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National Consultancy

Menstrual Health Management Local Consultancy

11 September 2020
East and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO), Sunninghill, Johannesburg

Closing Date: 11 September 2020

Purpose of consultancy:

Today, many countries in Africa are moving towards more holistic responses to menstrual health management (MHM), with strengthened efforts to ensure that the focus on MHM is expanded from product availability as a stand-alone solution to integrated, cross-sectoral policy and programmatic responses involving gender, education (including comprehensive sexuality education or CSE for in- and out-of-school youth), water and sanitation (WASH), waste disposal and health system strengthening, with a competent workforce, both in development contexts and humanitarian responses. It is also increasingly recognized as an issue for research and learning, monitoring and evaluation.

However, despite progress in some countries, many of these efforts remain undocumented, limited in geographical coverage, lacking a strong evidence-base, and are largely donor or charity dependent. More needs to be done to strengthen high-level policy commitment, coordination, knowledge sharing, and evidence-based programming. There is also a need to develop effective and innovative approaches to supply management and distribution, build commitment to strengthen education efforts, improve water and sanitation infrastructure in school and other spaces, and to ensure that multi-sectoral plans are costed and supported with adequate financial resources to sustain efforts, develop monitoring and evaluation, and bring programmes to scale across the African continent.

The UNFPA regional programme builds on key strategies to ensure the effective and meaningful participation of young people at all levels while promoting a number of human rights-based interventions to address issues of sexual and reproductive health and rights.  

The purpose of the consultancy is to oversee the management, communications and advocacy of Menstrual Health issues, UNFPA’s regional work on youth leadership and participation, as well as support to work on youth-friendly health services and adolescent-responsive health systems within the universal health coverage (UHC) framework, in addition to serve as lead coordinator of the African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management Secretariat and in support for UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office's (ESARO) SRHR Unit.

Scope of work: 

The consultant will lead the management of the Coalition Secretariat and oversee all communication, advocacy and resource mobilisation tasks. At an operational level, the Coordinator is responsible for planning, implementing, and managing all activities associated with the coalition that include providing support for coordination, advocacy, communications research and knowledge management, as well as overall leadership and support for MHM issues. The consultant will also support UNFPA to integrate MHM in its SRHR mandate.

In addition, the consultant will be responsible for the day-to-day work related to the youth leadership and participation portfolio under the supervision of the youth team lead and SYP Regional Coordinator. Moreover s/he will be supporting the work on youth-friendly health services and adolescent-responsive health systems within the UHC framework under the overall leadership of the Regional Advisor, Health System Strengthening, and the day-to-day supervision of the youth team lead and SYP regional Coordinator.

The consultant is expected to lead the following tasks:

Menstrual Health Management Programme:

  • Work with UNFPA and the Coalition leadership to finalise and implement a 5-year strategy, action plan and a joint advocacy strategy for the African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management;
  • Develop position briefs and statements;
  • Lead the contribution of ACMHM to a global review of MHM related policies;
  • Guide Coalition member’s efforts to advocate for policies/legislation at regional/national levels;
  • Represent the Coalition in global, regional and national policy dialogues and high-level discussions, including during the 2020 International Menstrual Hygiene Day; and
  • Support the development and implementation of knowledge products, such as the application of instruments and tools for testing effectiveness of coalition strategies; and
  • Liaise and broker TA between global, regional and national partners for knowledge management, capacity building and South-South collaboration within and beyond the Coalition.
  • Seek and write grant proposals to obtain additional funding for Coalition staff and activities,
  • Initiate preparations for the 2nd African Symposium on Menstrual Health Management, tentatively planned March 2021.
  • Lead the overall maintenance and management of the Coalition website;
  • Develop marketing and media materials, campaigns, and identify African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management promotion opportunities in conjunction with the Coalition members and external partners;
  • Report and present coalition progress and program findings through online and face-to-face communication with Coalition members and external partners.

Support to the Youth Regional programme

The consultant is expected to support the portfolio of the Regional Programme Specialist, Adolescent and Youth in the following areas:

  • Provide evidence based support to UNFPA ESARO and country offices for enhanced advocacy and policy dialogues;
  • Support the integration of MHM into programme design;
  • Contribute to UNFPA ESARO’s MHM advocacy and knowledge management processes and products; and
  • Support UNFPA ESARO and CO resource mobilization for enhanced funding for MHM;
  • Support the youth leadership and participation portfolio including day to day collaboration with relevant youth led organizations, youth networks and other UN agencies;
  • Support the day to day work on ASRHR with a focus on Youth Friendly Health Services within the UHC framework;
  • Support any other task assigned by the Youth team lead and SYP Regional Coordinator.

Work Relations:

The IC will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Director, UNFPA East and Southern Africa with daily supervision by the Youth team lead and SYP Regional Coordinator.

This requires close collaboration with the African Coalition for Menstrual Health Management members, the UNFPA Health system Strengthening Regional Advisor, the CSE Specialist, the Regional Coordinator for the UN 2gether 4 SRHR and other key partners and UNFPA Country Offices.

Required competencies:

CORE VALUES

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

CORE COMPETENCIES

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

FUNCTIONAL COMPETENCIES

  • Conceptual innovation in the provision of technical expertise
  • Job knowledge, Technical expertise
  • Strengthening the capacity of country offices
  • Facilitating quality programme results
  • Delivering results-based programmes
  • Strategically positioning UNFPA programmes
  • Internal & external communication

Duration and working schedule:

1 November 2020 – 31 March 2021. The position is full time, based at the UNFPA East and Southern Africa Regional Office. However, due to COVID-19 related prevention measures s/he will be working from home until otherwise requested by UNFPA ESARO.

Expected Deliverables:

  • Increased ACMHM membership and partnerships
  • One annual ACMHM thematic task Force meetings held (virtual/face-to-face)
  • At least two resource mobilisation proposals developed and submitted to potential donors
  • Representation of ACMHM at country and regional forums
  • Updated ACMHM database / listserv
  • ACMHM website and social media accounts updated and functional
  • Periodic newsletter developed and circulated
  • Technical support on MHM provided to UNFPA ESARO, country offices and partners
  • At least three main activities undertaken and duly documented with youth led organization and youth networks
  • Managed successfully Annual Work Plans with Youth-led organization
  • Support AfriYAN General Assembly and other activities related to youth participation and accountability including SADC PF online engagement
  • Represented UNFPA in meeting related to the Thswane Declaration
  • Technically supported the development of regional studies/assessments related to MHM and ASRHR
  • Supported celebrations of the International Youth Day
  • Contributed to resource mobilization proposals for MHM and ASRHR
  • Contributed to the development of the youth vision paper for the region
  • At least 95% of the Annual Work Plan activities related to ASRHR – specifically YFHS achieved and reporting duly and timely submitted.

Place where services are to be delivered:

ESARO, Johannesburg, South Africa

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

All reports and feedback are delivered in electronic copies.

Monthly deliverables will be agreed with the selected consultant.

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

The IC will:

  • Document ACMHM lessons and achievements
  • Lead  the quarterly newsletter development
  • Engage with the Coalition members and partners on a monthly basis
  • Monitor good practices for documentation
  • Complete any other tasks required by the Unit Lead
  • Work with the communications unit to develop communications products
  • Facilitate activities in collaboration with other UN agencies, youth led organization and youth networks which will be duly and timely documented
  • Support the full implementation of the regional programme activities related to ASRHR – specifically Youth Friendly Health Services and UHC related efforts.  
  • The IC will submit a report on all the tasks undertaken every month.

Supervisory arrangements:

The IC will work under the overall supervision of the Regional Director a.i. with daily supervision by the Youth Team lead and SYP Regional Coordinator.

Expected travel:

Due to the current situation related to COVID19 no travels are foreseen. However, such possibility may arise towards the end of the year.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:  A University degree at Master level or equivalent in health education, public health, social sciences, or other field directly related to the substantive areas of this position.

Experience and skills

  • 5 years’ relevant work experience with government, UN or NGOs on issues related to sexual and reproductive health, health education, adolescent health or related areas;
  • Experience in strategy and action plan development;
  • Strong advocacy and networking skills with the ability to liaise with and engage government, UN agencies, CSOs and other stakeholders in a professional and friendly manner;
  • Experience in M&E, including development of indicators and tools;
  • Excellent administration, coordination and organizational skills;
  • Strong communication skills and proven experience with the use of social media and other channels for effective advocacy, knowledge sharing and campaigning;
  • Strong writing and analytical skills;
  • Ability to work with and within inter-disciplinary and multicultural groups;
  • Good computer skills, including for the establishment and maintenance of online databases; and
  • Experience with resource mobilization and grant/proposal development is an asset.

Other relevant information or special conditions:

This assignment is open to citizens and those with legal right to work in South Africa.

How to Apply: 

  • Deadline for applications: Friday 11 September, 2020. 
  • Interested applicants should send a short letter of motivation and a detailed CV to jobs.esaro@unfpa.org.
  • UNFPA will only respond to those applicants in whom we have further interest.

Disclaimer:

  • UNFPA does not solicit or screen for information in respect of HIV or AIDS and does not discriminate on the basis of HIV/AIDS status.
  • UNFPA is committed to maintaining a balanced gender distribution of the positions and therefore encourage women to apply.
  • There are NO application processing or other fees at any stage of UNFPA application processes.