JOB DESCRIPTION

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 Health

How can you make a difference?

 

Botswana has made significant progress in improving health outcomes for women, newborns, children, adolescents over the past two decades. The country has achieved notable gains in reducing maternal and under-five mortality, expanding access to skilled birth attendance, and improving immunization coverage. However, despite these achievements, several challenges persist that threaten the consolidation of these gains and the attainment of national and global health targets.  Maternal mortality remains a concern, with preventable causes such as obstetric complications, hypertensive disorders, and infections continuing to contribute to maternal deaths. Neonatal mortality has not declined at the same pace as under-five mortality, highlighting gaps in newborn care and early life interventions. Adolescent health challenges, including teenage pregnancies, HIV infections, and mental health concern remain pressing. Additionally, Botswana faces a double burden of malnutrition, characterized by both undernutrition and rising rates of overweight and obesity among children and women. To address these challenges comprehensively, the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAHA+N) Strategy 2025–2030 has been developed. It integrates nutrition and adolescent health more prominently to ensure a life-course approach to health and well-being.  To operationalize the strategy and ensure evidence-based resource allocation, the Ministry of Health (MoH), in collaboration with UNICEF Botswana and the World Health Organisation in Botswana seek to undertake a comprehensive costing exercise to estimate the financial resources required to implement the strategic priorities and interventions over the five-year period. This reflects both organizations” shared commitment that not just the strategy be technically feasible but also financially sustainable and entirely aligned to the national health and development priorities.

 

1. Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

To develop a comprehensive, evidence-based costed implementation plan for the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent, and Health Plus Nutrition (RMNCAHA+N) Strategy. This plan will ensure that all strategic interventions are financially feasible, fully aligned with Botswana’s national health priorities and financing frameworks, and positioned to support effective resource mobilization, budgeting, and sustainable implementation over the strategy period.

 

2. Justification for Costing the RMNCAHA+N Strategy

Costing the Botswana Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAHA+N) Strategy 2025–2030 is essential to translate its strategic priorities into actionable and financially feasible plans. A detailed costing exercise will provide the Ministry of Health with clear estimates of the resources required to implement the strategic interventions, enabling evidence-based planning, budgeting, and prioritization across program areas and levels of care.

 

The costing process will also identify existing funding gaps and opportunities for resource mobilization. By aligning strategic goals with realistic financial projections, the Ministry will be better positioned to advocate for investments, improve efficiency and accountability in resource use, and ensure the sustainability of RMNCAHA+N interventions. Ultimately, a costed strategy will serve as a vital tool to operationalize the national commitment to improving the health and nutrition of women, children, and adolescents in Botswana.

 

3. Scope of Work and key task

Under the supervision of the Ministry of Health, the consultant will carry out the following tasks:

•  Review the finalized RMNCAHA+N Strategy and related documents.

•  Conduct stakeholder consultations to validate assumptions and costing inputs.

•  Develop a costing framework and methodology (e.g., activity-based costing).

•  Estimate costs for strategic interventions, activities, and outputs.

•  Align costing with existing national health budgets and financing mechanisms.

•  Prepare a costed implementation matrix and summary report.

•  Facilitate validation workshops with key stakeholders.

•  Provide recommendations for financing and sustainability.

 

4.Deliverables and timelines

Deliverables

Timeline

Inception report with work plan and costing methodology.

5 – 7 January 2026

Draft costed implementation plan.

8 – 14 January 2026

Final costed implementation plan with detailed budget estimates.

15 – 23 January 2026

Presentation materials for stakeholder validation.

26 January 2026

Final consultancy report with recommendations.

2 February 2026

4.1Payment and budget schedule

The consultant will be paid in line with agreed deliverables

Deliverable/milestone

%Payment

Upon submission and approval of inception report with workplan and costing methodology

20%

Upon submission of draft costed implementation plan and stakeholder consultation summary report

40%

Upon submission of final costed plan and validation of final report, presentation and recommendations

40%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

NB:

• All submissions should be made in electronic version (Word, Excel, tabulations etc., the format must be agreed with UNICEF).
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• UNICEF does not provide any equipment/software (e.g. computer equipment, software applications, software license, server, other related services) required for conducting the project. Interested contractors should ensure the availability of equipment and software necessary for conducting the project.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education:  Advanced degree in Public Health, Health Economics, Finance, or related field.

Work Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in health strategy costing or health financing.
• Proven experience with costing tools and methodologies.
• Familiarity with Botswana’s health system and budgeting processes
• Excellent analytical, writing and presentation skills
• Experience working in Botswana

Skills

• Ability to design and facilitate consultative process with multisectoral technical teams.
• Excellent analytical skills.
• Good communication skills

Language Requirements: High proficiency in English both written and verbal is required.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility nearmejobs.eu 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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks: 

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable candidates are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason.

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.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

Visa residence requirements: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.

Level of Education: Bachelor Degree

Work Hours: 8

Experience in Months: No requirements