Vacancies and How to Get a Job at UNICEF (Salary, Roles & Application Guide)
UNICEF is hiring for two consultancy positions in Freetown, Sierra Leone, offering professionals in digital health and health information systems the opportunity to work on important national health programmes.
The two roles are Digital Health Consultant (National) and National HMIS Consultant. Both assignments last 12 months and combine office-based work with travel, while the HMIS role also includes remote work.
For professionals searching for UNICEF jobs in Sierra Leone 2026, these vacancies are particularly valuable because they involve work with UNICEF and the Ministry of Health on digital health, DHIS2, electronic medical records, data systems and health programme performance.
About UNICEF
UNICEF is the United Nations agency focused on protecting children's rights and helping children survive, develop and reach their potential. It operates in more than 190 countries and territories and works with governments, communities and partners on health, education, protection and other areas affecting children.
These vacancies show that UNICEF Sierra Leone is investing in digital systems that support healthcare planning and decision-making. For qualified candidates, the experience can be particularly useful for building a career in international development, public health and digital transformation.
Both positions are consultancy assignments rather than conventional permanent staff roles, so applicants should read the terms of reference carefully before applying.
Available Positions
- Digital Health Consultant (National) – Freetown
- National HMIS Consultant – Freetown
1. Digital Health Consultant (National)
What You'll Do (Simplified):
The consultant will provide technical support to UNICEF and the Ministry of Health as Sierra Leone expands its digital health systems.
The work will include helping to advance the country's digital health strategy, supporting health information platforms and improving how health data is collected, managed and used.
Key areas include:
- Supporting national digital health priorities and implementation plans.
- Providing technical advice on electronic medical records and health information systems.
- Supporting DHIS2, CHIS/ComEMR and related digital health platforms.
- Helping improve data quality, dashboards and routine use of health information.
- Supporting interoperability, data governance and system requirements.
- Building the capacity of health-sector teams to use digital systems effectively.
- Working with government and other stakeholders on digital health coordination.
- Contributing to technical reports, documentation and recommendations.
The assignment is based in Freetown and includes travel across Sierra Leone. It runs for 12 months.
Who This Role Is Best For:
This is an experienced technical role. UNICEF requires at least five years of progressively responsible experience in digital health, HMIS/DHIS2, electronic medical records, health systems strengthening, public health monitoring or related technical assistance.
An advanced degree in areas such as Public Health, Health Informatics, Digital Health, Epidemiology, Information Systems, Data Science or Computer Science is required. A first university degree combined with substantial relevant experience may be considered in justified cases.
Candidates with experience working with Sierra Leone's Ministry of Health, UNICEF systems, DHIS2, CHIS/ComEMR, OpenMRS or Bahmni may have an advantage.
Estimated Salary Range:
Negotiable based on experience.
The source material does not state a specific consultancy fee. Applicants should therefore avoid assuming a particular salary or daily rate.
How to Apply:
Applications must be submitted through UNICEF's Talent Management System (TMS).
Applicants are expected to provide:
- An up-to-date TMS profile and CV
- A cover letter
- A separate financial proposal using the required UNICEF template
- A detailed technical proposal of no more than five pages
The application deadline is September 23, 2026.
How to Increase Your Chances:
Do not submit a generic international-development CV. Make your technical experience obvious.
Highlight specific work involving DHIS2, EMR, interoperability, data governance, dashboards, digital health strategy, health information systems and capacity building.
Your technical proposal should also show that you understand Sierra Leone's health-system context and can turn technical knowledge into practical improvements.
2. National HMIS Consultant
What You'll Do (Simplified):
The National HMIS Consultant will help strengthen Sierra Leone's health information management system and support the Ministry of Health and UNICEF's health programmes.
The assignment includes strengthening the use of HMIS platforms at facility and community levels, designing electronic data-collection tools and improving dashboards used for programme monitoring.
Key areas include:
- Supporting administration and use of DHIS2 and the Community Health Information System.
- Helping health teams use digital tools for programme monitoring.
- Developing electronic data-collection tools for areas such as nutrition, immunisation and maternal and child health.
- Supporting tools such as KoBoToolbox and EPI Info.
- Developing and maintaining Power BI dashboards.
- Conducting data-quality assessments.
- Providing mentoring and technical support to health facility and district teams.
- Supporting UNICEF and Ministry of Health digital-health initiatives.
The consultancy lasts 12 months and is described as office-based, remote and travel-based.
Who This Role Is Best For:
This position has a lower experience threshold than the Digital Health Consultant role and requires at least two years of progressively responsible experience in health information systems, DHIS2, electronic data collection, data quality or dashboard development.
A bachelor's degree in Health Informatics, Information Systems, Public Health, Statistics, Demography, Computer Science, Monitoring & Evaluation or a related discipline is required.
Strong practical skills in DHIS2, KoBoToolbox/EPI Info and Power BI are central to the role. Experience working with the Ministry of Health, UNICEF or Sierra Leone's health information systems is desirable.
Estimated Salary Range:
Negotiable based on experience.
The vacancy information does not publish a specific consultancy fee.
How to Apply:
Submit the application through UNICEF's TMS online recruitment portal.
Required documents include:
- Updated TMS profile and CV
- Cover letter
- Financial proposal using the specified UNICEF template
- Technical proposal of no more than five pages
The application deadline is September 20, 2026.
How to Increase Your Chances:
Your CV should clearly connect your experience to the tools named in the vacancy. Do not simply write "data analysis" or "health information systems."
Mention actual experience with DHIS2 administration, Power BI, KoBoToolbox, EPI Info, data-quality assurance, electronic data collection and training health workers.
The technical proposal is also important. Use it to explain how your experience would help strengthen HMIS implementation and improve the use of health data for decision-making.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Applying without the required technical and financial proposals.
- Sending a CV that does not clearly show experience with the systems listed in the vacancy.
- Ignoring the five-page maximum for the technical proposal.
- Treating these consultancy roles like ordinary employment vacancies without reviewing the Terms of Reference.
- Failing to demonstrate practical experience in Sierra Leone or a comparable low-resource setting.
- Waiting until the deadline to complete the TMS application.
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