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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; Results

UNICEF works to protect the rights of every child in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to ensure that all of our children survive, thrive and fulfill their vast potential.

In a world that is rapidly changing, children are faced with complex challenges and unprecedented opportunities. UNICEF’s programs are designed to reach and benefit all children so that they can withstand these challenges, leverage these opportunities and be the drivers of their own destiny.

UNICEF is committed to creating a country in which every child is free to learn, play and grow. Our programs work towards providing all children in Sri Lanka with shelter, nutrition, protection and education, wherever they may be. We strive to create communities in which children can live with dignity and hope, free from discrimination, violence and fear.

We make every effort to create and maintain environments that will enable and empower children to be the very best that they can be.

In this way, all children will not only benefit from economic and social growth but will become the driving force behind sustainable national development.

For over 50 years, with the help of our vast network of partners, UNICEF has made significant strides in raising health, education and protection standards for children in Sri Lanka. From achieving Universal Child Immunization (1989) to establishing The National Child Protection Authority (1998) to providing decades of crucial relief in the wake of devastating conflict and natural disaster, UNICEF has played a pivotal role in creating an environment in which children have the best chance to survive and thrive.

Yet, many challenges still exist, especially for the most vulnerable. Some national and regional bodies require resources and reinvigoration. Individuals and institutions need to be strengthened, coordinated and aligned with global standards so that children enjoy support in their schools, communities and homes to help them overcome challenges and unleash their full potential into the world.

Due to our long-standing reputation as an experienced, neutral and collaborative partner, UNICEF is ideally suited to drive these efforts. Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground.  For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose :

The International Health Regulations (IHR) are the primary global instrument for preventing, detecting, and responding to public health events of international concern. Effective implementation of the IHR requires strong public health systems with trained and competent workforce at national, district, and primary level. The Pandemic Fund, with UNICEF as the implementing Entity, is designed to directly address this need by strengthening the capacity of the public health and community workforce, thereby building a more resilient system capable of safeguarding communities against future pandemics.

 

Goal and Objective:  The primary goal is to recruit a qualified consultant to conduct a comprehensive Training Needs Assessment (TNA) for multidisciplinary workforce to strengthen IHR implementation. This assessment will identify specific capacity gaps to strengthen the implementation of IHR core capacities. The findings will be directly incorporated into training curricula to ensure that all public health levels have the necessary skills to prevent, detect, assess, notify, and respond to health emergencies. The TNA will also identify new curriculum development needs.

 

Activities and Tasks: 

The consultant will be expected to work in close collaboration with a Technical Working Group (TWG) appointed by the Ministry of Health. The TWG, chaired by the Deputy Director General of ET&R, includes key stakeholders from various units such as the Quarantine Unit, Epidemiology Unit, Health Promotion Bureau, Training unit of the ET&R, as well as representatives from the National Institute of Health Sciences (NIHS), Kalutara, WHO and UNICEF, Country Offices. This collaboration is needed for incorporating diverse perspectives and ensuring a comprehensive approach to the TNA.

Literature and Desk Review: Conduct a thorough review of existing literature and previous TNAs conducted within the country, with a specific focus on assessments among healthcare staff.

Alignment with National Strategies: The TNA must be aligned with the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) and the findings of the recent Joint External Evaluation (JEE-2023) conducted by the Ministry of Health.

Methodology and Planning: Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team of the NIHS to develop and finalize a methodology for the TNA. This methodology should be approved by the technical working group.

Assessment Implementation: Lead the TNA among healthcare workers at the national, intermediate and primary public health levels. The assessment must specifically focus on the competencies required to prevent, detect, assess, notify, and respond to health emergencies in line with the IHR core capacities.

Reporting: Compile the findings into a comprehensive TNA report that includes actionable recommendations for training interventions.

Stakeholder Consultation: Conduct interviews (in-depth interviews), focus group discussions, and surveys with key stakeholders defined by the TWG.

The consultant will be expected to deliver the following:

• Inception Report: A detailed work plan and methodology for the TNA, including a timeline and data collection tools.

• Draft TNA Report: A comprehensive draft report detailing the findings of the desk review and stakeholder consultations, including a detailed gap analysis.

• Final TNA Report and Action Plan: The final report incorporating feedback from stakeholders and UNICEF, along with recommendations for the development of training curriculum and roll out of training.

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

Minimum requirements:

Minimum Qualifications required:

• PhD, Public Health, Obstetrics, Child Health

Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

A minimum of 10 years of experience in public health research, with experience in field level assessments and research.

•Proven experience in designing and conducting training needs assessments or similar gap analyses in the health sector is an advantage.

•In-depth knowledge and broad understanding of the International Health Regulations (IHR) (2005) and its core capacities.

•Familiarity with national health security frameworks, such as the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS), and evaluation tools like the Joint External Evaluation (JEE).

•Exceptional analytical skills to conduct desk reviews, analyze assessment data, and identify key capacity gaps.

•Ability to work in English is essential

•Strong presentation and facilitation skills

•Working with multidisciplinary team environment and with senior-level health ministry officials

 

Start date - Sept 2025

Duration - Sept 2025 - Dec 2025

Duty station - Colombo 

 

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents

Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system. https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html

Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate in LKR to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable) 

Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered  

 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

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:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates  are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

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.

If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.