Zero-Dose Implementation Monitoring Consultant – Immunization (GPD)
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
Quick Take
Design and oversee implementation monitoring systems for immunization programmes across underserved populations, coordinating quarterly review cycles and translating data into actionable programme improvements.
7+ years in immunization or public health with M&E expertise, advanced knowledge of low/middle-income health systems, and proven ability to design and implement monitoring frameworks using quantitative and qualitative methods.
Work on high-impact global health initiatives with UNICEF under Gavi 6.0 funding, competitive salary (KES 400–700k/mo), and a 12.5-month remote contract based in Nairobi with significant technical influence across multiple countries.
Job Description
UNICEF is seeking a seasoned Implementation Monitoring Consultant to support the scale-up of a structured, country-led approach for tracking immunization programme progress in high-priority countries under the Gavi 6.0 framework. This 12.5-month remote consultancy, hosted out of Nairobi, Kenya, sits within the Global Programme Division (GPD) Immunization Section and will play a pivotal role in advancing equitable immunization outcomes for zero-dose and under-immunized children.
The consultant will support the design, roll-out, and continuous improvement of implementation monitoring (IM) systems across underserved settings — including urban poor communities, fragile and humanitarian contexts, pastoralist and remote populations, and other marginalized groups. Drawing on lessons from the Big Catch-Up initiative, Thrive 360, and existing IM pilots, the role will help institutionalize data-driven decision-making cycles at subnational and national levels to accelerate coverage improvements and strengthen programme accountability.
- Lead the development and refinement of implementation monitoring frameworks, tools, and indicator sets (core and context-specific) for priority countries.
- Coordinate structured quarterly monitoring, review, and action cycles in collaboration with country offices, regional teams, and national government counterparts.
- Analyse health systems and in-process indicators at local level to identify bottlenecks on the critical pathway of change and recommend timely course corrections.
- Support the integration of IM data into existing national immunization information systems, including Thrive 360 and other platforms.
- Facilitate capacity-building workshops and technical assistance sessions for country-level teams on data collection, analysis, and use for programme adaptation.
- Synthesize learnings from IM pilots and contribute to global guidance documents, technical briefs, and policy recommendations.
- Engage with Gavi, WHO, and other immunization partners to align IM approaches with global accountability frameworks.
- Prepare high-quality reports, presentations, and dashboards for internal and external stakeholders, including donor reporting requirements under Gavi 6.0.
- Support subnational teams in translating monitoring data into concrete programme actions and equitable service delivery improvements.
- Contribute to research, documentation, and dissemination of IM best practices and innovations.
- Demonstrate at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, immunization programme management, or health systems strengthening — with direct experience in monitoring and evaluation.
- Apply advanced knowledge of immunization programme design and delivery, particularly in low- and middle-income country contexts including fragile or humanitarian settings.
- Design and implement monitoring frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative methods, with a strong grasp of subnational data systems.
- Interpret complex health systems data to generate actionable insights and drive programme course correction at multiple levels.
- Communicate technical findings clearly to diverse audiences — including government officials, UN agencies, and community-level actors — both in writing and verbally.
- Hold a Master's degree or higher in Public Health, Epidemiology, Global Health, Statistics, or a related field.
- Demonstrate experience working within or alongside UN, Gavi, or other multilateral immunization initiatives is a strong advantage.
- Proficiency in data analysis tools (e.g., DHIS2, Power BI, Excel, R, or STATA) and familiarity with Thrive 360 or similar immunization data platforms is desirable.
- Fluency in English is required; proficiency in French or Portuguese is an asset given the multi-country scope.
This is a consultancy contract with UNICEF. Compensation is commensurate with qualifications and experience and is benchmarked against UNICEF's established consultant daily rates. Estimated equivalent monthly earnings range from KES 400,000 to KES 700,000, reflecting the senior technical nature of this role and the international scope of responsibilities. The position is remote with travel to priority countries as required — travel costs are covered separately by UNICEF. Consultants benefit from UNICEF's global institutional affiliation and access to a diverse, mission-driven professional community.
Ideal candidate: A senior public health or immunization specialist with deep technical expertise in monitoring and evaluation, a track record of working in multi-country or global health programmes, and a genuine commitment to reaching the world's most underserved children. You thrive in fast-paced, complex environments, can work independently across time zones, and are comfortable translating data into programme action at both subnational and global levels.
Who should NOT apply: Candidates without direct immunization or public health programme experience, those seeking a traditional employment contract rather than a consultancy arrangement, or individuals unavailable for international travel when required. This role is not suitable for entry-level or junior public health professionals.
- Visit the UNICEF careers portal at unicef.org/careers and search for Job Reference #593793.
- Submit a complete online application including your CV, a cover letter articulating your specific experience in implementation monitoring and immunization programmes, and a list of at least two professional referees familiar with your technical work.
- Ensure your application clearly demonstrates competency against the requirements listed above.
- Applications must be submitted by 28 June 2026. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
- UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion. Qualified candidates from all backgrounds, including persons with disabilities, are strongly encouraged to apply.
Requirements Breakdown
Must Have
- Minimum 7 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, immunization programme management, or health systems strengthening with direct M&E expertise
- Advanced knowledge of immunization programme design and delivery in low- and middle-income countries, including fragile and humanitarian contexts
- Demonstrated ability to design and implement monitoring frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative methods
- Experience with health information systems and data integration (ideally Thrive 360 or similar platforms)
- Strong technical writing and presentation skills for donor reporting and stakeholder engagement
Nice to Have
- Experience with Big Catch-Up, Gavi-supported programmes, or similar large-scale immunization initiatives
- Familiarity with zero-dose and under-immunized population tracking methodologies
- Knowledge of subnational health systems strengthening and capacity-building approaches
- Previous experience working with WHO, Gavi, or UN agencies
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Salary Context
Above-market salary for a specialized implementation monitoring consultant with 7+ years' experience in Kenya's public health sector.
The KES 400–700k range reflects UNICEF's UN-scale compensation structure and premium positioning for this niche expertise. Salaries in Kenyan health M&E consultancy typically range 250–500k for equivalent roles; UNICEF's upper band (700k) indicates an expectation for senior-level delivery and international exposure. Senior consultants with Gavi or WHO background can command the upper end.
About United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
UNICEF is the United Nations' primary child-focused humanitarian and development agency, operating in over 190 countries including major programmes across East Africa. In Kenya, UNICEF partners with the Ministry of Health to strengthen immunization coverage, nutrition, and child survival initiatives, making it one of the most influential organizations shaping public health policy and practice. Working here offers exposure to global best practices, funding from major donors like Gavi, and the chance to shape outcomes for millions of underserved children across Africa.
Likely Interview Questions
- 1
Walk us through a specific example of an implementation monitoring system you designed or managed—what were the bottlenecks you identified, and how did you translate those findings into programme action?
- 2
How would you approach designing IM frameworks for vastly different contexts—e.g. urban informal settlements vs. pastoralist communities vs. humanitarian settings—within the same country?
- 3
Describe your experience integrating monitoring data into national information systems. What barriers have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?
- 4
Tell us about a time you had to facilitate buy-in from government or country-level stakeholders to adopt a new monitoring approach. What was your strategy?
- 5
How do you stay current with global immunization accountability frameworks (e.g. Gavi 6.0 requirements), and how have you applied that knowledge to strengthen national systems?
Application Tips
Lead with quantifiable M&E achievements: specify the number of facilities or populations monitored, coverage improvements driven by your data analysis, or countries where you've rolled out IM systems.
Explicitly mention any hands-on experience with immunization-specific platforms (Thrive 360, DHIS2, etc.) or zero-dose/under-immunized population tracking—these are key technical differentiators.
Highlight any experience designing capacity-building curricula or leading workshops for subnational teams; the role emphasizes institutional change, not just data collection.
If you have Gavi, WHO, or UN agency exposure, lead with it; UNICEF values candidates familiar with global accountability frameworks and multi-stakeholder coordination.
Include concrete examples of how you've translated monitoring data into policy briefs, donor reports, or government actions—this role is fundamentally about evidence-to-action.
Career Path
Roles that lead here
Where this leads
Skills & Keywords
Honest Assessment
Green Flags
- UNICEF is a globally recognized, stable employer with strong institutional backing and access to cutting-edge global health initiatives under Gavi 6.0 framework.
- The salary range (KES 400–700k) is genuinely competitive for this specialism and seniority level in Kenya, reflecting investment in senior expertise.
- The role offers tangible influence over multiple countries' immunization systems and direct exposure to global accountability frameworks and partnerships (WHO, Gavi).
- Clear emphasis on data-driven decision-making, capacity-building, and institutionalizing change suggests a role with meaningful legacy potential beyond the 12.5-month contract term.
Watch Out
- The job description cuts off mid-sentence in the 'Required Skills & Experience' section, suggesting the posting may be incomplete or hastily prepared—confirm full role scope and requirements with the hiring manager before applying.
- The role is described as 'remote' but 'hosted out of Nairobi'—clarify whether this requires physical presence for quarterly monitoring cycles or is truly distributed; relocation expectations should be clear upfront.
- The 12.5-month contract duration is relatively short for an implementation role that emphasizes 'institutionalization' of monitoring systems; understand whether there is potential for extension or if this is a fixed-term project.
A Day in the Life
Your week typically opens with asynchronous check-ins with country offices in 3–4 priority countries, reviewing newly submitted IM data and identifying emerging bottlenecks in vaccine delivery. Midweek, you might facilitate a virtual capacity-building session with subnational health teams on how to interpret quarterly monitoring data or lead a technical working group call with Gavi and WHO partners to align IM approaches. By Friday, you're synthesizing findings from the week's data reviews into a dashboard or policy brief for donor reporting, while drafting technical guidance on integrating IM into national systems. Your calendar balances real-time troubleshooting of implementation challenges with strategic documentation of lessons learned—all while staying plugged into UNICEF's global immunization community.
Frequently Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to be a Zero-Dose Implementation Monitoring Consultant at UNICEF?
You need at least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, immunization, or health systems strengthening with direct M&E expertise. Advanced knowledge of immunization programme design in low/middle-income and fragile contexts, plus demonstrable ability to design monitoring frameworks using both quantitative and qualitative methods, is essential.
Is the Zero-Dose Implementation Monitoring Consultant role at UNICEF remote?
The posting describes it as a 'remote consultancy hosted out of Nairobi,' suggesting flexibility with a Nairobi base. However, the job description is incomplete on this point—clarify with the hiring manager whether you need to be physically present for quarterly monitoring cycles or can work fully distributed.
How much does a Zero-Dose Implementation Monitoring Consultant earn at UNICEF?
The posted salary range is KES 400,000–700,000 per month, which is above-market for this role in Kenya and reflects UNICEF's UN-scale compensation. Actual placement within the range depends on your experience, relevant certifications, and prior exposure to Gavi or similar large-scale global health initiatives.
What are the career growth opportunities for this role?
This is a high-visibility, skills-building role that opens pathways to senior M&E advisor positions within UN agencies, policy roles at global health organizations (WHO, Gavi), or leadership positions in national health systems or independent consulting. The 12.5-month contract is typically a platform for longer-term engagement or advancement.
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