Integrated EmONC, NICU and SDP assessment consultant

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, and it provides an attractive compensation and benefits package to its staff.

Job Overview:
The Integrated EmONC, NICU, and SDP assessment consultant will play a crucial role in addressing the challenges of maternal and newborn health in Eritrea. The consultant will provide technical leadership to the Ministry of Health's Reproductive and Child Health Units during the assessment process, which aims to evaluate the availability, functionality, quality, and utilization of Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) services, Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), and Service Delivery Points (SDPs). This position requires a comprehensive understanding of the EmONC framework and the ability to develop and implement training materials, oversee data collection, and analyze findings to inform policy and strategic planning in maternal and newborn health services.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for leading the finalization of the assessment field guide, developing training materials for enumerators and supervisors, co-facilitating training sessions, providing technical guidance during pilot testing, and ensuring adherence to ethical standards during data collection. Additionally, the consultant will manage data cleaning, validation, and analysis, support the drafting of the final assessment report, and formulate evidence-based recommendations for improving EmONC, NICU, and SDP services. The consultant will also present findings to stakeholders and contribute to policy briefs and summary products as needed.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Public Health, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field. They should have a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in maternal and newborn health system assessment and improvement planning, with proven experience using WHO/UNICEF EmONC, NICU, and SDP tools and methodologies. Strong facilitation skills, proficiency in digital data collection and analysis platforms, and excellent report writing and communication skills in English are essential.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in Public Health, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of maternal and newborn health systems and for effectively leading assessments and improvement planning.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in maternal and newborn health system assessment and improvement planning. Candidates should have a strong track record of working with WHO/UNICEF tools and methodologies related to EmONC, NICU, and SDP, as well as experience in capacity building and workshop delivery.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not explicitly required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will last for 44 working days, from March 1, 2026, to May 31, 202

• The position allows for both on-site and remote work, and the selected consultant will be governed by UNICEF's General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts. Payment will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables, and the consultant will be responsible for their tax liabilities. UNICEF emphasizes its commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from all qualified candidates regardless of background.