Consultancy Opportunity: Quality of Care Standards for Small and Sick Newborn Care
Location: Maseru, Lesotho
Organization: UNICEF Lesotho
Type: Individual Consultancy
Duration: 80 working days over 3 months
Application Deadline: 03 April 2025
📩 Apply Now: UNICEF Job Portal – Apply Here
Background
Lesotho faces a high neonatal mortality rate of 26 per 1,000 live births, largely due to preterm birth complications, low birth weight, and birth asphyxia. The country’s limited NICU infrastructure and shortage of specialized health professionals have heightened the urgency to strengthen newborn care services.
To address this, UNICEF, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, is seeking a consultant to help adapt WHO Quality of Care Standards specifically for Small and Sick Newborn Care Units (SSNCUs) in Lesotho. This initiative is crucial to standardizing inpatient neonatal care, reducing preventable deaths, and aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scope of Work
The consultant will:
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- Conduct a situational analysis of small and sick newborn care services in Lesotho
- Facilitate the development of a Theory of Change (TOC) and a proposed SSNCU model (structure, staffing, design, M&E framework)
- Draft quality care standards tailored to Lesotho’s healthcare context
- Develop a costed implementation plan for the adoption of these standards
Work Plan & Payment Schedule
| Task |
Duration |
Deliverable |
Payment |
| Inception Report |
10 days |
Work plan, methodology, resource needs |
10% |
| Situational Analysis & Stakeholder Consult. |
20 days |
Comprehensive assessment & stakeholder input |
20% |
| TOC Development |
20 days |
SSNCU structure, M&E framework, equipment, staffing plan |
25% |
| Draft Quality Care Standards |
20 days |
Finalized draft of SSNCU standards |
25% |
| Costed Implementation Plan |
10 days |
Budgeted action plan for standards rollout |
20% |
| Total |
80 days |
|
100% |
Required Qualifications
- Master’s Degree in Public Health, Global Health, Health Policy, Epidemiology, or a related field
(A Bachelor’s Degree plus 2 additional years of relevant experience may be accepted)
- Minimum 5 years’ experience in maternal and child health at national/subnational level
- Proven record in policy development, quality assurance, and stakeholder consultation
- Experience working with government health ministries and development partners
- Previous involvement with UNICEF or UN agencies is highly desirable
- Strong analytical, facilitation, and technical writing skills
- Fluency in English is mandatory
Desirable Skills & Assets
- Knowledge of maternal, neonatal, infant, and child health indicators
- Experience with editing/proofreading UN documents
- Familiarity with UNICEF editorial style and reporting standards
UNICEF Values
All applicants must demonstrate UNICEF’s core values:
Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS)
Be a part of shaping neonatal healthcare standards in Lesotho and saving newborn lives. Apply today.
