International consultant in peri- & neonatal care - Obstetrician, Tbilisi, Georgia, Health & Nutrition section, 6 Months, Office based with travel to Sukhumi

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates globally to protect children's rights and potential. In the Abkhazia region, Georgia, UNICEF advocates for children's rights, implementing strategic interventions in health, education, and child protection. This consultancy supports UNICEF's commitment to improving maternal and child health outcomes in a challenging healthcare environment, reinforcing a sense of purpose while serving children and communities.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to address critical challenges within the maternal and child health sector in Abkhazia region, Georgia. The current healthcare system faces significant issues including an inpatient-oriented model, underequipped primary healthcare facilities, shortages of qualified personnel, and disparities in healthcare worker distribution. These factors contribute to limited access to essential services, particularly in maternal and child health. Despite ongoing efforts, gaps persist in essential medicines, trained staff, health data, and capacity for health intervention management. This role aims to strengthen risk-appropriate maternal and neonatal care by tackling the shortage of trained personnel, promoting evidence-based clinical standards, and improving public health interventions. The consultant will contribute to enhancing health workers' knowledge, skills, and access to reliable health data, ultimately improving outcomes for mothers and newborns in the region.

Responsibilities

The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive assessment of the quality of neonatal and obstetric care within the Abkhazia region. This will involve utilizing a robust methodology, including the analysis of existing medical documentation, thorough facility inspections, and conducting interviews with medical staff across various healthcare levels. A key aspect of this responsibility is to apply the World Health Organization’s ‘Integrated quality of hospital care assessment and improvement tool for maternal and neonatal health,’ adapting it as necessary to the specific local context to ensure relevance and effectiveness. Furthermore, the role requires a particular focus on evaluating the organization of care for sick newborns, assessing the effectiveness of referral and transport pathways, and ensuring the functionality of intensive care units. The consultant will also examine the availability of structured handover processes and the continuity of care between hospital discharge and primary health care settings for neonates. This includes identifying critical gaps and proposing evidence-based recommendations for strengthening risk-appropriate maternal and neonatal care, ultimately contributing to the development and integration of improved clinical guidelines, training modules, and supportive supervision mechanisms for health professionals in the region.

Work Experience

Demonstrated professional experience as an Obstetrician or Neonatologist, preferably with international consultancy experience in maternal and child health in low-resource settings. Experience in health system assessments, clinical guideline development, and training is highly desirable.

Skills

Maternal and Neonatal Health Expertise, Clinical Assessment and Evaluation, Health System Analysis, Medical Documentation Review, Data Analysis, Quality Improvement Methodologies, Program Development and Integration, Care Coordination and Pathways, Training and Capacity Building, Interviewing and Stakeholder Engagement, Evidence-Based Practice, Critical Thinking and Problem Solving

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