Consultancy Title: Consultant for Development of Continental Immunization Strategy for Africa CDC

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health/Immunization Section – Programme Division, NYHQ

Duration: March 20, 2025 to February 28, 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / REMOTE

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 over 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.

Despite significant progress in immunization, Africa faces significant challenges, including inadequate vaccine coverage, logistical barriers, and regional disparities in immunization services. Stronger immunization systems can save lives and ensure a healthier future for Africa. The Immunization Agenda 2030’s Framework for Action articulates three Impact Goals – Prevent Disease, Promote Equity, and Build Strong Programmes. Although some improvements have been reported for a few indicators of the IA2030 Framework for Action, a number are lagging. In Africa, except for wild polio virus, there is an upward trend in the number of large and disruptive outbreaks of cholera, measles, meningococcal disease and circulating vaccine-derived polio virus (cVDPVs). Disease outbreaks can have a disruptive impact on the health system and erode gains.

In 2017, African Union Member States endorsed the Addis Declaration on Immunization (ADI) to enhance vaccine access and strengthen immunization systems. The ADI outlines 10 commitments aimed at ensuring universal access to immunization services across African Union Member States. It has driven political commitment, and notable improvement from 2016-2022; however, further monitoring and evidence-based strategies are recommended to strengthen the initiative.

The purpose of this assignment as part of UNICEF and Africa CDC Joint Action Plan is to facilitate the development of Africa CDC’s Continental immunization Strategy (CIS). The Strategy will guide Africa CDC’s role in the collective efforts of countries and stakeholders to accelerate immunization coverage and prevent outbreaks of vaccine preventable diseases. It aims to leverage Africa CDC’s unique mandate to help countries build resilient health systems through a robust PHC platform. The strategy will also serve as a tool for resource mobilization for immunization. A roadmap and a monitoring and accountability framework will be developed to guide and track progress in the implementation of the CIS.

The assignment entails a review and analysis of various assessments and reviews of immunization programs and policies across the continent including the ADI assessment, IA 2030 reports, UNICEF Review of Immunization in Africa and countries’ documentations. The analysis will provide the evidence base to support Africa CDC Continental

Immunization Strategy’s proposed actions and approaches to address ADI review recommendations and insights generated from the analysis of the various documents. The process will involve extensive consultation with Africa CDC’s partners to ensure the document is co-created.

The assignment is to:

1. Develop an inception report outlining the methodology for the research on immunization policies and strategies in the continent

2. Conduct an analysis of existing immunization programs and policy reviews in Africa, to provide insights to inform the development of the CIS.

3. Support consultative meetings with Africa CDC management and relevant technical units ((such as digital health, innovation, Social and Behavioral Change, monitoring and evaluation, health economy, vaccine manufacturing), stakeholders, including governments, healthcare professionals, academia, institutions, and international organizations to compile inputs for the CIS.

4. Draft the CIS document including a monitoring and accountability framework.

5. Support to facilitate and coordinate the review of CIS through consultative meetings with Africa CDC management and relevant technical units, stakeholders, including governments, healthcare professionals, academia, institutions, and international organizations.).

6. Assist to organize meetings to seek final inputs and validation by member states (MS) of the five Africa CDC regions (Central, Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western).

7. In collaboration with PHC/immunization and other teams and partners, using inputs from the regional validation meetings, refine and finalize the CIS.

8. Develop the report for presentation by Africa CDC at the 2026 AU Heads of State Summit for their endorsement.

Work Assignment Overview – Deliverables/ Outputs Delivery deadline

1. Inception report outlining the methodology for the research on immunization policies and strategies in the continent

• 1 inception report submitted presenting the refined and comprehensive methodology for the research on immunization policies and strategies in the continent

24 March 2025

2. Analysis of existing of immunization programs and policy reviews

• 1 comprehensive report submitted on the review of existing assessments and situational analyses of current immunization programs and policies across the continent.

31 March 2025

3. Finalization of the Stakeholders Consultative meeting

• 1 report of the proceedings of the 1st consultative meetings with Africa CDC and stakeholders on the content of the Continental Immunization Strategy (CIS) reviewed that highlights the critical inputs for the CIS

2 April 2025

4. Development of a Preliminary version of the Continental Immunization Strategy

• 1 preliminary version of the Continental Immunization Strategy to be presented at each regional validation meeting

• Draft implementation roadmap Monitoring framework

29 April 2025

5. Organization of high-level regional review and validation meetings in 5 Africa CDC regions

• 1 High-level regional review validation meeting conducted, in region #1

• 1 final meeting report submitted

20 June 2025

1 High-level regional review validation meeting conducted in region#2:

• 1 final meeting report submitted

24 July 2025

1 High-level regional review validation meeting conducted, in region #3

• 1 final meeting report submitted

1 High-level regional review validation meeting conducted in egion#4:

• 1 final meeting report submitted

28 September 2025

• 1 High-level regional review validation meeting conducted in region #5

• 1 final meeting report submitted

30 October 2025

6. Refining the Continental Immunization Strategy.

A revised version of the Continental Immunization Strategy.

25 November 2025

7. Support Africa CDC Presentation of the strategy at the 2026 AU side event. Develop a presentation for Africa CDC to present the 2026 AU Heads of State Summit for their endorsement.

1 Package (slide deck and technical report) developed for Africa CDC Presentation at 2026 AU Heads of States Summit-

15 January 2026

8. Prepare end of assignment report

Final assignment report submitted

28 February 2026

Travel: estimated 2 international travels: for Africa CDC stakeholder consultative meeting,

Education:

An advanced university degree (PhD) in Public Health, Social Science, or a related field

An additional 5 years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of a university degree.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English, both spoken and written, is required.

• Fluency in another AU official language will be an asset

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Minimum of 15 years of experience in strategic management, with a focus on public health.

• Regional Multi-Country Experience: A minimum of 15 years in a range of public health fields, including but not limited to, policy development, program development and evaluation.

• Experience in development of technical guidance and documentation, at country, regional and global levels

• Robust global health research experience including immunization, maternal health, and other relevant fields.

• Excellent experience in facilitation of strategic trainings and policy discussions.

• Familiarity with public health programs in Africa including strategic support to regional institutions

• Superior listening skills and ability to synthesize and summarize information for technical communication and practical use

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

o the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

o travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.

o Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

o 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 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 jobs-near-me.org 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.

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.