Consultant - Technical Assistance to Develop Strategy and Operational Plan for Introduction of HPV Vaccine

Overview

Provide technical support for HPV vaccine introduction into national immunization program.

You have:

• Bachelor degree in medical sciences, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics or other related fields. Masters is desirable.
• At least 5 years’ experience in epidemiology and public health.
• Working experience in UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or INGOs is desirable.
• Strong organizational and coordination skills.
• Ability to collaborate or manage a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Demonstrated strong technical and communication skill.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Ability to work in team.
• Sound knowledge of the immunization program in Lebanon context and the health sector.
• Excellent knowledge of English and Arabic.
• Provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

****1.** **Purpose of the Consultancy****

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:#0070C0;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;"><p> </p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>Overall objective: <p></p></strong></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;">To provide technical support to the MOPH and partners in the development of a comprehensive sub-strategy and operational plan for the effective introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national immunization program to be incorporated within the national Immunization strategy (NIS). <p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong><p> </p></strong></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>Specific objectives: </strong></span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong><p></p></strong></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong><p> </p></strong></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>1. </strong>Coordinate with MOH and relevant stakeholders to design, develop and finalize the sub- strategy and operational plan for HPV vaccine introduction<p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>2. </strong>Conduct a comprehensive review of available related data and documents, including:</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo8;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">-</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">          </span></span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;">Analysis of the burden of cervical cancer in the country. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo8;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">-</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">          </span></span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;">Assessment of cost-effectiveness and affordability of HPV vaccine introduction. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;margin-left:.5in;mso-list:l8 level1 lfo8;text-align:justify;text-indent:-.25in;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">-</span><span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman";mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-list:Ignore;mso-themecolor:text1;">          </span></span><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;">Review of the overall capacity of the national immunization program to support HPV vaccine roll out.</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>3</strong>. </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;">Develop readiness assessment tool and plan to evaluate preparedness for introduction of HPV vaccine at national and subnational level. <p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><strong>4. </strong></span><span style="mso-themecolor:text1;">Develop delivery strategy/s and operational plans including analysis of the proportion of eligible girls who would be reached through the proposed approaches. </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes;mso-themecolor:text1;"> </span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p></p></span></span>

5. Prepare and submit a comprehensive consultancy report summarizing findings, strategies, and recommendations for HPV vaccine introduction.

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span lang="GSW-FR" style="mso-ansi-language:GSW-FR;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"><p> </p></span></span>

****2.** **Background****

Immunization plays a pivotal role in reducing mortality and morbidity from vaccine-preventable diseases and is among the government’s top health priorities. The Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon (MOPH) has strengthened its commitment to improving people’s access to immunization services. Over the past years, significant efforts were deployed to expand cold chain capacity, and introduce new vaccines (PCV13, Rotavirus, Influenza) vaccination service expanded for traditional, new, and under-utilized vaccines. Despite a challenging situation in terms of access and utilization of immunization services, routine immunization (RI) has made been accelerated oto address the drop in vaccination coverage observed over the past 5 years, caused by the combined crisis. Currently 11 antigens are in public use against vaccine preventable diseases, and the plan is to introduce additional two antigens (HPV and Influenza).

The RI immunization strategic plan, serving as a key immunization program-management tool, was last updated in December 2025. The comprehensive external immunization program review provided recommendations focused on improving immunization coverage and equity. These recommendations were developed through extensive consultations with all health partners and in line with national policies and /strategies.

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-color-alt:windowtext;mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;">Despite ongoing social, economic, political, and security challenges, the MOPH remains committed to advancing the introduction of HPV vaccine, as outlined in the revised EPI strategy of 2025. The introduction of HPV vaccine is perceived as a critical public health intervention in view of the rising national Cancer prevalence, and the observed increase in risk behaviors associated with sexually transmitted infections. Accordingly, to support this effort, MOPH has formally requested GAVI and partners to provide technical and financial support for introduction of HPV vaccine into national immunization programs of the country. HPV introduction will enable the government of Lebanon to take steps in prevention and reduction of mortality and morbidity among females due to cervical cancer caused by HPV</span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-color-alt:windowtext;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;"> </span><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-color-alt:windowtext;mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;">and improve gender equity in health outcomes.</span></span><span style="font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-fareast-font-family:Aptos;mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;"><p></p></span></span>

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-ascii-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-bidi-theme-font:major-bidi;mso-color-alt:windowtext;mso-hansi-theme-font:major-bidi;">The EPI-National Immunization strategy NIS, revised in 2025 has already incorporated the introduction of HPV vaccine. Work has been initiated for the development of a comprehensive implementation and strategic plan to guide this process. Within this framework, the technical support under this consultancy will focus on the development of</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;mso-themecolor:text1;"> a comprehensive sub-strategy and operational plan for the effective introduction of the HPV vaccine into the national immunization program to complement the work developed within NIS. <p></p></span></span><span style="color:#002060;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="line-height:103%;mso-ansi-language:EN-US;"><p></p></span></span>

****4.** **Work to be performed****

The following tasks and deliverable are related to the process of developing of the sub-strategy and operational plan for introduction of HPV vaccine to be incorporated within the national immunization strategy:

****Output:**** Provide technical expertise and develop a comprehensive sub-strategy and operational plan for introduction of HPV vaccine into national immunization program.

****Deliverable 1********.1****: Prepare a detailed work plan and schedule to ensure submission within the required deadline.

****Deliverable 1.2:**** Conduct in-depth situation analysis through desk review of relevant material and selected consultations with key partners and stakeholders building on the situation analysis conducted as part of NIS developed in 2025.

<pre style="background-color:white;text-align:justify;"><span style="color:black;font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal;"><span style="mso-color-alt:windowtext;"><strong>Deliverable 1.3</strong></span></b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;mso-color-alt:windowtext;">: </span><span style="mso-color-alt:windowtext;mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri;mso-fareast-language:GSW-FR;">Develop a contextualized readiness assessment tool to evaluate national and sub-national preparedness for HPV vaccine introduction.</span></span><span style="font-family:'Times New Roman', Times, serif;font-size:12.0pt;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight:bold;"><p></p></span></span>

****Deliverable 1.4****: Develop a comprehensive strategic and operational plan to guide the introduction and progressive expansion of HPV vaccine following key components within existing NIS:

With emphasis on:

· Service delivery strategy: Define the target population and delivery platforms (health facilities, outreach), ensuring integration with existing immunization services.

· Training and capacity building: Detail the training plan for qualitative training of HCWs to strengthen service delivery.

· Monitoring and evaluation: Establish indicators, reporting mechanisms, and supervision tools to track coverage, equity, and program performance.

· Resource mobilization and financing: Identify funding needs, budget allocations, and partner contributions to ensure sustainability.

To complement the UNICEF work on:

· Supply chain and logistics: Detail vaccine procurement, cold chain requirements, storage, distribution, and waste management systems.

· Community engagement and communication: Develop IEC strategies to address vaccine hesitancy, raise awareness, and ensure culturally appropriate messaging.

****Deliverable 1.5****: Submit a final consultancy report summarizing findings, strategies, and recommendations.

<pre style="background-color:white;margin-left:0in;mso-list:l1 level1 lfo3;text-align:justify;text-indent:0in;"> 

6. Specific requirements

Qualifications required:

· Bachelor degree in medical sciences, public health, epidemiology, biostatistics or other related fields. Masters is desirable.

Experience required:

· ****Essential:**** At least 5 years’ experience in epidemiology and public health

· ****Desirable:**** Working experience in UN organizations/agencies, international institutions or INGOs.

Skills / Technical skills and knowledge:

· Strong organizational and coordination skills.

· Ability to collaborate or manage a diverse group of stakeholders

· Demonstrated strong technical and communication skill.

· Proficiency in Microsoft Office software: (Word, Excel, PowerPoint),

· Ability to work in team

· Sound knowledge of the immunization program in Lebanon context and the health sector.

Language requirements:

· Essential: Excellent knowledge of English. Excellent knowledge of Arabic.

7. Place of assignment

The consultant will be based onsite in Beirut.

8. Medical clearance

The selected Consultant will be expected to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work.

9. Travel

Travel is not expected.

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Potential interview questions

Added 6 months ago - Updated 6 months ago - Source: who.int