International Individual Consultant

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories to protect the rights of children and ensure their well-being. The organization focuses on reaching the most disadvantaged children in the toughest places, aiming to save lives, defend rights, and help children fulfill their potential. UNICEF operates with a mission to build a better world for every child, emphasizing care and commitment to never give up on their cause.

Job Overview:
The position of International Individual Consultant at UNICEF Egypt involves supporting the Ministry of Health in conducting causal analyses of neonatal death in Egypt. The consultant will play a crucial role in identifying key causes and contributing factors to infant deaths through qualitative and quantitative analysis. The study aims to address various objectives, including determining factors contributing to neonatal death, assessing the impact of socio-economic status and geographical access, and evaluating the availability of essential resources for maternal and newborn care. The consultant will work closely with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health to implement a comprehensive study that includes both secondary data analysis and fieldwork, ensuring that the findings contribute to reducing neonatal mortality in Egypt.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key activities, including:

• Conducting a desk review of relevant documents and preparing an inception report that outlines the study design, methodology, and data collection tools.
• Training field team workers on data collection methodologies and procedures.
• Monitoring the performance of the study team and analyzing data to prepare a draft narrative report on the study results.
• Presenting and validating results at a national stakeholder workshop and developing recommendations for reducing neonatal mortality.
• Finalizing the study report based on stakeholder feedback and submitting it along with the raw and clean datasets to UNICEF and the Ministry of Health. The consultant will also ensure that all deliverables are completed within the specified timelines and adhere to UNICEF's standards.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in Public Health, Medicine with specialization in Neonatology, Perinatology, or Pediatrics. Additionally, a minimum of 10 years of experience in mother and child health, child survival, and perinatal/neonatal care service research is required. The consultant should have experience in both qualitative and quantitative research analysis, including statistical analysis, and previous working experience with the UN or other international agencies is preferred. Familiarity with the MENARO region is also advantageous. Strong facilitation, analytical, conceptual, and writing skills are essential for this role.

Educational Background:
The educational background required for this position includes an advanced university degree in a relevant field such as Public Health, Medicine, or a related discipline with a focus on Neonatology, Perinatology, or Pediatrics. This advanced degree is crucial for understanding the complexities of maternal and child health issues and for conducting high-level research and analysis.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have at least 10 years of relevant experience in the field of mother and child health, with a strong emphasis on child survival and perinatal/neonatal care service research. This level of experience is necessary to ensure that the consultant can effectively contribute to the study and provide valuable insights based on their extensive background in the field.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory for this position, as all reports and communications will be conducted in English. Proficiency in Arabic is considered an asset, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the consultant's effectiveness in the Egyptian context.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position is expected to be conducted remotely and in the UNICEF office in Cairo, with travel to field sites as necessary. UNICEF Egypt will cover travel-related costs within the country. The consultant will be engaged under a consultancy contract, which means they will not be considered staff members and will not receive benefits typically provided to employees. The selected candidate must ensure that they have valid visa and health insurance for the duration of the contract. Additionally, candidates must confirm their fully-vaccinated status against COVID-19 prior to starting the assignment, although this requirement does not apply to those working remotely.