The UNICEF Health team supports Afghanistan in ensuring access to essential health services, including immunization for every child and woman, while promoting child survival, development, and overall well-being.

The immunization program is a critical component of health services, focusing on reducing child mortality and morbidity by preventing vaccine-preventable diseases. The Immunization Unit within UNICEF's health section plays a pivotal role in supporting the country's Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) to achieve high vaccination coverage, address zero-dose and under-immunized populations, and strengthen health systems. This support contributes to building equitable and resilient healthcare systems.

Despite two decades of steady progress, immunization coverage in Afghanistan has stagnated and remains low (51% penta-3 coverage – MICS 2022-23). This situation calls for a better understanding of poorly performing areas and the bottlenecks hindering coverage improvements. A substantial volume of immunization coverage and surveillance data is available from multiple sources within the country and the office. This data needs to be collected, compiled, and triangulated for analysis to identify high zero-dose areas and key bottlenecks. To provide effective support to the immunization program, the team requires a dedicated an Immunization Data Extender. The Extender will work closely with the immunization and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) teams within the section to carry out the key tasks stated in the work assignment and deliverables.

Objective: To ensure the timely collection, compilation, triangulation of data and analysis is done to identify high zero-dose areas and key bottlenecks. The extender will work closely with the immunization and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) teams to analyse the data and provide regular inputs to strengthen the immunization program.

Key duties and responsibilities:

• Collect, compile, and review VPD (vaccine-preventable disease) surveillance, immunization coverage, and related data from various sources, including DHIS2, micro-plans, HER monitoring, house-to-house coverage surveys, polio monitoring, and other surveys as suggested by the immunization team.
  

• Review immunization program data to identify data quality gaps, inconsistencies, and opportunities for improvement. 
  

• Develop tools and methodologies to enhance data collection, reporting, and validation processes.

• Provide technical support for data triangulation using multiple sources, such as HMIS, surveys, and program reports.

• Compile immunization feedback from field teams and HER partners.

• Represent the UNICEF team at the Immunization Data Group within NEPI, contributing to decisions on immunization data analysis and quality improvement.

• Participate in committees and meetings as directed by

• the Immunization Specialist/Manager. Collaborate with M&E officers to develop the immunization dashboard and monthly bulletin.

• Work closely with the national EPI team to strengthen microplanning, as well as data management systems and processes.

Reporting to Health Specialist and CTG Account Manager

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Minimum Qualifications and Experience:

• Having a degree/diploma in health, medicine, public health, nurse, midwife or related field.
  

• Minimum of 3 years of experience in data management and analyse immunization-related data to inform decision-making and improve healthcare outcomes.
  

• Proficiency in data analysis and interpretation.
  

• Excellent communication skills for effective collaboration with healthcare professionals and stakeholders. Proven ability to contribute to the enhancement of health programs through data-driven insights.

• Proven ability to contribute to the enhancement of health programs through data-driven insights

• Reporting skills.