Consultancy for VINA Prioritization Brief, Global Programme Division, Gender Equality, NYHQ, remote. Req# 586039

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines fordeveloping countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries

Consultancy: Consultancy for VINA Prioritization Brief

Duty Station: Global Programme Division, Gender Equality  

Duration: 01 December 2025 – 15 February 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To develop a concise, high-impact policy brief for UNICEF, governments, and partners that:

• Summarizes a compelling rationale for prioritizing specific vulnerable populations for VAS delivery;
• Presents a framework for how to identify and target prioritized groups using available data (e.g., maternal characteristics, geographic disparities, zero-dose status, etc.);
• Offers actionable policy and programming recommendations for ministries of health and implementing partners based on established ways to target prioritized children;
• Is aligned with UNICEF’s equity-driven approach and broader efforts to reach zero-dose and underserved populations

Scope of Work:

1. Review existing evidence on the association between household, demographic and health vulnerabilities and VAS coverage
2. Review current guidance on targeting and equity-focused delivery approaches (in nutrition, health, WASH, education, social protection).
3. Develop a policy brief (~4–6 pages) that:
   • Describes why and how to prioritize highly vulnerable children/families;
   • Summarizes key risk and vulnerability criteria (e.g., maternal age, education, parity, geography, other socioeconomic; demographic and child health data);
   • Presents policy options and delivery strategies for governments to adopt;
4. Ensure alignment with other UNICEF technical guidance (e.g., on zero-dose children, maternal and child nutrition, equity-focused programming, etc.).

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Inception meeting with UNICEF HQ and regional specialists

–  Inception summary outlining workplan and structure of brief

01 Dec 2025

2.  Rapid desk review of relevant evidence, strategies, and data sources (DHS, MICS, etc.)

–  Annotated outline of policy brief with references

15 Dec 2025

3.  Drafting of full policy brief (including infographics/tables)

–  Draft policy brief for review

30 Dec 2025

4.  Incorporation of feedback from UNICEF and partners

– Final policy brief 

20 Jan 2026

5.  Powerpoint slides summarizing key messages (for dissemination)

– 5-7 slide summary deck 

30 Jan 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

An advanced university degree in global health or nutrition, health policy, or related field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 7 years of experience in global nutrition policy, programming, or research;
• Strong technical knowledge of child survival interventions, including VAS;
• Experience writing policy briefs, guidance notes, or advocacy documents;
• Familiarity with equity-focused programming, gender-responsive health systems, and maternal/child vulnerability indicators;
• Excellent English writing and communication skills;
• Familiarity with DHS/MICS, LiST, or other population-based data sources an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

– Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

– At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

– Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.