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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, safety! 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The first month of life – the neonatal period – is the most vulnerable time for a child’s survival. Children face the highest risk of dying, with three-quarters of all neonatal deaths globally occurring in the first week of life . Every day, 42 newborns die in Uzbekistan, and neonatal mortality is increasing - from 12 per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 17 per 1,000 live births in 2022.

The Vision 2030 Program is addressing this challenge by investing in the modernization and strengthening of infrastructure and equipment across perinatal centers nationwide. The program focuses on building healthcare workers’ capacity to deliver high-quality neonatal care and empowering the public with knowledge to demand inclusive, reliable services.

Implementing comprehensive training for healthcare professionals across 230 perinatal centers requires strong supportive supervision, along with systematic quality monitoring and evaluation, to ensure that training translates into sustained, high-quality care. These measures are critical for fostering continuous improvement and accountability at each facility.

Additionally, to address the significant decline in breastfeeding rates since 2016, it is expected that 10 selected perinatal centers across the country will be certified as baby-friendly under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI).

In light of these goals, UNICEF Uzbekistan is seeking a qualified National Consultant with a relevant background to support the implementation of the Neonatal Care Program across perinatal centers, which will act under the guidance of the Chief of Health and Development and direct supervision of the Health Specialist.

Additionally, as part of the Vision 2030 initiative, the consultant will support UNICEF in the collection, aggregation, and analysis of key indicators to track progress, ensuring that each perinatal center is moving towards impactful, measurable outcomes:

Percentage of survival of low-birthweight newborns in 227 perinatal centres (%)
a) 500-1500 gr – 85%
b) 1500-2500 gr – 95%

Percentage of perinatal deaths audited – 70%

Number of health providers in UN-supported perinatal care facilities have increased capacity to provide transparent quality of care, counselling and support to pregnant women and neonates:

a) perinatal care workers – 15,000

Number of Neonates, Women, and Adolescents Benefited from UN Supported High-Quality Inclusive RMNCAH Services in 227 Perinatal Centers

Disaggregation: a) Age, b) gender, c) rural/urban, d) regional disaggregation, e) humanitarian context
1,200,000; a) 600,000 neonates

Duration of assignment: 1 Dec 2024 – 20 May 2025.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables and means of verifications - Timeline

1. Develop training program and training materials for supportive supervision and M&E - Training program and training materials endorsed by the MOH - Dec (10 days)

2. Facilitate conducting of trainings on supportive supervision and M&E for HCWs across the country - Trainings conducted/Training report - Jan-Feb (9 days)

3. Facilitate supportive supervision visits to each perinatal center and prepare 14 perinatal centers for certification on Baby-friendly initiative - Supportive supervision visits conducted/Report - Mar-May (48 days)

4. Collection of reports from regional teams. Analysis. Generation of recommendations. Monitoring of implementation - Data collected and analysed/Reports - Jan - May (13 days)

TOTAL 80 days

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. 

Please submit a professional fee (in USD) based on 80 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as this will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in health/ public Health, maternal, pediatric health or other relevant fields 
• Minimum of 10 years of progressively responsible experiences in the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health or Public Health;
• Demonstrated experience in supporting neonatal health programs and implementing quality assurance processes;
• Proven experience in implementing initiatives under the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative;
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s health programs, UN policies, and BFHI requirements;
• Strong facilitation and coordination abilities;
• Proficient Russian and Uzbek, knowledge of English is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.