The main purpose of this consultancy is to support the National Department of Health in developing a comprehensive, costed National Hygiene Roadmap and reviewing the current hygiene strategy to strengthen hygiene policy, coordination, financing, and service delivery systems in South Africa. This roadmap will strengthen hygiene service delivery across diverse settings, enhance systems for coordination and monitoring, and provide financial and policy guidance aligned with national and global targets. This costed roadmap will provide specific guidance for implementation of the hardware and software components of hygiene in households, communities and open spaces, institutions, schools and health care facilities as well as the required financial allocations by the Government and other WASH sector partners.

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 care.

How can you make a difference?

The main objective of this consultancy is to support the National Department of Health (NDoH) to review the current National Hygiene Strategy and develop a comprehensive, inclusive, and costed National Hygiene Roadmap for South Africa. This roadmap will strengthen hygiene service delivery across diverse settings, including hardware and software components, to enhance systems for coordination and monitoring, and provide financial, and policy guidance, aligned with national and global targets.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: Download File ToR TMC0005289.pdf

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

Minimum requirements: (Qualifications/Experience/ Knowledge/Expertise/Skills)

Education:

  • Advanced university degree (Bachelor’s or higher) in public health,social behaviour change, social sciences and relevant educational background.

Work Experience:

  • The consultant is expected to have at least a 5-year qualification in public health, environmental health and expertise in the Hygiene subject matters, a background in research will be an added advantage.
  • The following skills are required to undertake the work:
    • Demonstrated knowledge and experience in hygiene programming, with at least five years of professional experience in WASH or public health strategy development.
    • Proven experience in stakeholder consultation and working with government ministries, NGOs, and multilateral partners.
    • Experience in WASH cost modelling or financial analysis is essential for roadmap development.
    • Strong skills in research, writing, and editing, particularly in technical reporting and policy documentation.
    • Excellent data analysis skills and ability to interpret complex information.
    • Proficiency in Microsoft Office tools and other relevant analytical software.
    • Ability to work independently, deliver under pressure, and respond to feedback in a timely manner.
    • Self-motivated and team-oriented able to collaborate effectively with both the UNICEF team and external stakeholders.
    • Willingness to travel for fieldwork and stakeholder engagements as required.
    • An understanding of the South African public health system, and experience in working with multiple stakeholders.
    • Experience in working with the South African Departments of Health and close partners is an asset.

Skills:

  • Demonstrated experience in hygiene, WASH, environmental health, or public health programming, including hygiene promotion and behaviour change approaches.
  •  Experience developing national strategies, policies, implementation frameworks, or sector roadmaps.
  • Experience conducting costing exercises, financial analysis, and investment planning for WASH or public health programmes.
  • Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and coordination with government institutions, development partners, NGOs, and other sector stakeholders.
  • Strong research, analytical, technical writing, and communication skills, including preparation of policy documents, technical reports, and knowledge products.
  • Experience developing monitoring frameworks, implementation plans, and evidence-based recommendations.
  • Good understanding of the South African WASH and public health context, including experience working with government structures.
  • Ability to work independently, manage deliverables, and meet agreed timelines.

Language Requirements:

  • Strong command of English – both written and spoken.
  • Knowledge of at least one South African local language will be considered an asset, particularly for stakeholder consultations and community-level engagements.

Desirables:

  •  Experience working with the National Department of Health, Environmental Health Services, Department of Water and Sanitation, Department of Basic Education, or related government programmes.
  •  Experience working with UNICEF, UN agencies, international development organisations, or multilateral partners.
  •  Knowledge of global hygiene commitments and frameworks, including SDG 6.2 and the WHO/UNICEF Hand Hygiene for All Initiative

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

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):

Remarks: If the TOR or financial proposal documents are not downloadable on certain recruitment platforms, please visit our official page Vacancies | UNICEF Careers.

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.

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.