Consultant: Newborn, Child Health and Development Strategy Revision (2026-2030)

Title of Project: Ethiopia Strengthening Service Delivery Project (SSD)

Position: Consultant: Newborn, Child Health and Development Strategy Revision (2026-2030)

Employment type: Contract

Duration of the work: 3 months

Reports to: JSI and MCAYH lead executive office of FMOH

Number required: 1

Location: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

JSI is dedicated to strengthening health and education systems to improve the lives of individuals, families, and communities. We believe all people should have what they need to live their healthiest lives and reach their full potential. To accomplish this, JSI works hand-in-hand with government agencies, community organizations, and the private sector to design pragmatic strategies for complex problems. We drive measurable impact in public health, health care, and education to enhance the well-being of people in the United States and around the world. As a global organization, JSI has designed, delivered, and scaled programs in more than 50 countries worldwide.

In Ethiopia, JSI has been a steadfast partner to the Ministry of Health since 1994, reaching over 70 million people. What began as a focus on reproductive and maternal health has evolved into a portfolio of more than 65 projects dedicated to transforming the national health landscape. Today, our work spans all regional health bureaus, strengthening primary health care, optimizing supply chains, and leading the digital transformation of the health sector. With a presence in 15,000 health facilities, JSI remains committed to scaling sustainable health outcomes across Ethiopia.

OVERVIEW OF THE POSITION

The objective of this consultancy is to recruit an experienced national expert who will take the primary responsibility for the preparation of the revised and updated National Strategy for Newborn, Child Health and Development in Ethiopia, 2026–2030. The consultant will revise the existing strategy by assessing its implementation progress, incorporating new evidence and global recommendations, identifying gaps, and formulating strategic directions for the period 2025–2030. This task will be led by the newborn and child health desk of the maternal and child health lead executive office of the MOH with active involvement of other lead executive offices, technical working groups and experts from partner organizations.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Consultant is expected to carry out the task using the following methods:

• Conduct a desk review of relevant national, regional, and international documents, to include but not limited to: 
  • Newborn and Child Survival and Development Strategy (2020–2025), Health Sector Medium Term Development and Investment Plan, HSTP II mid-term review documents and Health & Health-related Indicators, HMIS annual reports, the recent EPI Survey Data – MOH and CBMP (2023), Public Health Emergency Management (PHEM) report, Food and Nutrition Survey (2022), SARA (2016, 2018, 2020), SPA (2014, 2022), Health Commodity Management Information System (HCMIS)/LMIS, Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) data (2015–2024), National Health Equity Survey (NHES) 2023, Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response (MPDSR), EDHS Survey (2000–2019), PMA Survey (2013–2023), NHA Survey (2000–2022), Neonatal Care and NICU Guidelines and Protocols, Revised Country Multi-Year Plan of Ethiopia, Revised Acute Malnutrition Management Guide (2019), Child Health Roadmap on progress, Child health program strategies and plans (IMNCI, ICMNCI, Nutrition, Malaria, EPI, HIV/PMTCT/EMTCT, RH), the Revised Health Extension Program Guideline (including the regulation and other documents), global strategies such as ENAP (Every Woman, Every Newborn, Everywhere), Every Child Alive, and Nurturing Care Framework, and all relevant publications on newborn, child, and maternal survival, as well as any other documents identified in consultation with the NCH and development TWG.
• Prepare a Newborn, Child Health (NCH) & development Situation Analysis document based on desk review and key informant interviews.
• Present the draft Situation Analysis document at an experts’ group meeting to discuss major bottlenecks, high-impact interventions, target coverage levels and best delivery approaches.
• Develop and present a framework for key issues to facilitate discussion during the experts’ meeting.
• Develop the draft revised national strategy based on the input and with regular consultation of the newborn and child survival task force and NCH and D TWG.
• Collect and synthesize relevant inputs from the TWG and others through interviews, group discussions, and meetings.
• Collect data elements for costing of interventions. Include SDG accelerated plan and ECD initiatives.
• Present the draft revised strategy at review and validation workshops to finalize the document based on meeting input.
• Prepare and give a report once every two weeks for both the Ministry of Health (MOH) and JSI.

QUALIFICATION, SKILLS AND COMPETENCIES 

The consultancy shall be carried out by an experienced consultant who possesses the following:

• Lead as a Neonatal and Child Health Expert with a minimum of a Master’s degree in public health and/or paediatrician with 10+ years experiance.
• Experience in planning and implementation of child health or related programs.
• Extensive knowledge of child health issues and actors, with global WHO and UNICEF experience.
• Knowledge and experience of the Ethiopian health system and prior strategies.
• Advanced understanding of the Health Sector Development and Investment Plan and related policies and strategies.
• Research experience, strong analytical skills, and proficient English writing skills.
• Excellent skills in communicating, organizing group discussion, and presentation.
• Prior experience as a consultant in the development of similar documents is desirable.

DELIVERABLES

• A newborn child health & development situation analysis document.
• The final standard national NCH and development strategy (2026-2030), to be handed over to the Ministry of Health by the end of the contract period.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Evaluation will be based on the required qualifications, technical proposal, and detailed cost proposal.

DURATION AND PHASES OF THE CONSULTANCY

The total consultancy duration is 3 months, divided into three phases:

Phase 1 (First 4 weeks): Focuses on the situational analysis, which includes a desk review, key informant interviews, and a stakeholders' meeting. The consultant will produce a national child health situation analysis document and review existing strategic documents to identify parts needing revision, concluding with the first consultative meeting.

Phase 2 (Next 6 weeks): Involves revising and updating the strategy based on the first consultative suggestion and guidance from the Technical Working Group (TWG). A draft revised strategy document will be produced, presented to FMOH management for review, and then the final draft will be distributed to participants for the validation meeting.

Phase 3 (Last 2 weeks): Centers on organizing and presenting the final draft document at the validation workshop, followed by editing and producing the final strategy document.

COMPENSATION

The total consultancy budget will be based on available budget and detailed cost proposal submitted by the consultant. Payments will be made based on the achievement of deliverables, as will be outlined in the contract agreement.

How To Apply

Interested applicants who met the above minimum requirements should send and apply at WWW.Ethiojobs.net. Please submit Only your application (required qualifications, technical proposal, and detailed cost proposal) in English. Please do not attach copies of your transcripts, academic degrees or recommendation letters with the application. You will provide them upon request.