Overview
Consultant to provide high-quality technical assistance in planning and implementing measles or measles/rubella vaccination, surveillance and related activities in Afghanistan.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide targeted support to routine immunization strengthening, focusing on M&R, zero-dose and under-immunized children.
- Provide technical support to strengthen M&R and vaccine preventable diseases (VPD) surveillance.
- Support M&R rapid outbreak investigation and response.
- Assist country in designing and implementing immunization strategies.
- Assist the country in gathering and reviewing evidence related to the benefits and costs of introducing rubella-containing vaccine.
- Conduct risk assessments integrating epidemiologic and operational considerations.
- Assist Ministry of Health in preparing for and implementing M&R supplementary immunization activities (SIAs)/outbreak response campaign implementation.
- Strengthen coordination among different entities to improve M&R vaccination coverage and surveillance.
- Support M&R data analyses and review to identify surveillance and immunization gaps.
- Support data improvement efforts.
- Support country elimination efforts, development of measles and rubella elimination strategic plan.
- Support country in developing proposal for introduction of rubella vaccine and MR catch up campaign.
- Support coordination with relevant partners.
- Support the integration of the Red Cross/Red Crescent national society into the planning and coordination of vaccination activities.
- Prepare monthly written summary reports on the status of programmatic activities.
Required Experience
- At least 5 years of experience especially in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of vaccine preventable disease control activities in low-resource settings.
- Proven experience working in M&R related vaccination and surveillance programs in low-resource settings.
- Proven experience conducting technical support to international public health programs.
- Experience working with international, national, and local partners.
- Preferred: Experience in the implementation of M&R outbreak control at national or international level.
- Preferred: Knowledge and experience with the use of digital tools for outbreak control in epidemiology and/or public health.
- Preferred: Scientific publications in peer-reviewed journals and other media.
Qualifications
• Medical doctor or related public health profession, with postgraduate training in epidemiology, public health or related field.
