UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right for Health & Nutrition 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy, and operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Immunization remains one of the most cost-effective public health interventions globally and a cornerstone of Tajikistan’s national health strategy. Over the past decades, the country has made significant progress in expanding access to life-saving vaccines, improving cold chain infrastructure, and strengthening immunization delivery systems through strategic partnerships with Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, and other development partners. The current National Immunization Programme (NIP) 2021–2025 guided these efforts by providing a structured framework for vaccine delivery, disease surveillance, and community engagement.

As the current NIP nears completion, there is a critical need to assess the progress made, identify persistent gaps, and chart a strategic course for the next five years. At the same time, Tajikistan has endorsed the National Immunization Strategy (NIS) 2030, aligned with global and regional frameworks such as the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), European Immunization Agenda 2030 (EIA2030), Sustainable Health Coverage Programme 2030 (SHCP-2030), and Gavi 6.0. These frameworks emphasize equity, sustainability, country ownership, and integration of immunization within broader health systems.

Developing the new National Immunization Programme (NIP) for 2026–2030 is essential to operationalize these strategic directions at the national and subnational levels. This process must be participatory, evidence-based, and grounded in lessons learned from the implementation of the current NIP. It requires detailed planning, costing, and consensus-building among all relevant actors—including the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP), the Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP), regional health authorities, NITAG, SSESS, PHC providers, and international partners.

To support this process, UNICEF, in close coordination with MoHSPP, is recruiting a national consultant to facilitate technical inputs, coordinate stakeholder engagement, and draft a realistic, actionable, and sustainable NIP 2026–2030 that will guide immunization priorities and investments over the next five years.

How can you make a difference? 

DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:

Duration: 40 working days between October 2025 - December 2025
Supervisor: Health Specialist, UNICEF Tajikistan.

TOR with detailed deliverables and concrete timeframes is at the following  TOR_Facilitate development of NIP.docx

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical, analytical, and facilitation support for the development of Tajikistan’s National Immunization Programme (NIP) 2026–2030. The consultant will lead the participatory planning process and support the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP), Republican Center for Immunoprophylaxis (RCIP), and key stakeholders in reviewing past progress, aligning with global and national strategies, and drafting a forward-looking, actionable, and costed NIP document.

The consultant will consolidate lessons from the 2021–2025 cycle, integrate inputs from the National Immunization Strategy 2030 (NIS2030), and ensure alignment with Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), the European Immunization Agenda 2030 (EIA2030), Sustainable Health Coverage Programme (SHCP-2030), and Gavi 6.0 strategic goals.
By facilitating inclusive consultations at national and subnational levels, the consultant will guide the development of a robust and realistic NIP 2026–2030, complete with a situation analysis, strategic framework, annual operational matrix, monitoring and evaluation plan, and sustainability considerations.

The Consultant will work under the guidance of the Health Officer and overall guidance of and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Population, and other relevant departments and centers of MOHSP to do the following:

1. Review and Synthesis

• Review the implementation progress and lessons learned from NIP 2021–2025.
• Analyze relevant components of the NIS 2030, especially strategic priorities and cost projections.
• Compile and synthesize existing monitoring and evaluation (M&E) indicators used in national and subnational immunization programs.

2. Stakeholder Consultations

• Plan and facilitate inclusive consultations and technical round tables with national and regional stakeholders.
• Ensure engagement of MoHSPP, RCIP, State Sanitary-Epidemiological Surveillance Service (SSESS), Primary Health Care (PHC), NITAG, and development partners.
• Document and synthesize inputs for incorporation into the draft strategy.

3. Drafting of NIP 2026–2030

• Draft the NIP document, including:
  o Situation analysis and justification
  o Vision, mission, goals, and strategic objectives
  o Annual operational plans (2026–2030) with budgets and timelines
  o Risk analysis and sustainability strategy
  o Monitoring and evaluation framework with measurable indicators and milestones

4. Alignment with Global and National Frameworks

• Ensure full alignment of NIP with:
  o National Health Strategy until 2030
  o IA2030

5. Coordination and Consolidation

• Coordinate and consolidate technical and programmatic inputs from all relevant stakeholders.
• Engage with technical working groups and ensure harmonization of feedback and alignment with sector priorities.
• Revise and finalize the NIP based on stakeholder comments.
• Contribute to the editing of the final versions in Tajik and Russian.

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

• Education: University degree in Public Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, or related field.
• Work experience: At least 5 years of experience in immunization planning, public health program design, or national strategy development.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating multistakeholder consultations and drafting policy documents, particularly the National Immunization Programs.
• Strong understanding of immunization systems and global health initiatives (IA2030, Gavi, WHO/UNICEF frameworks).
• Required skills: Excellent writing and analytical skills.
• Knowledge of languages: Fluency in Russian and Tajik; working knowledge of English is an asset.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• CV and cover letter.
• Expression of interest - EOI (Annex 2 to be filled out). 
• Financial proposal in TJS-all inclusive, indicting fee per day (Annex 3 to be completed). Annex 3 at the  Annex 2 and Annex 3.docx
• At least 2 papers / concept notes previously developed by the candidate or when candidate provided substantial inputs to the documents.
• Applications without EOI and financial proposals will not be considered.

Applications must be received in the system by 1 October 2025 on UNICEF website.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.