive experience in immunization programmes, preferably in low- and middle-income countries.
• Demonstrated expertise in immunization programme strategic planning, coordination, implementation, monitoring and evaluation, including participation in immunization programme reviews, microplanning processes, data analysis, and preparation of high-quality technical reports.
• Proven experience engaging and coordinating with national ministries of health, national immunization programmes, and a broad range of immunization stakeholders at country and regional levels.
• Experience in planning, coordinating, and delivering technical assistance to government counterparts and partners.
• Strong communication and presentation skills, with a proven ability to tailor messages and visual materials to diverse audiences and deliver clear, concise, and impactful presentations.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in multicultural and multidisciplinary environments and to build productive working relationships with internal and external stakeholders.
•  Proficiency in standard office software applications, including MS Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Prior experience with a United Nations agency or other international organization is an asset.
• Highly organized, detail-oriented, and conscientious, with the ability to take initiative, work independently under general guidance, manage competing priorities, meet tight deadlines, and consistently deliver high-quality results.
• Fluency in spoken and written English is a requirement. Working knowledge of French or Portuguese will be 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.