JOB DESCRIPTION

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff – International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

September 23, 2025

Closing Date:

October 1, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

CIM Comprehensive Immunizations

Schedule:

Full time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Provide a short description of the objective of the office/department here.
• Provide a description of the purpose of the consultancy here.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

SUPPORTING EPIDEMIOLOGICAL SURVEILLANCE OF POLIO AND OTHER VACCINE-PREVENTABLE DISEASES IN THE AMERICAS REGION

 

 

Objectives of the Department:

The Comprehensive Immunization Program (CIM) seeks to promote and coordinate technical cooperation and partnerships to support, as part of guaranteeing health as a right for all, the efforts of Member States to achieve sustainable and equitable reduction of morbidity and mortality from vaccine-preventable diseases (VDPD) through control and elimination strategies to improve the quality of life and life expectancy of the municipalities of the Americas.

For more than 40 years, the success of the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) has made the Region of the Americas a global leader in the elimination and control of vaccine-preventable diseases, including smallpox, polio, rubella, congenital rubella syndrome, measles, and neonatal tetanus. Since the creation of the EPI in 1977, countries have transitioned from using six vaccines in their national immunization schedules to an average of more than 16 vaccines, providing greater protection for the country.

Within the framework of the resolution “Revitalizing immunization as a public good for universal health” approved in 2021 by PAHO”s Governing Bodies, the CIM Unit seeks to revitalize immunization programs in Member States through the application of innovative approaches and good practices and through six lines of action:

• Strengthen governance, leadership, and financing of immunization programs.
• Improve coverage tracking and vaccine surveillance by incorporating digital intelligence strategies into routine analyses.
• Strengthen the integration of immunization programs into the primary health care system toward universal health.
• Develop innovative and strategic communication approaches to build social awareness and trust in vaccines and increase access to services.
• Strengthen human resource capacities for immunization.

Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Executive Director of the Comprehensive Immunization Program (CIM) and direct supervision of the PAHO/WHO Regional Advisor for Immunizations, Dr. Anne Eudes Jean Baptiste, the consultant will support the following activities:

• Lead the collaborative effort to update the Poliomyelitis Eradication Field Guide.
• Support in the monitoring of acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) surveillance indicators and polio vaccination coverage of countries in the Americas Region.
• Support the organization and logistics of meetings of the Regional Certification Commission (RCC) for Polio Eradication in the Region of the Americas for the review of reports and status of the program; and
• Prepare draft reports of the RCC meetings, share with all RCC members and the Secretariat for review, and prepare the final report for submission on PubTrack and posting on the PAHO website.
• Conduct the Regional polio outbreak risk analysis assessment.
• Support countries in conducting polio risk analysis at the subnational level.
• Support the systematization of the processes to be carried out by the RCC.
• Support the preparation of polio documentation for PAHO’s Strategic Advisory Group (SAG) on Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPD) and RCC discussions.
• Support technical cooperation for response to polio events or outbreaks.
• Support the development and review of polio reports for PAHO and WHO governing bodies.
• Support the creation of comprehensive virtual training modules for polio program stakeholders.
• Participate in evaluations and monitoring activities of the immunization program to ensure its effectiveness.

 

 

Required profile:

 

Physician, specialist in public health or epidemiology, with at least 7 years of experience at the national level in the Ministry of Health or as a PAHO/WHO consultant, with expertise in immunization programs, or in epidemiological surveillance of vaccine-preventable diseases, with desirable experience in surveillance of AFP and other surveillance of VPDs. Experience in international VPD programs is desirable.

 

 

Expected Products:

 

• Poliomyelitis Eradication Field Guide – Fourth Edition.
• Comprehensive report and regular updates on indicator performance, identifying trends and potential gaps in the AFP surveillance system.
• Documentation of key processes to streamline and formalize RCC’s operational procedures.
• Sets of interactive virtual training modules for polio program stakeholders.

Contract details:

The daily rate applied to this contract is under band B (level P3-P4) at $258-$314 per day.

The contract is for six months with possibility of extension based on the availability of funds and performance.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.

Level of Education: Master”s Degree (preferred for health positions)

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: 24 (health sector experience preferred)

Health Focus: PAHO works to improve health outcomes across the Americas