National Consultant: Sexual and Reproductive Health Nexus Coordinator

TERMS OF REFERENCE  (to be completed by Hiring Office)

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Philippine Country Office

Purpose of consultancy:

National Consultant - Sexual and Reproductive Health Nexus coordinator (Manila-based)


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 realising the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. 

In the Philippines, UNFPA has started implementing its new five-year 9th Country Programme 2024-2028.  The 9th CP is tightly aligned with the mid- and long-term development goals of the Philippines and Ambisyon Natin 2040, the Philippine Development Plan as well as the global Agenda 2030 including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

The implementation of the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health (RPRH) Law, alongside the Universal Health Care (UHC) Law, is pivotal for advancing sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services and ensuring comprehensive health care for all Filipinos. To accelerate the effective implementation of these laws, there is a need for a dedicated SRH Coordinator who will work closely with the Department of Health (DOH) and UNFPA. The coordinator will support various DOH bureaus, particularly the Disease Prevention and Control Program-Child Adolescent Maternal Health Division (DPCB-CAMHD) and Health Emergency Management Bureau (HEMB) to ensure the prioritisation of quality SRH services in both development and humanitarian settings.  

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 individuals who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme/project results.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The SRH Nexus Coordinator will contribute to:

1. Facilitate the Implementation of the RPRH Law:
   • Collaborate with DOH and UNFPA to support the roll-out and scaling-up of RPRH initiatives.
   • Ensure alignment of RPRH activities with national policies and strategies.
2. Strengthen Health System Capacity:
   • Work with relevant DOH bureaus to ensure the integration of SRH services into Primary Health Care approaches (BUCAS and Puro Kalusugan) as part of UHC implementation.
3. Support Humanitarian Response:
   • Assist the DOH-HEMB in incorporating SRH services into emergency and disaster response plans.
   • Ensure that SRH needs are prioritised in humanitarian settings, in line with global standards and guidelines.

The efforts will be done mainly through the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health - National Implementation Team (RPRH NIT), maintaining collaborative relationships with government, non-government organisations, civil society, multilateral and bilateral donor agencies, co-United Nations Agencies, programmes and specialised agencies and other development organisations.

Under the supervision of the UNFPA Maternal Health and Family Planning Analyst, the SRH Nexus Coordination Analyst will provide support to the Reproductive Health Unit and the Humanitarian Unit and carry out the following tasks:

1. Support the multisectoral platform for collaboration for Reproductive Health (formerly the National Implementation Team for RPRH). The support includes conduct of RH Technical Working Group meetings, agenda setting and sustaining engagement (co-organize multi-sectoral events, develop multi-sectoral reports, support the monitoring of key action points and key results to be achieved in NIT work plans and meetings to be conducted). Facilitate coordination between DOH, UNFPA, and other stakeholders involved in the implementation of the RPRH and UHC laws.
2. Organise and participate in regular coordination meetings, technical working groups, and other relevant platforms.
3. Support the convening of the SRH subcluster, during humanitarian situations, engaging all possible SRH partners in the response, including supporting the monitoring of key action points and key results to be achieved in SRH sub-cluster work plans and meetings to be conducted.
4. Coordinate with various stakeholders in developing evidence-based, innovative and replicable policy and programmatic solutions to pressing SRHR issues, including in the humanitarian setting.
5. Contribute in identifying and coordinating potential resource mobilisation initiatives and opportunities to further widen and diversify UNFPA’s investments on SRHR in the field.
6. Contribute in identifying communication entry points and initiatives to strengthen UNFPA’s organisational brand in galvanising support and engagement with beneficiaries, government and non-government partners, donors and with UNFPA staff on SRHR;
7. Support the mapping of prospective RH, GBV and Humanitarian partners in national and subnational levels, especially in the priority areas for the 9th Country Programme;
8. Keep abreast of new SRH policy developments and strategies in development and humanitarian context, analysing policy papers, strategy documents and national plans, and prepare briefs and inputs for policy dialogue and technical assistance coordination;
9. Contribute to creation and sharing of knowledge by synthesising and documenting findings and lessons learned, success stories and best practices, strategies and approaches of the CO’s SRH development and humanitarian programming, and drafting relevant materials for dissemination;
10. In the event of an emergency, work with the concerned government agency partners, donors, national/regional and local Reproductive Health Coordinating Teams (RHCTs) and implementing partners to support the smooth and timely deployment, set-up and distribution of prepositioned humanitarian goods;
11. Depending on possible changes in contexts, perform other related tasks as may be assigned by the Representative

Duration and working schedule:

October 2024 – September 2025; Full-time position

Place where services are to be delivered:

Duty Station: UNFPA Country Office, Metro Manila

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

Monthly accomplishment report to be submitted at the end of each month detailing: a) Target Deliverables; b) Deliverables Achieved; and c) other Comments/Remarks

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

The monthly accomplishment report described above will be prepared by consultant, reviewed and verified by the UNFPA Maternal Health/Family Planning Programme Analyst, and approved by the UNFPA Head of Programme

Supervisory arrangements: 

The SRH Nexus Coordination Analyst will be under the overall supervision of the Head of the Programme and direct supervision of the UNFPA Maternal Health/Family Planning Programme Analyst  

Expected travel:

The SRH Nexus Coordination Analyst is expected to travel occasionally to program sites as needed.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Minimum Requirement:  

Advanced University Degree in public health, medicine, nursing, sociology, social anthropology, health education, health economics, epidemiology, behavioural studies, communication and other related fields; or, Bachelor’s Degree with two (2) years of experience 

Desired Knowledge and Experience:

• two (2) years of prior experience in implementing and supervising  health and RH-related programs/projects is desirable 
• Experience in dealing with development/humanitarian assistance and donor relations
• Demonstrated capacity to source, develop and maintain excellent relationships with key partners
• Proven ability to represent the organization with government representatives, private sector and alternative sources
• Knowledge and experience on the MISP for SRH in Emergencies;
• Familiarity with the UN system is an advantage
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills

Languages: 

 Fluency in English and Filipino is required.

Required Competencies 

Values/Guiding Principles:

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

Functional Competencies:

• Implementing management systems
• Innovation and marketing of new approaches
• Client orientation
• Planning, organising and multi-tasking
• Managing information and workflow
• Proficient in current office software applications particularly on Word, Excel and PowerPoint
• Job knowledge/technical expertise
• Organisational awareness

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
• Communicating for impact