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For every child, the right toย Health
With over 850 indigenous languages and one of the most ethnically diverse populations, widespread poverty, and gender inequality make it hard for many children to realize their rights. In Papua New Guinea, UNICEFโs works effectively both โupstreamโ (with governments) and โdownstreamโ (at the grassroots level) to carry out its mission through a programme of cooperation jointly developed with the government guides our work in the country.
How can you make a difference?ย
BACKGROUND
Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces persistent challenges in MNCH, Immunization, and HIV outcomes. Maternal, newborn, and child mortality remain significantly above regional averages, while childhood stunting affects nearly half of all children. Immunization coverage has stagnated, with large numbers of zero-dose and under-immunized children, especially in remote and rural settings.
At the same time, PNG is facing a rapidly expanding HIV epidemic, with new infections doubling since 2010 and mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) at 36%, the highest in the region. ANC coverage and testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B remain critically low.
To address these challenges, UNICEF is supporting the Government of PNG to:
Strengthen quality delivery of MNCH and Immunization services Improve cold chain, supply chain, and demand generation capacity Expand integrated HIV, syphilis, and Hepatitis B testing and treatment Upskill health care workers (HCWs) and Village Health Assistants (VHAs) Improve the capacity of PHAs to sustain and supervise high-quality servicesTo harmonize and coordinate these capacity-building efforts across national and provincial levels, an International Consultant is required to lead planning, strengthen systems for training oversight, and ensure effective monitoring and evaluation of impact.
PURPOSE OF THE ASSIGNMENT
Provide highโlevel technical assistance and national coordination for planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of capacityโbuilding for health care workers (HCWs) and Village Health Assistants (VHAs) across MNCH, Immunization and HIV/Triple Elimination. The consultancy will ensure a functional training database, robust monitoring of training quality and impact, and regular postโtraining evaluation of competencies and practice change.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES: Specifically, the consultant will:
Strengthen national coordination of training and upskilling across MNCH, Immunization and HIV/Triple Elimination. Support NDOH to design, deploy and maintain an integrated national training database for HCWs (public and private), including through remote health worker approaches and VHAs. Lead monitoring, supportive supervision and postโtraining evaluation to track quality, coverage and impact on service delivery. Support six priority provinces to plan, implement and supervise upskilling, aligned to national strategies and standards. Work with NDOH and other partners to harmonize curricula, materials and methodologies for upskilling of HCWs and VHAs.TASKS AND ACTIVITIES: The consultant will:
Support training database โ design, deployment and maintenance (participants, cadre, facility, province, training type, dates, facilitators, partner, pre/post scores, competencies, followโup outcomes). Build dashboards to visualize training coverage, competency gains, supervision followโupย and geographic gaps. Standardize pre/post knowledge tests, competency checklists and onโtheโjob mentorship tools (EENC, immunization, cold chain, HIV/syphilis/HBsAg testing and treatment, ANC/PNC). Conduct joint supervision with UNICEF provincial consultants in six priority provinces Quality Assurance of Trainings - Review and harmonize curricula, participant manuals, facilitator guides and job aids to reflect current national guidelines and WHO ย recommendations. Produce monthly briefs, quarterly and annual reports on training coverage, quality and impact Regular attendance and active participation in VHA meetings at national and subnational levels. Attend monthly meetings of the relevant TWGs โ RMNCAH, PPTCT, Immunization etcDELIVERABLES: The consultant will deliver the following:
ย
TIMELINE:
April 1, 2026 โ March 31, 2027REPORTING:
ย The consultants will report progress regularly on deliverables to NDOH and UNICEF
Under direct supervision of Health Specialist, UNICEF and in coordination with NDOH Family Health Division and Health Promotion Branch; regular engagement with EPI and ย HIV/STI programmes. Monthly coordination with UNICEF provincial and health promotion consultants; monthly briefings with NDOH.ย
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will haveโฆย
Advanced degree (Masterโs or higher) in medical science, Public Health, Epidemiology, Pediatrics, O&G or related field. Minimum 8 yearsโ international experience in MNCH, Immunization and/or HIV programmes, including nationalโlevel training coordination. Proven experience designing and managing training databases, dashboards and M&E systems. Experience in fragile/resourceโlimited settings and with UN agencies, Ministries of Health or global health initiatives. Excellent coordination, facilitation and communication skills; ability to travel to remote areas. Other desired/mandatory required technical knowledge in areas such as maternal and child health, infectious diseases, health policy, and health education.For every Child, you demonstrate...
UNICEFโs 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
This position is a short-term assignment and doesnโt give rise to a long-term permanent post with the organization.
Applicants are required to include in their applications a financial proposal which includes a lumpsum amount for consultancy fees, local transportation, and other miscellaneous costs. Breakdown or details of the fee will be much appreciated.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered โstaff membersโ under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEFโs 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 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.
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.
UNICEF does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing, or orientation).ย
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.