Consultancy Title: ROSTER/POOL: HIV/AIDS Technical Experts 

Section/Division/Duty Station: Health Section, Global Programme Division

Duration: 01 May 2026 to 28 February 2029

Home/ Office Based:  Remote

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 for developing 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.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

UNICEF’s mission is to uphold the rights of every child, with equity as the cornerstone of its programmes, advocacy, and operations. The Global Programme Division (GPD) provides strategic leadership, policy direction, and technical expertise, linking global standards with country-level implementation. To strengthen this support, UNICEF has established Centres of Excellence (CoEs) in Nairobi, Panama, Amman, and Bangkok, which deliver high-quality, demand-driven assistance in policy reform, programme design, public finance, workforce development, institutional strengthening, and humanitarian response, while contributing to global standards.

UNICEF’s HIV/AIDS programme is guided by the Global AIDS Strategy 2021–2026, UNICEF’s HIV Programme Vision, and the global commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. UNICEF’s work focuses on ending AIDS in children, adolescents, and pregnant and breastfeeding women, with a particular emphasis on high-burden settings across sub-Saharan Africa and other regions. Key programme priorities include elimination of vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and Hep B, scaling up paediatric and adolescent treatment, combination of prevention for adolescent girls and young women (AGYW), and addressing the social and structural drivers of HIV vulnerability through gender-responsive and equity-focused approaches. UNICEF works in close collaboration with governments, UNAIDS, WHO, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, PEPFAR, and other strategic partners to mobilize resources, strengthen health systems, and support country-level implementation aligned with national HIV strategies.

The purpose of this advertisement is to establish a pre-qualified roster of HIV/AIDS technical experts who can provide specialized technical support to UNICEF Country Offices, Regional Offices, and Headquarters. Experts selected for this roster will be engaged on an as-needed basis over 2026–2029 to deliver time-bound, deliverable-based technical assistance across a range of HIV thematic areas in response to country and programme needs.

Scope of Work:

The HIV/AIDS Technical Expert/Consultant will deliver specialized technical assistance across the following thematic areas:

1. Elimination of Vertical Transmission of HIV, Syphilis and Hep B

• Support analysis of the PMTCT cascade and identify gaps in coverage, quality, and retention across antenatal, delivery, and postnatal care services.
• Provide technical support for Triple Elimination of HIV, Syphilis and Hepatitis B validation processes, including data triangulation, programme review, and preparation of country submissions.
• Provide technical support in integrating HIV services into broader PHC platform, including community health care, and other sectoral areas

2. Paediatric and Adolescent treatment and care

• Advise on paediatric HIV treatment optimization, including early infant diagnosis (EID), treatment initiation, and retention in care
• Support design and scale up for community-based models and family/ index case testing, including for children of key populations
• Support implementation of adolescent HIV treatment and care models, including differentiated service delivery approaches and integration of mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) within HIV services

3. Adolescent SRHR and HIV prevention including adolescent key populations

• Provide technical assistance to strengthen prevention and service delivery platforms for adolescents and young people, with a focus on programme design, implementation, and scale-up of evidence-based interventions
• Support design and implementation of combination prevention programmes and adolescent responsive HIV and SRHR services
• Provide technical input into national prevention packages and service delivery models for adolescent girls and young women and adolescent key populations
• Strengthen integration of HIV prevention, sexual and reproductive health, in broader adolescent health initiatives in primary health care, community, schools and in emergency settings
• Support development of operational guidance, service delivery approaches, and partnerships to improve access, uptake, and continuity of care
• Provide technical support to strengthen community engagement, youth participation, and adolescent-friendly service delivery platforms
• Support design and implementation of social and behaviour change interventions, including youth-led initiatives and multiplatform dissemination strategies to strengthen demand for and uptake of HIV and SRHR services

4. HIV Data Analysis, Evidence Generation and Knowledge Management

• Analyse HIV epidemiological and programme data including PMTCT tracker data, MICS, DHS, and PHIA surveys to generate actionable insights and programme recommendations
• Develop peer-reviewed publications, technical reports, and knowledge products on HIV/AIDS programming and research findings
• Support capacity-building of national counterparts on HIV data systems, analysis, and use of evidence for decision-making
• Provide technical support in nurturing innovative solutions in HIV programming for children, adolescents and women, including using AI, predictive analytics, QGIS, and other  

5. Resource Mobilization, Partnership and Advocacy

• Develop investment cases, donor proposals, and funding strategies to mobilize resources for HIV programmes, including engagement with PEPFAR, the Global Fund, and bilateral donors and sustainability roadmaps
• Support development and review of funding proposals, concept notes, and technical modules for major financing mechanisms, including the Global Fund and other partners
• Contribute to resource mobilization strategies and donor reporting for HIV programmes at country and regional level
• Provide technical support throughout funding cycles, including needs assessment, prioritization, costing, technical writing, partner coordination, and response to technical review feedback
• Support financial planning and sustainability strategies, including integration of HIV and SRHR into national health financing and programme frameworks 

6. Gender, Social and Structural Determinants of HIV

• Support integration of social protection and other supportive interventions within HIV and adolescent health programmes where relevant to country priorities
• Integrate gender analysis and gender-transformative approaches into HIV programming, addressing structural barriers including gender-based violence, stigma, and discrimination.
• Support analysis and programme guidance on structural drivers of HIV, including poverty, inequality, and harmful gender norms.
• Provide technical input into interventions addressing stigma, discrimination, and gender-based violence
• Strengthen coordination mechanisms and referral systems across health, education, protection, and community platforms to support continuity of care, service integration and address barriers to service access and retention

7. Writing & editing (technical and advocacy)

• Ability to write clear, engaging content that is strategic
• Ability to analysis and synthesize technical material and develop documents for specific audiences
• Edit range of documents to develop assets

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Travel - TBD/TBC

Qualifications

Education:

• Masters’s Degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Medicine, Social Sciences, International Development, Health Policy, or a related discipline. A first-level degree with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree.
• Additional qualifying experience may be accepted instead of the advanced university degree.

Work experience and Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

1. Substantive technical expertise in one or more HIV thematic areas (PMTCT, paediatric/adolescent HIV, prevention, data analysis, resource mobilization, or social protection/gender), evidenced by prior work and/or publications
   • Mid-level consultant: 8–12 years’ experience in HIV/AIDS programming in LMIC settings
   • Senior consultant: 12+ years’ experience in HIV/AIDS programming in LMIC settings
2. Experience in all or some of the following:
   • Cost analysis within the health sector
   • Economic evaluation within the health sector
   • Public Financial Management within the health sector
   • Interfacing with national ministries of health and other multi-stakeholders and multi-cultural settings
   • Resource tracking (budgets and expenditure)
   • Development and implementation of research in health economics and health care financing
   • Advocacy and resource mobilization
3. Good understanding of health systems
4. Strong analytical skills and experience synthesizing information from multiple sources.
5. Demonstrated ability to work independently and collaboratively.
6. Ability to work in a multi-cultural environment

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.