"PAHO Consultant - International Consultant to Update THE EPI Manual of Suriname"

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT

This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)

Contractual Agreement:

Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant

Job Posting:

August 5, 2025

Closing Date:

August 23, 2025, 11:59 PM Suriname Time

Primary Location:

Paramaribo, Suriname

Organization:

SUR Suriname

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).
• Provide a short description of the objective of the office/department here.
• Provide a description of the purpose of the consultancy here.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

1. BACKGROUND

In 2022, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour of Suriname (MOH) requested the support of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) to “evaluate the components of the National Immunization Program (NIP) of Suriname” with the goal to evaluate the functioning and performance of nine components of the NIP in order to support the MOH in building a more resilient vaccination services and assure the sustainability in achieving vaccination coverage rates above the 95% threshold recommended by the PAHO/WHO for all vaccines. Therefore, PAHO set forth to identify challenges, best practices and lessons learned to strengthen the NIP and use them to develop recommendations and a short-term Plan of Action for 2025 to revitalize the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI).

In 2026, The ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour is willing to introduce two new vaccines in the immunization schedule, the Hexavalent and the PCV10. The introduction of new vaccines into the routine immunization program is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour of Suriname and will require an upgrade of EPI policy and legislation through PAHO technical support to strengthen the overall program.

In prelude of the introduction, the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour and the BOG, has planned, to conduct the revision and update of its current EPI manual developed in 2015 as serve as technical reference for all the protocols, vaccines and practices of vaccination in Suriname as recommended by the PAHO/WHO.

This consultancy aims at providing technical cooperation to the National Immunization Program (NIP) and the Epidemiologic Surveillance Unit of the BOG in development and update of the EPI manual of Suriname. The development of a comprehensive EPI Manual will contribute to the strengthening of service delivery, data quality, cold chain systems, monitoring, equity strategies, and overall immunization system performance

Specific Objectives

▪ To conduct a thorough review of existing EPI manuals, technical documents, and immunization policies (both national and international).

▪ To consult with key immunization stakeholders to identify operational gaps and priorities.

▪ To develop a comprehensive, modular EPI Manual that integrates immunization best practices, innovations, and country-specific strategies.

▪ To facilitate validation and endorsement of the final manual by the MoH and immunization partners

2. SCOPE OF WORK

The consultant selected for this service will be required to successfully complete the following tasks: ▪ Conduct an inception meeting with the MoH and partners to clarify expectations and agree on deliverables and timelines.

▪ Prepare an inception report including: ✓ Detailed work plan ✓ Annotated outline of the proposed manual List of key documents to be reviewed

▪ Review existing national EPI policies, guidelines, operational plans, and supervision tools.

▪ Review of regional and international EPI resources

▪ Identify and engage with key stakeholders through key informant interviews (KIIs), group discussions, or validation workshops

▪ Develop a structured EPI Manual that includes:

✓ National immunization strategy and policy framework

✓ Vaccine-preventable diseases overview

✓ Immunization schedules (routine and special groups)

✓ Vaccine management, cold chain, and logistics

✓ Microplanning and outreach strategies

✓ New vaccine introduction and catch-up campaigns

✓ Data collection, reporting, and use

✓ Monitoring of vaccination coverage and drop-out rates

✓ Surveillance and reporting of ESAVI ✓ Communication, demand generation, and community engagement

✓ Supportive supervision and mentorship

✓ Equity-focused strategies (zero-dose mapping and follow-up)

✓ Pandemic readiness, emergency campaigns, and outbreak response

✓ Integration with other child and maternal health services

▪ Organize a stakeholder review meeting to present the draft manual.

▪ Incorporate feedback from the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour technical partners, and endusers.

▪ Finalize the manual and develop a summary presentation.

3. DELIVERABLES

The consultant is expected to deliver the following:

PRODUCT % DAYS (AFTER CONTRACT SIGNING)

1. Inception Report, including a detailed work plan and methodology. 10% 1 week after the signing of the contract

2. Desk Review Summary and findings from KIIs and group discussions and recommendations 20% weeks after the signing of the contract

3. Draft of EPI Manual to be reviewed by PAHO, Suriname NITAG and CITAG 40% 8 weeks after signing the contract

4. Final EPI manual with incorporation of comments from the PAHO, the NITAG and the CITAG and validation workshop 20% 9 weeks after signing the contract

5. Final report of the consultancy 10% 10 weeks after signing the contract

4. PAYMENTS

The consultancy is expected to last for 10 weeks from the date of the contract signing. The delivery and payment dates of the deliverables are subject to modifications according to the need and the validity of the contract. Payments will be made within a maximum of 15 business days after the approval of the deliverables by the PAHO.

Salary: 258 USD per day (travel costs and per diem will be covered by the Organization seperately)

5. QUALIFICATIONS AND EXPERIENCE

The ideal consultant should have the following qualifications:

Qualifications:

• University degree or equivalent certificates or qualifications in health science from a recognized institution.

• Master’s degree or other accreditation in health science areas from a recognized institution will be an asset.

Experience:

• 7 years' work experience in a health-related field. • Desirable: 2 or more years' experience working with the Expanded Program of Immunization in the Caribbean countries.

• Demonstrated experience in technical writing, guideline/manual development, and stakeholder facilitation

• Proven knowledge of WHO/PAHO EPI tools, global immunization frameworks, and routine/supplementary immunization strategies Skills

Competencies:

▪ Fluency in English (written and verbally)

▪ Demonstrated ability to effectively use a computer and utilize software programs such as Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint and Outlook.

▪ Ability to organize and participate in conference calls using Zoom and MS Teams platforms.

▪ Effective communication, soliciting and incorporating feedback and building consensus.

▪ Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate productive teamwork

▪ Cultural competence and commitment to inclusivity.

6. DURATION

The duration of the assignment will be ten (10) weeks. The consultant will work from his/her normal place of residence.

7 TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The consultant will work from an independent space and utilize his/ her own equipment such as a computer and internet to work remotely.

8 REPORTING AND SUPERVISION

The consultant will work under the technical and administrative guidance of the Immunization Advisor in close collaboration with the NIP manager. Required achievements and expected deliverables will be submitted for review and approval to the PAHO. Note that all consulting activities must be coordinated with the Immunization Advisor, in the PAHO Country Office. The products must be delivered in their final version (PDF and editable), accompanied by a report summarizing activities and recommendations. All the information developed must be delivered to the Immunization Advisor responsible in Excel, PDF and DOCX format, duly identified.

9. TYPE OF CONTRACT AND DURATION

The consultancy is expected to last for 10 weeks from the date of the contract signing, subject to amendments or extensions according to the needs of product implementation. The contracting will be carried out through the provision of technical services with the presentation of invoices. 10. CONFIDENTIALITY All data, reports, and information generated during the consultancy shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the express written consent of PAHO and the Ministry of Health, Suriname.

10. CONFIDENTIALITY

All data, reports, and information generated during the consultancy shall be treated as confidential and shall not be disclosed to any third party without the express written consent of PAHO and the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Labour in Suriname.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables.  Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract.  There is no commitment on either side.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time.  Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
• Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
• For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
• PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
• PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
• PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
• PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
• PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
• Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.  The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
• PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant.  The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.