National Consultant - Health Service Delivery: SRMNCH (West Bank)

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1. Area of expertise:

National Consultant - Health Service Delivery for the West Bank, SRMNCH

2. Purpose of consultancy:

WHO is seeking to hire a consultant to support the implementation of activities aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness and response for SRMNCH services and strengthening service delivery mechanisms to ensure continuous access to quality healthcare in the West Bank. The role will focus on ensuring the availability, coordination, and sustainability of critical health services in response to emergencies, while addressing gender-sensitive concerns, accessibility, and continuity of services for women, children, and marginalized populations.

3. Background:

Emergencies disproportionately affect the poorest and most vulnerable, particularly women and children. In humanitarian settings, 60% of preventable mortality and morbidity among women occurs during disasters and displacement. In Palestine, as of October 2023, the Palestinian health system has struggled to cope with an influx of trauma cases due to ongoing hostilities, significantly impacting the provision of essential services for non-trauma patients, including children, pregnant, and lactating women.

In Gaza, the situation has been worsened by attacks on healthcare facilities, with 591 documented incidents, including damage to 33 hospitals. By December 2024, only 47% of Gaza's hospitals and 36% of Primary Health Care Centers (PHCs) remained functional. Additionally, ongoing fuel shortages, essential medicines and laboratory supply shortages, and the closure of borders have compounded the crisis, severely limiting access to care.

In the West Bank, the healthcare situation has similarly deteriorated. As of recent reports, there have been 659 documented incidents of attacks on health facilities, including 61 affected health facilities. The region is facing escalating violence, with rising settler violence and increasing displacement. In 2024 alone, nearly 4,250 Palestinians were displaced, 1,760 structures were demolished, and around 1,400 settler attacks were reported, marking the highest levels in nearly two decades[2]. These factors have further disrupted SRMNCH services, hindering access to life-saving healthcare for women and children.

The ongoing violence, displacement, financial crisis and destruction of infrastructure have made it even more difficult to deliver essential health services, including sexual and reproductive health, maternal care, and pediatric services to more than 1.36 million women of reproductive age (545,000 in Gaza and 820,0000 in Wet Bank) including 123,000 estimated pregnant women (50,000 in Gaza and 73,000 in West Bank) and more than 2 million children under 18 years. The geographic separation between areas and restrictions on the movement of goods and people have further exacerbated these challenges, creating a dire humanitarian situation across both the West Bank and Gaza.

4. Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to work 3 full days per week either physically or remotely. The consultant is expected to submit monthly brief progress report on achievement of the following pillars:

By 01/08/2026

· A mapping report on health policies, guidelines, and protocols, with prioritized recommendations to be supported by WHO.

· A needs assessment for procurement of life-saving supplies for SRMNCH and follow up the procurement process and distribution of essential items for emergency preparedness and essential services

· A plan for quality improvement activities for Q4 & 2027, including Baby-Friendly Hospital initiative reaction, and ongoing EENC roll-out in West Bank at three selected hospitals

By 01/12/2026

· A progress report on nutrition capacity strengthening activities

· A report on dissemination and implementation of preparedness activities as detailed in the SRMNCH emergency plan

· A capacity-building plan for MOH staff and other organizations to be supported by WHO, for 2027.

· Provide minutes from meetings attended with reflections on important action points tasked to him/her.

· Any other businesses assigned to him/her to support SRMNCH and nutrition activities

5. Qualifications, experience, skills and languages:

Educational Qualifications:

Essential: Advanced degree in Public Health, Health Systems, or a related field.

First level university degree in medicine, nursing, midwifery or health sciences

Desirable: Postgraduate training in reproductive health, obstetrics & gynecology, midwifery or child health

Experience

Essential:

10 years of experience in SRMNCH programming in West Bank and familiarity with SRMNCH service delivery, procurement processes, and healthcare infrastructure.

Proven experience in conducting assessments, evaluations, or research in health systems, particularly in conflict-affected areas.

Desirable:

Knowledge of procedures, reporting requirements and ethical practices of the UN system.

Skills/Knowledge:

- Familiarity with SRMNCH service delivery, procurement processes, and healthcare infrastructure.

- Proven Knowledge of procedures, reporting requirements and ethical practices of the UN system.

- Ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and build consensus around recommendations.

Languages and level required (Basic/Intermediate/Expert):

Expert: English

Expert: Arabic

6. Location

Off site: West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territory

7. Travel

Not applicable

8. Remuneration and budget (travel costs are excluded):

a. Remuneration: NOC – 25,506 ILS

b. Living expenses: NA

c. Expected duration of contract: 11 months with a first contract up to 31 December 2026 subject to extension up to 11 months maximum total.

9. Additional Information

• This vacancy notice may be used to identify candidates for other similar consultancies at the same level.
• Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted.
• A written test may be used as a form of screening.
• If your candidature is retained for interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review.
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• The WHO is committed to achieving gender parity and geographical diversity in its workforce. Women, persons with disabilities, and nationals of unrepresented and underrepresented Member States (https://www.who.int/careers/diversity-equity-and-inclusion) are strongly encouraged to apply for WHO jobs.
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• WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of short-listed candidates.
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• Consultants shall perform the work as independent contractors in a personal capacity, and not as a representative of any entity or authority.
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