OVERVIEW

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.

The consultant will report to the Health Specialist and work under the strategic guidance of the Chief of Health & HIV and the Chief of Social Policy. In close collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Finance, Economic Planning and Development, district authorities, and other relevant stakeholders, the consultant will undertake the following tasks.

Contract Duration: 4 months

Working Arrangement: Home Based with field visits in 3 districts: Mzimba South, Kasungu, and Chikwawa

KEY REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• MA – Health Economics, Economics, Public Finance, Health Financing, Public Financial Management.

Work Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in health financing, budget analysis, public health budget analysis or public financial management.
• Proven experience conducting budget execution and efficiency studies, or expenditure reviews in the health sector.
• Strong analytical, writing, and communication skills.
• Experience working with UN agencies, government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and District Health Management Teams is highly desirable.
• Experience working with UNICEF or any UN organization is desired.

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in English is required.
• Knowledge of local languages spoken in the six focus districts (e.g., Chichewa or Tumbuka) is an added advantage.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to interpret and synthesize complex health and financial data.
• Expertise in quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis methods.
• Proficiency in developing advocacy tools, such as policy briefs and presentations, to communicate findings effectively.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders, including government officials, civil society organizations, and technical experts.
• Strong facilitation and interpersonal skills to work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and deliver quality outputs within tight deadlines.
• High level of organizational skills, including meticulous attention to detail.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Inception and Analytical Framework Development

• Develop an inception report outlining the methodology, analytical framework, workplan, stakeholder engagement approach, and data requirements.
• Develop or refine tools and templates for expenditure analysis, budget tracking, cash flow forecasting, procurement monitoring, and financial performance assessment.
• Strengthen district-level financial monitoring tools, including Excel or DHIS linked systems for expenditure tracking and reporting.

2. Health Financing and Expenditure Analysis

• Conduct a comprehensive analysis of health financing and expenditure trends over the last five fiscal years (2021/22–2025/26) at national and district levels.
• Assess financing adequacy, expenditure patterns, budget execution, efficiency, equity, and sustainability across key programme areas.
• Analyze financing flows, resource allocation, and expenditure performance, including implications of fiscal constraints, decentralization reforms, and declining external financing.

3. District Budget Execution and Public Financial Management Assessment

• Assess district planning, budgeting, budget credibility, execution performance, procurement processes, cash flow management, and financial reporting systems.
• Identify bottlenecks affecting budget absorption, expenditure efficiency, and service delivery performance.
• Analyze alignment between District Implementation Plans, approved budgets, and actual expenditures, including implications for provider autonomy and decentralized service delivery.

4. Programme-Specific Expenditure and Efficiency Analysis

• Conduct expenditure and efficiency assessments across priority programme areas to understand how financing decisions influence service delivery performance, sustainability, and health outcomes.
• Assess financing adequacy, budget execution, efficiency, equity, sustainability risks, and opportunities for improved value for money across:
• Primary Health Care and community health systems.
• Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH/SRHR).
• HIV programmes, including prevention, treatment, PMTCT, pediatric HIV, adolescent HIV, and health systems investments.
• Immunization systems, including routine services, outreach, and vaccine delivery platforms.
• Essential medicines, commodities, procurement, and supply chain systems.

5. Stakeholder Consultations, Validation, and Dissemination

• Conduct consultations with government institutions, district structures, development partners, civil society organizations, and implementing partners.
• Validate findings through technical consultations and stakeholder workshops.
• Convene dissemination and policy dialogue meetings to support uptake of findings and recommendations.

6. Evidence Generation and Policy Support

• Identify systemic bottlenecks and opportunities to improve expenditure efficiency, sustainability, and accountability.
• Develop evidence-based recommendations to strengthen planning, budgeting, and expenditure management.
• Produce policy products including district briefs, policy notes, advocacy materials, and financing recommendations to inform health financing reforms and stakeholder engagement.

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.

HOW TO APPLY

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).

To apply for this job, please visit: jobs.unicef.org

Application Deadline: 18th August 2026 (South Africa Standard Time)

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes. 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.