Menstrual Health and Hygiene Consultancy, NYHQ WASH Programme Group, remote. Req # 584126

UNICEF; West New York (NJ); Remote; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A global children’s rights organization is seeking a consultant for Menstrual Health and Hygiene consultancy. Responsibilities include supporting advocacy initiatives and developing guidance on climate change impacts. The ideal candidate will have over 7 years of experience in the field, excellent communication skills, and must be fluent in English. This consultancy is remote-based, from October 2025 to December 2026.

Qualifications

• At least seven years of experience in menstrual health and hygiene.
• Must be fluent in English; knowledge of French or Spanish is an asset.
• Prior experience working for the United Nations is an advantage.

Responsibilities

• Support the global coordinated advocacy initiative on MHH.
• Coordinate with stakeholders to ground the agenda in real experiences.
• Co-develop the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH.

Skills

Menstrual health and hygiene expertise

Understanding of climate change impacts

Excellent communication skills

Experience in stakeholder engagement

Capacity to work in dynamic environments

Education

Advanced university degree in Public Health or related field

Job description

Overview

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world\'s leading children\'s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children\'s survival, protection and development. The world\'s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

Consultancy Title: Menstrual Health and Hygiene Consultancy

Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, WASH Section

Duration: 01 October 2025 - 31 December 2026

Home/ Office Based: Remote

Purpose and Context

Background and purpose of activity/assignment: Menstrual health and hygiene is central to the dignity, rights, health, and well-being of 2.1 billion girls, women, and gender-diverse people worldwide. Yet, it remains a neglected issue in global policy, programming, and financing. Despite increasing recognition of the importance of menstrual health and hygiene (MHH), it continues to be marginalized—omitted from the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), inadequately addressed in national health, education and WASH systems, and underfunded in both development and humanitarian contexts.

Improving MHH is not only a health issue, but also a prerequisite for realizing gender equality, advancing education, improving mental health, enabling workforce participation, and supporting climate resilience. There is a growing body of evidence, successful programmatic models, and a global movement advocating for change.

Global advocacy

A global coalition of diverse partners is being mobilized to elevate MHH as a development and policy priority through a coordinated advocacy initiative anchored by the Global Menstrual Collective (GMC). The goal is to launch a Shared Agenda for Action on MHH by May 2026 with clear goals and a unified call to action, and to present a compelling case for MHH to influence policy at global and national levels.

Stakeholders and networks across regions and sectors will be consulted and mobilized to co-create and collectively implement the agenda. The process will involve mapping key stakeholders and decision-makers and conducting a Global Political Economy Analysis (PEA) to understand where influence lies and how change can happen. It will also involve stakeholder consultation and engage diverse voices – centered on girls and women, men and boys - to ensure that the campaign is grounded in local experiences and priorities. Adaptable tools and resources will be developed to support country-level advocacy efforts for MHH.

Climate change

There is evidence that climate change affects MHH through rapid-onset extreme weather events and slow-onset climate shifts. These disruptions affect access to menstrual products, information, water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities, as well as healthcare services. Considering climate risk in MHH programming ensures needs are met before, during, and after climate-related shocks. UNICEF and partners are developing MHH programs that consider climate risk, and countries would benefit from global technical guidance on climate change and MHH.

This consultant will support the WASH Section at UNICEF HQ to provide technical support to the global coordinated advocacy initiative, specifically on the development of the shared agenda for action and consultations with adolescents and young people, to ensure their voices are considered in this agenda. The consultant will also support the development of a technical guidance on climate change and MHH. Some deliverables may be completed only if additional resources become available.

Scope of Work

Between 1 October 2025 – 31 December 2026, this project will complete the following tasks:

• Actively participate in the global coordinated advocacy initiative on MHH, including supporting stakeholder mapping and engagement, and the political economy analysis
• Coordinate with regional and national networks and organizations to engage diverse voices – centered on adolescents and young people - to ensure the global shared agenda is grounded in real experiences and priorities
• Co-develop the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH with relevant stakeholders and generate ownership and buy in
• Support the preparation of global advocacy activities on MHH

Support the development of a technical programme guidance on climate change and MHH

Deliverables and Timeline

Work Assignment Overview/Deliverables and Outputs/Delivery deadline

1. Global advocacy

- Report with diverse voices – centred on adolescents and young people - to inform the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH

28 February 2026

- Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH, co-created and informed by stakeholder consultations

30 April 2026

- At least 2 MHH advocacy events organized

31 October 2026

- At least 5 thematic briefs (4 pages max) for each SDG (3, 4, 5, 6, 8) and how MHH is interlinked (with data, evidence, case studies and recommendations for best practices)

31 October 2026

2. Climate change

- Technical programme guidance on climate change and MHH

31 October 2026

3. Communications & Knowledge Management

- Communication strategy for the Global Shared Agenda for Action on MHH

30 September 2026

- Two relevant global knowledge products

December 31, 2026

Qualifications

Education: Advanced university degree in Public Health, Environmental Health, Social Sciences, Political Science, Development, or related field

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• At least seven years of experience working in a field related to menstrual health and hygiene.
• Excellent understanding of menstrual health and hygiene – including the current state, key approaches, relevant policy mechanisms and key stakeholders.
• Excellent understanding of the interlinkages between climate change, WASH and health.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills required.
• Experience designing / overseeing surveys and consultations, facilitating virtual consultations with diverse stakeholders, and supporting advocacy events.
• Demonstrated capacity to work in a dynamic environment coordinating across different teams and sectors.
• Must be fluent in English. Knowledge of French or Spanish is considered an asset.
• Prior experience working for the United Nations an added advantage.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF\'s e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
• travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
• Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Additional Information

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work.

Eligibility and selection: Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every Child, UNICEF\'s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.

Remarks:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF\'s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates may be required to be fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) per WHO-endorsed vaccine before taking up the assignment, unless working remotely and not visiting UNICEF premises or interacting directly with communities.

Note

Individuals engaged under a consultancy will not be considered “staff members” and are governed by the contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants. Consultants are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.