UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

How can you make a difference?

The Consultant will be embedded within the Ministry of Health's Community Health Unit and provide strategic, technical and advisory support throughout the process of finalizing the National Community Health Strategy (2027–2031) and the accompanying Five-Year Costed Operational Plan. The consultant will ensure that the strategy is evidence-based, results-oriented, technically sound, fully costed, implementable and nationally owned through a highly participatory process involving Government, Cooperating Partners and other stakeholders. The Consultant will be required to interact and engage with all key community health stakeholders for extensive consultations at all stages of design, formulation, and development of the NCHS 2022–2026.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Download File ToR_ext_TMC0006001 National Community Health Strategy .pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

Education:

Master’s Degree or higher in Public Health, Community Health, Health System, Health Policy, or related field.

Work Experience:

At least 10 years of progressive professional experience related to optimization in health care, and design of health systems and strategies.
Experience with developing health programs/ health strategies, SOPs, and protocols for countries. Demonstrated experience in costing national strategies and investment cases.
Experience with health service delivery in Zambia an added advantage. Proven experience in the Zambian community health landscape

Language Requirements:

English

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Demonstrated experience in developing operational plans and organizational capacity building.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and experience in working with a wide range of individuals in government, private sector and civil society;
Demonstrable experience producing government documents and should have excellent English writing and communication skills.

Desirables:

Strong writing skills in English with a clear, straight- forward writing style
Working experience in Zambia and/or sub-Sahara region

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)

Cover letter

A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) financial proposal template - TMC0006001.xlsx

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National / International Consultancy to Develop the Costed National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) 2027-2031 & Operational Plan Zambia, Lusaka (office based) 3.5 months (595548)