Current vacancies

Contract Duration – 4 months

Working arrangement: Remote

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.

                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

Sri Lanka has achieved remarkable progress in maternal and newborn health over the past several decades, with maternal and neonatal mortality rates declining to levels comparable to those of some developed countries. This success has been largely attributed to a well-structured Maternal and Newborn Care Programme, supported by evidence-based policies, strategic plans, standards, and clinical guidelines, and their effective implementation across community and hospital settings.

However, progress in improving maternal and neonatal outcomes has stagnated over the past two decades, highlighting the need for renewed strategic focus and innovation. The current Maternal and Newborn Health Strategic Plan (MNH SP) 2017–2025 reached its conclusion in 2025. In light of the unfinished agenda of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly those to be achieved by 2030, it is crucial to update the MNH Strategic Plan without delay to accelerate progress and address emerging challenges.

Updating the Maternal and Newborn Health Strategic Plan is essential to provide strategic direction and a coherent framework for the development and implementation of action plans for maternal and newborn care at national, provincial, and district levels, as well as across hospitals providing maternity and newborn services for the next planning cycle. To achieve this, an external consultant is required to undertake end-term review and support drafting of an updated, evidence-based, and contextually relevant National Strategic Plan on Maternal and Newborn Health for 2026 -2030.

Objective; To develop the National Strategic Plan on Maternal and Newborn Health (2026-2030)

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  MNH Strategic Plan.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Include the minimum requirements as per the approved TOR. Ensure that the vacancy criteria are fully aligned with the qualification for the assignment.

• Education: Postgraduate qualification in Public Health, Maternal and Child Health, Health Policy Planning or a related field
• Work Experience: At least 10 years of experience in health policy, strategic planning, or programme planning, programme implementation and monitoring and evaluation related to maternal and newborn health
• Language Requirements: Excellent knowledge in English
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
  • Proven expertise in maternal and newborn health strategy development and on review of Maternal and Newborn Health programme
  • Experience working with government institutions, academia and development partners and experience in working Provincial and District levels in MNH
  • Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template)  Financial Proposal for MNH Strategic Plan.docx

Remarks:  

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.