Current vacancies

Consultancy Title: EVM/cIP and NLWG strengthening Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group/Health Section

Duration: 15 February 2026 – 30 June 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

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 for developing 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The goal of immunizing children everywhere is premised on timely availability of vaccines and adequate reach of immunization services, for which efficient and effective immunization supply chains are critical. Integral to an efficient and effective supply chain however are different cadre of immunization supply chain human resources. They ensure that the right quantities of vaccines (and related supplies) are forecasted for, supplied, received in-country, and cleared at the ports, stored in appropriate storage and temperature conditions at different supply chain level stores.

The Effective Vaccine Management (EVM) approach has catalysed achievement of programme goals through periodic review of national iSCs, development and implementation of continuous improvement plans and monitoring and tracking of these by National and Sub-National Logistics Working groups (S)NLWGs. Beyond conducting EVM Assessments, UNICEF and partners are providing comprehensive effective vaccine management (cEVM) support to countries to fully develop and cost cIPs, monitor and track them effectively (e.g. using the SCIP tool), and use these to sustainably finance and resource mobilize for implementing the improvement plans and activities. 

For these and other functions, National and Sub-National LWGs need to be set-up, strengthened with required standard operating procedures, tools, and templates, and empowered to achieve sustained high performance at individual, operational, strategic, and institutional functions. (S)NLWGs ensuring that the right quantity of potent vaccines is available at the last mile, through timely planning, adequate and continuously improved performance monitoring, strong data systems and effective use of the data; effective and efficient use & management of immunization infrastructure; and supply chain optimization and workforce development.

The Vaccine & Cold Chain Management workstream in UNICEF’s Health Centre of Excellence (CoE) will operationalize UNICEF’s Immunization Roadmap, Health Strategy 2030 and the new Gavi Alliance 6.0 iSC and Health systems strategy, providing technical expertise and support to countries in vaccine and cold chain management. To achieve this, UNICEF is seeking a EVM/cIP and NLWG strengthening consultant to provide support EVMAs, fully develop and cost cIPs, including supporting endorsement preparations, and the set-up and strengthening of (S)NLWGs, including related capacity building. The consultancy assignment will be supervised by the Senior Adviser, Vaccine and Cold Chain Management Unit and the consultant(s) will collaborate with a wide range of partners in iSC2, regions and countries.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Senior Adviser, Vaccine and Cold Chain Management Unit, the EVM/cIP and NLWG strengthening Consultant(s) will support: 

1. Planning for, conducting and finalizing the report of Effective Vaccine Management Assessments (EVMAs) and planning for, developing, participate monitoring and operationalization of Continuous Improvement Plans (cIPs). 
2. (S)NLWGs/governance systems set up and strengthening and related capacity building initiatives: Using UNICEF’s (S)NLWG guidance and related materials, and aligning with country continuous improvement plans, contribute to the implementation and advancement of activities. 
3. Facilitate countries’ CVM gaps analysis, including rationale and the development of the supply chain components of Gavi applications and cash grants. 
4. Evidence generation.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Travel: Estimated $13,500

Qualifications

Education:

• An advanced University Degree in Engineering, Public Health, Supply Chain, Development Studies, Social Sciences, Business or Public Administration or related field is required., or other relevant fields. 
• A Bachelor degree and 11 years’ qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the master’s degree. 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least (8) years of experience in international public health programming including at least three (3) years in immunization and immunization supply chains, with experience in low- and middle-income countries. 
• Very good experience of the effective vaccine management (EVM) approach (and overall comprehensive vaccine management approach) including conducting EVM assessments, developing and tracking the continuous improvement plans (cIPs) including familiarity with cIP tools- cIP assistant tool and SCIP    
• Familiarity with in-country immunization supply chain processes and strengthening such as stock and logistics management, inventory policies, allocation, ordering and distribution strategies, temperature monitoring, waste management and other supply chain operations  
• Experience and knowledge of countries’ iSC capacity/workforce development interventions, including potential for impact and challenges  
• Experience and knowledge of countries’ iSC governance/S/NLWGs strengthening practices, and related challenges 
• Knowledge of iSC professionalization and gender mainstreaming practices in iSC and broader health systems 
• Experience with engaging multiple stakeholders at countries’ national and sub-national levels
• Experience with developing high quality technical documents including academic articles, case studies, news articles etc.   

• Experience in planning, coordination and working with teams in different time zones is a must. 

Language Proficiency: 

• Proficiency in spoken and written English is required.  
• Proficiency in spoken and written French is required.  
• Knowledge of other UN languages is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- 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.