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Consultancy Title: Consultation and documentation of review of immunization in Africa

Section/Division/Duty Station: Immunization Section, Programme Group, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 1 February 2025 to 31 July 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / 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: 

UNICEF, in partnership with the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), is conducting a Review of Immunization in Africa. The Review aims to describe historical trends; to identify the major contributors and barriers to immunization on the continent; and to make recommendations on the key strategies and shifts needed to accelerate towards global and regional targets, in general and for UNICEF specifically. The Review will also provide additional evidence and documentation to that generated through the review of the Addis Declaration on Immunization conducted by the African Union Commission and Africa CDC.

UNICEF has contracted an external partner to undertake quantitative and qualitative research as a basis for the Review of Immunization in Africa (RIA). To ensure key partners and country teams have the opportunity to reflect and comment on the findings of this research and analysis and contribute to the development of recommendations for advocacy and programming, UNICEF will organize several consultations in early 2025.

These consultations will ensure that the final RIA report and communication materials are reflective of diverse perspectives. The consultations are expected to be online / remote format.

Following these consultations, a synthesis and packaging of key findings and recommendations is required to support the dissemination and communication of key insights for policy and decision makers, as well as immunization programme practitioners involved in advocacy and strategic planning processes through 2025 and beyond. To this end, UNICEF aims to develop a concise immunization brief for policy makers, and a more comprehensive publishable report for a wider audience on the Review of Immunization in Africa.

In this context, UNICEF is looking for a consultant to:

1. Prepare and facilitate a series of consultations to discuss findings and co-create recommendations for Review of Immunization in Africa;
2. Develop an Immunization brief for policy and decision makers;
3. Undertake additional rapid review of existing literature;
4. Develop the contents for a more comprehensive publishable report on the Review of Immunization in Africa.

 

Scope of Work:

Organize and document consultations to discuss findings and develop recommendations for Review of Immunization in Africa:

1. Preparing agenda and materials for 5 online consultations.

In collaboration with UNICEF’s Review Management Team, the Consultant will prepare materials for consultations with UNICEF staff based in global, regional and country offices across Africa, along with representatives from partners working on immunization across the African continent – including government representatives, Africa CDC, WHO, and Gavi Alliance, among others. Consultations will focus on validating and building consensus on the findings of qualitative and quantitative analysis and co-design of recommendations to address key barriers/bottlenecks and make use of key facilitators of immunization coverage and equity in Africa. UNICEF expects to conduct 5 online consultations of 1.5 to 2.5 hours in length. Materials to be prepared should include a pre-read (based on the analysis), an agenda, any other materials useful to support the consultation (e.g. text for a PowerPoint) and propose a method of consultation appropriate to an online format.

2. Facilitating and providing summarised key outcomes for each consultation.

The consultant will facilitate discussions with internal and external stakeholders during online consultations, proposing questions to participants to stimulate input and building consensus on recommendations. Following each consultation, the consultant will prepare a brief report of the key points of discussion, feedback and agreed recommendations (up to 3 pages each).

3. Preparing high level summary of key findings and recommendations.

At the conclusion of the consultation series, the consultant will provide a summarized report of the outcomes of all consultations, including the key findings and recommendations (up to 8 pages).

Develop an immunization brief for policy and decision makers:

The consultant will develop an immunization brief, targeting policy makers at regional and country level on the African continent. The policy brief will include: Introduction / context summarizing main problem being discussed, Summary of key findings from analysis of the problem, Key recommendations for decision makers aiming to accelerate improvements in coverage and equity of immunization programmes in Africa and strengthen their programmatic and financial sustainability. The brief should be succinct, up to 3,000 words or about 6 pages, and clear for non-technical audiences. The consultant will make recommendations on charts, maps and other images to help facilitate the understanding of the problem and recommendations.

Rapid reviews of existing literature:

The consultant will undertake rapid reviews of existing literature on key factors influencing immunization coverage: macroeconomic environment, demographic developments, climate change, conflict and insecurity, social development and gender equality, infrastructure developments (e.g., internet), health systems investments, health system load, and trust in health systems.

Review, writing, and editing:

The consultant will distil and synthesize (1) findings from consultations, (2) additional evidence or themes gathered through rapid literature reviews and (3) content provided in the Review Technical Report to produce a synthesized final report of about 15,000-18,000 words or 30-35 pages. The final report will align with UNICEF and Africa CDC terminology.

 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Preparing, facilitating and distilling key outcomes of consultation sessions.

• Materials for 5 online consultation sessions (including, proposed session format, agenda, pre-read, text for PowerPoint)
• Facilitation of 5 online consultation sessions
• Summarised key outcomes from each consultation session.
• A consolidated report of summary findings and recommendations.  (15 March 2025)

Developing an immunization brief for policy and decision makers. 

• A concise policy brief, capturing key findings and recommendations of the Review (3,000 words, or 6 pages) (30 April 2025)

Rapid reviews of existing literature on key factors influencing immunization coverage across Africa.      

• A rapid review of existing literature on the links between immunization outcomes (eg coverage, number of zero dose children) and the following: macroeconomic environment, demographic developments, climate change, conflict and insecurity, social development and gender equality infrastructure developments (e.g., internet), health systems investments, health system load, and trust in health systems (31 May 2025)

Final, publishable report of key findings and recommendation – capturing content distilled from 3 sources (consultations, rapid reviews and Technical Report).

• Synthesized version of a more comprehensive publishable report on the Review of Immunization in Africa (15,000-18,000 words, or 30-35 pages) (31 July 2025)

 

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in public health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, epidemiology, or other health related sciences.

 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• A minimum of 15 (fifteen) years of professional experience in public health and/or in relevant areas of immunization at the international and national levels.
• Demonstrated experience in supporting the development of immunization policy, strategic, and programmatic documents, and in writing for academic publications.
• Excellent communication and facilitation skills
• Excellent writing skills, and ability to analyse, synthesize, and package information for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Demonstrated ability to work independently.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and effectively collaborate across multiple teams.
• Experience of working with United Nations and/or other partners specialized in the area of immunization is highly desirable
• Fluency in English (both written and spoken) is required

 

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.