The purpose of the consultancy is to support the Ministry of Health, Tonga to operationalize the Vaiola Hospital Infant Feeding and Breastfeeding Support Policy, Tonga 2026 through structured orientation, competency-based training, supportive supervision and the establishment of a sustainable cadre of facility-based master trainers. The assignment will strengthen consistent breastfeeding support across facility and community settings, including continuity of care in the home after discharge.
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Contract Duration: 6 Months
Working arrangement: Office Based
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How can you make a difference?
UNICEF previously supported the Ministry of Health, Tonga to advance implementation of the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative, including health worker capacity development and preparation of a hospital-level policy. This work culminated in the launch of the Vaiola Hospital Infant Feeding and Breastfeeding Support Policy, Tonga 2026. The policy now requires systematic operationalization so that all relevant health workers understand their responsibilities and can translate the policy into routine, quality breastfeeding support for mothers, newborns and families.
Approximately 50 per cent of clinical nurses within Vaiola Hospital were reached through the previous consultancy. The next phase will prioritize orientation of health workers on the new policy, training of public health nurses, completion of training for remaining clinical nurses including in hospitals in outer islands, and stronger continuity between facility based care and post-discharge breastfeeding support provided in homes. To sustain implementation, selected health workers will be developed as master trainers and supported to deliver at least one supervised training session that demonstrates acceptable quality before wider rollout.
The purpose of the consultancy is to support the Ministry of Health, Tonga to operationalize the Vaiola Hospital Infant Feeding and Breastfeeding Support Policy, Tonga 2026 through structured orientation, competency-based training, supportive supervision and the establishment of a sustainable cadre of facility-based master trainers. The assignment will strengthen consistent breastfeeding support across facility and community settings, including continuity of care in the home after discharge.
Scope of Work:
The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Health, Vaiola Hospital and UNICEF to undertake the following:
• Review the launched policy, previous consultancy outputs, existing training materials and available training coverage information, and agree on priority audiences, health facilities and implementation sequencing.
• Develop an inception report and practical capacity-building plan, including training approach, schedule, participant groups, supervision arrangements, quality standards and sustainability measures.
• Adapt or finalize a concise policy orientation package and competency-based training materials aligned with the Vaiola Hospital policy and relevant BFHI guidance.
• Orient health workers and relevant managers on the policy, their roles and responsibilities, referral pathways, documentation and supportive supervision expectations.
• Deliver training for public health nurses and remaining clinical nurses, using participatory methods, practical demonstrations, case-based learning and pre/post competency assessment.
• Strengthen continuity of care from the maternity facility to the home, including practical workflows for follow up, early identification of breastfeeding difficulties, timely counselling, referral and feedback between hospital and public health nursing services.
• In consultation with the Ministry of Health, identify suitable facility-based breastfeeding champions and prepare them as master trainers through a structured training-of-trainers and mentorship approach.
• Observe and support at least one training session delivered by the selected champions/master trainers, assess delivery quality against an agreed checklist, and provide documented feedback and coaching before wider rollout.
• Provide recommendations and practical tools for institutionalizing refresher training, orientation of new staff, supportive supervision, routine monitoring and quality improvement.
• Submit a final consolidated report and all approved training, supervision, monitoring and continuity-of care tools in editable format
If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: 
Terms Of Reference TMC0006108.pdf
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have...
Minimum requirements:
Education:
Nutrition, public health, nursing, midwifery, medicine, maternal and child health, paediatrics, family health or another relevant field. An advanced university degree is required. A relevant first university degree combined with additional qualifying experience may be considered
Work Experience:
At least five years of progressively responsible professional experience in breastfeeding, maternal and newborn health, nutrition or related health-service programming, including clinical or service-delivery settings.
Language Requirements:
Fluency in written and spoken English is required. Knowledge of Tongan or another Pacific language is an asset. Knowledge/Expertise/Skills: Demonstrated BFHI or lactation-management expertise; experience implementing infant-feeding or breastfeeding policies; proven competency-based training, ToT, mentoring and supportive-supervision experience; experience linking facility and community/home services; strong facilitation, coaching, analytical, reporting and stakeholder-engagement skills.
Desirables:
Experience working with ministries of health in Pacific or comparable small-island settings; certification as a lactation consultant, BFHI trainer/assessor or equivalent recognized breastfeeding qualification
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) Financial proposal TMC0006108.docx
- A detailed technical proposal
Technical proposal required and applicants must outline the methodology, workplan, quality assurance approach and proposed sustainability measures.
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.