Consultant for Early Childhood Friendly Units (UAPI) Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. With a mission to advocate for the protection of children's rights, UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, employing approximately 13,000 staff members. The organization focuses on various areas including health, education, and child protection, working closely with governments and partners to improve the lives of children and their families. In Brazil, UNICEF implements health strategies at national, state, and local levels, collaborating with government counterparts and strategic partners to enhance public health services for children.

Job Overview:
The consultant selected for this position will play a crucial role in supporting the implementation and strengthening of the Early Childhood Friendly Units (UAPI) initiative within selected primary health care units in Sao Paulo. This initiative aims to improve the quality of public health services for children aged 0 to 6 through continuous professional development, monitoring of key indicators, and certification of health facilities. The consultant will work closely with UNICEF to enhance the competencies of health professionals, support the monitoring and analysis of relevant indicators, and document good practices. The overall objective is to contribute to the improvement of care provided to children and their families, ensuring that health services are responsive to their needs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for delivering several key products throughout the consultancy period. These include: 1) An inception report and detailed work plan that includes a situational analysis of UAPI implementation, stakeholder mapping, and a detailed methodology for capacity strengthening and monitoring. 2) Engagement and capacity strengthening processes involving at least 9 documented training sessions for health professionals, reaching a cumulative total of at least 100 professionals. 3) Monitoring and analysis of UAPI indicators, producing two analytical reports that outline progress, gaps, and actionable recommendations. 4) Documentation of good practices through at least 3 case studies, including human interest stories and lessons learned. 5) A final report summarizing activities, achievements, and strategic recommendations for the continuation of the program. The consultant will utilize participatory methodologies and collaborate closely with municipal health authorities and UNICEF throughout the process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in relevant fields such as Public Health, Social Sciences, Psychology, Early Childhood Development, Health Systems, or Public Administration. Alternatively, a first university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in these areas combined with at least five additional years of relevant professional experience is acceptable. A minimum of five years of professional experience in public health, primary health care, or early childhood development is required. Candidates should demonstrate experience working with municipal or state health systems in Brazil, as well as proven capacity in training, coaching, and capacity strengthening of health professionals. Strong analytical skills and the ability to work collaboratively with diverse teams are essential.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree (Master’s degree) in fields related to public health, social sciences, psychology, early childhood development, health systems, or public administration. A first university degree (Bachelor’s degree) in these areas is also acceptable if combined with significant professional experience. This educational foundation is critical for understanding the complexities of health systems and early childhood policies, which are central to the role.

Experience:
Candidates should have a minimum of five years of professional experience in relevant fields such as public health, primary health care, or early childhood development. Experience working with municipal or state health systems in Brazil is essential, as is a demonstrated ability to strengthen the capacity of health professionals through training and coaching. Familiarity with monitoring and analysis of health indicators, as well as experience in documenting good practices and case studies, is highly desirable. The consultant should also possess strong analytical and conceptual skills related to health systems and early childhood policies.

Languages:
Proficiency in Portuguese as a native language is mandatory for this position. Working knowledge of English is desirable, as it may facilitate communication and collaboration with international partners and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy contract is expected to last for 10 months, during which the consultant will work remotely using their own equipment. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings as needed. A financial proposal must be submitted, including all-inclusive fees covering the assignment, administrative costs, travel costs, and subsistence costs. The payment will be based on the submission of agreed deliverables, and UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if the deliverables do not meet the required standards. The consultant is responsible for arranging their own insurance and health coverage during the contract term. Additionally, selected candidates must confirm their fully-vaccinated status against COVID-19 prior to commencing the assignment.