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Vacancy Announcement: Consultancy
Consultancy Title: Data quality review of immunization expenditure data submitted to the 2019 WHO/UNICEF Joint Reporting Form (JRF)
Section/Division/Duty Station: Home Based
Duration: 08 Months
About UNICEF
If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.
BACKGROUND
Since 1998, in an effort to strengthen collaboration and minimize the reporting burden, the WHO and UNICEF have jointly collected information on immunization through a standard questionnaire (the Joint Reporting Form) sent to all Member States. The form is coordinated by WHO and UNICEF Headquarters; it is distributed via e-mail to national immunization programmes or the immunization focal person in the Ministry of Health in all Member States in January/February each year. The forms are returned to WHO/Geneva and/or UNICEF/New York by mid-April. The immunization system performance data are collected for a calendar year, January through December, and countries may update prior years’ data at any time through written communication to WHO and/or UNICEF. After forms are received by WHO and UNICEF, data are extracted, reviewed for completeness and consistency and queries are sent to countries to clarify absent information and inconsistencies. The nationally reported immunization performance data are then made publicly available on the WHO website.
The JRF includes six immunization expenditure indicators:
- Four indicators are expressed in absolute values (US$ or local currency):
- Total expenditure on routine immunization, including vaccines
- Government expenditure on routine immunization, including vaccines
- Total expenditure on vaccines used for routine immunization
- Government expenditure on vaccines used for routine immunization
- Two indicators are expressed in percentages (%):
- Percentage of routine immunization expenditure financed by government
- Percentage of vaccine expenditure used for routine immunization financed by government
The JRF data are the only source available on immunization expenditures routinely collected from around 155 countries. The data are used for tracking global progress on financial sustainability, including monitoring the Global Vaccine Action Plan. However, numerous data quality issues have been observed over the years and it is uncertain how reliable the data are. In 2014, the WHO undertook a survey to assess how JRF financing indicators were collected and reported in 36 Gavi eligible countries (https://www.who.int/immunization/programmes_systems/financing/data_indicators/report_jrf_survey_2014_draft.pdf?ua=1). The survey found that JRF expenditure and financing data are rarely used within countries. This may contribute to data unreliability, as there are limited incentives for countries to report accurately.
During 2019-2020, the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has been commissioned by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to generate estimates of total immunization spending in low- and middle- income countries from 2000 to 2017. Expenditure estimates are generated for government, out of pocket, and development assistance. The IHME project entails reviewing several data sources, including the JRF expenditure data.
Terms of Reference / Deliverables
Purpose
For the 2019 JRF expenditure and financing data, WHO and UNICEF will undertake in-depth data quality review using an agreed protocol developed with an advisory group. The purpose of the consultancy is to contribute to this review. The consultancy will contribute to improved data quality both at country and global level and improved protocol for reviewing and estimating a JRF-based global dataset on immunization expenditure.
SCOPE OF WORK
The consultant should compare the 2019 vaccine and immunization expenditure JRF data with several different data sources. The consultant should leverage the methods and results of the IHME estimates of total immunization expenditures.
- Triangulate with GAVI Co-financing data for GAVI countries
Country-reported data on government expenditure on vaccines should not exceed the value of vaccines procured as part of Gavi co-financing commitments. There could be rare cases where government domestic vaccine expenditures are less than the co-financing amount because countries use donor funds to pay co-financing.
- Triangulate with GAVI grants disbursements
Country-reported data on total expenditure on routine immunization should be higher than grants disbursed by Gavi for vaccines and health system strengthening. There are rare cases when reported data may be lower than disbursed grants if disbursed grants are spent in the following year.
- Triangulate with available Immunization expenditure data published on WHO gloal health expenditure database (GHED)
WHO publishes immunization expenditure data from health accounts for about 30 countries. GHED data are published for expenditures that took place 2 years before JRF reported data, and the immunization expenditure boundaries of data published on GHED are more comprehensive than from the JRF (e.g., it includes expenditure on SIAs and health system delivery shared costs). There are often large discrepancies between the two data sources and this therefore requires in-depth investigation.
- Triangulate with available boost data on government executed budget on vaccines or immunization
The World Bank BOOST program collects and publishes government budget data. When available, immunization or vaccine budget lines of executed budgets should be compared to reported JRF data.
- Triangulate with estimates of vaccine costs
Reported vaccine expenditure should not vary too much compared to from vaccine quantity x price estimates. Data on number of doses can be estimated from coverage data and price of vaccine by country can be obtained from UNICEF Supply Division.
- Triangulate with global financing facility expenditure data
The Global Financing Facility (GFF) at the World Bank collects budget and expenditure information for over 30 countries, including data on immunization. The JRF data should be triangulated with the GFF data.
- Use IHME methodology to extrapolate with missing data
IHME has developed a methodology for extrapolating to countries with missing data. IHME completed the analysis from 2000 to 2017. The consultant should extend the analysis for 2018 and 2019.
- Contribute to Immunization economics studies as directed by supervisor
UNICEF is implementing several studies on immunization economics. Depending on the needs and the interests of the consultant, specific tasks will be assigned by the supervisor for contribution to these studies.
The consultant will travel to Geneva, Switzerland for one meeting. The trip will last an average of five days, including travel days.
Travel cost will be embedded in the contract as confirmed and agreed by the hiring office.
The consultant will be reimbursed the travel cost upon submission of receipts and approval from the hiring office, as stipulated in the current UNICEF policy.
Qualifications
(1) Education
- Master’s degree in health economics or related field
- The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Lotus Notes.
2) Work experience
- At least 5 years of relevant experience working in global health
- Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment
- Experience in undertaking immunization expenditure reviews or budget analysis of national health accounts
- Authoring published article/journal will be an added value
3) Competencies
- Demonstrated quantitative data analysis skills
- Knowledge of health expenditure data and national health accounts
4) Technical skills and knowledge
- Advanced level education in economics or statistics
- Strong analytical skills
- Strong Excel and statistical tool (STATA or R) skills
- Fluency in English
Requirements:
- Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) (can be downloadedhere: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
- Upload copy of academic credentials
- Financial proposal that will include:
- your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above
- travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
- Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
- Indicate your availability
- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.
U.S. Visa information:
With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
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