PAHO Consultant - Immunization

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 - National PAHO Consultant
Job Posting:
October 16, 2026
Closing Date:
October 25, 2026, 11:59 PM Suriname Time
Primary Location:
Paramaribo, Suriname
Organization:
SUR Suriname
Schedule:
Full 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).
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
I. Background:
The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is seeking a qualified professional in immunization and/or public health to serve as a National Consultant to support the Ministry of Health of Suriname in implementing two complementary immunization decision-support analyses: UNIVAC, a comprehensive vaccine impact and cost-effectiveness modelling tool, and HORI-ZON, a rapid prioritization and optimization tool.
UNIVAC and HORIZON are part of PAHO’s Evidence-informed Vaccine and Immunization Decision-making and Appraisal in the Americas (EVIDA) initiative, which supports countries in strengthening evidence-informed immunization policy and decision-making.
UNIVAC is an Excel-based model designed for detailed analyses of new vaccine introductions or changes to immunization strategies. HORIZON is an Excel-based tool that enables rapid comparison of immunization policy and strategy options based on their potential health and cost implications. Together, the tools can support comprehensive assessment of a priority policy question and broader prioritization of immunization options.
Suriname’s immediate policy interest is evaluating a potential change in its HPV vaccine product. The consultancy will therefore begin with a focused UNIVAC analysis of this question. The Ministry of Health and National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) will con-firm the current product, proposed product, and comparator during development of the study protocol. A subsequent HORIZON analysis will support prioritization of immunization options, including options related to rotavirus and RSV vaccines.
The consultant will also use VISTA (Vaccine Immunization Summary Tables for Appraisal) to prepare a customized evidence-to-recommendation table for the HPV policy question. VISTA allows a NITAG working group to define policy options and appraisal criteria, compile relevant evidence, and assess the quality of that evidence. UNIVAC findings will contribute to the table alongside other relevant clinical, programmatic, and contextual evidence.
The consultancy will support the Ministry of Health and relevant national stakeholders in apply-ing these tools, interpreting findings, and strengthening national capacity for evidence-informed immunization decision-making.
II. Objectives:
The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide technical and coordination support for a UNIVAC analysis of Suriname’s priority HPV policy question, followed by a HORIZON prioritization analysis and preparation of a VISTA evidence-to-recommendation table.
Specific objectives are to:
Support implementation of the UNIVAC analysis first, followed by the HORIZON analysis, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, NITAG, national working group, and PAHO/EVIDA team.
Support collection, compilation, validation, and documentation of the data and assumptions required for the analyses.
Support interpretation and presentation of findings to relevant national stakeholders.
Prepare the required technical reports and documentation and contribute to national capacity building for future evidence-informed immunization analyses.
Support the national working group in selecting relevant appraisal criteria and compiling UNIVAC findings and other evidence in a VISTA table for NITAG review.
III. Accountability, collaboration and working conditions
The consultant will work on a full-time basis throughout the five-month consultancy, coordinating availability and working arrangements with the PAHO/WHO supervisor.
IV. Scope of work and responsibilities:
The consultant will work under the supervision of the PAHO/WHO immunization Advisor, the technical guidance of the Technical Officer, New Vaccines Surveillance of CIM/HQ, and will work closely with the Ministry of Health, Welfare and labor, the designated national working group, the NITAG, relevant national institutions, and the PAHO/EVIDA team. The consultancy includes work in the following:
A. UNIVAC
The consultant will:
•Confirm the HPV policy question with national stakeholders, including the current and proposed vaccine products, strategies, comparators, target population, and analytical perspective.
•Review existing evidence and available desk analyses for Suriname with the PA-HO/EVIDA team to inform the study design and accelerate the analysis.
•Prepare the study protocol, analysis plan, and data collection and validation plan.
•Support establishment and coordination of the national working group.
•Participate in PAHO/EVIDA training on UNIVAC and support its application in Suriname.
•Identify, compile, clean, validate, and document the country-specific data required for the analysis.
•Adapt and complete the UNIVAC model in collaboration with the national working group and PAHO/EVIDA team.
•Document data sources, assumptions, parameters, and methodological decisions.
•Conduct sensitivity analyses and alternative scenarios, as appropriate.
•Present preliminary findings when sufficiently validated, and present final health and economic results, including uncertainties and limitations, to the Ministry of Health, NITAG, and other relevant stakeholders.
•Prepare the final UNIVAC analysis and technical report and maintain documentation to facilitate future updates or replication.
B. HORIZON
The consultant will:
•Agree with the Ministry of Health and NITAG on the immunization policy and strategy options to compare, taking account of the HPV analysis and national interest in rotavirus and RSV vaccines.
•Support establishment and coordination of the national working group and technical discussions.
•Prepare an analysis and data plan, reusing validated UNIVAC inputs and documented assumptions where appropriate.
•Collect, compile, clean, and validate any additional epidemiological, demographic, vaccine, programmatic, healthcare utilization, and cost data required for the analysis.
•Adapt and complete the HORIZON tool using country-specific data.
•Document data sources, assumptions, methodological decisions, and validation processes.
•Support interpretation of results and discussion with the Ministry of Health, NITAG, and other relevant stakeholders.
•Finalize the HORIZON analysis and technical report and support presentation of findings.
C. VISTA
With guidance from the PAHO/EVIDA team and input from the national working group, the consultant will:
•Participate in relevant training on the evidence-to-recommendation process and use of VISTA.
•Define the HPV policy options to be displayed in the table and identify appraisal criteria relevant to Suriname.
•Populate the VISTA table with UNIVAC findings and other relevant clinical, programmatic, economic, equity, and contextual evidence, as available.
•Document evidence sources, gaps, uncertainties, and assessments of evidence quality using the approach agreed with the national working group.
•Present the completed table to the NITAG to support its appraisal of the HPV policy question.
D. CROSS-CUTTING RESPONSIBILITIES
The consultant will:
•Maintain regular coordination with the Ministry of Health, NITAG, and PAHO/EVIDA team.
•Coordinate data collection and communication with relevant national stakeholders.
•Support quality assurance and validation of model inputs and outputs.
•Document data sources, assumptions, methodological decisions, and limitations.
•Prepare technical reports, presentations, and other evidence products as required.
•Support knowledge transfer and national capacity building.
•Transfer the completed UNIVAC and HORIZON files, VISTA table, supporting data, and documentation to designated national counterparts.
V. Deliverables:
Deliverable 1: Inception Report and Work Plan (10%)
Timing: Within 10 working days of contract signature
A report setting out the proposed HPV policy question and comparators; working arrangements a