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

Contract Duration- 4 months

Working arrangement: Home based

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TERMS OF REFERENCE

UNICEF is seeking a consultant to support the update of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) Policy and Assessing the Accredited hospitals in the West Bank, and ensure the safety and security of personnel, assets, and operations. The role involves assessing the policy, updating as per international guidelines, visiting the accredited hospitals, and abiding by the deliverables mentioned in this TOR.

Background and Rationale the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), led by World Health Organization and UNICEF, is a global effort to improve breastfeeding practices through implementation of the Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding and compliance with the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes and maternity friendly care. Following the 2018 revised BFHI guidance, there is a global shift toward: • Integration of BFHI into national health systems • Institutionalization within quality-of-care frameworks • Continuous monitoring and re-certification (instead of one-time accreditation) In the West Bank, while all governmental hospitals, UNRWA hospital, and Al-Makaased hospital have been designated as Baby-Friendly, challenges remain: • Outdated policy frameworks not aligned with 2018 guidance • Weak reassessment and monitoring systems • Variability in compliance across facilities • Limited integration into routine quality improvement systems This consultancy supports strengthening national systems to ensure sustainable, high-quality breastfeeding support services. 2. Purpose To support the Ministry of Health and partners in strengthening BFHI implementation through: Updated, system-integrated BFHI policies • Robust monitoring and reassessment mechanisms • Evidence-based assessment of accredited hospitals 3. Objectives 3.1 General Objective Strengthen the quality, sustainability, and system integration of BFHI in the West Bank. 3.2 Specific Objectives 1. Update national BFHI policy in line with global guidance 2. Develop a standardized accreditation and reassessment system (MOH has an accreditation and reassessment tool that could adapted) 3. Assess compliance of BFHI-accredited hospitals 4. Identify system-level and facility-level gaps 5. Develop actionable recommendations and implementation roadmap

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: External ToR TMC0002699.pdf

Minimum requirements:

• Education: Master’s degree in public health, nutrition, or related field
• Work Experience:
• 7+ years of relevant experience in public health, nutrition, nursing or relevant programs.
• Proven experience with BFHI or Breastfeeding Programs in the country, experience with policy development and health systems.
• Experience working with Ministries of Health, government institutions, or UN agencies.
• Experience supporting the development of national strategies, guidelines, or standard operating procedures (SOPs), particularly in the health or nutrition sectors.
• Language Requirements:
• English and Arabic
• Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:
• Proven experience with BFHI or breastfeeding programs
• Experience with policy development and health systems
• Strong analytical skills
• Desirables:
• Familiarity with WHO/UNICEF frameworks
• Field assessment experience
• Stakeholder facilitation

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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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 tendersglobal.net 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 TMC0002699.docx

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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