International Consultant to Support Kenya’s Vaccine Portfolio Optimization and Prioritization and Gavi 6.0 Application

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's mission is to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve vulnerable populations. With over 7,000 employees in more than 150 countries, WHO works in various areas including disease prevention, health systems strengthening, and emergency response. The organization operates globally, focusing on health issues that transcend national boundaries and require coordinated international action.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) of Kenya in the Vaccine Portfolio Optimization and Prioritization (VPOP) exercise. This initiative aims to enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of immunization programs in Kenya, ensuring that vaccine investments are aligned with public health priorities and the evolving disease burden. The consultant will provide technical leadership and operational support throughout the planning, implementation, facilitation, analysis, and documentation phases of the VPOP exercise. This includes developing evidence-based recommendations for future immunization policies and investment decisions, thereby contributing to the overall goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Immunization Agenda 2030 (IA2030). The consultant will be expected to deliver a series of reports and analyses that will inform strategic vaccine investment decisions and enhance the capacity of local stakeholders to prioritize vaccine investments effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's duties will include:

• Conducting an evidence-based assessment of Kenya's current vaccine portfolio and investment options.
• Improving the prioritization of vaccine investments within the available budget envelope.
• Enhancing alignment of vaccine financing decisions with national disease burden and public health priorities.
• Increasing the capacity of KENITAG and the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme to apply evidence-informed prioritization approaches.
• Strengthening stakeholder engagement and consensus around vaccine prioritization decisions.
• Identifying optimal investment scenarios for discretionary vaccines, including TCV and Malaria vaccines.
• Maximizing health impact, equity, and value for money from Kenya's estimated US$60 million vaccine budget.
• Completing the VPOP exercise in a timely manner and ensuring successful submission to Gavi by March 202
• The consultant will produce several key deliverables, including an Inception Report, Situational Analysis Report, Literature Review Report, Budget and Financing Analysis Report, Stakeholder Consultation Report, KENITAG Technical Briefs, Draft and Final VPOP Reports, Gavi Submission Package, and a Final Consultancy Report.

Required Qualifications:
The position requires an advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Economics, Health Policy, Pharmacy, Statistics, or a related field. Essential qualifications include at least seven years of relevant experience in immunization programs, vaccine policy, public health planning, health economics, or related fields. Candidates should demonstrate experience in vaccine introduction, immunization program evaluations, or immunization policy development, as well as experience supporting National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) or equivalent advisory bodies. Strong analytical and report-writing skills are essential, along with a proven ability to conduct evidence reviews, program assessments, and policy analyses.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in relevant fields such as Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Economics, Health Policy, Pharmacy, Statistics, or other related disciplines. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of vaccine policy and immunization programs.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in areas such as immunization programs, vaccine policy, public health planning, and health economics. This experience should include demonstrated involvement in vaccine introduction, evaluations of immunization programs, and the development of immunization policies. Familiarity with Gavi-supported countries and the Gavi 6.0 strategy is desirable, as is experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and consensus-building processes.

Languages:
The position requires expert-level proficiency in English, with excellent written and spoken communication skills. This is essential for effectively conveying complex technical information to diverse audiences and for engaging with various stakeholders in the public health sector.

Additional Notes:
The consultant will be supervised by the WHO Representative to Kenya or a designated WHO technical officer. The position is based in Nairobi, Kenya, and while the consultant will primarily work from home, they may be required to travel for stakeholder engagements as needed. The remuneration will be based on international consultants' rates applicable in USD. This vacancy notice may also be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level. Candidates under serious consideration will be contacted, and a written test may be used as a form of screening. WHO emphasizes diversity in its workforce and encourages applications from women and nationals of underrepresented Member States. The organization adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and has a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual exploitation and abuse.