National Immunization Consultant

The National Immunization Consultant will provide targeted technical assistance to the National Immunization Programme and relevant provincial and district health teams in Lao PDR to strengthen immunization programme planning, implementation, monitoring, and performance management. The consultant will support data-driven decision-making, improve coverage among zero-dose and under-immunized children, and enhance preparedness for vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks.

Responsibilities

• Provide targeted technical assistance to the National Immunization Programme and relevant provincial and district health teams to strengthen programme planning, implementation, monitoring and performance management.
• Support the programme to translate immunization data and evidence into practical actions, identify and address coverage and equity gaps.
• Strengthen approaches for identifying and reaching zero-dose and under-immunized children.
• Improve coordination and accountability across national and sub-national levels.
• Support preparedness and implementation of priority immunization activities, including supplementary immunization activities and MR/HPV campaigns.
• Follow-up of EVM-related programme recommendations and documentation of lessons learned and good practices.
• Strengthen the capacity of national and sub-national teams through supportive supervision, mentoring, training and use of relevant learning platforms.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in medicine or public health or any other related field (master's an Advantage)
• 5–7 years of relevant professional experience in immunization programmes, preferably at national and/or sub-national level.
• Demonstrated experience in routine immunization programme planning, implementation, monitoring and performance improvement.
• Experience supporting micro-planning, supportive supervision and/or immunization campaigns
• Good knowledge of routine immunization programme implementation, monitoring and performance management, including approaches to improve coverage and reach zero-dose and under-immunized children.
• Knowledge and practical experience in sub-national coordination, supportive supervision, micro-planning, monitoring and follow-up of programme actions.
• Experience in supporting outbreak preparedness and response for vaccine-preventable diseases and/or supplementary immunization activities and vaccination campaigns.
• Familiarity with EVM and broader immunization programme quality improvement processes would be an advantage.
• Familiarity with the Lao PDR health system and immunization programme context.
• Ability to provide mentoring, facilitate training/orientation sessions and build capacity of national and sub-national health teams.
• Proficiency in English and Lao languages is required
• Previous experience working with the Ministry of Health, National Immunization Programme, UNICEF, WHO, Gavi or other development partners in immunization or public health programmes is desirable.
• Experience working in Lao PDR or in a similar country context is desirable.
• Experience in supporting zero-dose and equity-focused immunization initiatives, EIR strengthening, campaign monitoring or outbreak response would be an advantage

Skills

• Immunisation Programme Planning
• Routine Immunization Implementation
• Immunization Programme Monitoring
• Performance Improvement
• Micro-planning
• Supportive Supervision
• Vaccination Campaigns
• Disease Outbreak Preparedness
• Vaccine-preventable Disease Response
• Sub-national Coordination
• Programme Quality Improvement
• Training and Mentoring
• Capacity Building
• Data Driven Decision Making
• Zero-dose Immunization Strategies
• Equity-focused Immunization
• Electronic Immunization Registry Strengthening
• Campaign Monitoring
• English Language Proficiency
• Lao language proficiency

Languages

English, Lao