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National data show that 73.5% of women had access to seven or more prenatal consultations in 2021 (Sinasc/MoH, 2021). However, maternal mortality due to preventable causes remains stagnant, mainly resulting from hypertension, hemorrhage, puerperal infections, and abortion. Most maternal deaths could have been avoided if prenatal care had included: (i) timely diagnosis of maternal hypertension, (ii) identification of pregnancy complications, (iii) timely initiation of postpartum consultations, and (iv) reduction in cesarean section rates in Brazil. Primary health care therefore represents a key opportunity to provide quality assistance during the prenatal and postnatal periods. It is essential that PHC professionals are knowledgeable about the use of standardized clinical protocols and care pathways for prenatal, delivery, and postpartum care; that management systems at all levels of the Unified Health System (SUS) are strengthened to promote high-quality care; and that pregnant women are empowered regarding their rights and access to evidence-based information on prenatal care, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Scope of Work:

Globally, UNICEF works to ensure that all babies and mothers have access to quality health services and care before, during, and after pregnancy. In Brazil, this work is carried out through partnerships with the federal, state, and municipal governments, mainly through two key strategies: the UNICEF Seal — implemented in small and medium-sized municipalities — and the #AgendaCidadeUNICEF, in nine Brazilian capitals, under which the initiatives Child-Friendly Unit (UAPI) and Adolescent-Friendly Unit (UAA) are implemented, both described below.

#AgendaCidadeUNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/brazil/agendacidadeunicef) is a UNICEF strategy developed in partnership with municipal governments of major Brazilian urban centers to promote the rights and opportunities of the most vulnerable children and adolescents. In this context, the Child-Friendly Unit (UAPI) initiative is implemented in health facilities and early childhood education centers across nine Brazilian capitals (Belém, Boa Vista, Fortaleza, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Luís, and São Paulo). The UAPI promotes excellence in early childhood services through professional training and by strengthening data recording and evaluation for results-based management. The Adolescent-Friendly Unit (UAA) initiative is currently in a pilot phase in health units in three capitals: Recife, Rio de Janeiro, and Manaus.

The objective of this consultancy is to support the implementation of activities related to the promotion of maternal health within UNICEF’s scope of work in Brazil, focusing primarily on primary health care professionals, pregnant women, and new mothers.

The consultant will be responsible for supporting the implementation of maternal health promotion activities within UNICEF’s strategic frameworks — the UNICEF Seal and the Agenda Cidade UNICEF — and for providing support to strategies at the federal level.

The activities are described below:

1. Support for the Maternal and Child Health Agenda within the UNICEF Seal

The UNICEF Seal (https://selounicef.org.br/) is implemented in 18 states—nine in the Brazilian Legal Amazon (Acre, Amapá, Amazonas, Maranhão, Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Roraima, and Tocantins) and nine in the Brazilian Semi-Arid region (Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Minas Gerais, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, and Sergipe). With more than 20 million children and adolescents, both territories are priorities for UNICEF in Brazil, as they concentrate the largest populations of girls and boys in situations of social exclusion and vulnerability, as well as the country’s poorest maternal and child health indicators.

The UNICEF Seal includes a set of activities and indicators to be achieved under Systemic Result 1, which refers to health and nutrition. In addition to these results, UNICEF will support municipalities in improving indicators that promote good practices in Primary Health Care related to prenatal and postpartum care.

The consultant will be responsible for proposing strategies to support and engage municipalities in achieving these indicators, including identifying key bottlenecks and developing materials and tools (such as webinars, brochures, and others) to be made available to local governments.

2. Support for the Maternal Health Agenda during the Implementation of the Child-Friendly Unit (UAPI)

The #AgendaCidadeUNICEF (https://www.unicef.org/brazil/agendacidadeunicef) is a UNICEF strategy developed in partnership with municipal governments of Brazil’s major urban centers to promote the rights and opportunities of the most vulnerable children and adolescents. Within this framework, the Child-Friendly Unit (UAPI) initiative is implemented in health, early childhood education, and social assistance facilities across nine Brazilian capitals (Belém, Boa Vista, Fortaleza, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, São Luís, and São Paulo). The UAPI promotes excellence in early childhood services by training professionals and strengthening data recording and evaluation for results-based management.

The consultancy will also develop strategies (capacity building, printed and online materials, webinars) to improve and overcome challenges related to maternal and child health within the UAPIs, based on the baseline data shared and follow-up with local health secretariats. 

3. Support for the Follow-up of the Ongoing Study and Communication Campaign

UNICEF is currently developing a study on the perceptions of health professionals, pregnant women, and new mothers regarding childbirth decision-making

The consultant will be responsible for following up on the study results and subsequent developments, including a publication scheduled for release in February 2026, as well as a broad communication campaign aimed at reaching pregnant and postpartum women and primary health care professionals.

4. Support for the Development of Videocasts on Maternal and Child Health

UNICEF is producing a series of ten videocasts related to maternal and child health, and for this, a company will be hired to produce, record and finalize the videocasts.

The consultant will be conducting planning and pre-production of these videocasts, providing technical support related to maternal health, including the development and finalization of scripts, as well as providing organizational support (emails, excel spreadsheet with dates and times, confirmation) for the recording sessions together with the Videocast company.

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WORK ASSIGNMENTS OVERVIEW

1.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 1 - Workplan for the UNICEF Seal:

1.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

Delivery of a workplan including:

- A proposed leaflet for municipalities on maternal health;

- A proposed training plan for municipalities participating in the UNICEF Seal, focused on good practice indicators for Primary Health Care related to prenatal and postpartum care;

- The design of additional possible strategies, including an implementation plan aligned with the UNICEF Seal timeline.

1.3. TIMELINE: After 30 days after contract signature

1.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 15% of consultancy fee

2.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 2 - Scripts for 5 Videocasts

2.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS: Delivery of five scripts on topics defined in collaboration with the Women’s Health Coordination/Ministry of Health, to be reviewed and approved by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.   

2.3. TIMELINE: After 45 days of date of contract signature

2.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 15% of consultancy fee

3.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 3 - Workplan for UAPI

3.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

Based on definitions agreed upon between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health regarding indicator thresholds, baseline data, and the main challenges identified across the capitals, the consultancy shall deliver a workplan containing:

- A proposal of strategies and tools to support the capitals in addressing the main challenges identified;

- A proposal for training activities to be offered to the capitals, aligned with official materials from the Ministry of Health.

3.3. TIMELINE: After 60 days of date of contract signature

3.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 15% of consultancy fee 

4.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 4 - Scripts for 5 Videocasts

4.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS

- Delivery of 5 scripts according to themes defined by UNICEF in collaboration with the Women's Health Coordination/Ministry of Health, to be approved by UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.

- Support for logistical organization of the videocast recordings, including the selection of guests and scheduling of recording dates/times in coordination with the Videocast company.

4.3. TIMELINE: After 75 days of date of contract signature

4.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 15% of consultancy fee

5.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 5 - Finalization and Follow-up of the Study

5.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS - After the completion of the study, the consultancy will provide support in finalizing the product to be disseminated (publication), as well as in the development of dissemination materials for the press and social media, with the support of UNICEF’s communications team.

5.3. TIMELINE: After 120 days of date of contract signature

5.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 20% of consultancy fee 

6.1. WORK ASSIGNMENT 6 - Finalization and Follow-up of the Study

6.2. DELIVERABLES/OUTPUTS- Preparation of a final report containing the main results of the consultancy, lessons learned, and recommendations for next steps.

6.3. TIMELINE: After 150 days of date of contract signature

6.4. ESTIMATE BUDGET: 20% of consultancy fee

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIRED

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: public health, medicine, nursing, or another relevant area related to health.
• Postgraduate specialization in maternal and child health, or a field related to women’s health.
• A minimum of four years of professional experience working with public policies on women’s health is required.  
• Strong oral and written communication skills are necessary.
• Teamwork skills and the ability to work under tight deadlines, as well as independently, are required.
• Experience in UN system agencies or similar organizations will be an advantage.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

•            Fluency in Portuguese is required.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• A financial proposal, including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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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 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.

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.

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