Technical Support NIS and Holistic Planning Consultant, Programme Division, Health, NYHQ, remote. Req# 588483

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 fordeveloping 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.

Consultancy: Technical Support NIS and Holistic Planning Consultant

Duty Station: health Programme Division, Immunization Section

Duration: 15 December 2025 – 30 June 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

UNICEF’s Immunization Section, Health Programme Division, is seeking to hire a qualified individual consultant to provide technical and analytical support to the New Vaccine Introduction, Integrated Delivery and Reach Team.

UNICEF, as a key partner in the global immunization agenda, continues to support countries in introducing, scaling up, and sustaining equitable access to new and underutilized vaccines. The organization plays a leading role in vaccine introduction, system strengthening, and delivery optimization, working closely with governments, Gavi, WHO, and other partners.

With the acceleration of Gavi 6.0 strategy implementation and increasing country demand for support in new vaccine introductions (NVIs) and vaccine portfolio optimization, UNICEF provides high-quality, coordinated, and evidence-based global thought leadership and technical assistance to countries. This includes optimizing country vaccine portfolios, guiding investment prioritization, and ensuring readiness and long-term integration into primary health care and health systems strengthening frameworks. In furtherance of this effort, UNICEF would like to contract a senior expert/s to carry out the below tasks.

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To provide direct technical expertise to countries on Vaccine Prioritization and Optimization processes, ensuring timely, evidence-based assistance to selected Gavi-eligible low- and middle-income countries. The consultant will strengthen the planning, coordination, strategy design, documentation, and deployment of technical assistance for new vaccine introductions, optimization, and prioritization aligned with Gavi’s Country Vaccine Budgets. Notably, the consultant will be responsible for supporting countries to plan and submit applications to access consolidated cash grants from Gavi.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Senior Health Adviser within UNICEF’s Health Section.

Key Responsibilities include:
1. Strategic Advisory Services Optimization, NIS, Holistic Application & TA for Vaccine Prioritization and Optimization Process (VPOP)

- Expert service provided to up to 12 Gavi-eligible countries in prioritizing new vaccine introductions and optimizing vaccine portfolios (VPOP).
- Provide technical guidance to UNICEF country teams on National Immunization Strategies (NIS) and support countries with quality strategic planning in immunization and PHC

- Work with countries in the development of the Gavi holistic application, based on the National Immunization Strategic plan

- Consolidate and summarize country progress, highlight gaps, and recommend follow-up actions to strengthen program performance.

2. Deployment Support- Knowledge Management and Coordination

- Document lessons learned, promising practices, and country experiences on NIS, VPOP and holistic cash support planning.

- Contribute to the preparation of presentations, reports, and analytical summaries for internal and external dissemination.
- Facilitate knowledge exchange and cross-country learning on optimization and integrated delivery approaches

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

Phase 1 – Inception

1 inception report outlining workplan, methodology, and list of up to 12 countries to receive technical support for VPOP, NIS, holistic applications (cash and vaccines support)

31 Dec 2025

Phase 2 – TA to planning

VPOP< NIS and holistic application prepared in up to 12 countries

31 Mar 2026

Phase 3 – Documentation & Knowledge Sharing

Synthesis of key findings, lessons learned, and good practices on VPOP, NIS and holistic planning, including 3–4 case studies and a technical brief on system strengthening through immunization support.

31 May 2026

Phase 4 – Final Reporting

Final consultancy report summarizing deliverables, outcomes, and recommendations for the next phase of work

30 Jun 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Global Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, or Health Policy and Management.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

- Minimum 8 years of professional experience in immunization programme design and management, new vaccine introduction, and/or health systems strengthening in LMIC and MIC contexts.
- Demonstrated experience supporting Gavi-eligible countries on vaccine introduction or related health systems processes.
- Proven analytical, coordination, and communication skills, with the ability to synthesize complex technical information for decision-making.
- Fluency in English (required); French, Portuguese, Russian, Arabic or another UN language (an asset).

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

- 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.