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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, care

Modern human milk banking is currently not available in Moldova due to a lack of awareness, leadership, and the high costs associated with infrastructure and maintenance. Parenteral nutrition is used to feed extremely premature babies (under 30 weeks and/or with a body weight under 1000g), while enteral nutrition, using breast milk is introduced as early as possible.

Given the complications associated with formula feeding for sick, tiny preterm neonates and the initial inability of some mothers to breastfeed, there is an urgent need to establish human breast milk bank in the country. A robust human milk bank (HMB) system, encompassing rigorous screening, pasteurization, storage, and distribution, is essential to ensure the safety of donor human milk. When integrated into a comprehensive system, HMBs can also serve a broader purpose of protecting, promoting, and supporting breastfeeding, embedded within both nutrition and newborn care programming. According to data from 2023, the percentage of children breastfed by six months decreased to 77.5% from 80.4% in 2022. Similarly, the percentage of children breastfed by one year of age declined to 65.4% from 67.5% in 2022.

Models and Benefits of HMBs

A HMB plays a crucial role in infant health by recruiting breast milk donors, collecting donated milk, and then processing, screening, storing, and distributing it to meet infants' specific needs. The mission of an HMB is to promote and support breastfeeding by providing safe, high-quality donor milk to fill a gap for those who need mother's milk but cannot receive it. For successful operations, HMBs depend on a robust donor breastfeeding population to ensure an adequate and consistent supply of donor milk.

Developing an integrated HMB system requires local, national, and global support to ensure sustainability and appropriateness for the local context. HMBs must align with the community's needs and resources to effectively provide a lasting solution for infant care and maternal lactation support. This comprehensive approach to newborn care and nutrition can have an even greater impact on infant health. Integrated HMBs can significantly expand their reach beyond vulnerable neonates who need donor human milk (DHM), serving as welcoming hubs within hospitals or community centers. These hubs can offer all mothers access to breastfeeding support and Kangaroo Mother Care, thereby enhancing overall maternal and child health outcomes.

How can you make a difference? 

1. Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to assess the readiness of Moldova’s health system to establish an HMB. The consultancy will focus on providing detailed information that can serve as a framework for establishing an effective HMB.

The implementation of the recommendations is expected to result in a high-quality HMB model in Moldova. The development of these recommendations will be a participatory process, reflecting the specific needs and realities of Moldova and involving relevant stakeholders.

This consultancy is scheduled to take place over a four-months period, from February to May 2025. The findings will further increase UNICEF’s advocacy efforts and support to the Ministry of Health in promoting children’s health and wellbeing.

2. Specific objectives of the consultancy

The Consultant will provide technical assistance, supporting the UNICEF team and the Ministry of Health to assess the readiness of the health system in establishing a HMB as part of the Rolling Work Plan 2025-2026. The consultant's responsibilities will include:

• Identify Existing Relevant Policies
  • Review and document current policies related to neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation in Moldova. This includes national strategies, health policies, and guidelines that impact maternal and child health.
• Assess the Current Neonatal Nutrition and Maternal Lactation Environment

• Conduct a thorough assessment of the current state of neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation. This involves evaluating the availability and quality of services, breastfeeding rates, and the use of human milk substitutes.
• Gather National, Regional, and Facility-Level Data
• Collect data at various levels (national, regional, facility) to inform discussions and strategic planning. This includes comparing local data with global and regional datasets to identify areas needing improvement. Key references include Sustainable Development Goal indicators, national health datasets, and the Global Breastfeeding Collective Breastfeeding Scorecard.
• Identify the Donor Pool
• Determine the potential pool of breast milk donors. This involves identifying and recruiting donors, ensuring they meet health and safety standards, and maintaining a robust donor database.
• Identify Essential Infrastructure, Space, and Equipment
• Assess and document the infrastructure, space, and equipment necessary for effective neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation support. This includes facilities for milk storage, processing, and distribution, as well as breastfeeding support areas.
• Identify Staffing Requirements
• Determine the staffing needs for neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation services. This includes the number and qualifications of healthcare professionals required to provide high-quality care.
• Quality Control System
• Develop and implement a quality control system to ensure the safety and efficacy of neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation services. This includes regular monitoring, evaluation, and adherence to best practices and standards.
• Financial Considerations
• Analyze the financial aspects of implementing and maintaining neonatal nutrition and maternal lactation programs. This includes budgeting for infrastructure, staffing, equipment, and ongoing operational costs.

3. Deliverables and delivery dates

* Exact deadlines will be mutually agreed upon contract signature.

4. Definition of supervisory arrangements

The consultant will work under the oversight of Health Specialist of UNICEF Moldova. Payments will be rendered upon successful completion of each task, as per the schedule outlined above.

5. Work location and official travel involved

The work will require two in-country missions: one to conduct in-person visits and interviews with the different government authorities, as per their availability (7 days) and another in-country mission will be required at the final stage, to present the study results (2 days). The consultant is expected to cover costs, arrange and schedule such visits, including transportation. The UNICEF office will facilitate introductions to key informants.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

• Advanced academic degree in public health, medicine, political science, social policy, economics, or other relevant studies.
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of public health and nutrition, including experience implementing or analysing different targeting methodologies.
• Demonstrated experience in similar assessments in area of public health.
• Previous relevant work with UNICEF or UN Agencies will be considered an asset.
• Fluency in English and strong writing skills required. Knowledge of Romanian or Russian desired.

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. 

For more details on the consultancy assignment and requirements, please refer to attached Terms of reference (ToR)

 2025_TOR_Int Individual Consultant_Human Milk Bank Moldova_VA.docx

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain the Technical and Financial Offers (templates below). Please secure the Financial Proposal *.pdf document with a password on document view; the password will be requested only from technically qualified candidates.

 Technical Offer_Human Milk Bank Moldova.docx

 Financial Offer_Human Milk Bank Moldova.xlsx

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.