International consultant in peri- & neonatal care – Obstetrician (Team Leader), Sukhumu, Georgia Individual Consultant International Position

International consultant in peri- & neonatal care – Obstetrician (Team Leader), Sukhumu, Georgia

Job no: 591665

Contract type: Consultant

Duty Station: Tbilisi

Level: Consultancy

Location: Georgia

Categories: Health

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Background / Purpose of the Assignment 

The hostilities of 1992–1993, along with the subsequent prolonged isolation, have had enduring negative impacts on the economic and social well‑being of people living in Abkhazia, Georgia. Over the past three decades, the protracted nature of the conflict has hindered development and continues to affect human rights and the living conditions of conflict‑affected communities, including their access to essential social services, human security, and opportunities for sustainable peace.

The healthcare system in Abkhazia remains rooted in an outdated, inpatient‑oriented model. Services are delivered across central, district/urban, and rural levels; however, primary healthcare (PHC) facilities – including antenatal care clinics – are often under‑equipped and face shortages of qualified personnel. These gaps lead to frequent referrals to higher levels of care. Significant disparities in the distribution of healthcare workers further constrain service availability, with urban areas comparatively better staffed than rural and remote regions. Only around 19 percent of doctors work in PHC, and opportunities for continuing professional development are extremely limited. Many health workers were trained outside Abkhazia region and lack access to ongoing medical education. At the same time, nurses’ skills remain underutilized, contributing to low public confidence in nursing services. Additional systemic challenges including limited supplies of essential medicines, outdated medical equipment, deteriorated WASH infrastructure, and high out‑of‑pocket costs – further undermine the quality and accessibility of healthcare and discourage timely care‑seeking.

Despite the sustained efforts of UNICEF and other international development partners, notable gaps persist across the health sector. Limited availability of essential medicines, shortages of trained personnel, inadequate health data, and constrained capacities for planning and managing health interventions continue to affect access to essential services.

These challenges are especially evident in maternal and child health – an essential pillar of public health. In Abkhazia region perinatal services are delivered through one republican maternity hospital in Sukhumi and maternity wards within seven district hospitals (Gagra, Gudauta, Gulrypshi, Gali, Tkuarcheli, and Ochamchyre). However, several facilities operate at reduced capacity due to low delivery numbers and resource constraints. Seven women’s consultation (antenatal) clinics operate in the same locations, but coordination between primary and secondary levels of care (antenatal clinic – maternity – PHC) remains limited, with many services following vertical structures and not sufficiently integrated.

UNICEF, as a leading advocate for children’s rights under the Convention on the Rights of the Child and guided by the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, implements strategic interventions across health, education, and child protection in Abkhazia, Georgia. UNICEF Georgia has maintained a Field Office in Abkhazia since October 2005. Since 2011, UNICEF has supported the Extended Programme on Immunization (EPI) and has worked with health workers to adopt internationally recognized maternal and child health (MCH) and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI) standards. UNICEF has further contributed to the development of clinical guidelines and the provision of specialized equipment for safe neonatal transport across the administrative boundary line (ABL). A network of health professionals has also been established to support guideline development, trainings, and supportive supervision, particularly within PHC and MCH services.

Addressing maternal and child health challenges in low‑resource settings requires a comprehensive, lifecycle‑based approach. In Abkhazia region, the shortage of trained personnel, limited use or absence of evidence‑based clinical standards, and lack of targeted public health interventions pose significant risks to maternal, newborn, and child health. Health workers require strengthened knowledge and skills, supportive supervision – which to date has been implemented only on a pilot basis – and availability of/access to reliable health data.

To address these challenges, and within the EU‑funded UNICEF/WHO joint initiative “Support provision of basic health services for conflict‑affected people living in Abkhazia, Georgia,” UNICEF will support the strengthening of risk‑appropriate maternal and neonatal care in the region. The planned interventions will be informed by a comprehensive assessment of the quality of neonatal and obstetric care in Abkhazia, using a methodology that includes analysis of medical documentation, facility inspections, and interviews with medical staff. The assessment will be conducted with ‘Integrated quality of hospital care assessment and improvement tool for maternal and neonatal health’ World Health Organization (2024):  https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/379487 . 

The assessment will place particular emphasis on the organization of care for sick newborns, including the availability of effective referral and transport pathways and the functionality of intensive care units and availability of structured handover and continuity of care with primary health care settings upon neonatal discharge. It will also focus on the development and integration of priority clinical care protocols, as well as the continued analysis of quality of care to inform a plan of action at both maternity/local and regional levels.

Scope of Work:

To address the critical needs in peri- and neonatal care in Abkhazia region, UNICEF is recruiting international consultants: 1) Obstetrician/Gynaecologist (Team Leader), Neonatologist and Midwife to work as a team to plan and carry out Assessment of the quality of neonatal and obstetric care in Abkhazia, Georgia using the ‘Integrated quality of hospital care assessment and improvement tool for maternal and neonatal health’, World Health Organization (2024): https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/379487 .

Guided by the team leader, consultants will complete all modules of the tool on-site at the Republican Maternity Hospital in Sukhumi, as well as in the maternity wards of seven district hospitals (Gagra, Gudauta, Gulrypshi, Gali, Tkvarcheli, and Ochamchyre) and in seven women’s consultation (antenatal) clinics in the same locations.

The completion of modules and their respective chapters – each addressing specific parameters, will be allocated among team members according to their professional expertise.

More specifically, the following dimensions for peri‑ and neonatal care in the region will be assessed:

1. Hospital Resources – availability of essential resources for maternal and newborn care, including:

Physical infrastructure and amenities

Health management information systems

Human resources for health

Availability and management of medicines, equipment, and supplies

Laboratory services

2. Hospital- Level Policies and Organization of Services covering:

Availability, content, and implementation of hospital policies

Infection prevention and control

Continuous quality improvement

Organization of maternal and newborn care 

Access to hospital care and continuity of care

Protection of mother and newborn rights

3. Provision of Health Care

Evaluation of case management for common maternal and newborn conditions according to WHO standards:

(a) Maternal health: pregnancy, intrapartum, and postpartum care

(b) Newborn health: readiness to manage newborns at birth; care for healthy and sick newborns; facility preparedness for advanced newborn care

Additional areas to be assessed:

Monitoring and follow-up practices for women with obstetric complications

Monitoring and follow-up practices for sick newborns

4. Experience of Care

Collecting perspectives from mothers and caretakers through structured face-to-face interviews, focusing on:

Experience of care received by pregnant women, mothers, caretakers, and newborns

Perceptions of the quality and respectfulness of care

5. Motivation and Perspectives of Human Resources

Assessment of factors influencing health providers’ ability to deliver quality care, through structured face-to-face staff interviews including:

Availability of physical resources

Hospital policies on professional development

Organization of relevant services

6. Feedback and Action Planning

Supporting a standards‑based audit process to:

Analyse the overall quality of care at facility level

Develop action plans for improvement at both maternity/local and regional levels including:

Development of effective referral and transport pathways

Defining the requirements and needs for establishing functional maternal-neonatal intensive care units (ICU).

Facilitating a formalized discharge handover to primary health care providers to ensure uninterrupted post‑discharge neonatal follow‑up and continuity of care

Participate in the formulation and integration of the 5 (five) prioritized clinical care protocols, and support continuous quality‑of‑care evaluation to guide evidence‑based action planning.

Interested experts should apply for the Obstetrician (Team Leader) role of the assignment indicating lumpsum fee in the Cover Letter.

Work Assignment Overview

The consultation envisages both online and hybrid modalities (to be detailed as part of the offer), with international travel anticipated.

Tasks/Milestones for the Obstetrician/Gynaecologist – Team Leader

Overall Coordination and Leadership
Oversee the comprehensive assessment of maternal and newborn care quality in Abkhazia, Georgia, ensuring methodological rigor, coordinated teamwork, and alignment with WHO standards. The Team Leader will guide the overall assessment process and development of evidence-based recommendations and a context-appropriate action plan.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Overall coordination and technical leadership of the assessment process.

Timeline:
Throughout the assignment.

  Task:
Develop a comprehensive assessment plan, including site list, team roles, timeline, and logistical requirements.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Assessment plan developed and submitted.

Timeline:
June 2026 – 14 in-country working days (Tbilisi).

Task:
Lead the contextualization of the assessment tools and checklists, ensuring alignment with local terminology, available medicines, referral pathways, and language needs.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Proposed format for the assessment tool prepared and presented.

Timeline:
June 2026.

Task:
Deliver an introductory presentation of the assessment plan and tools to local stakeholders in the Abkhazia region, including the management and staff of all targeted facilities.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Stakeholder workshop conducted (documented evidence, report, photos, notes).

Timeline:
June 2026 – 7 in-country working days (Sukhumi).

Task:
Lead the team of experts in completing the assigned modules of the assessment tool at the following facilities:

The Republican Maternity Hospital in Sukhumi

Maternity wards of seven district hospitals (Gagra, Gudauta, Gulrypshi, Gali, Tkuarcheli, Ochamchyre)

Seven women’s consultation (antenatal) clinics in the same locations

Deliverables/Outputs:
Initial draft assessment findings produced.
List of the five essential clinical protocols identified and submitted.

Timeline:
June 2026.

Task:
Oversee the finalization of the assessment report with specific emphasis on:
a) Development of effective referral and transport pathways.
b) Defining the requirements and needs for establishing functional maternal-neonatal intensive care units.
c) Facilitating a formalized discharge handover to primary health care providers to ensure uninterrupted post-discharge neonatal follow-up and continuity of care.
d) Formulation and integration of five prioritized clinical care protocols.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Draft assessment report submitted, including:

Procedural guide for effective referral and transport pathways

Specification/Terms of Reference for functional maternal and neonatal intensive care units

Procedural guide for discharge handover, neonatal follow-up and continuity of care

List of the five prioritized clinical care protocols

Timeline:
July 2026 – 15 online working days.

Task:
Lead the adaptation of the five defined clinical care protocols, ensuring alignment with existing clinical excellence and preparing corresponding on-site training materials.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Five draft clinical protocols completed with supporting evidence, references, and corresponding training materials.

Timeline:
July 2026 – 10 online working days.

Task:
Co-facilitate protocol development workshops with perinatal and neonatal health personnel.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Five workshops conducted; content of five clinical protocols fully elaborated and submitted.

Timeline:
October 2026 – 7 in-country days (Sukhumi).

Task:
Coordinate inputs from all team members and ensure the timely finalization of all deliverables and end products.

Deliverables/Outputs:
Final assessment report submitted including:

Procedural guide for effective referral and transport pathways

Specification/Terms of Reference for functional maternal and neonatal intensive care units

Procedural guide for discharge handover, neonatal follow-up and continuity of care

Five prioritized clinical care protocols

Action plan for continuous quality improvement

Final assessment report delivered as a presentation.

Timeline:
October 2026 – 10 online working days.

   T o qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…  

Minimum requirements:

Knowledge, Expertise and Skills Required

Medical degree, at least Master’s degree required in Obstetrics/Gynaecology is required. An advanced academic degree will be considered an asset.

A minimum of ten years of clinical experience in the field of Obstetrics/Gynaecology is required.

Proven experience in planning and/or implementing assessments of neonatal and obstetric care quality using WHO assessment tools is required, supported by documented evidence of participation and contributions (e.g., reports, analytical outputs, or reference links).

Demonstrated experience in developing or adapting clinical care protocols in perinatal and neonatal care is required, with supporting documentation (e.g., endorsed clinical protocols from other countries).

Proven experience in delivering training in the relevant fields is required.

Relevant experience working with UNICEF and/or WHO is required.

Experience working in sensitive or protracted contexts will be considered an advantage.

Fluency in English and Russian is required.

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

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

[ add the 8 th competency (Nurtures, leads and manages people) for a supervisory role ]. 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

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 results

Work Mode: Hybrid

Advertised: 13 Mar 2026 Georgian Standard Time
Deadline: 10 Apr 2026 Georgian Standard Time

Tagged as: Consultant

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