International Consultant-for the development of the Gavi 6.0 country holistic application, Lesotho expanded programme on immunization

The consultancy will be responsible for the following key tasks and deliverables:

a)      Phases

Phase 1: Inception and Situational Analysis

Tasks

• Conduct an inception meeting with the WHO Country Office, Ministry of Health EPI Programme, UNICEF, and key partners to review the scope of work, agree on the work plan and timeline, and clarify roles and responsibilities across stakeholders.

• Review and familiarize with all relevant GAVI 6.0 application documents, including the Country Foundations Application Guidance, Application Template, Country Foundations FAQ, PAF Indicator Reference Sheet, GAVI 6.0 Funding Guidelines, and the March 2026 Interim Transitioning Guidance.

• Conduct a comprehensive desk review and situational analysis of Lesotho's immunization programme, drawing on routine programme data from DHIS2, WHO-UNICEF Joint Reporting Form estimates, Demographic and Health Survey data, Lesotho's previous GAVI applications, the national health sector strategic plan, and other relevant national and subnational data sources.

• Assess immunization programme performance across key dimensions including coverage trends by antigen and district, equity gaps, zero-dose and under-vaccinated child concentrations, cold chain and supply chain performance, health worker capacity, community demand, and surveillance system quality.

Phase 2: Multi-Year Programme Planning and Costing

Tasks:

• Lead and facilitate a series of structured stakeholder consultations including technical working group meetings, Les-NITAG consultations, and partner coordination sessions to review the situational analysis findings, identify priority programme gaps and investment needs, and build consensus on the strategic directions and priorities for the 2026–2030 immunization programme plan.

• Facilitate consultations with the Ministry of Finance to ensure domestic co-financing commitments are clearly articulated and realistic within the GAVI 6.0 co-financing framework.

• Lead the development of the multi-year immunization programme plan for 2026 to 2030, covering all programme components including vaccine delivery, cold chain and supply chain strengthening, health workforce capacity, demand generation and community engagement, surveillance and data systems, and outbreak preparedness and response.

• Incorporate VPOP findings and recommendations from NITAG (vaccine optimization and new vaccine introduction prioritization) into the programme plan.

• Develop a comprehensive multi-year immunization costing and financing framework for the 2026–2030 period, including total programme cost estimates, domestic government financing contributions, GAVI co-financing obligations, residual financing gaps, and a financing sustainability roadmap.

• Integrate equity considerations including strategies to reach zero-dose children, hard-to-reach communities, and underserved populations into the programme plan and costing framework.

Phase 3: Application Drafting and Results Framework Development

Tasks:

• Draft all sections of the GAVI 6.0 Country Application using the official GAVI application template, incorporating the situational analysis, multi-year programme plan, costing framework, and all required supporting evidence and documentation.

• Develop a robust results framework aligned with the GAVI 6.0 Performance and Accountability Framework (PAF) indicators, national immunization targets, and the strategic priorities identified through the stakeholder consultation process.

• Develop a coherent, compelling, and evidence-based application narrative that clearly demonstrates Lesotho's country ownership and commitment to the goals of the GAVI 6.0 strategic framework — including reaching zero-dose children, strengthening primary health care, and progressively increasing domestic financing.

• Circulate the draft application to key stakeholders including the Ministry of Health, WHO Country Office, UNICEF, Les-NITAG, and the GAVI Senior Country Manager for technical review and feedback.

• Revise and refine the application based on stakeholder feedback, ensuring all comments are addressed and the document meets the quality standards required by GAVI.

• Coordinate with WHO AFRO technical assistance team to ensure the draft application is reviewed and endorsed at the regional level before final submission.

Phase 4: Finalization, Validation, and Submission

Tasks:

• Facilitate a national validation workshop bringing together Ministry of Health senior leadership, EPI programme staff, WHO, Les-NITAG members, development partners, civil society representatives, and the Ministry of Finance to present, review, and formally endorse the final GAVI 6.0 application.

• Incorporate any final revisions arising from the national validation workshop into the application document.

• Liaise with EPI programme and WHO to prepare and organize all required submission documentation, including cover letters, government endorsement letters, co-financing commitment documentation, and any other annexes required by GAVI for submission.

• Support the Ministry of Health and WHO Country Office in the formal submission of the completed application to GAVI through the prescribed submission channels and within the required deadline.

• Prepare a final consultancy report documenting the application development process, key decisions made, stakeholder consultations conducted, and recommendations for the implementation and monitoring of the approved application.

• Conduct a formal handover session with the Ministry of Health EPI Programme and WHO Country Office to transfer all application documents, working files, data, and institutional knowledge generated during the consultancy.

b)     Key Deliverable

1.      Inception Report including a detailed work plan, stakeholder engagement plan, and methodology for the application development process

2.      Conduct Comprehensive Immunization Programme Situational Analysis Report covering coverage performance, equity gaps, health system bottlenecks, and programme strengths

3.      Draft Multi-Year Immunization Programme Plan for 2026–2030, incorporating vaccine portfolio decisions, programme component plans, equity strategies, and domestic co-financing commitments

4.      Develop Multi-Year Immunization Costing and Financing Framework, including total cost estimates, financing gap analysis, and domestic resource mobilization roadmap

5.      Complete Draft GAVI 6.0 Country Application, populated using the official GAVI template and incorporating all required sections, annexes, and supporting documentation for stakeholder review

6.      Revised Draft Application incorporating all stakeholder and WHO AFRO review comments

7.      Facilitate National Validation Workshop Report including documentation of stakeholder feedback and final revisions

8.      Produce final GAVI 6.0 Country Application and liaise with EPI Manager for document endorsement ready for submission

9.      Final Consultancy Report documenting the full application development process, methodological approach, stakeholder engagement, key decisions, and recommendations for application implementation and monitoring

4. Deliverables Summary Table & Timelines

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