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Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

Consultancy Title: Health Systems Strengthening Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station:  Health HQ MNCAH – Programme Group 

Duration: September 2025 to August 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ/ Remote 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: 

To reduce the unacceptably high levels of maternal and child mortality, UNICEF HQ has selected UNICEF Sierra Leone’s Health and Nutrition programme as key to reducing child mortality and this work will contribute to the CPD 2025-2030 goal “By 2030, children including adolescents and women (15-49 years old ) benefit from equitable, integrated, quality and resilient health and nutrition systems, and adopt healthy life and care practices” by addressing three areas: (a) Strengthening Health Systems for evidence-based programming, supply chain management, multisectoral coordination, mobilizing resources, social financing and monitoring and evaluation through Primary Health Care (PHC) metrics; (b) Strengthened Quality of care focusing on PHC and referral facilities; (c) access to quality community-based services and structures and building capacity to adopt positive health and nutrition practices. The programme places an emphasis on health system strengthening approach, which will not only ensure sustainability of the gains made to date with equity consideration but also help building systems resilience and thus ability to respond to future shocks and crises. UNICEF HQ and Sierra Leone country office is looking for a competent consultant to provide technical support to selected key Health system interventions for 2025 RWP.

Scope of Work:

This consultancy aims to strengthen the Global UNICEF HQ PHC Metrics, where the global health architecture has convened in collaboration with WHO and country encouragement, to report on results of PHC and not on interventions and diseases, as recommended in the Lusaka Agenda. Under a BMGF funded project, UNICEF supports four flagship countries, including Sierra Leone, to establish PHC metrics within national strategies and report on them.

This consultancy aims to support Sierra Leone to develop indicators and data for PHC reporting through the Health and Nutrition Programme in Sierra Leone by enhancing health system performance, improving health information management, including PHC metrics, supporting digital health initiatives, and providing technical guidance on HSS interventions. The consultancy will contribute to improved decision-making, service delivery, and overall health outcomes at the national, district, and PHC levels.

Objective

The consultant will offer specialized technical expertise and strategic coordination support to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and partners focusing on enhancing performance management frameworks, improving health information systems, advancing digital health solutions, and promoting evidence-based policymaking.

Sub-Objectives

1. Enhance Performance Management Systems for the PHC metrics – Support MOH in developing and implementing robust performance monitoring frameworks to improve service delivery, accountability, and health outcomes.

2. Strengthen Health Information Systems for PHC metric reporting – Facilitate the optimization and integration of vertical programme data in DHIS2 ensuring improved data collection, analysis, and utilization for informed decision-making. Also provide technical support to roll out of revised HMIS2 by creating tools (recording, reporting, training package)

3. Support Digital Health Implementation. Provide technical guidance for the adoption and scale-up of digital health innovations, ensuring interoperability, user-friendliness, and alignment with national health priorities.

4. Promote Evidence-Based Decision-Making on the PHC metrics. Assist in the roll out of key applications and data-driven tools (Bottle neck analysis and score card) of, guidelines and policies, across all districts (from initial 4 districts) fostering a culture of evidence-informed planning and resource allocation within the health sector.

Key Outcomes:

The expected outcomes of this consultancy include improved national PHC Metrics, performance management and accountability within MOH, leading to enhanced service delivery, better resource allocation, and increased transparency. Strengthened health information systems will result in more integrated and efficient data management, ensuring greater accuracy, accessibility, and real-time utilization for planning and decision-making. The successful implementation of digital health solutions will enhance healthcare access, streamline service delivery, and promote data-driven decision-making, ultimately improving health outcomes. Additionally, by fostering a culture of evidence-based decision-making, MOH will be better equipped to develop and implement data-informed policies that drive effective and sustainable health interventions.

Methodology and Technical Approach:

This is a full-time assignment that will require the consultant to be based in Freetown, Sierra Leone, with periodic (20%) travel to the field and regular HQ reports.

Specific tasks

Enhance Performance Management Systems for PHC Metrics

- Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing performance management frameworks within MOH.

- Develop and implement strategies to improve performance tracking and accountability mechanisms.

- Facilitate capacity-building workshops for health officials on performance monitoring and evaluation.

- Establish key performance indicators (KPIs) and reporting mechanisms to assess health service delivery outcomes.

- Support the integration of performance data into decision-making processes at national and district levels.

Strengthen Health Information Systems for PHC Metrics

- Assess the current state of health information systems and identify gaps and inefficiencies.

- Provide technical support to optimize data collection, storage, and analysis processes.

- Develop standardized protocols for data management and reporting to enhance system interoperability.

- Train MOH staff on data governance, quality assurance, and utilization.

- Facilitate coordination among stakeholders to ensure harmonization of health data systems across different platforms

Support Digital Health Implementation for PHC Metrics

- Conduct a situational analysis of existing digital health initiatives and identify areas for expansion or improvement.

- Develop a strategic roadmap for scaling up digital health interventions aligned with national health priorities.

- Provide technical support for the integration of digital health tools, including mobile health applications, telemedicine, and electronic health records.

- Train healthcare providers and policymakers on digital health technologies and their application in service delivery.

- Establish monitoring frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of digital health solutions.

Promote Evidence-Based Decision-Making for PHC Metrics

- Strengthen the MOH’s capacity to analyse and use health data for policy formulation (BNA and score card)

- Develop guidelines and best practices for incorporating evidence into healthcare planning and decision- making.

- Organize knowledge-sharing sessions and workshops to promote the use of data in policy and program development.

- Establish a centralized platform for data sharing and policy coordination among health stakeholders.

- Support the translation of research and data insights into actionable policies and programs.

Management, Organization and Timeframe:

Management Oversight The Consultant will work under the direct supervision of Ann Robins, Senior Health Advisor at PHC/HSS unit at NYHQ and in collaboration with the Chief Health & Nutrition Section at UNICEF Sierra Leone office. S/he will work closely with all units of the section (MNH, EPI, Nutrition, M&E, Supply, Primary Health Care) and liaise with other programmes and sections as necessary. S/he will collaborate with the Director of DPPI, RCH, DPHC, HRH and WHO, UNFPA & UNAIDS. UNICEF WCARO will be closely engaged and informed.

Terms of Reference /Deliverables

1. Situational analysis for PHC Metrics          

a. Conduct a comprehensive assessment of existing performance management frameworks within MOH for PHC Metrics.

b. Assess the current state of health information systems and identify gaps and inefficiencies, including PHC Metrics.

c. Prepare a situational analysis document of existing digital health initiatives, mapping at least 3 of initiatives and identify a minimum of 5 areas for expansion or improvement.          

31 October 2025          

2. Enhance Performance Management System

a. Develop and implement at least 2 of strategies to improve performance tracking and accountability mechanisms for PHC Metrics.

b. Facilitate 4 capacity-building workshops for health officials on performance monitoring and evaluation for PHC Metrics.

c. Develop and validate a set of at least 12 key performance indicators (KPIs) and 3 reporting mechanisms to assess health service delivery outcomes for PHC Metrics.

d. Support the integration of performance data into decision-making processes in at least 4 national and district levels for PHC Metrics.   

31 January 2026          

3. Strengthen Health Information Systems for PHC Metrics     

a. Provide technical support resulting in at least 2 documented

b. Develop at least 2 standardized protocols for data management and reporting to enhance systems interoperability.

c. Conduct 5 of training sessions for MOH staff on data governance, quality assurance and utilization.

d. Organize and facilitate at least 3 (number of) Multi-stakeholder coordination meetings or working group sessions aimed at harmonization of health data systems across different platforms.     

31 March 2026

4. Support Digital Health Implementation       

a. Develop a strategic roadmap for scaling up digital health interventions aligned with national health priorities.

b. Provide technical support for the integration of at least 3 digital health tools, including mobile health applications, telemedicine, and electronic health records.

c. Conduct at least 5 training sessions for healthcare providers and policymakers on digital health technologies and their application in service delivery.

d. Design and implement at least 3 monitoring frameworks to evaluate the effectiveness and impact of digital health solutions.

30 June  2026  

5.Promote Evidence-Based Decision-Making

a. Provide technical support and mentoring to MOH staff leading to the development of at least 6 policy briefs or planning documents that demonstrate the use of health data for policy formulation.

b. Draft and develop a set of guidelines and at least 4 best practices for integrating evidence into healthcare planning and decision-making.

c. Organize at least 5 knowledge- sharing sessions and workshops to promote the use of data in policy and program development.

d. Desing and launch a centralized platform for data sharing and policy coordination among at least 8 key health stakeholders.

e. Support the translation of at least 4 research findings and data insight into actionable policy briefs and program recommendations.  

31 August 2026

Qualifications

1- Education

- An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health/nutrition, social sciences, planning, development, pediatric health, family health, health research, global/international health, health policy and/or management, environmental health sciences, biostatistics, demography, health education, epidemiology, or another relevant technical field.

- Addition training on HSS is desirable

2- Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

- A minimum of ten years of professional experience in Health Systems Strengthening (HSS) including public health/nutrition planning and management; programme development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of developmental programs in health, nutrition and HIV sector.

- Experience working in a developing country is required.

- Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organization is considered as an asset.

- Ability to work in a team and in a diverse work environment.

Skills required.

- Professional technical knowledge/ expertise in health system strengthening, including in the areas of evidence-based, equity-focused planning and budgeting and health management information system, Health care financing and HRH amongst others.

- Professional technical knowledge/ expertise in methodology of monitoring and evaluation, including theories, standards and models,

quantitative/ qualitative/ mixed methods, validity/reliability testing of data, data analysis and interpretations and statistical inference methods.

- Professional technical knowledge/ expertise in result Monitoring & Evaluation, Evaluation Design, data analysis, and reporting.

Requirements: 

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and Upload copy of academic credentials

Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

- the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.

- travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.

- Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.

- Indicate your availability

Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF. At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

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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.

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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 all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, are encourage 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. 

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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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (if applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.

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