National Consultancy: Updating the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Policy and Assessing Accredited Hospitals in the West Bank, 4 months, Jerusalem, Palestine (Nationals only)

Organizational Context

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential. We are committed to promoting the rights of every child, offering diverse opportunities for professional and personal development in a passionate and inclusive culture.

Job Purpose

This consultancy aims to support the Ministry of Health and partners in strengthening the implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) in the West Bank. The consultant will be responsible for updating the national BFHI policy to align with global guidance, developing a robust monitoring and reassessment system, and assessing the compliance of BFHI-accredited hospitals. The ultimate goal is to enhance the quality, sustainability, and system integration of breastfeeding support services, addressing identified gaps at both system and facility levels and providing actionable recommendations for improvement.

Responsibilities

The consultant will lead the update of the national BFHI policy, ensuring it aligns with the latest global guidance from WHO and UNICEF. This includes reviewing existing policy frameworks and incorporating international best practices for breastfeeding support and maternity care. A key responsibility will be to develop a standardized system for accreditation and reassessment of hospitals, adapting existing tools where possible to ensure continuous monitoring and re-certification. The consultant will conduct assessments of BFHI-accredited hospitals in the West Bank to evaluate compliance with updated standards and identify system-level and facility-level gaps. Based on these assessments, the consultant will develop a comprehensive report detailing findings, actionable recommendations, and an implementation roadmap to strengthen BFHI services and ensure the safety and security of personnel, assets, and operations.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in public health, nutrition, nursing, or related programs. Proven experience with BFHI or Breastfeeding Programs, policy development, and health systems is required. Experience working with Ministries of Health, government institutions, or UN agencies, and supporting the development of national strategies, guidelines, or SOPs in health or nutrition sectors is also essential.

Skills

BFHI/Breastfeeding Programs expertise, Policy development, Health systems analysis, Public health, Nutrition, Project management, Assessment and evaluation, Report writing, Stakeholder engagement, Analytical skills, UNICEF/WHO frameworks familiarity, Field assessment experience

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