National Consultant for Primary Health Care (PHC)

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, operates in over 190 countries and territories with a mission to save children's lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential. The organization is committed to promoting the rights of every child and offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development. UNICEF employs a passionate workforce dedicated to serving children and communities globally, providing an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) in Uzbekistan through the Universal Progressive Home Visiting (UPHV) programme. This involves revising existing UPHV modules, supporting the digitalization of PHC services, developing supportive supervision and monitoring frameworks, and ensuring alignment with national health priorities. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Health to enhance the effectiveness of PHC services, focusing on maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health, nutrition, and social risk identification. The role requires a comprehensive understanding of health systems and the ability to integrate various health indicators into existing frameworks.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Strengthening PHC through the UPHV Programme: Review and adapt UPHV modules to align with national priorities, ensuring integration of nutrition and preventive services.
• Digitalisation and DMED Integration: Support the integration of UPHV and nutrition indicators into the DMED platform, providing guidance for standardized data collection.
• Supportive Supervision and Monitoring & Evaluation: Develop supportive supervision modules and refine M&E frameworks for UPHV implementation.
• Referral System Development: Establish a referral system linking PHC services with social protection mechanisms, defining roles and documentation requirements.
• Review and Adaptation of the WHO Pocket Book: Adapt the WHO Pocket Book to reflect UPHV reforms and national priorities, ensuring usability for health professionals.
• Coordination and Technical Support: Facilitate consultations and validation meetings, consolidating feedback for finalization of UPHV modules and related materials.
• Reporting and Knowledge Transfer: Prepare technical updates and a final consultancy report summarizing outputs and recommendations for sustainability.

Required Qualifications:

• Advanced University degree in health/public health, maternal, pediatric health, or relevant fields.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in Public Health.
• Demonstrated experience in implementing UPHV programs and capacity building initiatives under RMNCH programs.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s health programs and UN policies.
• Strong facilitation and coordination abilities are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in health, public health, maternal health, pediatric health, or other relevant fields. A university degree in Health/Public Health is also acceptable, provided the candidate meets the experience requirements.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 15 years of progressively responsible experience in public health, with a strong emphasis on experience in implementing UPHV programs and capacity building initiatives. Candidates should have a proven track record in supporting health programs and familiarity with UNICEF’s operational frameworks and policies.

Languages:
Proficiency in Russian and Uzbek is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is set to last from February 15, 2026, to December 31, 2026, with a total of 130 working days. Travel is required, and the final rate will be determined based on the 'best value for money' principle. Payment will be made against approved deliverables and monthly work plans, with UNICEF reserving the right to withhold payment if deliverables do not meet required standards. The position emphasizes UNICEF's commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates.