The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) invites applications for the position of Consultant for Research/Scoping Review on Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) in Adult Immunization across Africa. This consultancy provides an opportunity for a qualified professional to contribute to evidence-based public health programming that supports immunization efforts throughout the African continent.
As the world’s largest humanitarian organization, the IFRC works with 191 member National Societies, guided by its mission to inspire, encourage, and promote humanitarian actions that prevent and alleviate human suffering. The Federation’s work supports vulnerable communities before, during, and after disasters, public health crises, and emergencies.
This consultancy is based at the IFRC Africa Regional Office in Nairobi, Kenya. The successful candidate will work closely with the regional team to conduct a scoping review of RCCE-related research and documentation focused on adult immunization within Africa, generating insights that will guide future strategies and interventions under the Saving Lives and Livelihoods Initiative.
Organizational Context
The IFRC is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which includes its member National Societies and the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). The Movement’s work is anchored on the fundamental principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity, and universality.
The IFRC Secretariat, led by the Secretary General, operates from its headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, structured into four main divisions:
- National Society Development Coordination
- Humanitarian Diplomacy and Digitalization
- Legal, Governance Support and Accountability
- People and Strategy
Globally, the IFRC has five regional offices located in Africa, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, and the Americas. The Africa Regional Office in Nairobi oversees fifteen geographically distributed clusters designed to provide technical and operational support to National Societies across the continent.
The consultancy position falls under the Africa Regional Office’s Health and Care Unit, which implements a variety of initiatives aimed at strengthening public health systems, enhancing emergency preparedness, and promoting equitable access to healthcare services.
Job Purpose
The consultancy is linked to the Saving Lives and Livelihoods partnership between the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) and the Mastercard Foundation. This initiative aims to safeguard lives and livelihoods across Africa by supporting vaccination campaigns, improving health delivery systems, and promoting economic recovery post-pandemic.
One of the program’s key pillars is Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE), implemented through the IFRC network. RCCE focuses on building community trust, promoting behavioral change, and encouraging vaccine acceptance through culturally relevant communication strategies.
To support evidence-informed programming and decision-making, the consultant will undertake a scoping review to consolidate available research and documentation on RCCE in adult immunization across Africa. The goal is to produce a comprehensive report that provides actionable insights, identifies knowledge gaps, and recommends pathways for strengthening RCCE frameworks within immunization systems.
Key Outcomes of the RCCE Intervention
The RCCE component of the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative is structured around three key outcomes:
- Strengthened Sustainable RCCE Systems
The project seeks to enhance sustainable frameworks for socio-behavioral change that promote vaccine acceptance and uptake across life-course immunization systems. - Harmonized RCCE Approaches and Tools
It aims to establish harmonized and evidence-based tools for risk communication and behavioral change across adult immunization initiatives in Africa. - Enhanced Coordination and Partnerships
The initiative emphasizes building strong coordination mechanisms, partnerships, and stakeholder engagement among member states, partners, and other actors to foster collective approaches to RCCE as part of integrated vaccination services.
Job Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant will conduct an extensive review and synthesis of available literature, frameworks, and case studies on RCCE in adult immunization. The work will be guided by terms of reference (ToR) provided by IFRC and Africa CDC and will include the following responsibilities:
- Scoping Review of Literature
- Identify, collect, and review published and grey literature on RCCE practices, models, and experiences related to adult immunization in Africa.
- Map key trends, thematic areas, and approaches utilized in existing RCCE interventions.
- Assess how RCCE has contributed to vaccine acceptance, uptake, and behavioral change in various contexts across the continent.
- Data Collection and Analysis
- Gather data from a wide range of sources, including peer-reviewed journals, institutional reports, policy briefs, and project documents.
- Conduct qualitative content analysis to extract key themes and frameworks relevant to socio-behavioral change communication.
- Identify evidence gaps and emerging opportunities for RCCE strengthening in public health programming.
- Stakeholder Engagement and Consultation
- Engage with regional and national stakeholders, including National Societies, Ministries of Health, Africa CDC representatives, and partners working in immunization and health communication.
- Incorporate perspectives and insights from stakeholders to ensure the review reflects contextual realities and operational challenges.
- Synthesis and Reporting
- Develop a comprehensive report summarizing findings, key lessons, and best practices related to RCCE in adult immunization.
- Provide evidence-based recommendations to inform current and future programming within the Saving Lives and Livelihoods framework.
- Present a conceptual framework that illustrates how effective RCCE can be integrated into broader immunization and public health strategies.
- Presentation and Dissemination
- Prepare presentation materials for internal and external dissemination of findings.
- Support IFRC in the presentation of the review outcomes to Africa CDC, National Societies, and relevant partners.
Duration and Expected Deliverables
This is a two-month consultancy, based in Nairobi, Kenya, with remote collaboration where applicable. The consultant is expected to deliver the following outputs during the assignment:
- Inception Report:
A detailed inception report outlining the methodology, work plan, data sources, and timeline for the scoping review. - Draft Report:
A preliminary draft of the scoping review presenting key findings, themes, and emerging evidence. - Final Report:
A comprehensive final report incorporating feedback from IFRC and partners, including recommendations and a framework for strengthening RCCE in adult immunization. - Presentation:
A summary presentation of findings to IFRC and Africa CDC for discussion and validation.
Reporting and Supervision
The consultant will work under the supervision of the IFRC Africa Regional Health and Care Unit, in close collaboration with the RCCE focal point and technical experts at Africa CDC. The consultant will maintain regular communication with the project team to ensure alignment of activities with the broader program objectives and timelines.
Competencies and Skills
The consultant should demonstrate the following competencies and attributes:
- Proven expertise in public health research, preferably in immunization, communication, or behavioral sciences.
- Strong analytical and writing skills, with the ability to synthesize complex data into actionable insights.
- Familiarity with the African health landscape and experience working with regional or international organizations.
- Ability to work independently under minimal supervision while maintaining high-quality standards.
- Excellent communication and presentation skills to effectively convey findings to diverse stakeholders.
Knowledge and Language Requirements
- Proficiency in English is required.
- Working knowledge of French will be an advantage, given the multilingual nature of the African region.
- Familiarity with literature review methodologies, qualitative research tools, and evidence synthesis approaches is essential.
Duty Station
The consultant will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, with potential virtual engagement with stakeholders across the continent. The position does not include an accompanied status, and travel within the region may be considered only if necessary for data collection or stakeholder consultation.
Contract and Payment Terms
The consultancy will be offered under a short-term individual contract for a duration of two months. Payment terms will follow IFRC’s standard consultancy policies and will be linked to the satisfactory completion of deliverables as outlined in the ToR.
Application Process
Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their applications in accordance with the instructions provided by the IFRC. The application should include:
- A detailed curriculum vitae (CV) highlighting relevant experience
- A cover letter outlining motivation and approach to the consultancy
- A technical and financial proposal (if applicable)
All applications must be submitted by 25 October 2025.
Applications should be sent via email as per the instructions in the official vacancy notice.
This consultancy provides a unique opportunity to contribute to public health advancement in Africa by strengthening RCCE strategies that directly impact adult immunization programs and broader health system resilience.
