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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: Consultancy to support Africa CDC's strategic leadership and capacity building endeavors on Immunization

Duty Station: PG Health - Immunization 

Duration: 17 Nov 2025 – 30 May 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote  

 

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Based on Africa CDC – UNICEF Expanded Partnership Framework (2024-2027) and its Joint Action Plan (JAP), UNICEF has a   commitment to partner with Africa CDC to support Member States in strengthening Immunization systems. This commitment includes provision of technical advice to Africa CDC on strategic, programmatic and operational priorities in immunization.

To strengthen immunization and ensure equitable access to vaccines for all people in the continent, Africa CDC is working closely with the African Union Commission (AUC), Gavi, the vaccine alliance and other partners to develop and implement its comprehensive, coordinated Continental Immunization Strategy (CIS). This strategy is aligned with and influenced by the Addis Ababa Declaration on Immunization (ADI) endorsed by African Union Member States in 2017, which aims to enhance vaccine access and strengthen immunization systems.

UNICEF is supporting Africa CDC to build its institutional capacity through providing support at the strategic and technical levels including on the establishment of its immunization unit within the Primary Health Care Center. UNICEF is also supporting Africa CDC leadership the co-creation of its Africa CDC.

The partnership with Africa CDC also encompasses facilitating the implementation, monitoring, review and refinement of immunization activities agreed in the Joint Action Plan (JAP) of Africa CDC and UNICEF. The focus of the collaboration is on evidence generation and data use to guide immunization interventions, particularly those aimed at reaching zero-dose children and underserved communities.

The purpose of this assignment is to build on the ongoing assistance, by offering both strategic and technical support to Africa CDC headquarter teams and its Regional Collaborating Centers (RCC). This support aims to strengthen the center’s role in immunization and primary health care by leveraging its comparative advantage and enabling it to fulfil its mandate.

Scope of Work:

The assignment entails:

1. Build immunization programme capacity of Africa CDC at HQ and RCC levels. Notably,

• Contribute to design of the immunization function in the center,
• Contribute to onboarding of new immunization staffs
• Provide technical expertise in development of a roadmap to operationalize Africa CDC’s immunization strategy
• Implement capacity building activities as required to ensure full delivery of Africa CDC’s immunization strategy
• Establish a mechanism to review progress and follow-up on priority activities to support 
• improvement of vaccination coverage in zero-dose communities and reduction in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks across AU Member States
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2. Support to establish and strengthen Africa CDC’s partnerships at global and regional levels with major global immunization platforms and networks to ensure harmonized support to Member States and promote a clear understanding of Africa CDC’s role in advancing immunization efforts across the continent. This includes creating linkages with various coordination mechanisms within the region such as Regional Working Groups and EPI Managers’ forums.

3. Strengthen internal monitoring and data driven decision making processes in the center to enable implementation, monitoring, review and adjustment of immunization activities agreed in the Joint Action Plan (JAP) of Africa CDC and UNICEF.

4. Facilitate implementation and monitoring of Africa CDC key flagships that contribute to advancing immunization goals

• Contribute to evidence generation to support advocacy efforts for sustainable immunization financing, political prioritization of immunization and PHC,
• Promote activities to strengthen digital transformation, and data systems for immunization programming

5. Provide technical expertise in the planning of relevant events to facilitate Africa CDC contribution to political, strategic and agenda setting dialogues on Immunization, public health emergency and primary health care issues with the following.

• Africa CDC (HQ and RCC) participation in regional/country planning, preparation, and reviews of EPI
• Africa CDC (HQ and RCC) presentations of national, regional, and global trends in immunization to help determine strategies, approaches and priorities to address the region’s immunization and health needs.

6.  Reporting

• Provide periodic progress reports to the UNICEF PG Associate Director Health/ Immunization and the Director Primary Health Care Center at Africa CDC.
• Prepare an end of assignment report and submit it to the UNICEF PG Associate Director Health/ Immunization and the Director Primary Health Care Center at Africa CDC.

The consultant will be supervised by the UNICEF PG Associate Director Health/ Immunization who will ensure alignment with the Director Primary Health Care Center at Africa CDC

 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Build immunization programme capacity and strengthen Africa CDC’s partnership

-  Actionable roadmap with milestones for implementing Africa CDC’s Continental Immunization Strategy (CIS) at HQ and Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs) developed

30 Nov 2025

-  Report on structure, roles, TORs, for Africa CDC’s Immunization staff for RCCs prepared

30 Jan 2026

- Two Reports on capacity-building initiatives implemented (resources materials, peer-to-peer learning …) to build technical, managerial, and data-use skills of Africa CDC immunization staff including progress review mechanism, prepared

30 Apr 2026

2.  Strengthen internal monitoring and data driven decision making process

-  Process to review and adjustment of immunization activities as agreed with Africa CDC JAP and immunization flagship established/enabled

-  1 Concise report summarizing progress against workplan, challenges, lessons, and recommendations prepared

15 May 2026

3.  Implementation and monitoring of Africa CDC key flagship Partnership and Advocacy Strategy

- 1 Report on engagement with AU organs, RCCs, Gavi, WHO, UNICEF, and other partners; messaging on Africa CDC’s value proposition in immunization with digital transformation and data system, prepared

15 May 2026

4.  Facilitate Event planning Package for strategic agenda setting dialogues on immunization

-  1 Strategic workshop, or 1 RCC meeting, or 1 technical session on CIS implementation and PHC-immunization integration are designed and facilitated

15 May 2026

5.  Reporting

-  1 Comprehensive documentation of achievements, recommendations for institutionalizing gains, and next steps, including periodic progress report, prepared and presented

30 May 2026

Travel: In person facilitation of meetings/workshops as required 

1 mission per month to Africa CDC HQ, 1 mission to 1 RCC, 1 participation to regional/continental CIS workshop or high-level events

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree in at least one of the following fields:

Advanced university degree (master’s or PhD) in Medicine, Public Health, Health Policy & Management, Epidemiology, Immunization, or related field.

Additional 7 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• 15+ years of progressively responsible experience in:
• Strategy design, policy advice, and implementation in low- and middle-income countries, preferably in Africa
• Immunization systems strengthening and PHC integration.
•  Leading or supporting institutional capacity-building in public health agencies or multilateral organizations
• Partner coordination at continental/regional level (e.g., AU, WHO, UNICEF, Gavi).
• Track record in supporting high-level policy and advocacy on immunization and public health strategy
• Proven experience in designing monitoring/review mechanisms, for immunization.
• At least 7 years in senior advisory or leadership roles (global, regional, or HQ level).

Skills & Competencies

• Deep knowledge of:
• Immunization strategies (IA2030, ADI, Gavi 6.0).
• Zero-dose and equity strategies, outbreak response,
• Public health emergency preparedness and response.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex stakeholder environments and build consensus.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and presentation skills (including preparation of briefs, reports, slide decks).
• Strong facilitation skills for workshops and high-level meetings
• Familiarity with digital transformation and evidence generation for immunization.

• Other Assets

  • Experience working with UNICEF, WHO, Africa CDC, Gavi, or AU.
  • At least two peer-reviewed publications or equivalent technical papers.
  • Fluency in English (French desirable for continental work).
  Ability to work in multicultural settings and under tight deadlines.

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. 

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