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.
For every child, the right to Results
Our history of success in Sri Lanka is built on our ability to tap into a wide network of national and international partners which, in turn, is bolstered by our own far-reaching presence in the field. In working closely with these government, non-government and private entities, UNICEF takes a leadership role, drawing on our technical expertise to accurately assess existing challenges and develop, execute and coordinate solutions that are relevant and scalable on the ground. For more information about UNICEF Sri Lanka and its work visit: http://www.unicef.org/srilanka
How can you make a difference?
The Consultant is required to undertake the end-term review and to facilitate technical inputs, evidence-based recommendations, strategic directions, and recommended frameworks with preliminary draft to support the formulation of the next strategic plan, in close collaboration with the Ministry of Health and key stakeholders.
Purpose of the assessment:
Objectives of the Review
The objectives of this consultancy are to:
1. Critically review the National Strategic Plan on Child Health 2018–2025, the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding Sri Lanka 2015-2020 and existing Adolescent Health Strategic Plan including its effectiveness, implementation progress, and gaps. Also need to review the draft Adolescent Health Strategic Plan currently being developed and draft School Health Policy
2. Identify emerging and persistent child health priorities using national data, contextual analyses, and global evidence.
3. Conduct a comprehensive review of literature on evidence-based child health interventions, service delivery models, best practices, quality of care globally, regionally, and locally.
4. Provide new strategic recommendations and guidance for the development of the National Strategic Plan on Child Health 2026–2035.
Propose a robust monitoring and evaluation framework, including indicators, targets, and data sources, to guide the future strategy.
Scope of Work:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive end-term review of the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding Sri Lanka 2015-2020, NSPCH 2018–2025 and existing Adolescent Health Strategic Plan providing evidence-based guidance to inform the development of the NSPCH 2026–2035. The scope of work will include desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, contextual analyses, new strategic recommendations and guidance, aligned with national priorities and relevant global frameworks (e.g. the Nurturing Care Framework).
➢ Review of the Existing Strategy NSPCH (2018–2025), the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding Sri Lanka 2015-2020 and existing Adolescent Health Strategic Plan
The consultant shall review the level of implementation of the NSPCH 2018–2025, the National Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding Sri Lanka 2015-2020 and existing Adolescent Health Strategic Plan including:
• Assessment of strategic objectives, priority interventions, and intended outcomes
• Review of alignment with:
O National policies, strategies, guidelines, and legislation
O Global commitments and frameworks (e.g. Sustainable Development Goals, WHO guidance)
• Analysis of implementation progress, implementation status, challenges in achieving objectives, system responsiveness, and multisectoral engagement of the existing strategy
• Review of available monitoring data, evaluations, progress reports, and indicator performance
The review shall identify:
• Key achievements and good practices
• Strengths and weaknesses of the strategy
• Implementation gaps, bottlenecks, and challenges
• Lessons learnt to inform the next strategic cycle
➢ Situation and Contextual Analysis
The consultant shall conduct a comprehensive situational and contextual analysis of child health in Sri Lanka, including:
• Epidemiological trends and burden of disease
• Health system capacity, service delivery arrangements, and workforce considerations
• Equity issues, including geographical, socioeconomic, and vulnerable population groups
• Emerging and evolving challenges, including:
O Child nutrition
O Disabilities and special needs
O Common childhood illnesses and non-communicable diseases
O Mental health and psychosocial wellbeing including the digital well-being of children
O Parenting and early childhood development
O Injuries, violence and child safeguarding
O Climate and environmental risks
O Digital and generative AI usage in child health service provision
This analysis shall be informed by:
• National surveys and surveillance systems
• Programme reports and routine health information systems
• Available sectoral and intersectoral data
• External reviews of the Child Health Care E.g. “Landscape analysis of quality of maternal, newborn, child health, nutrition and family planning” FHB in 2024
• Research publications
• Any other relevant documents
➢ Evidence and Literature Review
The consultant shall conduct a review of relevant national, regional, and global literature, including:
• Evidence-based child health and nutrition interventions across the continuum of care
• Best practices in prevention, promotion, treatment, rehabilitation, and long-term care
• Innovative, cost-effective, and scalable strategies relevant to the Sri Lankan context
Findings shall be synthesized to inform:
• Strategic priorities
• Recommended intervention areas
• Implementation approaches for the future strategy
➢ Stakeholder Engagement and Consultations
The consultant shall facilitate structured consultations with key stakeholders, including but not limited to:
• Ministry of Health technical units and programme managers
• Provincial and regional health authorities and non-health authorities (Village Child Protection Committee)
• Professional colleges and academic institutions
• Development partners, civil society organizations, and allied sectors
• Preventive and curative sector healthcare workers
• Care givers in the community and children’s home, Probation
• Ministry of Education, Ministry of Women and Children Affairs and other relevant ministry officials
The consultant shall also:
• Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs)
• Ensure representation of service providers and relevant user perspectives
• Undertake stakeholder mapping and analysis to assess:
O Multisectoral engagement mechanisms
O Roles and responsibilities
O Coordination platforms and sustainability
Findings from consultations shall contribute to a SWOT analysis of the current strategy and inform recommendations for future strategic directions.
➢ Strategic Guidance for the National Strategic Plan on Child Health (2026–2035)
Based on the review, analyses, evidence, and stakeholder inputs, the consultant shall provide technical guidance and strategic recommendations to inform the development of the NSPCH 2026–2035, including:
• Guiding principles
• Proposed strategic objectives and priority thematic areas
• Recommended evidence-based strategies, interventions, and implementation approaches
• Clearly articulated cross-cutting themes, including:
O Equity and inclusion
O Quality of care
O Health systems strengthening
O Multisectoral collaboration
The consultant shall also describe how the future plan should be aligned with:
• National health and development policies
• International commitments and global child health frameworks
➢ Monitoring, Evaluation, and Indicators
The consultant shall propose guidance for a monitoring and evaluation framework for the future strategy, including:
• Clearly defined impact, outcome, and output indicators
• Suggested baselines and targets, where feasible
• Data sources, reporting mechanisms, and institutional responsibilities
• Indicators suitable for routine monitoring, mid-term review, and end-term evaluation
• Key indicators aligned with MIYCN and SDG targets and relevant country-specific goals
Ethical Considerations
The consultant shall ensure the confidentiality of all data and documents and adhere to ethical standards in data collection, analysis, reporting, and stakeholder engagement.
Duration of the consultancy: March - May 2026 (50 days)
Duty station – Colombo (Home based)
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Minimum Qualifications required:
PHD - Public Health, Child Health, Health Policy, or a related field
Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:
At least 10 years of experience in health policy, strategic planning, or programme evaluation
Proven experience in child or adolescent health strategy development or review
Experience working with government institutions, academia and development partners
Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation, and stakeholder engagement skills
How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a resume and other relevant documents
Please complete your profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system.
Please indicate your ability, availability and fee/rate in LKR to undertake the terms of reference above. (Indicate an all-inclusive fee (including lump sum travel, IT accessories, Internet and subsistence costs, as applicable) to undertake the tasks in the Terms of reference. Office 365 license will be provided by UNICEF, as applicable)
Applications submitted without a fee/rate will not be considered
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
The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…
(1) Builds and maintains partnerships
(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
(3) Drive to achieve results for impact
(4) Innovates and embraces change
(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity
(6) Thinks and acts strategically
(7) Works collaboratively with others
Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.
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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation 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.
UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance. Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.
Remarks:
As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.
UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.
Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.
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.
Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.
All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.
If you think this position might be for you, please take the time to review our Country Office Mutual Agreements before you apply.
If you believe you can be a team member that can uphold these everyday, then we look forward to receiving and reviewing your application.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.
