Consultant, Support Monitoring and Evaluation of IFRC Supported Immunization Activities Globally

Organizational Context

The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) is the world’s largest humanitarian organization, with a network of 191-member National Societies. The overall aim of the IFRC is “to inspire, encourage, facilitate, and promote at all times all forms of humanitarian activities by National Societies with a view to preventing and alleviating human suffering and thereby contributing to the maintenance and promotion of human dignity and peace in the world.”  The IFRC works to meet the needs and improve the lives of vulnerable people before, during and after disasters, health emergencies and other crises.

The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement (Movement), together with its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The work of the IFRC is guided by the following fundamental principles: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.

The IFRC has five regional offices in Africa, Asia Pacific, Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas.  The IFRC also has country cluster delegations and country delegations throughout the world. Together, the Geneva Headquarters and the field structure (regional, cluster and country delegations) comprise the IFRC Secretariat.

The Health and Care Department’s New Strategic Direction 2023 focuses on Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening through 4 Pillars:

Pillar 1:            Global Health Security

Pillar 2:            Global Health Protection and Universal Health Coverage

Pillar 3:            Global WASH Services

Pillar 4:            Transformative Partnership

The 4 Pillars under Health Systems Strengthening and WASH Systems Strengthening are supported by 3 Enablers:

Enabler 1:       Strengthening National Society Leadership on Health and WASH

Enabler 2:       Strengthening IFRC Secretariate Health Infrastructure at county, cluster, region and Geneva level

Enabler 3:       Digital Solutions and Data

Job Purpose

The IFRC Immunization Team is seeking a dynamic and experienced monitoring and evaluation (M&E) consultant to enhance the effectiveness and impact of IFRC supported immunization programs. The consultant will be responsible for developing and delivering robust M&E frameworks, conducting complex data analyses, compiling comprehensive reports, and providing remote capacity building to country teams, including supporting country programs to develop and utilize data management systems to better disaggregate immunization program data among factors such as age groups, antigens, and delivery mechanisms.

The goal of the M&E consultancy is to support the IFRC immunization program to strengthen immunization systems and implementation of activities to deliver more vaccines to more children and use data to adapt program activities to better interrupt transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases. The M&E focal person will assess the impact of the immunization programs, including service delivery, through evaluation and assessment of surveillance data, monitoring and evaluation of vaccination coverage and other key immunization program indicators; to develop novel monitoring systems and evaluate new ideas to improve immunization services and delivery, including integration with other public health interventions and the build capacity to make decisions for effective, efficient and sustainable immunization programs.

Job Duties and Responsibilities

The consultancy has 12 areas of focus detailed below.

1. Develop M&E Frameworks:

• Design comprehensive M&E frameworks, key performance indicators (KPIs), and plans for immunization programs, including indicators, data collection methods, and reporting structures tailored to different donor requirements.

2. Data Collection:

• Guide the development of strategies and tools to assess and support country immunization programs, activities to eradicate polio, and activities to control/eliminate measles, and strengthening of national routine immunization programs.

3. Quantitative Analysis:

• Perform statistical analyses of immunization coverage data, vaccination coverage, differentiate between children vaccinated vs dose administered, dropout rates, reporting using software such as SPSS, Stata, or R.

4. Qualitative Analysis:

• Support thematic analysis of qualitative data from focus groups, interviews, and surveys to understand barriers and facilitators to immunization.

5. Trend Analysis:

• Analyze trends over time and across different geographic areas to identify patterns and anomalies in immunization coverage and health outcomes.

6. Comparative Analysis:

• Compare program performance across countries and donor-funded projects to identify best practices and areas needing improvement.

7. Reporting:

• Support the IFRC Immunization Team on generation of evidence by analysing, interpreting, and applying sound scientific information and to develop policies, strategies, and guidelines related to vaccine, immunization, and vaccine-preventable disease surveillance.
• Prepare high-quality, timely reports and dashboards that analyses and clearly communicate program progress, outcomes, and lessons learned to internal and external stakeholders, including:
  • Evaluation reports assessing the effectiveness and efficiency of immunization programs.
  • Donor-specific reports detailing the impact of funded initiatives.
  • Country comparison reports highlighting performance disparities and recommending corrective actions.

8. Remote Capacity Building:

• Provide expert consultation and technical guidance and develop capacity of country program data analysts, data managers, and M&E officers in summarizing, reviewing, analyzing, and presenting country immunization program data.
• Develop and deliver remote training sessions and workshops for country teams on M&E methodologies, data collection tools, and best practices to strengthen local M&E capacity.
• Strengthen capacity & advance strategic information use for decision-making within IFRC Immunization programs.
• Provide technical support to country teams, their implementing partners, and Ministries of Health to strengthen data collection, analysis, and use for program and data quality improvement.

9. Evaluation Studies:

• Develop and monitor and design evaluation activities to track key process, output, and impact indicators related to the immunization program.
• Design and conduct mid-term and end-term evaluations, including the development of data collection tools and management of remote data collection processes.

10. Learning and Improvement:

• Facilitate virtual learning sessions and workshops to share insights and best practices and recommend program adjustments based on evaluation findings.

Job Duties and Responsibilities (continued)

• Through ongoing monitoring of the program, identify priorities, apply judgment, and take action to implement any changes to address emerging priorities.
• Support the development of activities and monitoring systems to identify under-immunized, high-risk, vulnerable, or other underserved populations to target for immunization service delivery and inclusion in vaccine campaigns.

11. Stakeholder Engagement:

• Consult and collaborate with international and national partners on routine immunization strengthening and vaccine preventable disease planning and intervention methods and conduct evaluation and assessments of relevant activities in various settings.
• Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders, including donors, government agencies, and partner organizations, to ensure alignment and accountability.

12. Quality Assurance:

• Ensure the accuracy, reliability, and validity of M&E data and processes.
• Review routinely collected immunization data to assess progress towards achieving program targets.
• Promote standardized approaches to routine immunization program monitoring, data quality improvement, data analysis, use, and visualization, and assessment of M&E systems.

Alignment to the IFRC’s Strategy 2030

The consultancy aligns to the Federation’s Strategy 2030 as it supports the achievement of Global Aims:

Global Aim 1: People anticipate, respond to and quickly recover from crisis.

Global Aim 2: People lead safe, health and dignified lives and have opportunities to thrive.

Management of Consultancy

The consultant will be managed by the Officer, Immunization with the involvement of the larger IFRC immunization team, specific members of the Health and Care Department including the data and digitization focal point.

Time Allocation and Location

The estimated level of work is at 50% Full Time Equivalent over an initial period of 12 months.

The bulk of the consultancy can be done from the consultants’ home location.

If travel is needed that will be organized by the Officer, Immunization and the IFRC, National Society team at country level.

Experience

Required

• Experience working in diverse low-resource settings.  
• Experience conducting scientific or programmatic research and/or technical support to international public health programs.
• Experience working with a range of stakeholders including international, national, and local partners. 

Knowledge, Skills and Languages

Required

• Excellent French and English written and oral communication skills.
• Sound knowledge of and direct experience in the implementation of immunization program planning, implementation, and evaluation. 
• Ability to provide leadership, supervision, and guide project staff at country level.
• Strong diplomatic and interpersonal skills with experience working effectively as a team member in diverse, multidisciplinary environments.
• Ability to work well in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple priorities that are subject to change.
• Ability to foster collaboration among diverse external and internal stakeholders and partners to achieve program goals.
• Excellent time and project management skills.

Competencies, Values and Comments

Application Instructions

• Please submit your application in English only.
• Please include in your motivation letter your availability and your current Daily Fee Rate in CHF.