“Proving Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Populations in Situations of Vulnerability in the Americas”
Sub-regional Coordinator (Caribbean): Data management and equity monitoring & evaluation for health in the context of COVID-19
Closing date: November 11, 2021. "UPDATE: Receipt of submissions of interest has been extended to November 19"
TERMS OF REFERENCE
I. BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION:
1.1 Health inequalities have seen some limited improvements across the region in parallel with the expansion of democratic institutions, efforts towards universal health coverage and access and increased attention to the social determinants of health. However, although there has been progress in reducing inequalities in certain countries, these trends are in most cases not improving and COVID-19 has exacerbated the trends.
1.2 Within this context, the effective introduction of COVID-19 vaccine(s) in the Region of the Americas will take an unprecedented effort. It is anticipated to be PAHO’s largest operation in its 118-year history, and a priority focus of its technical cooperation for at least the current year (2021) and into 2022. This emergency undertaking takes place within the context of the declared Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) with the aim of successfully deploying and distributing the COVID-19 vaccine to every eligible person in the Americas.
1.3 It is within these exceptional circumstances that it is particularly important that the Organization ensures that any disproportionate access to vaccines and therapeutics amongst at- risk groups, diverse groups of women and men, or other identifiable groups be noted, understood, and addressed. With the cooperation of the Government of Canada, the Project “Proving Access to COVID-19 Vaccines for Populations in Situations of Vulnerability in the Americas” has as its main objective to improve the health and increase protection from COVID-19 for populations in situations of vulnerability in Latin America and the Caribbean. The primary focus of the COVID- 19 vaccine-related interventions will be directed to Venezuelan migrant populations at high-risk for COVID-19 living in the neighbouring countries of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Trinidad and Tobago. Special considerations and programs will be implemented for high-risk populations in situations of vulnerability, including older persons, patients with chronic diseases, pregnant and lactating women, and children.
1.4 Through its multi-faceted activities, the project will provide technical cooperation to member states to strengthen and improve access to COVID-19 vaccines and immunization in the region. This incorporates training for public health workers and health care professionals on equitable COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as well as comprehensive technical cooperation on regulatory and oversight processes, surveillance and data collection, analysis and use, using evidence to shape immunization policies and vaccine delivery strategies, supporting procurement, logistics and cold chain challenges, strengthening communication strategies, and advocating for fair access and allocation of vaccines. A key component of the project is the monitoring of data to strengthen efficacy and health equity approaches.
1.5 Thus, the project incorporates a strong integration of equity and gender equality based on diversity and interculturality, as well as human rights approaches, ensuring community engagement and robust communication strategies, as reflected throughout the project’s logic model. To successfully achieve this integration, anthropological and intersectional approaches are vital for equitable, gender and culturally sensitive inclusive approaches to vaccination roll out plans, that account for the diverse needs, realities,
1.6 and rights of different population groups in all cultural and social contexts. It is considered particularly important to pay attention to the needs of groups that experience discrimination and who are at risk of exclusion from vaccination roll out plans, related communication strategies and monitoring and evaluation.
1.7 Within the context of the wider work to implement this project, the responsibilities of this consultancy will be undertaken within the framework of the broader work led by the PAHO’s Office for Equity, Gender and Cultural Diversity (EGC), which works to ensure that no one is left behind in PAHO’s work towards Universal Health. EGC promotes, coordinates, and provides technical cooperation to member countries seeking to improve pro-equity health policies, plans and policies, with a focus on addressing gender and ethnic inequalities in health and their intersections within these efforts. EGC also provides dedicated evidence generation and programmatic work on priority areas and supports the mainstreaming of equity, gender, and cultural diversity considerations and approaches across all the Organization’s work. Using the unique relationship that PAHO has with its Member States as an advantage, EGC supports the countries of the Americas in revising national and local policies, programs and plans to ensure that health equity, as well as gender and ethnic equality, goals are achieved.
II. OBJECTIVES:
2.1 The consultant will contribute as EGC’s Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean of the above-mentioned project with the objective of leading activities at the sub-regional level with a particular focus on data management, disaggregation of data, equity, gender, and ethnicity variable analysis, and monitoring and evaluation. The consultant will also coordinate with the other 2 subregional consultants, the regional consultant, PAHO’s subregional and country offices (especially equity, gender, and cultural diversity focal points) and other PAHO technical and enabling departments involved in the delivery of this Project.
III. METHODOLOGY AND ACTIVITIES:
Activities for this consultancy will follow 3 areas of action, in accordance with the project implementation plan outcomes approved by the funder:
1. Strengthened mechanisms for regulation and oversight of COVID-19 vaccines
- Provide support to countries in the area of mixed-method approaches and monitoring and evaluation methods.
- Provide support to countries on the topic of data disaggregation and equity, gender, and ethnicity variable analysis.
- Provide sub-regional support and capacity building for the integration of gender and intersectional analyses in COVID-19 vaccine safety reports.
Reinforced immunization policies and vaccine delivery strategies
- In conjunction with country offices, help identify underrepresented communities and develop strategies for representation in trainings and knowledge exchanges.
- Coordinate with country officers and partners for the mobilization of target populations to participate in immunization activities.
- Facilitate the creation of national and government networks at the sub-regional level that will share resources, knowledge, and experiences in relation to equitable and intersectional approaches to vaccine roll out.
- Tailor regional training programs for public health and medical professionals for sub-regional level.
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Culturally appropriate and gender sensitive communications and community engagement
- Help coordinate and facilitate sub-regional knowledge exchange fora that bring together different cultural world views and social and cultural contexts.
- Help tailor regional communication strategies for a more targeted sub-regional audience.
- Collaborate on development of dedicated communication products that focus on specific needs of gender, equity, and cultural diversity in relation to vaccine roll out.
- Work with country offices to support creation of culturally and gender sensitive materials.
- Assist in monitoring online communities and content as it pertains to perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination in underrepresented groups.
Reporting obligations to funder: brief report every 2 months and comprehensive report every 6 months.
Scope may include other activities related to data analysis, gender, cultural diversity and equity considerations, as requested by supervisor.
IV.CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CONSULTANCY:
3.1 Type of Consultancy: International PAHO Consultant (IPC)
3.2 Duration: Initially 6 months, from January 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022 (with expected extension for subsequent months, subject to performance, funding availability and consideration of contractual modalities)
3.3 Place of Work: The consultancy will be carried out offsite in the location of the Consultant’s choosing
3.4 Qualifications:
• Education: A bachelor's degree in a health-related or relevant social science from a recognized institution, and postgraduate studies in one or more of the following areas:
- Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Public Health, Social Work, Public Policy, or
Gender Studies
- At least 6 years of accumulated experience in public health, data monitoring and evaluation, and/or data disaggregation with equity variables and indices.
- At least 4 years’ experience with conducting capacity development activities (training, development of guidance and / or training materials, etc);
At least 2 years’ experience with:
- Development of strategic data collection and analysis plans
- Work in the Caribbean region; experience working alongside CARPHA and/or other public health authorities would be considered an asset
Essential skills (must possess the following skills):
- Mixed-methods research
- Monitoring and evaluation methods
Desired skills (considered an asset if applicant has one or more of the following):
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Gender analysis
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Community-based participatory research
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Intersectional approaches to health
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Strong interpersonal and coordination skills to work with interdisciplinary colleagues and to effectively communicate senior level officials, multiple stakeholders and professionals from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds.
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Experience in the development and implementation of development projects or in technical cooperation in public policy related to indigenous and/or afro-descendent communities, gender, and other identity-based inequalities and discrimination in an international organization would be an asset.
- Fluency in English and working capacity in Spanish; French/Dutch would be considered an asset
COORDINATION
The consultancy will be coordinated by the Chief, Office for Equity, Gender and Cultural Diversity and in conjunction with other relevant consultants and / or technical advisors.
V. EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
- Interested candidates should submit their CVs to the Office for Equity Gender and Cultural Diversity at: (egc@paho.org) by November 12, 2021 with Subject line: Sub-Regional Coordinator Consultancy Application. "UPDATE: Receipt of submissions of interest has been extended to November 19"
- In case of further queries, please E-mail: Marcela Garzon at: garzonmar@paho.org