International Consultant for National Immunization Strategy Development

Job Posting Organization:
The World Health Organization (WHO) is a specialized agency of the United Nations responsible for international public health. Established on April 7, 1948, WHO has a mission to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees and operations in more than 150 countries, WHO works to ensure that all people can attain the highest possible level of health. The organization focuses on various health issues, including disease prevention, health systems strengthening, and emergency response, and aims to achieve universal health coverage and health equity.

Job Overview:
The position of International Consultant for National Immunization Strategy Development is crucial for supporting the Ministry of Health in Djibouti. The consultant will be tasked with developing a high-quality, evidence-based, and fully costed National Immunization Strategy (SNV) for the years 2027–203

• This strategy must align with the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030), the Thirteenth General Programme of Work (GPW14), and the Country Cooperation Strategy (CCS). The consultant will play a pivotal role in ensuring financial sustainability during Djibouti's transition from external financing, particularly from Gavi, to increased domestic resource mobilization. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of immunization programs, strategic planning, and policy development, as well as the ability to engage with various stakeholders to ensure the successful implementation of the strategy.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a range of tasks, including conducting stakeholder consultations and document reviews, analyzing program performance, and identifying bottlenecks in the immunization program. They will facilitate national and technical workshops, configure and populate the NIS.COST tool, and conduct costing and financial modeling. Additionally, the consultant will support policy dialogue and prioritization, draft and finalize the SNV document, and assist in validation and endorsement processes. Expected deliverables include a validated situational analysis report, a strategic framework aligned with IA2030, costing and financial scenario analysis, an investment case for immunization financing, and the final SNV 2027–2030 documents along with an operational plan and monitoring and evaluation framework.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Health Economics, Health Policy, or a related field. Essential qualifications include 5–10 years of experience in immunization or public health programs, international experience, proven experience in strategic planning and policy development, and demonstrated experience with costing tools such as NIS.COST or similar. Familiarity with the context of Djibouti and experience with Gavi transition processes are desirable. Strong analytical and financial modeling skills, advanced Excel proficiency, excellent facilitation and stakeholder engagement skills, and strong writing and synthesis capacity are also required.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree, specifically a Master’s degree or higher, in fields related to public health, health economics, or health policy. This educational foundation is essential for understanding the complexities of health systems and immunization strategies, as well as for engaging in high-level policy discussions and strategic planning.

Experience:
The position requires candidates to have a minimum of 5–10 years of relevant experience in immunization or public health programs. International experience is mandatory for consultants in this role, as it ensures familiarity with global health standards and practices. Candidates should also have proven experience in strategic planning and policy development, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, which is critical for addressing the unique challenges faced in these contexts.

Languages:
Fluency in both French and English is mandatory for this position, with expert-level proficiency required. This bilingual capability is essential for effective communication with stakeholders, documentation, and policy dialogue. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will be based in Djibouti office premises and is a full-time position. The selected consultant will need to provide a medical certificate of fitness for work and may be required to travel according to the project itinerary. The remuneration for this position falls under pay Band B. The WHO emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its workforce and encourages applications from women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of underrepresented Member States. Candidates should be aware that WHO has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse, and all members of the workforce are expected to adhere to the highest ethical standards.