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 Title: Menstrual Health and Hygiene Consultancy
Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, WASH Section
Duration: 01 October 2025- 31 December 2026
Home/ Office Based: Remote
BACKGROUND
Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:
Menstrual health and hygiene is central to the dignity, rights, health, and well-being of 2.1 billion girls, women, and gender-diverse people worldwide. Yet, it remains a neglected issue in global policy, programming, and financing. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), it continues to be marginalized—omitted from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inadequately addressed in national health, education and WASH systems, and underfunded in both development and humanitarian contexts.
Improving MHH is not only a health issue, but also a prerequisite for realizing gender equality, advancing education, improving mental health, enabling workforce participation, and supporting climate resilience. Failure to address MHH is a failure to uphold basic human rights and achieve the SDGs. However, progress is possible. There is a growing body of evidence, successful programmatic models, and a global movement advocating for change.
Global advocacy
A global coalition of diverse partners is being mobilized to elevate MHH as a development and policy priority through a coordinated advocacy initiative anchored by the Global Menstrual Collective (GMC). The goal is to launch a Shared Agenda for Action on MHH (as the first step of a global advocacy campaign) by May 2026 with clear goals and a unified call to action. The global coalition aims to present a compelling case for MHH to punch through indifference and highlight specific policy priorities and opportunities at global and national levels.
Stakeholders and networks across regions and sectors will be consulted and mobilized to co-create and collectively implement the agenda. The process will involve mapping key stakeholders and decision-makers and conducting a Global Political Economy Analysis (PEA) to understand where influence lies and how change can happen. It will also involve stakeholder consultation and engage diverse voices – centered on girls and women, men and boys - to ensure that the campaign is grounded in local experiences and priorities. Furthermore, adaptable tools and resources will be developed to support country-level advocacy efforts for ?
Climate change
There is a growing body of evidence that climate change affects MHH through both rapid-onset extreme weather events (e.g., cyclones, floods, wildfires) and slow-onset climate shifts (e.g., rising temperatures, water scarcity, salinization). These disruptions compromise access to menstrual products, information, water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) facilities, as well as healthcare services.
Considering climate change and resilience in MHH programming ensures that menstrual needs are met before, during, and after climate related shocks and stresses. UNICEF and its partners have started to implement MHH programs that consider climate risk, but more guidance is needed. Countries would benefit from a global technical guidance on climate change and MHH.
This consultant will support the WASH Section at UNICEF HQ to provide technical support to the global coordinated advocacy initiative, specifically on the development of the shared agenda for action and consultations with adolescents and young people, to ensure their voices are considered in this agenda. The consultant will also support the development of a technical guidance on climate change and MHH.
As currently WASH HQ doesn’t have sufficient funding to cover all planned activities, some deliverables are planned to be completed only if additional resources will become available.
Scope of Work:
Between 1 October 2025 – 31 December 2026, this project will complete the following tasks:
- Actively participate in the global coordinated advocacy initative on MHH, including supporting stakeholder mapping and engagement, and the political economy analysis
- Coordinate with regional and national networks and organizations to engage diverse voices – centred on adolescents and young people - to ensure the global shared agenda is grounded in real experiences and priorities
- Co-develop the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH with relevant stakeholders and generate ownership and buy in
- Support the preparation of global advocacy activities on MHH
Support the development of a technical programme guidance on climate change and MHH
Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:
Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline
1. Global advocacy
- Report with diverse voices – centred on adolescents and young people - to inform the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH
28 February 2026
- Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH, co-created and informed by stakeholder consultations
30 April 2026
- At least 2 MHH advocacy events organized
31 October 2026
- At least 5 thematic briefs (4 pages max) for each SDG (3, 4, 5, 6, 8) and how MHH is interlinked (with data, evidence, case studies and recommendations for best practices)
31 October 2026
2. Climate change
- Technical programme guidance on climate change and MHH
31 October 2026
3. Communications & Knowledge Management
- Communication strategy for the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH
30 September 2026
- Two relevant global knowledge products
December 31, 2026
Qualifications
Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, or related field
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:
- At least seven years of experience working in a field related to menstrual health and hygiene.
- Excellent understanding of menstrual health and hygiene – including the current state, key approaches, relevant policy mechanisms and key stakeholders.
- Excellent understanding of the interlinkages between climate change, WASH and health.
- Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
- Experience designing / overseeing surveys and consultations, facilitating virtual consultations with diverse stakeholders, and supporting advocacy events.
- Demonstrated capacity to work in a dynamic environment coordinating across different teams and sectors.
- Must be fluent in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset.
- Prior experience working for the United Nations an added advantage.
Requirements:
Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and
- Upload copy of academic credentials
- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :
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- 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.
