Contract Duration – 5 months

Working arrangement: office based

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNICEF is one of the main humanitarian partners of the Ministry of Health in Mozambique, supporting the continuity and scale‑up of lifesaving primary health care (PHC) for crisis‑affected populations. Through the USG‑supported rapid response mechanisms and other humanitarian funding streams, UNICEF provides technical assistance, operational surge capacity, and essential medical supplies to ensure timely access to maternal, newborn and child health services, immunization, communicable disease prevention and control, and integrated mobile health outreach in areas impacted by conflict.

Since 2017, the protracted armed conflict in northern Mozambique—particularly in Cabo Delgado and parts of Nampula — has disrupted the health system, reduced functionality of health facilities, and limited access to essential health services. As of early 2026, approximately 1.6 million people require humanitarian health assistance, with displaced families, returnees, and vulnerable host communities facing persistent barriers to PHC, maternal health, epidemic‑prone disease control, and routine immunization.

Conflict‑induced displacement has exacerbated risks of malaria, cholera, measles/rubella, and other communicable diseases, while also heightening maternal and neonatal health vulnerabilities. Health facilities have experienced damage, staff shortages, stock‑outs, and reduced service readiness, requiring urgent operational support and coordinated response mechanisms.

Aligned with the 2026 Humanitarian Needs and Response Plan (HNRP), UNICEF proposes a six‑month health emergency consultancy (April–September 2026) to reinforce the delivery, coordination, and monitoring of essential health services in Cabo Delgado and Nampula. The consultant will focus on strengthening primary health care delivery through Integrated Mobile Brigades (IMBT), supporting emergency supply chain management, contributing to rapid health facility rehabilitation, and enhancing outbreak preparedness and response capacities.

UNICEF proposes a short-term assignment (April–September 2026), 180 working days, extendable based on need and funding availability, to reinforce lifesaving health interventions, particularly in priority districts of Cabo Delgado and Nampula provinces, and strengthen emergency health response capacity as the operational context evolves.

The consultant will support UNICEF’s health emergency operations by ensuring efficient implementation of activities under USG‑OCHA pooled funds and other humanitarian rants, fostering strong coordination with DPS, SDSMAS, the Health Cluster, implementing partners, and community‑level actors. The role will emphasize adherence to national health guidelines, humanitarian standards, and accountability for high‑quality, inclusive, and conflict‑sensitive health services.

Under the direct supervision of the Health and Nutrition Specialist in Cabo Delgado, the consultant will provide continuous field‑based technical support, monitoring, and partner engagement to sustain and expand lifesaving health interventions for conflict‑affected populations.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Health Emergency Consultant.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: A university degree in Public Health, Medicine, Nursing, International Development, Humanitarian Studies, Social Sciences, Public Policy, Monitoring & Evaluation, Project Management, or any other relevant field related to health, humanitarian response, programme coordination, or data driven emergency interventions.
• Work Experience: Required experience (as per TOR scope and CBPF project activities):

• Minimum 5 years of progressive experience in public health or health emergency programming in humanitarian settings.
• Demonstrated experience managing primary health care in emergencies, mobile health team operations, outbreak preparedness/response (cholera, measles/rubella, malaria), and health facility rehabilitation.
• Experience in emergency supply chain oversight for health kits, PPE, and essential medicines.
• Skills:
• Assessment will be based on demonstrated capacity to perform the functions outlined in the TOR:
• Technical expertise in PHC in emergencies, IMBT deployment, integrated outreach, and reproductive/maternal health in emergencies.
• Experience in managing communicable disease control at community and facility levels.
• Competence in data verification, DHIS2/SISMA use, and health program monitoring.
• Experience conducting field supervision, including in insecure and hard to reach areas.
• Experience preparing donor reports (e.g., OCHA/AIT), documenting lessons learned, and maintaining quality assurance.
• Language Requirements:
• Fluency in Portuguese (oral and written) – mandatory.
• Working proficiency in English – desirable.
• Desirables:
• Proven experience coordinating with Government health authorities (MISAU, DPS, SDSMAS), particularly in emergency response.
• Experience working with partners, including NGOs, UN agencies, and cluster coordination mechanisms.
• Demonstrated ability to support government led mobile brigades and join provincial & district supervision missions

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal  Financial proposal Health Emergency Consultant.docx

Remarks:  

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.

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.