Local Consultancy:To Develop and Produce Knowledge Product: Ending Early and Unintended Pregnancies in South Africa

The Position:

Local Consultancy: To Develop and Produce Knowledge Product: Ending Early and Unintended Pregnancies in South Africa 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

South Africa faces a persistent challenge with early and unintended pregnancies, which not only affect the health and well-being of individuals but also pose significant social and economic implications. Addressing this issue requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses comprehensive sexual education, access to contraceptives, healthcare services, and societal support systems. 

As part of the project of the UNFPA/ French Embassy, a key outcome is the production of a knowledge product in the form of a policy brief. UNFPA therefore requires the services of a service provider to develop and produce the advocacy policy brief on Ending Early and Unintended Pregannacies in South Africa. 

Advocacy plays a crucial role in driving policy changes and allocating resources to address early and unintended pregnancies. The policy brief will be used by civil society organizations, healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers must collaborate to advocate for: - 

• Policy reforms that prioritize sexual and reproductive health education, access to contraception, and comprehensive healthcare services for adolescents and young adults. 
•  Budget allocations to strengthen healthcare systems, train healthcare providers, and expand access to contraceptive services in underserved communities.
•  Implementation of laws and policies that protect reproductive rights, ensure access to safe abortion services, and address gender-based violence and discrimination.

Scope of work:

Tasks 

UNFPA therefore seeks the services of a provider to engage in the following: 

• 1. Research: desktop review and literature review (3 days) 
• 2. Write – up of the policy brief (10 days) 
• 3. Editing and proofreading (2 days)

 Deliverable 

• 1. Full layout and design of the policy brief 
• 2. Print ready policy brief produced

Duration and working schedule:

 15 May to 04 June (15 days)

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

• Communications Analyst with oversight over the work with content support from the Adolescent and Youth Specialist.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• Advanced degree (At least Master’s Degree) in Social Sciences 
• 5 Years of providing rapporteur services and development of tools to capture complex issues in training/workshop environment.
• Proven record of report writing skills

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.