International Indiv Consultant - Module “Health Promotion and Behaviour Change” for Master’s Programme in Health Promotion & Protection at State Univ of Medicine and Pharmacy_Chisinau, Moldova

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

In Moldova, UNICEF has been a key partner of the Ministry of Health in advancing Social and Behaviour Change interventions and demand-generation approaches across priority health areas, including immunization, nutrition, maternal and child health, adolescent health, and emergency preparedness and response. Through behavioural research, social and behavioural insights, community engagement, capacity strengthening, and the integration of behavioural evidence into health policies and programmes, UNICEF has contributed to strengthening national capacities to design, implement and evaluate people-centred health interventions.

In this context, the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy (USMF) “Nicolae Testemițanu” is launching a new Master's Degree Programme in Public Health – Health Promotion and Protection. The programme aims to develop advanced competencies among public professionals to promote and protect health, address health determinants and inequities, and design, implement and evaluate evidence-based interventions at individual, community and population levels.

As part of this effort, UNICEF and USMF are collaborating to develop the module on "Health Promotion and Behaviour Change" which will be integrated in the above mentioned master programme. The proposed curriculum will build students' competencies in understanding behavioural determinants and decision-making processes; conducting behavioural and social diagnoses to identify barriers and drivers of behaviour; defining and prioritizing target behaviours; developing behavioural objectives and theories of change; designing evidence-based behaviour change interventions; and applying monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches to assess behavioural outcomes and programme effectiveness. The curriculum will also strengthen practical skills in audience analysis, community engagement, strategic communication, advocacy, social mobilization, and the application of behavioural science to public health programming.

By drawing on global and regional good practices, UNICEF's global expertise, evidence-based SBC frameworks, and practical experience in supporting the Ministry of Health, the programme aims to equip future public professionals with the knowledge and applied skills required to design, implement and evaluate effective SBC interventions that address Moldova's evolving public health priorities and contribute to improved health and well-being outcomes.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the UNICEF Moldova SBC Officer, and in close collaboration with USMF, the international individual consultant will support the development of the Health promotion and Behaviour Change Curriculum within the Master's Programme in Health Promotion and Protection, ensuring alignment with international SBC standards, contemporary behavioural science approaches, and the competency needs of Moldova's public workforce.

Scope of work:

The consultant will undertake the following main areas of work:

Deliverable 1 - Curriculum Design Package

Based on the approved curriculum framework and competency model, the consultant will develop a comprehensive SBC curriculum package that integrates SBC concepts, behavioural science approaches, and practical application within public health programming. The curriculum should be tailored to the Moldovan context while reflecting international best practices and UNICEF's experience in applying SBC across health and development programmes. The package should support both teaching and learning processes and ensure that graduates acquire the knowledge and skills required to design, implement, and evaluate SBC interventions.

Key outputs:

• Detailed syllabus and module description
• Lecture, seminar and independent learning plan. Session sequencing and teaching methodology (across lectures, seminars and individual work)
• Assessment framework and evaluation approach

Deliverable 2 - Teaching and Learning Package

Key outputs:

• PowerPoint presentations
• Case studies and practical exercises
• Group assignments and applied learning activities
• Tools, templates and worksheets
• Assessment package (by topic/theme)
• Reading lists, bibliography and online resources
• Facilitator's Guide.
• Course implementation and delivery recommendations.

Deliverable 3 – Finalization and Capacity Building

Key outputs:

• Revision based on stakeholder feedback
• Presentation/Orientation webinar
• Final curriculum package
• Brief report summarizing the development process, recommendations for implementation, and opportunities for future strengthening of SBC education at USMF

Throughout the assignment, the consultant will work in consultation with SBC Officer from UNICEF Moldova CO, SBC Specialist from Centre of Excellence - UNICEF, and relevant USMF faculty to ensure that the SBC curriculum is academically appropriate, competency-based, practically oriented and aligned with contemporary SBC approaches and public health realities in Moldova.

All deliverables will be performed remotely. 

For more details on the deliverables, please refer to the  TOR International Indiv Consultancy_SBC Module USMF.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

Minimum requirements:

Minimum requirements:

• Master’s degree in Social and Behaviour Change, Beahviour Science, Public Health
• Minimum 5 years of experience in Behavioural Science and Social and Behaviour Change (SBC)
• Expertise developing and delivering SBC capacity-building initiatives
• Proficiency in English

Desirables:

• Experience of working on SBC in public health is a strong asset.
• Experience in curriculum development and instructional design for higher education or professional training programmes is an advantage.

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

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
• Academic degrees
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) -  Financial proposal - SBC Module USMF.docx
• A detailed technical proposal -  Technical Offer - SBC Module USMF.docx

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 | 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 are conditional on the selected candidates’ willingness to comply with current or future vaccination requirements, should UNICEF mandate it for personnel.
Failure to comply with such requirements, where applicable and without a duly approved medical exemption from the relevant UN authority, will result in the cancellation of the selection or may lead to other administrative measures, including separation from service

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 from targeted underrepresented groups 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.

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.