Immunization Technical Assistance Implementation and Monitoring Consultant - Ref# 576904 (Remote/Work from home)

Under the supervision of the Programme and Planning Specialist, the consultant will work with the Immunization teams implementation and monitoring of PG/Immunization TA plan. A primary objective of this consultancy is to contribute the timeliness and quality of immunization TA support in the context of Gavi-funded programmes, and to improve the efficiency of deploying technical assistance for immunization programmes.

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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Immunization Technical Assistance Implementation and Monitoring Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, Health, Immunization Unit, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: January 2, 2025, to December 31, 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

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 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment: 

UNICEF’s priorities in immunization are outlined in the UNICEF Immunization Roadmap to 2030 to realize the vision of a world where every woman, child and adolescent fully and equally benefits from vaccines for good health, well-being, and full realization of their potential. To achieve this vision, PG/Immunization section supports immunization teams at global, regional, and country levels to plan, manage, deliver, monitor and report on immunization programmes through the deployment of Technical Assistance (TA) for different thematic areas and activities. The implementation of the Immunization TA plan includes acquiring and deploying individual and institutional expertise through contracting, implementing partnerships, and management of immunization expert rosters. 

In 2024, Immunization TA plan included support to on-board over 150 consultancies (individual and institutional) and maintaining libraries in the SharePoint for documentation. Based on commitments to donors and projected level of resources, the 2025 TA workplan for immunization is expected to be at the same level. Based on the implementation experience in 2023-2024, immunization TA needs have been gradually increasing as the level of resources, scope of immunization programmes, and UNICEF’s roles in Gavi 5.0/5.1 strategic cycle continued to expand. Key challenges associated with the deployment of UNICEF TA under the Gavi PEF, and cash grants have been lengthy contracting processes and ability to find suitable candidates for specific areas of work.

Under the supervision of the Programme and Planning Specialist, the consultant will work with the Immunization teams implementation and monitoring of PG/Immunization TA plan.  A primary objective of this consultancy is to contribute the timeliness and quality of immunization TA support in the context of Gavi-funded programmes, and to improve the efficiency of deploying technical assistance for immunization programmes.

Scope of Work:

Under the guidance from the supervisor, the consultant will carry on the following tasks:

• Facilitate of TA plan implementation and monitoring of progress in utilization
• Review, track and assess the process including quality, sourcing, compiling documentation and onboarding of consultants to be in line with UNICEF HR and procurement policies and procedures and provide recommendations on the process improvement.
• Monitor and flag any deviation of TA plan implementation for corrective measures.
• Contribute in setting-up and maintenance of Immunization pre-screened experts pool for individual consultants.
• In consultation and guidance from the supervisor, collaborate with unit leads in immunization section to maintain the pre-screened expert pools and establish new pools based on the evolving programme needs.
• Establish and conduct a periodic review of the Consultancy Rosters for a) removing poor performers consultants from roster based on performance reviews, and b) adding new candidates based on the application of the HQ immunization selection protocol.
• Knowledge management for TA plan implementation
• Ensure all the mandatory contracting documents, such as terms of reference, selection report, cost negotiation, reference checks, UN sanction clearance, academic credentials etc. are reposited in the collaboration SharePoint site.
• Track and support management system for consultancies and LTA for common services such as graphic designers, copy editors, report writers, facilitators.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Facilitate of TA plan implementation and monitoring of progress in utilization. Monitoring tool to track the process and implementation stage developed, maintained, and flagged any deviation in the process. 4 quarterly reports on the implementation of the Immunization TA plan using the monitoring tool. Immunization individual consultancy dataset analyzed, updated and reported during MYR and EYR period.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Contribute in setting-up and maintenance of Immunization pre-screened experts pool for individual consultants. At least 2 new experts pools are established, and 6 current expert pools maintained.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Knowledge management for TA plan implementation. At least 5 centralized document libraries, such as, all consultants folders, templates, experts pool, SOPs, guidelines, with relevant SharePoint sub-folders for each TA on-board are updated with maintained with mandatory relevant documents for easy access.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Track and support management system. Excel based tracking system for graphic designer, copy editor, and service LTAs are established, utilized and monitored.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Bachelors) in the area of human resource management, business management, public administration, international relations, psychology, or related degree.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• Five years of increasingly responsible professional experience in consultancy contracting in an international organization and/or large corporation is required.
• Attention to details and problem-solving skills are required.
• Excellent facilitation, written and oral communication skills is required.
• Understanding of UN systems is an essential asset.
• Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment.
• Ability to work under tight deadlines.
• Fluency in written and spoken English required.

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.