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UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

For every child, the right to support

In Lao PDR, UNICEF works in partnership with the Government of Lao PDR and partners to promote and protect the rights of children and women in Lao PDR. With over 50 years of service, we are one of the longest-serving international organisations in the country.

Visit unicef.org/Laos to learn more about what we do at UNICEF in Lao PDR.

How can you make a difference? 

UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual national consultant for PHC on Community Health System Strengthening. The duration of this assignment is 5 months, starting as soon as possible and the consultant shall be based at UNICEF Office.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The consultant will provide technical assistance at policy, program management and implementation levels for designing an integrated approach where numerous partners with defined roles and responsibilities contribute effectively in a coordinated way to facilitate achieving health and wellbeing of the population in the country. The main areas of support will include:

1. Provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Health to develop the national PHC Strategy and Action Plan 2026-2030, ensuring it aligns with the PHC law, existing policies, and both national and global targets. It will include discussions with multiple partners from Central to village level to agree on key interventions and defining What, When, Where, How and Who to achieve desired results with robust progress monitoring component.

2. Conduct reviews and consultations with key HANSA partners to initiate alignment with UNICEF's programming and define its role as a key partner. This is a major nationwide multi-donor and multi- partner Health System initiative where contribution of all key stakeholders with defined roles and responsibilities will paly a critical role in avoiding gaps and duplication.

3. Define and clarify roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders in Social and Behavioral Change, particularly in relation to UNICEF's SBC efforts and the CONNECT program. Both initiatives from WHO and UNICEF have similar objective of promoting Healthy practices through capacity building of Health care services providers and consumers. Hence, there is a great need for coordination for effective and sustainable Community Empowerment for impactful results.

4. Strengthen the coordination framework linking PHC, HANSA2, SBC, and CONNECT to ensure impactful programming. Under the lead role of the Government establishment of One national Coordination framework is crucial for an effective, resilient, and sustainable Health System in the country able to meet health needs of the communities.

5. Field testing and documentation of the coordination framework for strengthening the linkages of PHC, VHV toolkit for RMNCAH home visit, HANSA2, SBC, and CONNECT in selected province.

Note: To facilitate Gavi related activities about 25% of the time will be spent on Gavi transition and consolidation and area of work in HANSA2.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR for National Consutlant for PHC on Community for VA U.pdf

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

Minimum requirements:

Education/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills/Language Requirements:

•Post-graduate degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, International Development, or another relevant area

•Minimum ten Years of experience in planning and management of PHC

•  Extensive experience in the formulation of implementation plans for Health and other sectors.

•  Clear understanding and contribution in undertaking reviews and consultations especially in country initiative such as HANSA and other key partners initiatives

•  Excellent knowledge, skills and experience in planning and implementation of Social and Behavioral Change, CONNECT like program.

•  Solid experience in developing & leading coordination framework for linking with multiple partners

•  Ability to work in a multidisciplinary team and have the initiative to work independently to meet deadlines.

•  Excellent analytical, report writing and communication skills.

•  A good command of English (speaking and writing) is required.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

• Letter of Interest (cover letter)
• CV or Resume
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including medical insurance with medivac, travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.