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, Health  

The Zanzibar Health Services Fund (ZHSF) was established by Act no.2 of 2022 to pool and purchase funds to improve health service delivery and contribute to the realization of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Zanzibar. In July 2025, WHO and UNICEF in collaboration with the ZHSF conducted a baseline assessment to provide a diagnostic analysis of the current health purchasing arrangements in Zanzibar, identify gaps and challenges, and recommend actionable steps toward strengthening strategic health purchasing. The study evaluated eight interrelated dimensions of the purchasing system: governance and institutional arrangements, revenue generation and pooling, benefit design and entitlements, provider payment systems, claims processing and management, provider management and readiness, communication and citizen engagement, and strategic purchasing leverage and benchmarking.

As revealed by the baseline study, while foundational elements of purchasing are in place, significant gaps remain in implementation, coherence, and performance. The purchasing landscape is fragmented: both ZHSF and the Ministry of Health serve as purchasers through parallel but poorly coordinated mechanisms. The study highlighted the need for a structured manual to guide the strategic purchasing functions of ZHSF, such as provider contracting, payment systems, benefit package management, and performance monitoring. The absence of such a manual limit the efficiency, transparency, and accountability of the Fund’s operations

In support of the President Office Finance and Planning, (PoFP) Zanzibar’s health financing reforms, and the UHC agenda, UNICEF is seeking an experienced consultant to develop a comprehensive Strategic Purchasing Manual. This will guide ZHSF’s operational processes and ensure alignment with the government's health sector priorities and international best practices

How can you make a difference? 

The overall objective of the consultancy is to develop a comprehensive Strategic Purchasing Manual for the Zanzibar Health Services Fund (ZHSF) that will guide the design, implementation, and institutionalization of strategic purchasing functions in line with Zanzibar’s health sector reforms and Universal Health Coverage (UHC) objectives. The manual should address the following:

• What are the governance, institutional, and accountability requirements for ZHSF’s strategic purchasing functions, including roles and responsibilities of key actors (Ministry of Health, ZHSF, providers, and oversight bodies)?
• Given the health financing landscape and the broader health sector context of Zanzibar, what are the best operational procedures for:

• Provider contracting and selection criteria
• Benefit package design, review, and updating processes
• Provider payment mechanisms (e.g., capitation, DRG, performance-based financing)
• Quality monitoring, reporting, and feedback loops
• Financial management and data systems for purchasing

• What mechanisms of efficiency, equity, and sustainability will ensure that ZHSF’s scheme addresses health priorities, protects vulnerable populations, and optimizes value for money?

Under the guidance of a technical working group comprising UNICEF Tanzania Health Financing Specialist, a representative from WHO, and the Executive Director of ZHSF, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:
1. Conduct a desk review of health financing and purchasing policies, laws, and strategies of Zanzibar and other developing contries.
2. Engage with stakeholders (PoFP, Ministry of Health, ZHSF, providers, and partners) to assess current purchasing practices and gather the necessary inputs for the development of the manual.
3. Map existing processes and identify operational gaps and inefficiencies.
4. Draft a Strategic Purchasing Manual covering:
   - Governance structures
   - Provider contracting procedures
   - Payment mechanisms (capitation, DRG, PBF)
   - Benefit package definition and management
   - Quality monitoring and reporting
   - Financial management, accountability, and data systems
5. Present to UNICEF and WHO the draft manual

6. Facilitate a validation workshop with ZHSF and other stakeholders of the Government of Zanzibar.
7. Finalize the manual incorporating stakeholders feedback

8. Train staff and provide mentorship on institutionalizing the routines in the manual

If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here:  TOR-Development of Purchasing Mechanism.docx

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

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Advanced degree (master’s or higher) in Health Economics, Health Financing, Public Health, or related field
• Work Experience:
• Minimum 5 years of relevant professional experience in health financing, strategic purchasing, or health systems strengthening
• Proven track record in developing operational manuals or guidelines for health financing institutions
• Experience in carrying out health financing assignments in at least two different countries, one of which must be in East Africa
• Knowledge of Zanzibar’s/Tanzania’s health systems is an assets
• Skills: Excellent facilitation and communication skills

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 

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  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. 

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.