UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Project Management Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Data and Analytics, Division of Analysis, Planning & Monitor, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 1 February 2025 to 31 January 2026

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The Division of Data, Analytics, Planning, and Monitoring (DAPM) at UNICEF drives evidence-informed decision-making, strategic planning, and performance monitoring to improve outcomes for children worldwide. Within DAPM, the Data & Analytics Team (DAT) is the global authority on data related to children, generating high-quality, internationally comparable data through innovative methods, including household surveys, administrative data, geospatial analysis, and machine learning. DAT supports countries in strengthening statistical systems, advancing data governance, and fostering a data-driven culture within UNICEF and among partners. The Health and HIV Unit (HHU) within DAPM focuses on leveraging data and analytics to strengthen health systems, improve programmatic decisions, and enhance outcomes in areas such as immunization, HIV, and maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health. HHU is central to tracking progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals, ensuring data-driven program improvements, and promoting UNICEF’s role as a global leader in health and HIV data for children.

Under the general direction of the Statistics & Monitoring Advisor for MNCAH, the Consultant will provide technical and operational support to key projects within the Unit. This includes facilitating project implementation tracking, preparing project updates and reports, and supporting staff in communication with UNICEF country and regional offices. The Consultant will assist the MNCAH and Immunization teams in organizing technical working groups, coordinating project-related meetings, and ensuring effective information-sharing among stakeholders to promote alignment and progress toward defined project goals.

Scope of Work:

• Define unit and project scope, objectives, and deliverables; develop detailed project plans with task assignments, resource management, and timeline tracking using project management tools.
• Develop engagement strategies and maintain coordination with country offices, regional offices, and external partners to support implementation. Track progress using performance management methods, ensure deliverables meet quality standards, and prepare status reports summarizing progress, risks, and challenges.
• Identify and manage project risks and issues, implement mitigation strategies, and oversee a structured change management process with proper documentation and approvals.
• Develop and execute a comprehensive communication plan, facilitate project meetings, document key decisions and follow-ups, and support platforms like EWENE and CSA with secretariat and project management services.
• Support the completion and verification of deliverables, maintain thorough project documentation, and ensure effective knowledge transfer through training and final reports.
• Conduct formal project closure activities, including reconciliation, final reporting, and post-project evaluations to assess outcomes, gather feedback, and improve future practices

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Comprehensive project implementation plan with project scope, objectives, milestones, activities, resource allocations, and timelines (February 28, 2025)
• Project implementation tracker for the unit activities. Project documentation folder developed, and 12 folder updates are completed in SharePoint (March 31, 2025)
• Five Project related presentations (one for global level overview and four for four project countries). 4 quarterly project financial tracking/ analysis reports. 1 travel to attend the Unit team retreat in Florence (April 30, 2025)
• 12 monthly project progress status reports. A detailed communication plan that outlines communication methods and knowledge sharing approaches, frequency, and content types for updates (e.g., blog posts, case study) and the approved communication plan implemented in consultation with the supervisor. 12 project team monthly meetings and ad-hoc meetings facilitated, and meeting minutes and action points prepared. 6 EWENE and 12 CSA regular meetings supported as part of the secretariat and meeting notes and action points prepared (May 31, 2025, June 30, 2025, July 31, 2025, August 31, 2025, September 30, 2025, October 31, 2025, November 30, 2025, December 31, 2025)
• Final project report on both technical and financial reporting (January 31, 2026)

Qualifications

Education: 

• Enter Disciplines: epidemiology, statistics, public health, mental health, psychology, or social sciences.
• Advanced university degree (Masters) in Project Management, Business Administration, Public Health, International Development, or a related field is required. Certification in Project Management Professional (PMP) or equivalent is highly desirable.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• A minimum of 2 years of professional experience managing complex projects, preferably within international organizations or development agencies with strong experience in coordinating multi-stakeholder initiatives across diverse geographical and cultural contexts is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in producing high-quality project reports tailored for diverse audiences, including donors, program stakeholders, and country-level partners.
• Skills in creating and disseminating project knowledge materials, such as case studies and best-practice documentation, as well as presenting findings to various stakeholders.
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and familiar with project management software (e.g., MS Project, Trello, Asana).
• Language Proficiency: Fluency in English is required. Proficiency in French is considered an asset.
• Exposure to and knowledge of global health initiatives or development programs and familiarity with health systems strengthening or health information systems, particularly those addressing maternal and child health or primary healthcare, is a plus.

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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

Remarks:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and 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 selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.