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

The consultant will provide technical leadership and operational support to the Ministry of Health in Kenya for the planning, implementation, facilitation, analysis, and documentation of the Vaccine Portfolio Optimization and Prioritization (VPOP) exercise. The role supports evidence-based recommendations for immunization policy and investment decisions aligned with Kenya's public health priorities and Gavi 6.0 strategy.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership and operational support to the Ministry of Health in Kenya for the Vaccine Portfolio Optimization and Prioritization (VPOP) exercise.
• Plan, implement, facilitate, analyze, and document the VPOP exercise.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations for future immunization policy and investment decisions in Kenya.
• Conduct an evidence-based assessment of Kenya's vaccine portfolio and investment options.
• Improve prioritization of vaccine investments within the available budget envelope.
• Enhance alignment of vaccine financing decisions with national disease burden and public health priorities.
• Increase capacity of KENITAG and the National Vaccines and Immunization Programme to apply evidence-informed prioritization approaches.
• Strengthen stakeholder engagement and consensus around vaccine prioritization decisions.
• Identify optimal investment scenarios for discretionary vaccines, including TCV and Malaria vaccines.
• Maximize health impact, equity, and value for money from Kenya's estimated US$60 million vaccine budget.
• Ensure timely completion of Kenya's VPOP exercise and successful submission to Gavi by March 2027.
• Produce deliverables including 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 Final Consultancy Report.

Requirements

• Advanced university degree (Master's level or above) in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Health Economics, Health Policy, Pharmacy, Statistics, or other relevant field.
• At least seven (7) years of relevant experience in immunization programmes, vaccine policy, public health planning, health economics, or related fields.
• Demonstrated experience in vaccine introduction, immunization programme evaluations, or immunization policy development.
• Experience supporting National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups (NITAGs) or equivalent advisory bodies.
• Proven experience conducting evidence reviews, programme assessments, and policy analyses.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills.
• Experience working with Gavi-supported countries (desirable).
• Familiarity with Gavi 6.0 strategy and vaccine financing mechanisms (desirable).
• Knowledge of Kenya's health system and immunization programme (desirable).
• Experience facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and consensus-building processes (desirable).
• Strong knowledge of immunization programmes, vaccine policy, vaccine introduction processes, and vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Understanding of Vaccine Portfolio Optimization and Prioritization (VPOP), health priority-setting frameworks, multi-criteria decision analysis, and evidence-based decision-making.
• Knowledge of health economics, immunization financing, Gavi policies and funding mechanisms, and national vaccine investment planning processes.
• Ability to analyze and synthesize epidemiological, economic, programmatic, and policy evidence to inform vaccine investment decisions.
• Proven experience facilitating stakeholder consultations, workshops, and consensus-building processes.
• Strong analytical, report-writing, presentation, and project management skills, with proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, particularly Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate complex technical information to diverse audiences.
• Strong facilitation, stakeholder engagement, negotiation, and consensus-building skills.
• Ability to work effectively with government officials, development partners, technical experts, and other stakeholders in a multidisciplinary environment.
• Expert level English language skills with excellent written and spoken communication.

Skills

• Immunization Programmes
• Vaccine Policy Development
• Public Health Planning
• Health Economics
• Epidemiological Analysis
• New Vaccine Introduction
• Immunization Programme Evaluation
• National Immunization Technical Advisory Groups
• Evidence Review
• Programme Performance Assessment
• Policy Analysis
• Report Writing
• Vaccine Portfolio Optimization
• Health Priority-Setting Frameworks
• Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis
• Evidence-Based Decision Making
• Immunization Financing
• Vaccine Investment Planning
• Stakeholder Consultation Facilitation
• Consensus Building
• Project Management
• MS Excel
• MS PowerPoint
• MS Word
• Technical Communication

Languages

English