PAHO Consultant - Communicable Diseases

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:

May 13, 2026

Closing Date:

May 20, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

CDE Communicable Diseases Prevention, Control, and Elimination

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

This requisition is for a consultancy at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO).

International PAHO Consultant
Technical support to the Work Plan and the Executive Secretariat of the GCTH

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Background 

The Horizontal Technical Cooperation Group (GCTH) brings together the heads of HIV/AIDS programs from twenty countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Its mission is to facilitate horizontal cooperation projects among countries to improve the regional response to the epidemic, working in coordination with civil society through a human rights–based approach.

The GCTH is guided by the principles and guidelines of horizontality in cooperation practices, the exchange of experiences, and the transfer of technology among countries; the defense of the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and of key populations in the region; respect for diversity; coordination between government bodies and organized civil society organizations—placing particular emphasis on community networks working on HIV in the region; and respect for each country’s sovereignty.

At present, the Executive Secretariat of the GCTH is under the responsibility of Panama’s National Program.

PAHO, in its role as technical advisor to the GCTH, has decided to support the Executive Secretariat by hiring a consultant to assist with the coordination, management, and monitoring of the work plans being developed by the Executive Secretariat, and to contribute to advancing an advocacy agenda in favor of global and regional commitments to the elimination of HIV and STIs.

The outputs of this consultancy will be key inputs to ensure the reactivation and strengthening of this horizontal cooperation mechanism, as well as to guarantee the coordination and implementation of the GCTH’s 2026 Work Plan, aligned with the new global AIDS strategy, the Political Declaration, the 2022.

Objectives

1.       Support the process of implementing the actions defined in the GCTH Work Plan during 2026.

2.       Ensure the planning of the GCTH’s annual activities.

3.       Facilitate communication and coordination among the subregional focal points, regional civil society networks representing key populations, and the GCTH Executive Secretary.

4.       Prepare reports and minutes of all virtual and in-person meetings, as well as support the drafting of documents to be approved.

5.       Convene and co-organize, together with the Executive Secretariat, UNAIDS, and PAHO/WHO, the technical and regular meetings of the Assembly.

6.       Coordinate with other regional technical and political stakeholders to advance joint initiatives within the framework of the Alliance for the Elimination of HIV.

 

 Deliverables

The international consultant will carry out their activities on business days, on a part-time basis, between May 25, 2026, and December 15 of the same year, producing the following deliverables:

1.       Scheduled 2026 Work Plan, with the technical support from agencies and partners defined for its implementation. Dates and time proposed or confirmed included in the work plan.

Due date: June, 30.  Amount: USD 5,300

2.           Progress report on the implementation of the GCTH 2026 Work Plan, including coordination activities with regional actors to advance joint initiatives, documentation, and electronic submission of minutes from meetings and webinars, and compilation of official documents produced during the reporting period. The report shall include a narrative summary of progress achieved, highlighting advances in advocacy, political engagement, and the contribution of the Grupo de Cooperación Técnica Horizontal to the regional agenda for HIV elimination in the Americas.

Due date: September 1.  Amount: USD 7,500

3.           Report on the implementation of the GCTH 2026 Work Plan, the report shall include a consolidated narrative of achievements, key advocacy and political engagement efforts led by Grupo de Cooperación Técnica Horizontal in support of HIV elimination in the Americas, lessons learned, pending priorities, and recommendations for continuity of regional actions. This deliverable shall also include the final 2026 Work Plan report and the proposed 2027 Work Plan.

Due date: December 15. Amount: USD 7,200

Supervision

The submission of final reports and all documents resulting from this consultancy will be approved by the CDE-HT team.

The technical and strategic supervision of the work will be under the responsibility of PAHO, with direct oversight by Dr. Hortencia Peralta, who will validate the deliverables, ensure alignment with the elimination agenda, and coordinate interaction with the selected countries. 

Education:

·       Postgraduate studies (master’s or doctoral degree) in public health and/or social sciences.

Experience:

·       At least 5 years of experience related to the HIV/AIDS response.

·       At least 3 years of experience working with government institutions; experience working with communities will be considered an asset.

·       Experience working with the UN and/or international organizations, as well as NGOs/civil society.

·       Knowledge of the current HIV and AIDS situation in Latin America.

·       Experience in the organization of events and in facilitating discussions among different key stakeholders (government, NGOs, UN, international organizations, and others).

·       Experience working with international organizations, ministries of health, or academic institutions, and the ability to translate complex results into clear and useful inputs for strategic decision-making.

Technical knowledge/skills:

Skills

·       Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.

·       Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.

·       Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver results within established deadlines.

·       Strong teamwork and collaborative working skills.

·       Adaptability and flexibility in response to changing priorities and evolving programmatic needs.

·       Cultural sensitivity and the ability to work effectively in diverse contexts.

·       Ethical conduct and integrity in the handling of sensitive information.

• Proficiency in Office package Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook.

• Proficiency in tools such as R Software, Stata, E‑Views, SPSS, and MATLAB is considered an asset.

Additional Information

·       Any appointment or extension of appointment is subject to PAHO/WHO Regulations and the electronic Manual.

·       For information about PAHO, please visit: http://www.paho.org.

·       PAHO/WHO is committed to workforce diversity.

·       PAHO is an ethical organization that upholds high standards of integrity and accountability. Individuals joining PAHO must uphold these standards in both their professional work and personal conduct.

·       PAHO also promotes a work environment free from harassment, sexual harassment, discrimination, and other forms of abusive behavior. PAHO conducts background checks and will not hire anyone with a proven history of abusive conduct.

·       PAHO staff frequently interact with individuals in the communities we serve. To protect these individuals, PAHO maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse. Individuals who commit serious misconduct will be separated from the organization and may also face criminal proceedings.

·       PAHO/WHO maintains a smoke-free environment and does not hire smokers or users of any form of tobacco.

·       Applications from women and nationals of unrepresented or underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged.

·       Consultants must perform their work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as representatives of any entity or authority. The performance of work under a consultancy contract does not create an employment relationship between PAHO and the Consultant.

·       PAHO/WHO shall have no responsibility for taxes, duties, social security contributions, or other contributions payable by the Consultant. The Consultant shall be solely responsible for withholding and paying all applicable taxes, duties, social security contributions, and any other required contributions in each location or jurisdiction where the work is performed, and shall not be entitled to any reimbursement from PAHO/WHO.

Lenguage
English: fluent working and communicational
Spanish: Native - Fluent

Band: A

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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.