National / International Consultancy to Develop the Costed National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) 2027-2031 & Operational Plan Zambia, Lusaka (office based) 3.5 months
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 from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of children's rights as a calling. UNICEF offers diverse opportunities for professional and personal development, fostering a sense of purpose while serving children and communities globally.
Job Purpose
The Consultant will provide strategic, technical, and advisory support to the Ministry of Health's Community Health Unit in Zambia. The primary objective is to finalize the National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) for 2027–2031 and its accompanying Five-Year Costed Operational Plan. This involves ensuring the strategy is evidence-based, results-oriented, technically sound, fully costed, and implementable. A highly participatory process involving government, cooperating partners, and other stakeholders will be facilitated. The consultant will engage extensively with key community health stakeholders throughout the design, formulation, and development stages of the NCHS, ensuring national ownership and alignment with public health goals.
Responsibilities
Provide strategic, technical, and advisory support to the Ministry of Health's Community Health Unit for the development of the National Community Health Strategy (NCHS) 2027–2031 and its Five-Year Costed Operational Plan. Ensure the NCHS is evidence-based, results-oriented, technically sound, and implementable through a participatory process. Facilitate consultations with government, cooperating partners, and other stakeholders at all stages of strategy development. Conduct extensive stakeholder engagement to ensure national ownership and alignment. Develop and finalize the costed operational plan, including budget allocation and resource mobilization strategies. Provide recommendations for strengthening community health service delivery and organizational capacity. Produce high-quality documentation, including strategy papers, reports, and presentations. Monitor and evaluate progress during the consultancy period, providing regular updates to UNICEF and the Ministry of Health. Ensure integration of lessons learned from previous health initiatives and best practices in community health programming. Support the finalization of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and protocols related to the NCHS implementation.
Work Experience
At least 10 years of progressive professional experience in health care optimization, health system design, and strategy development. Demonstrated experience in developing health programs, strategies, SOPs, and protocols for countries, with specific experience in costing national strategies and investment cases. Experience in health service delivery in Zambia and the Zambian community health landscape is an added advantage.
Skills
Strategic planning, Health systems strengthening, Community health strategy development, Costing of health programs, Operational planning, Stakeholder engagement, Policy analysis, Report writing, Project management, Capacity building, Public health, Health economics