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