Consultancy on Reviewing Harmful Social and Gender Norms in Lesotho’s Health and Community Policies, Maseru, Lesotho (Remote), 2.8 months

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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will conduct a structured desk review and stakeholder consultations to assess how selected national health and community policies address harmful social and gender norms, including gender norms, adultism, stigma and discrimination, social inclusion, access to services, participation and decision-making, and accountability and monitoring systems.

Policies and documents to be reviewed

The review should include, but not be limited to:

1. SRMNCAH+N Policy/Strategy
2. Adolescent and Young Adult Health (AAHA) Policy
3. Community Health Policy
4. National HIV Policy
5. EMTCT Policy
6. National Health Policy
7. Community Health Strategy
8. National Immunization Policy
9. National Immunization Strategy

Additional relevant frameworks, implementation plans, guidelines, monitoring frameworks and operational documents may be reviewed during the inception phase.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR TMC0007962.pdf

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...

Minimum requirements:

Education:

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Social and Behaviour Change, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Health Policy, Development Studies, Sociology or any other related field.

Work Experience: At least 5–7 years of relevant professional experience in:

• Demonstrated experience conducting policy reviews and policy analysis.
• Experience undertaking qualitative research, including KIIs and FGDs.
• Experience in SRHR, HIV, adolescent health, gender equality and social norms programming.
• Experience working with government institutions, UNICEF, UN agencies or development partners.
• Strong report writing and facilitation skills.

Skills:

• Proven experience working with adolescents and youth, particularly young women and/or young mothers, in low-resource settings.
• Strong facilitation, communication, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to deliver participatory and inclusive training.

Language Requirements:

• English and Sesotho.

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

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal template TMC0007962.docx