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, health

How can you make a difference? 

Background

Community engagement remains an important tool in promoting community participation in health and for changing health seeking behaviours among people in a given population. Community Health Committees (CHCs) serve a community-based platform for sustained and adaptable community engagement. Since 1989, it was recommended globally that Community Health Workers (CHW) programmes have the support of a group composed of members of the community with active links to the Health Sector. A CHC is a committee that comprises of a group of community volunteers working along with the Community Health Worker (CHW) linked to the health facility within that community. CHCs serve to respond to barriers to health-related behaviour change, assist with health education and promotion activities to improve the community involvement in health-related activities, assist with communication to and from the health system and advocate for issues leading to improved health systems with the community.

In Guyana, the Ministry of Health piloted this initiative in 16 communities in Region 9 between 2017 to 2022. Initially, activities focused on maternal and child health issues, however, following the emergence of COVID-19 pandemic, CHCs expanded their focus and efforts beyond maternal and child health to include educating community members on the prevention of COVID-19 and promoting the uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, with support from UNICEF, CHCs have further broadened their focus, adopting an integrated health approach to encourage health-seeking behaviors. CHCs now lead social and behavior change (SBC) activities in areas such as safe motherhood, child nutrition, immunization, sanitation, dengue fever and malaria prevention. This expansion was supported by focused capacity-building initiatives and SBC materials.

Scope of work

Under the guidance/ supervision of the Health Officer, the consultant is expected to provide technical support for the cost benefit analysis of CHCs and the expansion to other hinterland regions. The investment case will examine financial projections and risks associated with the establishment, monitoring and supervision of CHC in communities in Regions 1, 7 and 8 and a cost benefit analysis for establishing CHC in these regions. It will also consider inputs, achievements, and bottlenecks of the CHCs in Region 9 to provide a basis for analysis for expansion. The investment case will focus on the impact CHCs make on indicators for antenatal care, immunization and child nutrition.

Methodology

The development of this investment case will follow a structured, evidence-informed, and participatory approach to ensure that the expansion of Community Health Committees (CHCs) in regions 1, 7, and 8 is feasible, cost-effective, and aligned with national health priorities. This methodology outlines a pathway to strategically develop the investment case.

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

• A master’s degree in health economics, economics, public health, health policy, global health, or related areas with a foundation in economics.
  • A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in field of health economics, economics or public health including conducting economic analysis of health systems, programmes and/or interventions in developing countries.
  • Previous experience in research and/or operational work on health system/public health issues. A record of peer reviewed publications is an advantage.
  • Previous experience working multiple stakeholders including international development partners, government agencies and civil society groups.
  • Fluency in spoken and written English
  • Good ability to write reports clearly and concisely.
  • Strong organizational, and presentation skills

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 Please access the complete ToR here:   TOR Consultancy for investment case on expanding CHCs .pdf

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

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.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. All candidates are required to submit technical and financial proposals

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.