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.

Consultancy Title: Integrated EmONC, NICU and SDP assessment consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Survival and Development

Duration: 01 March 2026 to 31 May 2026 (44 Working Days)

Home/ Office Based: Both on-site and Remote (International Consultancy)

For every child, the right to survive! 

How can you make a difference? 

Despite progress in maternal and newborn health, preventable maternal and neonatal deaths remain a challenge in Eritrea. Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (EmONC) is a proven, cost-effective intervention to reduce maternal and newborn mortality, yet its availability, functionality, quality, and utilization have not been comprehensively assessed at national level. In addition, access to specialized newborn care through Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) and the reliability of last-mile delivery of essential MNCH commodities require systematic evaluation. 

In 2026, the Ministry of Health, with support from UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, and partners, will conduct Eritrea’s first national Integrated EmONC (Emergency Maternal, Obstetric and Neonatal Care), NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) and Service Delivery Point (SDP) Assessment, using the revised global EmONC framework with mainstreamed NEST 360 and SDP questions. A comprehensive assessment package, including adapted tools and modules reflecting the Eritrean context, has already been developed. 

The assessment will generate baseline evidence to guide policy, strategic planning, designation of facilities, investments and implementation in maternal and newborn health services. To ensure technical rigor and effective implementation, a consultant is required to provide technical leadership to Reproductive and Child Health Units at MoH during training, field testing of the questionnaires, data collection, cleaning, analysis, report writing, and developing actionable implementation plans. 

Key deliverables

Under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Health and in close collaboration with UNICEF, UNFPA, WHO, and the national steering committee, the consultant will undertake the following: 

Technical Preparation and Training Materials 

• Lead the finalization of the assessment field guide, including standard operating procedures for data collection, supervision, and quality assurance. 
• Develop and refine training materials for enumerators and supervisors, including presentations, exercises, and guidance on modules covering EmONC, NICU, and SDP 
• Ensure continued alignment with the revised EmONC framework, including indicators for small and sick newborn care as well as SDP. 
• Provide technical input for the finalization of the workplan and field implementation strategy. 

Training and Field Implementation 

• Co-facilitate the Training of Trainers (ToT) and support enumerator and supervisor training. 
• Provide technical guidance during pilot testing, including refinement of tools and survey methodology 
• Support data collection in the selected samples through in person or remote  
• Ensure adherence to ethical standards, confidentiality, and data protection protocols. 

Data Management, Analysis, and Interpretation 

• Provide technical leadership on data cleaning, validation, and analysis in line with WHO-recommended EmONC, NICU, and SDP indicators. 
• Support descriptive, comparative, and equity-focused analysis across facility levels and geographic areas. 
• Advise on benchmarking results against WHO standards, regional reference values, and national priorities. 
• Support interpretation of findings to identify system bottlenecks and opportunities for
• improvement. 

Reporting, Recommendations, and Dissemination 

• Co-lead the drafting of the final assessment report, ensuring clarity, technical accuracy, and policy relevance. 
• Lead the formulation of evidence-based recommendations for strengthening EmONC, NICU, and SDP 
• Support preparation and presentation of findings to the Ministry of Health, partners, and other stakeholders. 
• Provide technical inputs to policy briefs, presentations, and summary products as required.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Supply Chain Management, Logistics, or related field

Work Experience:

• Minimum of 8 years of progressively responsible experience in MNCH system assessment and improvement planning.
• Proven experience with WHO/UNICEF EmONC, NICU and SDP tools and methodologies.
• Strong facilitation skills, including capacity building and workshop delivery.
• Proficiency in digital data collection, data cleaning, data validation and analysis platforms(E.G.ODK)
• Excellent report writing and communication skills in English

Language Requirements: Fluency in English is required

HOW TO APPLY

Interested consultants should provide the following:

Technical proposal

• The Technical Proposal should include but not be limited to the following:
• Methodology: Detailed Methodology / approach to requirement detailing how to meet or exceed UNICEF requirements for this assignment
• Profile: Ensure to include information related to the experience of the consultant Including similar assignments.
• References: Names and contact details of supervisors/refences for similar assignments undertaken.

Financial proposal

• Please provide indicative travel costs to/from Asmara with separate budget line for each item/expense category.
• Professional fee and other expenses: include all expenses related to the assignment professional fees.
• Complete the attached financial proposal form and upload it in this application  Financial Proposal template 030226.xlsx

CONDITIONS

• The consultancy will be for 44 working days.
• The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
• No contract may commence unless both UNICEF and the consultant sign the contract.
• The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.
• No travel should take place without an email travel authorization from the section before the commencement of the journey from the duty station.
• Standard UNICEF procedures will apply for invoicing and all other financial management requirements set out in the contract.
• Standard penalty clauses will also apply for late and poor-quality deliverables. The supervisor of the contract will provide the consultant with the criteria for the evaluation of the quality of each deliverable.
• Additional details of UNICEF rules, regulations and conditions will be attached to the contract.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on the UNICEF budget.
• Individuals engaged under a consultancy contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures. They 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. Consultants 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 assignment is both on-site and a remote support.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables.
• UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant

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 

[add the 8^th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role]. 

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.

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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Applications submitted without technical and financial proposals will not be considered