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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 health 

In Turkmenistan, health services for children are widely available. Almost all deliveries take place in maternity facilities. The immunization programme — fully financed by the Government and supported by UNICEF procurement — covers 95 per cent of young children and is in full compliance with World Health Organization recommendations. While significantly reduced since independence, under-five and neonatal mortality is still in place, with main causes being perinatal conditions, congenital malformations, and respiratory infections. To reduce the mortality rates to the levels of the middle-income countries, it is necessary to build knowledge and skills of the medical staff, improve the quality of maternal and childcare in health facilities, as well as educate the parents to properly take care of their children. The systems for human-resources capacity development and health budgeting need to evolve, with additional focus on primary health care.

While exclusive breastfeeding is widely practiced, malnutrition continues to represent a public health challenge. Turkmenistan is fully financing fortification of premium and first grade flour with UNICEF procurement support. It is planned to assess impact of the fortification programme on the prevalence of anemia, which was high among women and children (2012, UNICEF). Although declining, stunting and overweight are still present among children.

The establishment of the universal early childhood development (ECD) services is underway in both health and education sectors but requires increased investments to go to scale. The newly adopted National Strategy on Early Childhood Development for 2020–2025 emphasizes the need for human resources capacity development across all sectors, cross-sectoral coordination, data and monitoring systems, and targeted support to the most vulnerable children, families and communities.

How can you make a difference? 

In close collaboration with UNICEF Turkmenistan, the selected consultant will be responsible for designing of the methodology of the analysis of the current environment and barriers to the breastfeeding in Turkmenistan. The analysis must include:

• Secondary data analysis of MICS 2019, MICS 2024, TNMS 2024 and other relevant data sets;
• Focus groups discussions for collection of the qualitative data.

Secondary data analysis of the 2019, MICS 2024 and TNMS 2024 will serve as an updated knowledge base of the current environment and barriers to the breastfeeding in Turkmenistan. Currently available data from MICS statistical snapshots only show descriptive statistics, limiting the ability of policymakers, line ministries and other partners to further understand the drivers of identified issues. Secondary data analysis will provide the basis for further identifying areas for quality analysis through the focus group discussions of some key variables looking at their immediate, underlying and structural causes.

Focus group discussions will help to systematically examine patterns and new social developments that support or hinder breastfeeding practices. Critical to this process is a factual and in-depth analysis of the current environment, upon which decisions on the direction and focus of the programme will be based. Combining with the results of the secondary data analysis, focus group results will provide a comprehensive overview of the situation that will help to feed policy and programmatic decision making.

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR national consultancy for breastfeeding assessment_FINAL_for publishing.docx.

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: University Degree in Public health, statistics, economics, social sciences, other relevant degree in humanities.
• Work Experience:
  • At least 3 years of practical experience in managing, designing and conducting situation and data analysis;
  • Proof of previous projects/assignment in data analysis;
  • Experience in providing professional analytical and/or consulting services;
  • Experience in facilitation of focus group discussions;
  • Familiarity with local legislation on breastfeeding, maternal and child health;
• Skills (optional): At least 2 years of experience in facilitation of workshops. 
• Language Requirements: Knowledge of Turkmen and Russian languages, knowledge of English will be an advantage.

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) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) 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 [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.