Consultant – Technical Support maternal, newborn and child health, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), Bangkok, Thailand

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?
 

The Regional Health Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical assistance in the area of maternal, newborn, and child health (MNCH) to compile information on MNCH initiatives in the East Asia and Pacific Region, highlight best practices, and develop an action plan that contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In the UNICEF East Asia and Pacific region, more children are surviving to their fifth birthdays than ever before. In 2019 alone, however, still 434,759 children in the region died before the age of five. Of these deaths, more than 215,864 (49.7%) occurred in the first 28 days of a child’s life – during the neonatal period. These deaths were concentrated among the poorest, most marginalized, hard-to-reach and emerging urban poor population. Most of the neonatal deaths in the region are concentrated in China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Myanmar. Kiribati, Lao PDR, Papua New Guinea (PNG), Myanmar, and Timor-Leste are the highest under five mortality rate countries in the region.

The majority of newborn deaths are due to complications of being born too soon (prematurity) or too small (low birth weight), labour (e.g., lack of oxygen around the time of birth – birth asphyxia) and infections (e.g., sepsis, meningitis, pneumonia, and diarrhea). Most of these deaths and conditions could have been prevented or managed, if births were attended by skilled professionals, and quality essential care for mothers and newborns and emergency obstetric care were provided.

Maternal health continues to be a major concern in the East Asia and Pacific region. Every year 21,000 women die due to pregnancy and childbirth in the region – most of these deaths are preventable.

The COVID-19 pandemic has further exacerbated the MNCH situation in East Asia and Pacific (EAP). Access to health services has been limited in 2020 and 2021 due to a combination of lockdowns, overwhelmed health systems, and task shifting of maternal and newborn health workers to COVID-19 related tasks. While the full impact of the pandemic is not yet known, there is consensus that efforts to continue MNCH essential services is critical to minimizing upswings in neonatal and under-five mortality in the coming years.

Work Assignment:
 

Under overall guidance from Regional Advisor for health and with support from the concerned country offices, the consultant will:

• To undertake a landscape analysis of MNCH across the EAP region using publicly available data
• To craft a narrative and strategic plan-of-action to support key initiatives to contribute to the SDGs, highlighting best practices and lessons learned across the region
• To differentiate between regional actions and country-specific tasks for MNCH initiatives
   

Work Schedule:
 

A total of 43 working days:

2 working days:         Develop a draft work plan.

10 working days:       Conduct landscape analysis of MNCH initiatives across the region. Create and populate summary table of landscape analysis findings.

10 working days:       Develop summary narrative of landscape analysis, highlighting best practices and lessons learned.

10 working days:       Develop strategic plan of action and summary PPT for MNCH in the region, differentiating regional and country level tasks.

11 working days:       Taking regional and country level colleague inputs into consideration, prepare a final strategic

plan of action and power point presentation; present final findings to regional office health.
 

End Product(s):
 

• Table summarizing regional findings of the landscape analysis of MNCH initiatives, including a focused section on PSBI in Indonesia.
• Narrative summary of landscape analysis, including best practices and lessons learned.
• Strategic plan of action that differentiates regional and country level tasks/actions.
• Summary power point presentation

Duration of Contract:  43 working days over November 2021 – January 2022

Working Location and Official Travel:  The contractor will work from his/her premises.

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

• Advanced university degree in related disciplines is required for specialists with proven experience of at least ten years in health and social development programmes and policy advocacy that should include at least two years in experience of maternal and early essential newborn care.
• Excellent communication, writing, analytical, inter-personal and facilitation skills.
• Experience in reviewing and summarizing health program and research documents.
• Sensitivity to cultural diversity and team works.
• Proficiency in standard office ICT (information, communication and technology) applications.
• Experience in terms of handling research and evaluation programmes/projects in multi-country settings will be an advantage.
• Previous work experience in East Asia and Pacific Region is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate

• Care
• Respect
• Integrity
• Trust and Accountability

 

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 26 October 2021.

 FORM P11.doc

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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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:

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

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.