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: UNICEF Health Policy Advocacy & Health Political Strategy Consultant

Duty Station: Office of Director, Health, Programme Group

Duration: 01 February 2026 – 15 February 2027

Home/ Office Based: Remote

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

To provide strategic guidance, political analysis, and high-level advocacy support for UNICEF’s global health agenda, ensuring that UNICEF’s priorities are reflected in the G7, G20, and IFI policy and financing outcomes throughout 2026.

• Develop and implement a political advocacy strategy targeting G7, G20, and IFIs to advance UNICEF’s health priorities.
• Strengthen UNICEF’s influence through coordinated messaging, policy briefs, and support engagement with key governments and institutional stakeholders.
• Provide political intelligence and forecasting to anticipate policy shifts and opportunities for UNICEF.
• Support global advocacy moments such as replenishments, ministerial meetings, and high-level political events.

UNICEF’s global health agenda in 2026 will be shaped by major geopolitical and financial trends affecting child survival and development. The agendas of the G7, G20, and International Financial Institutions (World Bank, IMF, regional development banks) are critical in defining global priorities, financing flows, and political commitments.

Key 2026 milestones include:

• Preparatory processes for G7 and G20
• Evolving global financing for primary health care (PHC), pandemic preparedness, immunization, climate & health, and maternal–newborn–child health (MNCH)
• Reforms and replenishments tied to IDA, Global Financing Facility (GFF), Global Fund, World Bank Health, Nutrition & Population portfolio, and pandemic financing mechanisms
• Increasing political polarization, competing global priorities, and constrained fiscal space for domestic health spending in many countries

To ensure UNICEF is clear on its value proposition, and to align with UNICEF’s new Strategic Plan, the existing UNICEF Health Strategy 2016-2030, has undergone a ‘refresh’ and finalization of the revised Health Strategy, including the development of an Executive Summary, will support the above advocacy objectives and will be undertaken by the consultant.

Scope of Work:

 A. Strategic Political Analysis & Intelligence

• Map political dynamics, key decision-makers, sherpas, health working groups, and influencers across G7, G20, and IFIs.
• Provide monthly analyses of geopolitical trends affecting global health financing and policy commitments.
• Identify windows of opportunity for advancing UNICEF priorities.

B. Advocacy Strategy Development

• Develop a comprehensive 2026 UNICEF Health Advocacy Strategy for G7, G20, and IFIs, including:

Priority outcomes for each forum

• Stakeholder-specific messaging
• Political risk and opportunity analysis
• Engagement timelines and recommended actions
• Support alignment across UNICEF HQ, regional and country offices.

C. Policy & Communications Products

• Draft or support production of:
• Policy briefs and position papers
• Sherpa briefing notes
• Ministerial talking points
• Financing analysis briefs
• Inputs to G7/G20 communiqués and working group statements
• Develop targeted messaging to influence high-level political decision-making.

D. Direct External Engagement Support

• Provide preparation and follow-up support for UNICEF senior leadership engagement with:
• G7/G20 presidency teams
• Sherpas and health tracks
• World Bank, IMF, and regional development banks
• Major donor governments and foundations
• Identify opportunities for UNICEF participation in side events, roundtables, and consultations.

E. Coordination & Partnerships

• Work closely with UNICEF divisions (Programme Division, Public Partnerships, Global Advocacy, National Committees).
• Support coordinate with UN agencies, global health partners (WHO, Gavi, Global Fund, GFF, WB), CSOs, think tanks, and philanthropic partners.

F. Monitoring & Reporting

• Track policy outcomes and commitments related to UNICEF’s priorities.
• Submit monthly progress reports and an annual impact assessment.

G. Health Strategy Refresh

• Finalize revised UNICEF Health Strategy, including editing.
• Draft Executive Summary and key messages highlighting notable shifts.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1.  Health Strategy Refresh

-  Edited Health Strategy Refresh document (approximately 200 pages) ready for design, Executive Summary and Key Messages document

15 March 2026

2.  Strategic Political Analysis & Intelligence

-  Comprehensive political landscape analysis for G7, G20, and IFIs (2026) report

15 May 2026

3.  Advocacy Strategy Development

-  1 Detailed Advocacy Strategy (2026) document with defined priorities and corresponding engagement roadmap

15 May 2026

4.  Policy & Communications Products

-  1 Political intelligence brief and 1 summary of key opportunities produced on a quarterly basis (4 of each in total)

15 May 2026

15 August 2026

15 November 2026

15 February 2026

-  12 Policy briefs, talking points, strategic messaging packages

15 May 2026

15 August 2026

15 November 2026

15 February 2026

-  Contributions to 12 communiqués, policy documents, and leadership briefs

15 May 2026

15 August 2026

15 November 2026

15 February 2026

5. Final report

-  1 Final report with lessons learned, achievements, and recommendations

15 February 2026

Qualifications

Education:   

Public Policy, International Relations, Global Health, Political Science, or related field.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• Minimum 10 years of experience in global health policy, financing, and advocacy.
• Demonstrated experience influencing or working with USG, G7, G20, World Bank/IMF, GFF, Global Fund, or similar high-level global platforms.
• Strong understanding of PHC, health systems, MNCH, pandemic preparedness, and climate-health issues.
• Proven ability to engage with senior government officials, multilateral partners, and development financiers.
• Exceptional writing and strategic communication skills.

• Previous experience working with or consulting for UNICEF or other UN agencies is an asset.
• Political advisory experience for governments or international organizations is an asset.
• Strong diplomatic negotiation and coalition-building skills is 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.