Re-advertisement: National Consultant on TOT for Lactation Counselling and BF Support

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

Breastfeeding remains a key public health priority in Turkmenistan and represents one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival, optimal growth and development, and the long-term health of both infants and mothers.

National data from MICS 2019, MICS 2024 and the TNMS 2024 indicate that breastfeeding is nearly universal, reaching 96.7% in 2024. Notable progress has been achieved in early initiation of breastfeeding, which increased from 73.0% in 2019 to 84.7% in 2024, reflecting improvements in maternity care practices and the implementation of Baby-Friendly Hospital standards.

However, these gains have not translated into sustained exclusive breastfeeding, as rates of exclusive breastfeeding under six months declined from 56.5% to 35.5%, with 23.8% of infants receiving mixed feeding. Significant disparities persist, with the lowest exclusive breastfeeding rates observed in Ashgabat city (20.3%), Balkan velayat (24.3%), and among wealthier households, where only 15.2% of infants in the richest quintile are exclusively breastfed compared to 48.7% in the second quintile. These patterns suggest