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 in multiple countries, providing technical assistance and support to governments and health systems to improve health outcomes globally.

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 is part of the broader effort to enhance immunization strategies in Kenya, ensuring that vaccine investments are evidence-based, equitable, and financially sustainable. The consultant will provide technical leadership and operational support throughout the planning, implementation, facilitation, analysis, and documentation phases of the VPOP exercise. The goal is to develop evidence-based recommendations that will inform future immunization policy and investment decisions in Kenya, ultimately aiming to maximize health impact and reach underserved populations. The consultant's work will be pivotal in aligning vaccine financing decisions with national health priorities and ensuring that the immunization program is resilient and sustainable in the face of evolving public health challenges.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a comprehensive set of tasks, including but not limited to: conducting an evidence-based assessment of Kenya's current vaccine portfolio and investment options; improving the prioritization of vaccine investments within the available budget; enhancing the 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; maximizing health impact, equity, and value for money from Kenya's estimated US$60 million vaccine budget; and ensuring timely completion of the VPOP exercise with 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 programmes, vaccine policy, public health planning, health economics, or related fields. Candidates should demonstrate experience in vaccine introduction, immunization programme 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 also essential for this role.

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 public health planning.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a minimum of seven years of relevant experience in areas such as immunization programmes, vaccine policy, public health planning, and health economics. This experience should include demonstrated involvement in vaccine introduction, evaluations of immunization programmes, 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 communicating 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 may involve travel on an as-needed basis. Remuneration will be based on international consultants' rates applicable, and the currency for payment will be 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. It is important for candidates to provide scanned copies of their degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) in advance if retained for an interview. WHO emphasizes workforce diversity and encourages applications from women and nationals of non and underrepresented Member States.