PAHO Consultant - Regional Assessment of SOGI Data Availability and Quality

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:

September 8, 2026

Closing Date:

October 7, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time

Primary Location:

Off Site

Organization:

DHE Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity

Schedule:

Part time

PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY

Objectives of the consultancy
a) Assess the availability of regional health data disaggregated by sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity in official statistics, including health-relevant surveys and health administrative records, such as individual medical records, immunization and hospital discharge records, and epidemiological surveillance systems.
b) Assess the level of readiness of the data ecosystem reviewed, to generate health indicators that contribute to the future calculation of the LGBTQI Inclusion index proposed by UNDP as well as to the analysis of social inequalities in health in LGBTQI+ populations.
c) Make recommendations for good practices to strengthen the incorporation, processing, and use of variables of sex assigned at birth, gender identity, and sexual orientation in health systems at the regional level.

DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:

Conduct the regional assessment of data quality and availability of variables related to sex assigned at birth, sexual orientation, and gender identity in statistical and health data sources; coordinate with national counterparts and partner organizations on the development of evidence-based recommendations to strengthen SOGI disaggregation in health data systems and prepare technical reports, presentations, and other knowledge products to strengthen the use of disaggregated information across the Americas.

The consultant's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Review project and technical documents, and conceptual and methodological frameworks relevant to the measurement of sex assigned at birth, gender identity and sexual orientation in the countries participating in the project

• Develop and apply a regional methodological protocol to assess, as appropriate, the availability, coverage, completeness, validity, consistency, comparability, timeliness, accessibility, documentation, and usefulness of SOGI data, as well as their governance, privacy, confidentiality, and ethical use mechanisms in official statistical sources including population and health surveys, administrative health records, medical records, vaccination records, hospital discharges, and other sources prioritized with national counterparts.
• Coordinate the collection and validation of information with the focal points from the PAHO/WHO country offices, health authorities, national statistical offices.
• Analyze findings by country and comparatively at the regional level, identifying good practices, gaps, risks, strengthening needs, and opportunities to improve the production, interoperability, analysis, dissemination, and use of data disaggregated by sexual orientation and gender identity.
• In collaboration and coordination with the ECLAC-CELADE consultant counterpart, formulate regional recommendations to strengthen official sources, as well as to promote collaboration between authorities, statistical offices and civil society in the production, interpretation, use and responsible dissemination of evidence.
• Identify, in collaboration with the Social Determinants of Health Advisor, the variables and indicators available within the Social Determinants of Health (SDH) monitoring system that are required for the development of the LGBTQ+ Index, including variables from both the health sector and other relevant sectors.
• Integrate the findings from the present assessment and mapping exercise into the existing SDH monitoring system, with the aim of strengthening, expanding, and consolidating the system through the inclusion of dimensions and indicators relevant to the LGBTQ+ population.
• Prepare technical reports, executive summaries, comparative matrices, and presentations in Spanish and English, systematically incorporating the observations of PAHO and participating counterparts.
• Attend coordination, monitoring, consultation and presentation of results meetings; prepare the required materials and contribute to the organization and facilitation of spaces for validation and socialization of the findings.

Delivery and timelines: This work is estimated to require approximately 20 hours per week. PAHO will pay as full compensation the sum of USD$30,250.00 once the Gender and Health Advisor (DHE) and the Health Equity Analysis and Intelligence Advisor (EIH) certify satisfactory compliance with the schedule and outputs, according to the implementation stages as specified below:

Deliverables

Product 1:

Develop methodological protocol to assess the availability and quality of SOGI data, include description of preliminary results of pilot testing in health registries from selected countries.
Amount: $4,500.
Delivery date: 6 weeks from the start of the contract

Product 2:

Regional assessment report of availability and quality of SOGI data in health registries

Amount: $5,500
Delivery date: 9 weeks after product 1

Product 3:

Preliminary regional assessment report on country-level availability of non-health data for the UNDP LGBTQI Inclusion Index.

Amount: $ 5,000
Delivery date: 9 weeks after product 2

Product 4:

Final regional assessment report on country-level availability of non-health data for the UNDP LGBTQI Inclusion Index.

Amount: $4,000

Delivery date: 7 weeks after product 3

Product 5:

Country Readiness Assessment Report for the Development of the UNDP LGBTI Inclusion Index health and non-health components.

Amount: $4,000

Delivery date: 5 weeks after product 4

Product 6:

Preliminary report of the regional recommendations, including 3 case studies derived from Product 2.

Amount: $3,500

Delivery date: 4 weeks after product 5

Product 7:

Final report with general and specific recommendations for each variable (Regional Guideline prepared in coordination with ECLAC-CELADE)

Amount: $3,750
Delivery date: 4 weeks after Product 6

Technical supervision:

The consultant will work Under the supervision of the Gender and Health Advisor (DHE) and the Health Equity Analysis and Intelligence Advisor (EIH), the regional technical teams and PAHO/WHO country offices. The consultant will work remotely, part-time, and must be available during PAHO HQ working hours, based in Washington, DC.

Qualification requirements of the consultant:

Education: Master's degree in public health, epidemiology, demography, statistics, social sciences, or related fields.

Languages: Oral and written proficiency in Spanish and English at a professional level, essential for coordination with the participating countries and the preparation of technical documents in both languages.

Years of relevant experience: At least eight years of relevant professional experience, including experience working with international organizations.

Experience:

• Demonstrated experience in the analysis of census questionnaires, population surveys, health surveys and/or administrative health records.

• Experience in assessing the availability and quality of data, health information systems or producing disaggregated statistics.

• Experience working with sexual orientation, gender identity and LGBTQI+ populations data is highly desirable.

• Experience coordinating multi-country and/or regional work and facilitating consultations with government and civil society stakeholders.

Abilities:

• Strong technical background in health equity, monitoring and evaluation, gender, intersectionality, and human rights.

• Excellent technical writing, cross-cultural communication, coordination and collaborative work skills.

• Knowledge of data protection principles and practices, confidentiality and ethical use of sensitive information.

Pay rate:

$143 per day

Band B (part-time)

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.