Consultancy - Development of the Regional Strategic Plan for Immunization - LAC Region - 4.5 months

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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, health UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices.

UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

Over the past twenty years, vaccination programmes have expanded across low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), significantly reducing morbidity and mortality related to vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization programmes have expanded considerably in Latin-America region over the past two decades with introduction of new vaccines leading to progressive increase in vaccination coverage within most countries in the region. This is estimated to have averted million deaths between the years 2000 and 2019[i]. Global coverage of vaccination against diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (DTP), which is the marker for overall immunization programme performance, steeply increased between 1980 and the year 2000, but remained stagnant afterwards ranging between 84 per cent and 86 per cent until recently[ii].

However, over the last 5 years precisely since 2018, a significant backsliding was observed in LAC and exacerbated during COVID Pandemic. 2.4 M children remained un and under vaccinated across LAC in 2021. Approximately 1M more than 2018. LAC represents 10 percent of the total number of children with zero dose vaccine globally while Brazil alone cumulates 40 percent of all children in LAC. In the past 10 years, LAC has experimented a persistent downward trend in coverage of DTP3 from 93% in 2012 to 75% in 2021.Coverage of the first dose of DTP1 is used as a proxy measure for zero dose children which is maintained above 90% from 2000 to 2017 but dropped to 82% 2021.

When WHO UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) estimates are considered, and the same target population reported in administrative data is assumed, the countries with the highest numbers of zero-dose children in the LAC region in the year 2021 are Brazil(710k), Mexico(317k), Venezuela(120k), Argentina(112k), Colombia(72k), Ecuador(65k), Haiti(65k), Bolivia(64K), Peru(59K), Guatemala(40k). There is voluminous evidence showing that zero-dose children and the communities they live in are often the most vulnerable and underserved group of people in any country. These children share geographic, socioeconomic, and religious and/or cultural characteristics which place them at risk of not accessing vaccinations. This strategic plan guide UNICEF regional office to play a lead role in re-establishing immunization as a priority program in LAC and guide UNICEF countries offices in priority the ten countries with the highest number of zero dose to take corrective measures to bring immunization coverage at pre-pandemic initial coverage, stop and prevent backsliding and reduce zero dose children to 25% by 2025 and to 50% by 2030.

For information of the work of our organization in the LAC Region, please visit our website: UNICEF LAC Region

[i] Jaspreet Toor, Susy Echeverria-Londono, Xiang Li, Kaja Abbas, Emily D Carter, Hannah E Clapham, Andrew Clark, Margaret J de Villiers, Kirsten Eilertson, Matthew Ferrari, Ivane Gamkrelidze, Timothy B Hallett, Wes R Hinsley, Daniel Hogan, John H Huber, Michael L Jackson, Kevin Jean, Mark Jit, Andromachi Karachaliou, Petra Klepac, Alicia Kraay, Justin Lessler, Xi Li, Benjamin A Lopman, Tewodaj Mengistu, C Jessica E Metcalf, Sean M Moore, Shevanthi Nayagam, Timos Papadopoulos, T Alex Perkins, Allison Portnoy, Homie Razavi, Devin Razavi-Shearer, Stephen Resch, Colin Sanderson, Steven Sweet, Yvonne Tam, Hira Tanvir, Quan Tran Minh, Caroline L Trotter, Shaun A Truelove, Emilia Vynnycky, Neff Walker, Amy Winter, Kim Woodruff, Neil M Ferguson, Katy AM Gaythorpe (2021) Lives saved with vaccination for 10 pathogens across 112 countries in a pre-COVID-19 world eLife 10:e67635 https://doi.org/10.7554/eLife.67635

[ii] Lindstrand, A., Cherian, T., Chang-Blanc, D., Feikin, D., & O’Brien, K. L. (2021). The world of immunization: Achievements, challenges, and strategic vision for the next decade. The Journal of Infectious Diseases, 224(Supplement_4), S452-S467. https://doi.org/10.1093/infdis/jiab284

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of assignment

Under the overall guidance of the Regional Adviser, Immunization, the consultant will be developing a Regional Strategic plan for immunization by identifying the most relevant strategies aligned to the LAC context to effectively address the backsliding of immunization program in general, and the growing number of zero dose children in particular. The strategy must take stock of UNICEF multisectoral added value of working in different program sectors such as child protection, education, wash, social behaviour changes and communication and place the immunization program as a platform to identify multiple child deprivations through its focus on zero dose children and communities.

Specific Tasks To develop the Regional Strategic Plan for Immunization, the consultant will:

1. Develop a work plan that specifies the strategic approach and the timeline to develop the strategic plan (estimated 5 working days) 2. Conduct a document review to identify evidence based, context relevant, and multisectoral linked approaches to reduce the number of zero-dose children in the LAC region and strengthening immunization programs in the LAC region. (Estimated 30 working days). Documents for review will include:

1. Review UNICEF roadmap on immunization to learn about UNICEF scope of work on immunization and global strategy for immunization;
2. Review IA2030 as a reference to document to ensure that LAC strategy is aligned with global recommendations;
3. Review 2021 WUENIC and use as a baseline information and reference
4. Take stock of Zero dose desk review report to guide the development of the strategic document
5. Review UNICEF Regional office program plan (ROMP) to identify regional program priority and identify program priorities aligned with immunization
6. Review Survive and Thrive annual work plan (AWP) to establish area of coordination and collaboration within Sand T to leverage immunization program while facilitating identification of under and non-immunized children
7. Review LAC PHC program and identify entry point within PHC where immunization can be imbedded while improve immunization access and strengthen PHC
8. Review other program sectors plans (Child Protection, Education, Gender, Monitoring and Evaluation Wash, Social and Behavioural Change (SBC), communication and operations to identify areas of collaboration and develop multisector approach strategy in support to immunization program strengthening and zero dose children
9. Take stock of the real time assessment report (RTA) to identify an integration model between Routine Immunization (RI) and COVID 19 vaccines and good practices that can contribute for strategy development

3. Conduct interviews with selected persons from LACRO program sectors and countries to identify opportunities for collaboration. Interviews will be conducted remotely and in person, as needed. (Estimated 15 working days) 4. Draft the Regional Strategic Plan for Immunization based on document review and inputs from interviewed stakeholders. (Estimated 25 working days) 5. Develop a presentation that outlines the proposed strategies to share in a forum discussion to get inputs and validate the proposed strategic plan. The forum will be held remotely or in person, as needed. (Estimated 4 working days). 6. Write the final strategic plan (Estimated 15 working days)

Expected Results The following results are expected:

1. A workplan delineating the strategic approach and timeline for the development of the strategic plan (25% fees) 2. A draft report outlining the proposed strategies (immunization specific and linked/integrated with other program sectors) to reduce the number of zero dose children and improve the performance of the immunization program (35% fees) 3. Final Regional Strategic Plan for Immunization(40% fees) Deliverables To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

- University degree in public health, medical science or other related fields. - A minimum of seven [7] years of relevant professional experience in immunization, vaccine preventable diseases, primary health care, health system strengthening and research. - Work experience with the collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data, scientific research and primary health care strengthening and immunization-related activities. - Working experience in programme planning, in particular for immunization programme. - Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. - Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of French or Portuguese will be considered an asset.

Technical knowledge required

- Professional technical knowledge and expertise in immunization and primary health care with a focus on Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). - Experience in reviewing data and translating findings into actionable recommendations.

Other skills required

- Demonstrated excellent skills in strategic thinking finding innovative ways to foster organizational change. - Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines. - Must be detail-oriented and present thoughts and ideas in a structured way. - Ability to clearly define objectives and plan activities. - Demonstrated experience with UNICEF will be an asset.

Supervision: the consultant will work under the direct supervision of the LAC Immunization Regional Adviser.

Workplace: this is a home-based remote consultancy.

How to apply: application should be submitted online and should include Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit monthly and daily fees in their financial proposal.

Travel: It is estimated that the consultant will travel to the LAC Regional Office in Panama City, Panama, for a short period during the consultancy. Travel dates will be discussed and agreed with the supervisor. Travel cost will be paid upon actual cost when the dates are determined, and covered by UNICEF as per policy.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and the following core competencies: Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness, Works Collaboratively with others, Builds and Maintains Partnerships, Innovates and Embraces Change, Thinks and Acts Strategically, Drive to achieve impactful results, and Manages ambiguity and complexity.

To view our values and competency framework please visit the following links: Our Values and Our Competencies.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

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:

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.

UNICEF 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 at https://www.whed.net/home.php