UNICEF Lesotho seeks seeks to hire an experienced, dynamic, results-driven consultant to support the Ministry of Health to conduct a high-level PHC dialogue that results in clear priorities, commitments, and a practical roadmap for strengthening PHC performance.

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Background

Primary Health Care (PHC) is the cornerstone of Lesotho’s health system and remains central to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), reducing health inequalities, and improving population health outcomes. The PHC approach emphasizes accessible, equitable, integrated, people-centred, and community-oriented health services delivered as close as possible to where people live and work. Lesotho has adopted and continues to strengthen the PHC approach in line with national health priorities and global commitments, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Astana Declaration on Primary Health Care, and the goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage. The Government of Lesotho, through the Ministry of Health, has continued to prioritize PHC as the foundation of the health system and as the first point of contact between individuals, families, communities, and health services. Strengthening PHC is therefore essential for improving access to essential health services, addressing health inequities, strengthening prevention and health promotion, and building a resilient and responsive health system. The 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report provides a comprehensive assessment of PHC performance across all ten districts of Lesotho. The report draws on quantitative and qualitative evidence from routine health information systems, programme reports, supervision findings, and other available data sources. It assesses key dimensions of PHC performance, including service delivery, maternal and child health, communicable and non-communicable diseases, health system readiness, human resources, commodities, infrastructure, and the quality and use of routine health data.

The findings of the report provide an important evidence base for identifying progress, persistent gaps, systemic challenges, and priority areas requiring action. However, the value of the report will ultimately depend on the extent to which its findings are translated into concrete policy decisions, commitments, and implementable actions.

To conclude, the Ministry of Health with UNICEF support intends to convene a PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting bringing together senior government officials, development and implementing partners, health-sector stakeholders, district representatives, community representatives, and other relevant stakeholders. The dialogue will provide a platform for high-level reflection on PHC performance, discussion of key challenges and opportunities, clarification of priorities, and commitments on multi sectorial actions required to strengthen PHC in Lesotho.

It is against this background that UNICEF is looking for a consultant to provide technical and facilitation support before, during, and after the meeting. The consultant will support the preparation of panelists, refinement of panel questions, facilitation of the high-level dialogue, documentation of key decisions and action points, and development of a practical roadmap for implementation and follow-up

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The purpose of the assignment is to provide technical and facilitation support for the successful preparation, conduct, and follow-up of the PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting, ensuring that the findings of the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report are effectively translated into high-level discussion, strategic commitments, and actionable priorities for strengthening PHC in Lesotho.

The consultant will work closely with the UNICEF, Ministry of Health and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the dialogue is well structured, evidence-informed, participatory, and focused on decision-making and result oriented action.

Objectives of the Assignment

The overall objective is to support the Ministry of Health to conduct a high-level PHC dialogue that results in clear priorities, commitments, and a practical roadmap for strengthening PHC performance.

The specific objectives are to:

1. Support the preparation and orientation of selected panelists for the PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting.

2. Review the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report and identify key findings, priority issues, and strategic messages relevant to the high-level dialogue.

3. Develop and/or refine focused, strategic, and evidence-informed questions to guide the panel discussion.

4. Support the development of a coherent structure and flow for the high-level dialogue.

5. Facilitate the PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting using an inclusive, engaging, and results-oriented approach.

6. Ensure that discussions remain focused on the key findings of the PHC performance report and on strategic actions required to address identified gaps.

7. Document key decisions, commitments, recommendations, and action points arising from the dialogue.

8. Support the development of a practical roadmap for implementation and follow-up of agreed PHC actions, including indicative responsibilities and timelines.

9. Provide recommendations on mechanisms for monitoring progress against the agreed action points.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will provide technical and facilitation support throughout the preparation, implementation, and follow-up of the PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting. The assignment will focus on translating the findings of the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report into meaningful high-level discussion, strategic commitments, concrete action points, and a practical roadmap for follow-up.

• Review and Preparation;

The consultant will review the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report and other relevant background documents provided by the Ministry of Health to develop a clear understanding of the key findings, achievements, gaps, challenges, and priority areas requiring high-level attention. Based on this review, the consultant will identify and synthesize the key messages and strategic discussion themes that should inform the PHC High-Level Dialogue. The consultant will also review the proposed programme, agenda, panel composition, and format of the meeting and provide recommendations, where necessary, on the structure and sequencing of the dialogue to ensure that the meeting is focused, engaging, and oriented towards strategic discussion and decision-making.

• Panelist Preparation;

The consultant will support the Ministry of Health in preparing and orienting the identified panelists for the high-level dialogue. This will include developing concise briefing materials highlighting the relevant findings from the PHC Performance Monitoring Report and the key issues that each panelist is expected to address. Where required, the consultant will conduct preparatory consultations with panelists to clarify their roles, expected contributions, key messages, and areas of focus. The consultant will ensure that panelists are adequately prepared to engage with the strategic issues emerging from the report and are encouraged to focus their contributions on practical solutions, commitments, and actions to strengthen PHC, rather than solely describing existing challenges.

• Refinement of Panel Questions;

The consultant will review and refine the proposed panel questions to ensure that they are clear, strategic, evidence-informed, and appropriate for a high-level policy dialogue. The consultant will develop relevant probing and follow-up questions to stimulate meaningful discussion and encourage panelists to articulate specific solutions and commitments. The questions will be aligned with the key findings and priority areas identified in the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report and structured in a logical sequence that guides the discussion from an assessment of performance and key challenges towards solutions, commitments, and agreed actions.

• Facilitation of the PHC High-Level Dialogue;

The consultant will provide facilitation and moderation support during the PHC High-Level Dialogue Meeting, ensuring that the panel discussion is well managed, inclusive, focused, and aligned with the objectives of the meeting. The consultant will facilitate balanced participation among panelists, encourage constructive engagement, and guide the discussion towards practical solutions and clear commitments. The consultant will also manage the flow and timing of the discussion, facilitate appropriate engagement with participants and the audience, and support the Chair or Moderator in drawing out key conclusions, areas of consensus, strategic priorities, and commitments emerging from the dialogue.

• Documentation of Decisions and Action Points;

The consultant will systematically document the key issues, decisions, commitments, recommendations, and action points emerging from the PHC High-Level Dialogue. Attention will be given to clearly capturing the actions agreed upon, the responsible institutions or stakeholders, expected outputs or results, and indicative timelines. The consultant will distinguish between strategic commitments, operational actions, and issues requiring further policy or technical consideration. Following the

meeting, the consultant will prepare a concise summary of the key outcomes and agreed actions for review and validation by the Ministry of Health.

• Development of an Action Roadmap;

Based on the outcomes and commitments arising from the PHC High-Level Dialogue, the consultant will support the Ministry of Health in translating the agreed action points into a practical PHC action roadmap. The roadmap will organize actions around the priority areas identified during the dialogue and, where possible, define the required action, responsible institution or stakeholder, expected result or output, indicative timeline, and proposed mechanism for monitoring progress. The consultant will support the prioritization of immediate, medium-term, and longer-term actions and identify actions that require coordination, resource mobilization, policy decisions, or additional technical support. The consultant will also propose a practical mechanism for tracking implementation and reporting progress against the agreed actions following the dialogue.

Work Assignment Overview	Deliverables/ Outputs (SMART)*	Delivery deadline	Estimated Budget for consultant
Inception Report	Brief approach and workplan for supporting the PHC High-Level Dialogue, including proposed methodology and key preparation activities. Summary of key findings from the 2025/26 PHC Performance Monitoring Report relevant to the high-level dialogue	18 Sep 2026	15%
Panelist Briefing Materials and Refined Panel Questions and Moderator Guide	Tailored briefing notes and key messages to support preparation of the identified panelists. Final set of strategic panel questions, probing questions, and facilitation/moderation guide	22 Sep 2026	15%
Facilitation of the PHC High-Level Dialogue and PHC Dialogue Outcomes Report	Effective facilitation/moderation of the panel discussion and support to the overall flow of the meeting. Concise report documenting key discussion points, decisions, commitments, recommendations, and agreed action points	25 Sep 2026	30%
PHC Action Roadmap and Final Assignment Report	Practical roadmap translating agreed actions into priority activities, responsibilities, timelines, expected results, and follow-up mechanisms. Brief final report summarizing activities undertaken, outputs delivered, key outcomes, lessons learned, and recommendations for follow-up.	23 October 2026	40%

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

Minimum requirements: Bachelors degree

Education: Bachelor's degree in public health, communications or any other related field.

Work Experience: At least 5 years of relevant professional experience in public health, Primary Health Care (PHC), health systems strengthening, health policy, strategic planning, or related areas.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Strong knowledge and understanding of Primary Health Care, Universal Health Coverage, health systems strengthening, and health-sector performance improvement, preferably within the context of Lesotho or similar health systems.
Demonstrated experience in facilitating high-level policy dialogues, stakeholder consultations, technical meetings, workshops, or similar events, particularly involving senior government officials and development partners.
Demonstrated experience in preparing and briefing senior-level panelists and speakers, including developing key messages and refining panel questions, discussion guides, and briefing materials.
Demonstrated ability to translate technical reports and evidence into clear strategic messages, policy recommendations, concrete decisions, commitments, and actionable recommendations.
Demonstrated experience in documenting high-level meeting outcomes and developing action plans, implementation roadmaps, or follow-up mechanisms, including defining priority actions, responsible stakeholders, timelines, and expected results.
Must exhibit the UNICEF Core Values

Language Requirements: Fluency in English

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 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

Remarks:

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

National Individual Consultant for Primary Health Care Policy Dialogue and Strategic Facilitation , Maseru, Lesotho, 20 dayss