UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, answers

In keeping with UNICEF's global mandate to advocate for the rights of all the world’s children, UNICEF Innocenti - Global Office of Research and Foresight acts as the organization’s foremost analytical capacity and serves as the lead for excellence in research and foresight on children and child rights within UNICEF, the United Nations and the global community.
UNICEF Innocenti has undertaken on behalf of a partnership of UNICEF, World Health Organization and GAVI Secretariat, to undertake a forward-looking initiative (of 18 months to 2 years duration) to assess how global trends and technological advances could reshape immunization programs and how health systems can be strengthened to meet future challenges. The resulting report will provide insights on building resilient, adaptable primary health care systems that ensure equitable vaccine access for all populations.
This project seeks to strategically position immunization programs for future success by addressing emerging global challenges and leveraging innovative solutions. Through collaboration with top experts, it will generate actionable insights to guide the evolution of primary health care systems to ensure sustained and equitable vaccination across the life course. The initiative will focus on building resilience and adaptability within health systems to meet the evolving future demands. The key objectives are:
• Identify and describe emerging global trends that will shape the future of immunization.
• Articulate a vision, in consultation with countries, experts and global partners, towards strengthening the resilience and adaptability of immunization programs to embrace the future
• Foster strategic partnerships and expert collaboration to enhance global immunization efforts.
• Generate actionable recommendations to guide policy, investments, and health system reform.
The products of the project will include a major report and a range of accompanying materials to communicate with different audiences.

UNICEF Innocenti | Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight

How can you make a difference? 

The main objective of this consultancy is to provide specialist project management support to launch the project (January to April 2025).

Major areas of work and responsibility
1. To coordinate the initiation of a Project Reference Group (PRG), which will be a cross-organizational steering group, and convene a first (virtual) meeting of the group.
2. To coordinate the initiation of 3 to 5 Technical Advisory Groups (TAG), which will be focused on specified topics within the overall project and convene a first (virtual) meeting of each group.
3. To support the team in commissioning (5 to 10) experts to write papers for the project.
4. Project plan: To draft, consult and revise an overall project plan for the remainder of the project.

Supervision
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of a Research Manager, PPP.

Methodologies and tools
1. Microsoft Office suite
2. Project management software

If you would like to know more about this opportunity, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Innocenti_ToR_FutureOfImmunization_InitiationPhase EXT.pdf

Please note: This opportunity will be filled during January with an intended start date of 20 January 2025. We welcome applications from candidates who would be in a position to take up and start this role within this timescale.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in business administration, management, health, social sciences or other demonstrably relevant field.
• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible professional work experience at national or international levels as a project manager.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills in English.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Experience of working on multilateral projects which require liaison with senior staff within own and partner organizations.
• Ability to organize own work with limited supervision according to deadlines.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to establish harmonious and effective working relationships.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) is an asset.

Desirable qualifications:
• A relevant project management qualification
• Experience developing, coordinating or conducting research projects
• Experience coordinating complex, multi-partner, multi-country projects
• Knowledge of public health, especially of immunization
• Experience of working with countries in the Global South
• Experience of humanitarian and emergency situations

Availability
• Availability to work primarily within the Central European Time zone (within the hours 9am to 6pm)

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.