UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.
At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.
UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture., coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.
Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.
For every child, the right to vaccine
The purpose of the assessment is to conduct a critical review of the current methodology used to calculate vaccination coverage in North Macedonia. This review will be informed by the latest scientific evidence, as well as examples and experience from other countries. The assessment will analyse the existing data sources for coverage calculation, identify gaps and limitations in the current approach and propose revised data sources, methodologies and templates to enhance the accuracy and reliability of vaccination coverage data. For this purpose, UNICEF North Macedonia seeks to engage a national expert with proven expertise in immunization processes and vaccination coverage calculation. The selected consultant shall work in close collaboration with the UNICEF Health and Nutrition Officer and National Immunization Expert Group nominated by the Minister of Health, as outlined in the scope of work section.
Background information:
Immunization coverage is a critical metric for monitoring and evaluating the performance of immunization programs. It helps determine whether coverage targets are being met and identify communities and/or subpopulations that may require additional support through supplemental immunization activities. High-quality coverage data is essential for informed decision-making at the local, regional and national levels. In all United Nations member states, reliable coverage data is also vital for strengthening surveillance systems and supporting the documentation and certification of disease elimination efforts, such as for measles, rubella and polio.
Accurate coverage calculations, typically rely on the number of vaccine doses administered divided by the target population. This calculation depends on robust data collection. Weak or incomplete data can result in misleading coverage figures, potentially undermining public health efforts and increasing the risk of disease resurgence. Coverage rates also serve as a key indicator of how effectively a population is protected against vaccine-preventable diseases. Immunization coverage calculations are crucial in North Macedonia for the same reasons it matters globally: to track progress, prevent outbreaks and monitor potential setbacks.
The country aligns with the WHO/UNICEF Estimates of National Immunization Coverage (WUENIC) methodology for reporting and estimating coverage.
The coverage formula used is: Coverage (%) = (Number of individuals vaccinated / Target population) × 100
- The numerator includes individuals in the target population (e.g., children under 5) who have received the recommended vaccine doses (e.g., MCV1 for measles, DTP3 for diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis)
- The denominator is the estimated target population, typically derived from census data, birth registries, or health system records.
Data sources include administrative data from health facilities and vaccination records reported to the Ministry of Health; household survey data (e.g., Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys by UNICEF) and WHO/UNICEF national reports, which may incorporate adjustments based on expert input.
Several challenges continue to affect the accuracy and reliability of immunization coverage calculations in North Macedonia:
• Incomplete or inaccurate data. Administrative data from health facilities can be incomplete due to under-reporting or manual record-keeping errors, especially in rural or underserved areas such as Roma communities. These issues can distort both the numerator (number of vaccinated individuals) and the denominator (target population), leading to inaccurate coverage estimates. Although North Macedonia has introduced a national electronic immunization database to improve data quality, gaps persist in certain regions.
• Disparities across regions and communities. Vaccination coverage varies significantly across municipalities and ethnic groups. Roma communities and rural areas often have lower vaccination rates due to limited access to healthcare, cultural barriers or socioeconomic factors. Aggregated national data may mask these local disparities, making it difficult to identify and address specific gaps. Additionally, outdated census data and unregistered births complicate the estimation of accurate denominators for minority or mobile populations.
• Limited survey data. North Macedonia relies on administrative data supplemented by household surveys (e.g., UNICEF’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys held every 4-5 years, the latest being in 2018). However, surveys are resource-intensive and not conducted annually, limiting timely validation of coverage estimates. Without frequent household surveys, coverage may be overestimated due to unrecorded dropouts or refusals. In addition, WHO/UNICEF adjustments (via WUENIC methodology) may not fully capture local nuances without recent survey data.
• Capacity and training gaps. Despite WHO-led training of over 400 health workers in 2023-2024 to improve immunization delivery and reporting, some areas still lack adequately trained personnel for accurate data collection. Inconsistent reporting practices across health facilities further undermine data reliability. Addressing these challenges requires sustained investment in workforce training and digital infrastructure, which is still in the process of scaling up.
How can you make a difference?
Scope of Work:
To implement this task, UNICEF North Macedonia seeks to engage a national consultant who will work in close collaboration with Health and Nutrition Officer. The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
1. Comprehensive review of the current methodology. The consultant should conduct a thorough assessment of the existing methodology used to calculate vaccine coverage in North Macedonia. This includes: evaluation of data sources (e.g., administrative data, electronic immunization systems), data collection processes, and analytical methods. The review should identify strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, such as incomplete reporting, underestimation of coverage due to unregistered populations (e.g., Roma communities), and inconsistencies in data between urban and rural areas.
2. Propose a revised methodology. The consultant should develop a new or update the current methodology for calculating vaccine coverage, drawing on global best practices (e.g., WHO’s Guide for Standardization of Economic Evaluations of Immunization Programmes or Gavi’s monitoring approaches to immunization). The proposal should include detailed guidelines for data collection, standardized data sources, sampling methods, and robust statistical approaches to ensure representativeness and accuracy. The methodology should be adapted to local context (e.g., addressing vaccine hesitancy, accounting for disruptions like COVID-19 pandemic). In addition, the methodology should be cost-effective and feasible in low-resource settings and aligned with the new National Immunization Strategy 2030 (under development) to support its acceptance and data collection efforts.
3. Development of data collection and analysis tools. The consultant should design and adapt tools (e.g., templates or spreadsheets) for data collection and analysis, ensuring compatibility with North Macedonia’s health infrastructure. It should include protocols for data validation and quality assurance, such as cross-referencing administrative data with survey-based estimates or using mobility data to track coverage in transient populations.
4. Stakeholder engagement and training plan. The proposed methodology should undergo through broad consultations with key stakeholders (e.g., Ministry of Health, Institute of Public Health, UNICEF North Macedonia, WHO representatives) to validate the revised methodology and ensure alignment with national health priorities. Based on these consultations, the consultant should develop a training manual or workshopcurriculum for health workers and data managers on the implementation of the revised methodology, including guidance on using the new tools and addressing data gaps in underserved communities.
5. Policy brief for decision-makers. The consultant should prepare a concise policy brief summarizing the revised methodology and, its benefits, its alignment with global standards and recommendations for policymakers on resource allocation, addressing urban-rural disparities, ensuring financial sustainability and equitable access. The deliverables should ensure that the revised methodology is evidence-based, locally relevant, and aligned with the best global practices. Ultimately, the goal is to enhance vaccine coverage monitoring and improve public health outcomes in North Macedonia.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
- Advanced degree in health, pharmacy, public health, or related field. Master’s degree and higher is an asset
- Professional experience: Minimum of 10-years’ experience in collecting and analysis of literature and large datasets (from national and international sources). Experience working in the field of immunization and immunization policies. Experience in documenting policy revision processes and writing summary reports
Core competencies:
- Strong research and analytical skills
- Knowledgeable of the immunization system and policies in the country
- Excellent oral and written command of English and Macedonian language. Knowledge of other local languages is an asset.
Interpersonal and Ethical Skills:
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively and efficiently.
- High integrity and ability to handle confidential information in accordance with policies and protocols.
*Listed requirements will be used for technical evaluation in the competitive process
For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
[add the 8th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role].
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
[Remove the following paragraph if not a child safeguarding elevated risk role] This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.
UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.
UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.
[Applicable to HQEI positions, remove the below text if not applicable]
In this role, you will collaborate with colleagues across multiple locations. For effective collaboration, we encourage flexible working hours that accommodate different time zones while prioritizing staff wellbeing.
[Remove the below paragraph if not applicable]
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
[Do not remove the below paragraph]
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
[Adapt the below paragraph or remove it if not applicable]
[CO/ HQ specific: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]
[Do not remove the below paragraph]
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
