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: December 2, 2025 Closing Date: December 9, 2025, 11:59 PM Primary Location: Organization: CIM Comprehensive Immunizations 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). • 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: “Include summary of terms of reference (ToRs) and attach full description of ToRs” Background Vaccination coverage continues to fall short of global targets. In recent years, some countries have experienced sharp declines, and many have yet to recover to pre-pandemic levels. To understand and adequately address the underlying causes of low vaccine uptake, as well as to strengthen the capacity of national immunization programs, it is essential to have timely, high-quality local data to guide decision-making. In this context, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) have promoted the generation and use of evidence on the behavioral and social drivers (BeSD) of vaccination, as well as the integration of digital and IT tools to strengthen immunization information systems. Since the publication in 2022 of the WHO Position Paper[1] on vaccination drivers and BeSD tools and guidelines[2], interest in and implementation of studies based on these approaches have been increasing. However, significant opportunities remain, and there is a clear need for broader and more systematic implementation in the Region of the Americas. Since 2021, PAHO has been conducting BeSD studies in various countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, targeting different populations, including pregnant women, caregivers, and health workers, and different vaccines throughout the life course[4]. These studies generate locally relevant evidence to guide strategies that strengthen confidence and acceptance of vaccines, contributing to the achievement of equitable and sustainable coverage. Health professionals and technical teams from national immunization programs play a central role in these efforts. Their ability to build trust, listen actively, provide support, and offer reliable information is essential to increasing vaccine acceptance and ensuring the protection of the population. In this context, understanding the factors that influence vaccine acceptance or hesitancy and leveraging available digital tools is key to designing evidence-based strategies and improving immunization information management. In this context, it is necessary to establish a roster of international professional consultants (IPCs) to provide technical and coordination support in the development, implementation, and analysis of immunization research studies. Overall objective Support the technical, methodological, and analytical coordination of studies on vaccination demand and behavior, including BeSD studies, to strengthen the generation, analysis, and use of evidence to guide decision-making and contribute to improving vaccination acceptance and coverage in the countries of the Region of the Americas. Specific objectives: - Provide technical and methodological support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of BeSD studies and other research on immunization, demand, and behavior, ensuring quality, consistency, and compliance with the ethical and scientific standards established by PAHO. - Strengthen the management, analysis, and use of data from immunization and digital health studies, promoting the integration of technological tools, information quality, and the application of innovative approaches to evidence-based decision-making. - Contribute to communication, dissemination, and capacity building by supporting the preparation of technical reports and scientific publications, as well as the exchange of experiences between countries and regional teams to promote the sustainability of research initiatives on demand and behaviors related to immunization. Description: Under the general supervision of the Deputy Manager of IMC and the direct supervision of the IMC Regional Immunization Advisor, the consultants included in the roster will support coordination with countries in the Region on studies of vaccination demand and behavior (including BeSD studies) and other immunization-related studies. The main areas of support include: 1. Technical coordination and Support to BeSD studies and other research ·Support the methodological design, planning, and execution of BeSD studies and other immunization research (e.g., studies on vaccine acceptance, vaccine demand, data quality, and coverage). ·Provide technical support to national teams and partner institutions in the development and implementation of research protocols, ensuring adherence to the methodological, ethical, and quality standards established by PAHO. ·Contribute to the development and review of questionnaires, interview guides, informed consent forms, and other data collection instruments. ·Coordinate the validation processes for data collection instruments (surveys, interview guides, informed consent forms, etc.), including the cognitive testing, piloting, and final adjustment stages. ·Prepare and consolidate the documentation required for submission to national ethics committees and the PAHO Ethics Committee (PAHOERC), ensuring compliance with applicable ethical and regulatory standards. ·Supervise the implementation of studies in participating countries, in close coordination with national teams and ministries of health. ·Design and implement training activities for contracted personnel (e.g., surveyors or interviewers) to ensure quality, standardization, and compliance with data collection protocols. ·Provide technical support to national teams during the data collection and analysis stages, ensuring methodological consistency and compliance with established timelines. ·Participate in coordination, review, and technical follow-up meetings with national focal points and country offices. 2. Data management, analysis, and quality assurance ·Design, program, and upload questionnaires and data collection instruments to the Qualtrics platform, ensuring the correct structuring of questions, logical flows, skip conditions, and quality control mechanisms. ·Support the consolidation, cleaning, and analysis of databases from BeSD studies and other immunization research. ·Prepare and maintain technical documentation (variable dictionaries, analysis codes, statistical reports, etc.) following PAHO/WHO standards. ·Contribute to the development of analytical reports and visualizations that facilitate the use of data for decision-making. ·Ensure the quality, consistency, and security of the data collected, promoting governance practices and ethical information standards. 3. Communication, dissemination, and capacity building Contribute to the drafting of technical reports, scientific manuscripts, and presentations for national, regional, and international forums related to the research studies conducted. Support the organization of workshops, training sessions, and technical meetings on research, BeSD, and immunization information systems. Promote the exchange of experiences and best practices between countries, fostering inter-institutional collaboration and regional learning. 4. Coordination and administrative management Develop and follow up on work plans, timelines, budgets, and deliverables associated with coordinated studies. Ensure fluid and systematic communication with country offices, national teams, and strategic partners. Support the consolidation of technical and administrative documentation required by PAHO for monitoring, ethical review, and publication processes Professional profile a)Education: Health professional (physician, nurse, epidemiologist) or social or behavioral scientist (e.g., psychology, sociology, anthropology, behavioral economics, or health-related disciplines). Master’s degree in public health, epidemiology, applied social sciences, health informatics, or related fields from an accredited university. b)Experience: The consultant must have a minimum of seven years of combined experience in the following areas: Proven experience in designing and implementing research studies, including surveys with quantitative and qualitative components. Experience or knowledge of immunizations, public health programs, or research on health service behavior and demand. 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. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is the specialized international health agency for the Americas. It works with countries throughout the region to improve and protect people's health. PAHO wears two institutional hats: it is the specialized health agency of the Inter-American System and also serves as Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization (WHO), the specialized health agency of the United Nations. PAHO engages in technical cooperation with its member countries to fight communicable and noncommunicable diseases and their causes, to strengthen health systems, and to respond to emergencies and disasters. PAHO is committed to ensuring that all people have access to the health care they need, when they need it, with quality and without fear of falling into poverty. Through its work, PAHO promotes and supports the right of everyone to good health. To advance these goals, PAHO promotes technical cooperation between countries and works in partnership with ministries of health and other government agencies, civil society organizations, other international agencies, universities, social security agencies, community groups, and other partners. PAHO promotes the inclusion of health in all public policies and the engagement of all sectors in efforts to ensure that people live longer, healthier lives, with good health as their most valuable resource. Under the leadership of its 51 member countries and territories, PAHO sets regional health priorities and mobilizes action to address health problems that respect no borders and that, in many cases, jeopardize the sustainability of health systems. From its Washington, D.C., headquarters, 27 country offices and three specialized centers in the region, PAHO promotes evidence-based decision-making to improve and promote health as a driver of sustainable development.