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, the right to health,
Tajikistan has implemented maternal and newborn healthcare initiatives over the last decades through partnerships with WHO, UNICEF and other partners. As a result, a significant reduction in maternal and newborn mortality was reached. Despite that, sustainable quality of care improvements have not strongly aligned with the modest neonatal and maternal mortality reduction trend seen over time, including a seeming stagnation when compared with the rest of Europe and Central Asia region.
To address inequalities within the country and fragmented information on the quality of care for mothers and newborns, the evidence emerging from the assessment will be instrumental in informing the country’s strategic approach to quality-of-care needs at both national and sub-national levels. The planned assessment will further interrogate the progress in the country with a focus not only on outcomes and impact but also on looking specifically at process, key success and failure factors, system bottlenecks, and exploring where and what types of practical solutions to those bottlenecks have been implemented by national authorities and why they were or were not successful. Therefore, the assessment will be critical for identifying good practices and sharing experiences on what worked to inform the following stages of strengthening the quality of perinatal programmes. In addition, modelling the assessment in Tajikistan will enable the development of methodology and tools to identify systemic bottlenecks and the root causes of sustainability challenges in reducing perinatal mortality. New tools and methodology will be utilized in countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
How can you make a difference?
Within the framework of UNICEF’s technical assistance to government partners, the UNICEF Health and Nutrition section is committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and Social Protection of the Population of the Republic of Tajikistan in improving perinatal care and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
Considering the ongoing challenges, sustained efforts are required to achieve equitable maternal and newborn health outcomes in Tajikistan. The purpose of the assessment is to provide rigorous insight to the government of Tajikistan, UN and partners’ efforts to date in improving the quality of care and reducing maternal and newborn mortality.
The purpose of the assignment is to provide support to an international consultant to gain insight into the government of Tajikistan and international organizations’ efforts to date in improving the quality of care and reducing maternal and newborn mortality, taking into consideration success and failure factors and the root causes of sustainability challenges in enhancing the quality of care and reducing perinatal mortality.
The objective of this consultancy includes:
1.Under the leadership of an international consultant and in close collaboration with UNICEF and WHO, support the assessment of the impact and effectiveness of national perinatal healthcare programs, including provision and experience of care, success and failure factors, in achieving sustained quality improvements and reducing maternal and neonatal mortality.
2.Support the international consultant in conducting bottleneck analysis using the WHO’s framework for the quality of maternal and newborn health care to identify systemic bottlenecks affecting the quality of care.
3.In collaboration with the international consultant and national partners, identification of the root causes of success and failures to sustain gains in quality and mortality across health system domains and levels.
4.Support the international consultant in the development of recommendations for refining and potentially scaling up good practices and further supporting the government in their efforts to sustainably strengthen the quality of services within the health care system and establish monitoring mechanisms/systems.
DESCRIPTION/SCOPE of the ASSIGNMENT:
Under the overall oversight of the Chief of Section and the direct supervision of the Health Specialist, the consultant will work closely with the international consultants, the Steering Committee (SC), the MoHSPP’s Maternal and Child Health department, and the UNICEF/WHO regional offices.
The WHO framework for the quality of maternal and newborn health care is presented below to inform the development of the assessment approach and conceptual understanding. This will need to be complemented with bottlenecks and root cause analysis to understand the systemic factors that contribute to success or failure in sustaining gains.
The consultant should support the international consultant in the adoption of a user-driven approach to developing an assessment strategy.
A steering committee (SC) will be established to oversee the assessment process. The SC will agree and approve the assessment methodology and nominate focal points at the national and sub-national level to ensure timely data collection, analysis, and verification of findings. The SC members will discuss and validate findings, support the development of recommendations, and ensure the organization of the country meeting to share assessment results. The SC will include representatives from MoHSP and from UNICEF and WHO (from country and regional levels).
The assessment will be structured into the following main phases, each defined by accompanying activities described below, and the national consultant will work under the guidance of the international consultant.
INCEPTION PHASE
a) Initial Briefings.
b) A retrospective analysis.
c) An Inception Report (IR).
2.IMPLEMENTATION STAGE:
a) Bottleneck and root cause analysis,
b) Data analysis and writing up a country assessment report.
COUNTRY LEVEL MEETING TO PRESENT RESULTS AND MAKE COMMITMENTS:
The meeting will present the assessment results, including success and failure factors, as well as recommendations to sustain the reduction in newborn and maternal mortality in Tajikistan. The SC, national-level decision-makers, and representatives from UN agencies will be invited. In addition, major donors, IFIs, and interested donors, as well as representatives from other countries’ MoH, will be invited. At the meeting, the assessors will present the assessment methodology and tools which can be utilized by other countries in the region. The consultant will support the organization of the meeting, the invitation of participants and other relevant tasks.
Work Assignments:
Tasks/Milestone/Deliverables/Outputs/Anticipated Timeline/% of payments.
1.Support information gathering and development of the inception report.
a) Mapping initiatives in the last 10 years aimed at reducing perinatal mortality
b) Collection and ensuring the quality of statistical data from line ministries and other relevant sources,
c) Mapping of where and when mothers and newborns die (primary, secondary, and tertiary levels)
d) Collection of all available perinatal care quality assessment reports, reports of the QI project implemented in Tajikistan and other relevant publications.
e) Other support based on an international consultant’s request to finalise the inspection report.
Del. 1: The inception report with the retrospective analysis, contextual description, and a detailed methodology and tools of the assessment. In addition, the consultant should submit all information shared with the international consultant to UNICEF CO; 30 w/ds, March-May 2026;30 % of the total cost.
2.Support bottleneck and root cause analysis jointly with a national consultant (in-country), including field visits to healthcare facilities and communities of at least four regions (Dushanbe, Khatlon, Sughd, GBAO).
A) Coordination with national and local field visits program
B) Administrative arrangements of the visits, including communication with local authorities
C) Invitation of participants
D) Co-facilitation of group discussions
E) Recording BNA and RCA answers
F) Other relevant tasks
Del. 2. Report on BNA and RCA, with detailed information on visited facilities, communities, and the # of interviews and focus groups; 30 w/ds; June–July,2026; 40 % of the total cost.
3. Support in the development of the final assessment report.
A) Contribute to data analysis and report
B) Share the draft report with SC members and collect their feedback in time.
Del. 3. Final report including the activities, interventions, or strategies to address the identified root causes is submitted to UNICEF and SC; 10 w/ds; Sep.2026
4. Support the organization of the country-level meeting to present results and make commitments (in-country).
A) Coordination with national authorities.
B) Organization of the meeting
C) Invitation of participants
D) Other relevant tasks.
Del. 4. Meeting report with detailed meeting notes, discussed issues, and stated commitments; 7 w/ds; Sep.–Nov.2026;
30 % of the total cost.
Total consultancy duration: 77 w/ds
Travel Local involved:
1.Within the visit, approximately one trip to three regions for at least 17 days is planned (travel cost will be done as per the agreed Travel Plan)
2. Per Diem/DSA: approximately 17 days
References:
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7750018/
[2] https://qualityhealthservices.who.int/quality-toolkit/qt-catalog-item/hospital-care-for-mothers-and-newborn-babies-quality-assessment-and-improvement-tool
[3] https://qualityhealthservices.who.int/quality-toolkit/qt-catalog-item/hospital-care-for-children-quality-assessment-and-improvement-tool-a-systematic-standard-based-participatory-approach
[4] Assessment report “Quality of perinatal care with focus on the neonatal service in selected maternity facilities of the Republic of Tajikistan”. March 2024. UNICEF & MoHSP (unpublished report).
If you would like to know more about this position, please review the complete Job Description here: 
TOR National consultancy Perinatal Assessment for advert.docx
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum requirements:
Education: Advanced university degree in health, Public Health or another relevant field. PhD is an advantage.
Work Experience:
– At least 7 years of strong experience in assessment/evaluation of health programs with including maternal, newborn and child healthcare.
– Proven experience in quality of care improvement initiatives implementation.
– Excellent knowledge and skills in data collection and analysis (qualitative as well as quantitative).
– Proven experience in leading and/or participating in perinatal/quality of care-related research and studies.
– Experience working with government organisations, especially with the MoH, and related institutions dealing with perinatal health programmes, UN agencies and communities.
– Previous working experience with UNICEF/UNs in assessments, evaluations and quality of care improvement initiatives.
– Practical experience in having undertaken similar assignments.
Skills:
– Strong analytical and conceptual thinking.
– Excellent writing skills, including experience in preparing reports and analytical references.
– Excellent communication and presentation skills with stakeholders, and the ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to a tight timeframe.
Language knowledge:
– Good command of written Tajik and Russian. Working knowledge and communication in English language will be an asset.
Interested candidates shall submit the following documents:
1. Profile (CV, Cover Letter)
2. Technical proposal describing approach/methodology to achieve the tasks of the ToR, workplan with concrete timeframes
3. At least 2 papers / concept notes previously developed by the candidate or when candidate provided substantial inputs to the documents
4.Financial proposal in TJS-all inclusive, indicting breakdown of fee per day and cost of the travel (Annex 3 below to be completed) Annex 3 Financial proposal.docx
5.Contacts of three referees (recent direct supervisors)
6. Applications without technical and financial proposals will not be considered.
Applications must be received in the system by 11 Feb. 2026 on UNICEF website.
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. 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 jobs-near-me.org 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. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
