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.

For every child, the right to health.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF China seeks to engage one national consultant for six months to deliver defined technical and implementation-support outputs for its child health and development programme under the 2026–2027 workplan.

The assignment will focus on supporting government-led implementation and institutionalization of Early Essential Newborn Care (EENC) and Early Childhood Development (ECD) services. It will contribute to the review and finalization of technical resources, synthesis of implementation findings, and preparation of practical recommendations and handover documentation to support continued delivery through government systems.

Under the supervision of the designated UNICEF contract supervisor, and in collaboration with relevant government counterparts and technical partners, the consultant will:

EENC: Review and consolidate existing implementation guidance, training resources and quality assurance tools; synthesize findings from training, coaching and monitoring; and contribute to a draft implementation and handover roadmap specifying institutional responsibilities and follow-up actions.
ECD: Support the review and finalization of the standardized service package, training resources and quality control tools; consolidate feedback from implementation and supportive supervision; and prepare recommendations for improving service delivery through primary health care and maternal and child health platforms.
Selected NCD and mental health activities: Prepare the evidence syntheses, technical material reviews and implementation summaries specified in the deliverables table, working with the relevant technical leads.
Documentation and handover: Prepare progress summaries and a final handover package covering completed outputs, implementation findings, outstanding issues and recommended next steps. Partner consultations and coordination will be linked to the preparation and finalization of these agreed outputs.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External TOR - Primary Health Care Consultant.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in public health, medicine, nursing, maternal and newborn health, child health, early childhood development, mental health or a related field. A first-level university degree combined with additional relevant experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced degree
Work Experience: At least 10 years of relevant professional experience in primary health care, maternal and newborn health, child health, ECD, health-system strengthening, NCD prevention and/or child and adolescent mental health.
Skills:

Demonstrated experience in programme planning, implementation support, capacity development, quality improvement, monitoring and technical writing.
Experience working with government counterparts and technical institutions in China is highly desirable.

Language Requirements: Proficiency in English and Chinese

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 - Primary Health Care Consultant.docx

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.

Primary Health Care Consultant, Beijing, China, 6 months, Office based, no travel required, Nationals only