Purpose of consultancy:
In the last 25 years, significant strides have been made worldwide, especially in East and Southern Africa (ESA), towards achieving Universal Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR). With support from Eastern and Southern Africa (ESARO), nine countries (Botswana, DRC, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Madagascar, Namibia, South Sudan and Zambia) have done rapid assessments to identify bundles of SRHR services that are currently included in the country specific UHC benefit packages, financing and financial protection mechanisms.
These assessments aimed to identify SRHR services within country-specific Universal Health Coverage (UHC) benefit packages and financing mechanisms.
Following these assessments, WHO has refined the UHC Compendium which provides a database of proven health services and inter-sectoral interventions designed to assist countries in making progress towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC). The UHC compendium includes proven services by intervention areas including the SRH services.
To fill gaps in SRHR services, a detailed review using WHO’s UHC Compendium and UNFPA ESARO’s draft SRHR matrix is imperative.
An in-depth Assessment to identify missing elements of Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) in Universal Health Coverage (UHC) initiatives will inform country-specific policy briefs, guiding policymakers and stakeholders on integrating comprehensive SRHR into UHC effectively.
These briefs will propose actions to incorporate missing SRHR elements across the life-course, speeding up progress towards universal SRHR, sustainable financing, and UNFPA's transformative goals, including ending family planning unmet needs, preventable maternal deaths, gender-based violence, harmful practices, and sexual transmission of HIV in the ESA region.
S/he will work under the overall supervision of the Deputy Representative and report directly to the Head of the Sexual and Reproductive Health Unit.
Scope of work:
UNFPA intends to engage a consultant to:
- Undertake an in-depth assessment to identify missing elements of SRHR in UHC initiatives in particular UHC benefit packages, financing, and financial risk protection arrangements by using the WHO’s UHC Compendium and UNFPA ESARO’s draft SRHR across the life-course matrix. If needed carry out key informant virtual interviews
- Prepare a report on the status of comprehensive SRHR within UHC; and,
- Prepare a policy brief and PowerPoint presentation, in consultation with UNFPA, with evidence-informed actions to progressively situate comprehensive SRHR into UHC.
Specifically, the consultancy will broadly answer the following five questions:
(a) Identification of existing 'health service' packages (if possible both in public and private sector); How many people are currently benefiting from them/identified service packages; and how many people could potentially benefit from them by 2030);
(b) What all SRHR services are included in these ‘packages' by using the SRHR services across the life course matrix reference sheet/WHO UHC compendium pertaining to SRHR-clearly outline specific SRHR services (i..e, from the list of over 400 SRHR services listed in the reference matrix) included or excluded by each of the nine SRH service bundles;
(c) How are the listed SRHR services provided - free, cost-shared, subsidised (any other social protection mechanisms), fully paid by clients.
(d) Does the country have costed plans for identified services packages? How are these service packages financed including financing gaps.
(e) Key actions that could be taken to progressively include comprehensive SRHR into existing service packages, and financing and financial protection arrangements.
Duration and working schedule:
25 days effective 20th November 2022
Place where services are to be delivered:
UNFPA Rwanda Country Office, Kigali
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:
Both Electronic and Hard Copy where necessary
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
by the Coordinator of the Integrated Sexual and Reproductive Health Team, will serve as technical quality assuror for this exercise. UNFPA CO and ESARO’s Communication Teams will support the exercise too.
Deliverables:
- An inception report with a complete list of critical policies, and financing, delivery, financial risk protection systems pertaining to UHC to be reviewed, and key informants to be interviewed (if any);
- A report on the status of comprehensive SRHR within UHC (not more than 20 pages);
- A policy brief with evidence informed actions to progressively situate comprehensive SRHR into UHC (not more than five pages); and,
- PowerPoint Presentation that captures the main findings.
Suggested format/sections for the Country Brief:
- Introduction: Country’s commitment to, and trends towards UHC (SDG Target 3.8) and universal SRHR (SDG Target 3.7) – 1 page
- Current status of UHC and SRHR – Policy, Financing, Delivery systems (national and sub-national) and Effective coverage and financial risk protection - 1 page
- How the country is trying to progressively achieve comprehensive SRHR within the UHC drive – 1 page
- Opportunities and challenges for the progressive realisation of comprehensive SRHR as an integral part of UHC (i.e., political, financial and technical) – 1 page
- Strategic actions for accelerating progress towards universal SRHR within the unifying framework of UHC – 1 page
Expected travel:
The consultant is based at the CO but should travel be required during the course of this assignment, UNFPA Rules and Regulations governing travel will apply.
Supervisory arrangements:
The IC will be supervised by the Head of the Sexual Reproductive Health Unit under the leadership of the Deputy Representative and the Head of unit
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
Education:
Master’s degree in public health, health economics, public policy, epidemiology, medicine, international development, economics and demography or other related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:
- Seven years of experience with UHC policies and programmes including in supporting UHC benefit packages, and in UHC financing, delivery and financial risk protection.
- Have significant knowledge and/or experience in Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights.
- Previous experience in undertaking secondary reviews and developing policy briefs.
- Experience with the UN and/or UNFPA on similar assignments.
- The consultant should be able to provide examples of past relevant assignments.
Languages:
Fluency in English
Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
UNFPA will provide:
- Required documentation.
- Office space and IT equipment
- Other applicable support services where appropriate
- DSA and other logistics arrangements, as may be required
Required Competencies:
Values:
- Exemplifying integrity,
- Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
- Embracing cultural diversity,
- Embracing change
Core Competencies:
- Achieving results,
- Being accountable,
- Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
- Thinking analytically and strategically,
- Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Application Deadline: 16/11/2023
How to apply:
Disclaimer:
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.
