UNICEF is supporting the Government of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in implementing the ATscale-supported project titled “Unlock Healthy Learning in the Pacific: Improving access to assistive technology and related rehabilitation services for school-aged children”, with a view to increasing access to vision, hearing, and mobility assistive technology (AT) for school-aged children. The project aims to screen approximately 15,000 children and provide appropriate assistive products and services to approximately 1,500 school-aged children in FSM. In parallel, the project will strengthen national systems by establishing functional multi-sectoral referral pathways, building workforce capacity, and improving supply chains through a unified regional approach featuring pooled procurement and harmonized standards. In FSM, access to hearing and ear care (HEC) services remains limited. The burden of hearing impairment and ear disease is not well documented, reflecting limited routine screening, diagnostic capacity, and data systems. Service provision is constrained by shortages of trained personnel and limited availability of essential equipment and tools for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. As a result, many children with hearing and ear conditions are not identified or do not receive timely and appropriate care, with implications for their learning and development.
Contract Duration 12 Months
Working arrangement: Office Based
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TERMS OF REFERENCE
UNICEF is supporting the Government of Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) in implementing the ATscale-supported project titled “Unlock Healthy Learning in the Pacific: Improving access to assistive technology and related rehabilitation services for school-aged children”, with a view to increasing access to vision, hearing, and mobility assistive technology (AT) for school-aged children. The project aims to screen approximately 15,000 children and provide appropriate assistive products and services to approximately 1,500 school-aged children in FSM. In parallel, the project will strengthen national systems by establishing functional multi-sectoral referral pathways, building workforce capacity, and improving supply chains through a unified regional approach featuring pooled procurement and harmonized standards. In FSM, access to hearing and ear care (HEC) services remains limited. The burden of hearing impairment and ear disease is not well documented, reflecting limited routine screening, diagnostic capacity, and data systems. Service provision is constrained by shortages of trained personnel and limited availability of essential equipment and tools for screening, diagnosis, and treatment. As a result, many children with hearing and ear conditions are not identified or do not receive timely and appropriate care, with implications for their learning and development. A recent rapid human resource assessment confirms that all four states in the FSM currently operate with very limited or, in many cases, no local specialists for hearing, vision, and mobility. Service delivery has historically relied on external missions, visiting specialists, and off-island referrals, including to Guam. Geographic dispersion, infrastructure limitations, and high travel costs further constrain access to care, reducing uptake of screening and follow-up services. In response, UNICEF, in collaboration with national and state-level stakeholders from the Department of Health and Social Affairs and the Department of Education as well as WHO, has defined a pragmatic service delivery model and referral pathway tailored to FSM’s context. The model emphasizes decentralized service delivery, with clearly defined roles across different cadres, and integrates capacity building at each level of care to support screening, basic ear and hearing care, comprehensive assessment, and assistive product provision. Given the absence of an established HEC service in FSM and the limited existing workforce capacity, there is an urgent need for rapid, on-the-ground upskilling of health personnel to enable immediate service delivery. To address this, UNICEF will engage a technical consultant to provide intensive capacity building, alongside hands-on mentoring and coaching, while services are being established and delivered during the initial phase. This approach will support the safe and effective rollout of screening, diagnosis, and assistive product provision in the short term. In parallel, the project will work with regional technical partners such as the University of Auckland and Macquarie University (WHO Collaborating Centres for Ear and Hearing Care), the WHO North Pacific Office, and the Pacific Ear, Nose and Throat Audiology Group (PENTAG) to support longer-term workforce development, system strengthening, and sustainability, across the region, including FSM.
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here TMC0003928 External ToR.pdf
Minimum requirements:
Education: Bachelors in otolaryngology (ENT), audiology, ear and hearing care or a related clinical field
International Public Health, International Development, Social sciences, or other relevant qualifications are desirable
Work Experience: At least 3 years of relevant work experience With a Bachelors of demonstrated clinical experience in hearing and ear care service delivery or 2 years With a Masters degree in otolaryngology (ENT), of demonstrated clinical experience in hearing and ear care service delivery
Demonstrated experience in an advisory role on policy, program and/or capacity development (screening, comprehensive hearing assessment, service provision, hearing aid fitting and onward management) to governments and/or multilateral organizations.
Demonstrated experience in capacity development, including the development of learning material.
Skills: Demonstrated capability in adult education and training.
Highly developed written and oral communication, including presentation and skills.
Highly developed interpersonal skills.
Demonstrated ability to work in a culturally diverse environment with strong cross-cultural communication skills.
Desirables: Able to produce documents that are accessible for people with disabilities including those using a screen reader.
Experience working in Pacific Island countries
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
This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.
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)TMC0003928 Financial proposal.docx
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.
Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.