OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Contractual Agreement:
Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant
Job Posting:
December 15, 2025
Closing Date:
December 22, 2025, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Primary Location:
Off Site
Organization:
HSS Health Systems and Services
Schedule:
Part time
PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
Background
The primary objective of the Department of Health Systems and Services is to strengthen health systems based on Primary Health Care, support the transformation of national health systems to improve equity and resilience, strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC), and address the relevant issues related to human resources as health systems move towards the achievement of Universal Health. Its work encompasses the following areas: integrated services delivery, strengthening of health systems governance and stewardship; developing efficient and equitable financial mechanisms to ensure adequate public funding of the health system; human resources for health, healthy life course; the Virtual Campus of Public Health, and Women’s, Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health.
Unit Background
The Women’s, Maternal, Neonatal and Reproductive Health Unit within the Department of Health Systems and Services (HSS) is responsible for PAHO’s technical cooperation in the areas of women’s health, maternal, neonatal, sexual and reproductive health, as well as perinatal health information and surveillance. Its purpose is to promote, strengthen, and improve the capacities of countries in the Region of the Americas regarding health care for women, mothers, and newborns.
The goal is to eliminate mortality from preventable causes (survive), promote quality of care and better health conditions (thrive), and foster environments of care, participation, and the exercise of rights (transform). These objectives are established within the frameworks of the Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health and Resolution CD56/8 Rev.1, adopted on September 26, 2018, during PAHO’s 56th Directing Council, as well as in the Plan of Action for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (PoA) 2018–2030.
The actions of the new unit are aligned with three Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): reducing the maternal mortality ratio (3.1); reducing neonatal mortality (3.2); and ensuring universal access to sexual and reproductive health services (3.7), while promoting universal access to integrated primary and community health services within health networks. Additionally, it is linked to other SDGs, such as SDG 5—particularly target 5.6, which relates to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights—and to ASSA 2030 (Goal 6), which focuses on strengthening health information systems to support evidence-based policy formulation and decision-making.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
Responsibilities
Under the direct supervision of Dr. Suzanne Serruya, Unit Chief of Women, Reproductive and Neonatal health (WH), the consultant is expected to:
a. Provide leadership and coordination in the implementation of the Call to Action to reduce maternal mortality, in collaboration with national and regional teams.
b. Offer technical and operational support for the implementation of the Accelerated Maternal Mortality Reduction Plans in the 12 priority countries.
c. Contribute to the planning, coordination, and follow-up of the activities of the Regional Maternal Health Task Force, ensuring alignment with national priorities.
d. Coordinate technical actions for the establishment of a regional monitoring model based on information gathered from the 12 countries implementing accelerated maternal mortality reduction plans.
e. Define and develop the necessary technical tools to support the implementation, monitoring, and evaluation of the accelerated maternal mortality reduction plans.
f. Collaborate with other PAHO units in providing technical cooperation to countries for the development and implementation of geospatial analysis initiatives related to maternal health, particularly maternal mortality.
g. Support the integration of the Maternal Near Miss approach, contributing to the technical development and strengthening of national capacities for its application.
h. Coordinate the technical implementation of the Maternal Near Miss monitoring module, adapted and integrated as part of the Perinatal Information System (SIP+) in participating countries.
Specific products/ Deliverables expected
*Product payment with Certifying manager approvals is only issued once Mandatory Courses have been completed in PMIS system.
1. Preliminary report including key actions undertaken and the detailed workplan for the implementation of activities under the Call to Action and the accelerated maternal mortality reduction plans. Due date: 23 February, 2026
2. First progress report presenting the advancement of activities and actions, including the proposal for a monitoring tool or dashboard to support the follow-up and analysis of national accelerated maternal mortality reduction plans. Due Date: 10 April, 2026
3. Progress report on the implementation of geospatial analysis and georeferencing strategies with the prioritized countries, detailing methodologies, progress achieved, and next steps. Due date: 15 June, 2026
4. Progress report on the implementation and optimization of the Maternal Near Miss monitoring system at the national level, integrated into the Perinatal Information System (SIP+) using administrative data. Due date: 20 August, 2026
5. Consolidated progress report summarizing the level of advancement of countries and providing a standardized overview for the Maternal Health Task Force review. Due date: 10 October, 2026
6. Final report presenting the overall progress of the countries, including findings, recommendations, and lessons learned based on the activities and products developed under the contract. Due date: 15 December, 2026
Installment Schedule – Specific deliverables expected
1 Deliverable 1 | 28 February, 2026 | USD$6,400.00
2 Deliverable 2 | 15 April, 2026 | USD$8,000.00
3 Deliverable 3 | 20 June, 2026 | USD$8,000.00
4 Deliverable 4 | 25 August, 2026 | USD$8,000.00
5 Deliverable 5 | 15 October, 2026 | USD$8,500.00
6 Deliverable 6 | 31 December, 2026 | USD$9,500.00
[ADDITIONAL JOB DESCRIPTION]
Contract Duration: 01 February to 31 December, 2026
*Possibility of extension based on Funding
IPC Band: Band B
Time Type: Part time- 84% of FTE – 34 Hrs/week
Pay Type: Installments per deliverable
Maximum Contract Amount: USD $ 48,400.00
Qualifications
• Strong analytical and quantitative skills with strong attention to details.
• Strong motivation and organizational and management skills.
• Capable of being proactive when the situation requires.
• Advanced knowledge in the use of Excel and other data analytical tools, as well as Power Point, and Word
• Ability to work effectively under pressure in a diverse, team-oriented environment.
• Experience working in multicultural environments.
Professional experience:
Required: At least 7- 9 years of combined national and international experience in the fields of maternal health planning, project management, monitoring and evaluation, or related field.
Desired: Project implementation and follow-up in the area of maternal health, working directly with Latin American countries.
Education:
Required: A bachelor’s degree in medicine, health, or a social science, or in any other field related to the functions of the post from a recognized university and a master’s degree in Epidemiology or Public Health
Desired: Postgraduate in social science, project management or any other field related to functions. Experience in data analysis health trends in the region.
Languages:
Required: Fluent in written and spoken Spanish and English
Desired: Basic knowledge of Portuguese and French are a plus.
Hiring is subject to the presentation of the following documentation:
§ Certified Copy of Academic Diploma/ Certified Certificate(s)
§ 3 Professional Letters of Reference including:
Full name of Reference, telephone number and address/email
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
- This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
- Successful candidates will be placed on the roster and subsequently may be selected for consultancy assignments falling in this area of work or for similar requirements/tasks/deliverables. Inclusion in the Roster does not guarantee selection for a consultant contract. There is no commitment on either side.
- Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
- All applicants are required to complete an on-line profile to be considered for this consultancy. For assessment of your application, please ensure that your profile in the PAHO Career page is updated; all experience records are entered with elaboration on tasks performed at the time. Kindly note that CV/PHFs inserted via LinkedIn are no accessible.
- A written test may be used as a form of screening.
- If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. PAHO/WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. PAHO will also use the databases of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation http://www.chea.org/search/default.asp and College Navigator, found on the website of the National Centre for Educational Statistics, https://nces.ed.gov/collegenavigator to support the validation process. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
- Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations, and e-Manual.
- For information on PAHO please visit: http://www.paho.org
- PAHO/WHO is committed to providing a respectful and supportive workplace for all personnel .
- PAHO is an ethical organization that maintains high standards of integrity and accountability. People joining PAHO are required to maintain these standards both in their professional work and personal activities.
- PAHO also promotes a work environment that is free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other types of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone who has a substantiated history of abusive conduct.
- PAHO personnel interact frequently with people in the communities we serve. To protect these people, PAHO has zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse. People who commit serious wrongdoings will be terminated and may also face criminal prosecution.
- PAHO/WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco.
- Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.
- Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority. The execution of the work under a consultant contract does not create an employer/employee relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.
- PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility whatsoever for any taxes, duties, social security contributions or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying any taxes, duties, social security contributions and any other contributions which are applicable to the Consultant in each location/jurisdiction in which the work hereunder is performed, and the Consultant shall not be entitled to any reimbursement thereof by PAHO/WHO.