Job title:                                                            International Consultant – National Population Policy

                                                                           Review

Level:                                                                 Consultancy equivalent to gross of staff position level

Application Closing date:                                 21 June 2023

Location:                                                           Home-based (15 days) and Port Moresby (17 days)   

Duration:                                                          32 days  between 01 September and 31 October 2023

Background:

Papua New Guinea is a country with a high total fertility rate and a resultant growing working-age population. About 60 percent of the PNG population is below 25 years old. It has a high maternal mortality ratio of 171 per 100,000 live births, among the highest in the world. It has a low contraceptive prevalence rate of 24.1 percent, a high unmet need for family planning at 30 percentlow coverage of skilled birth attendance a,nd a high HIV epidemic prevalence at 0.8 percent. PNG has one of the highest rates of gender-based violence in the world. About 63.9 percent of women in PNG have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence by their spouse (PNG Demographic and Health Survey 2016). About 57percentt of these women were injured due to spousal violence. COVID-19 is making a bad situation worse. Increasing community tensions due to COVID-19-related mistrust and fear have also been highlighted as possible risk factors for elevated rates of sorcery-related violence. UNFPA plays an important role in the provision and analysis of population and sexual and reproductive health data as a foundation for evidence-based development programming. Through the Population Situation Analysis (PSA), population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health and gender issues are integrated into National Development Strategies, explicitly adopting a human rights, culture and gender perspective.

The PSA responds to the demand by countries that international cooperation should promote national capacity-building and recognize national ownership and leadership as prerequisites for development, following the principles agreed upon at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). To ensure national ownership of the PSA, it is of utmost importance to ensure that the PSA is a country-driven exercise, with national priorities at its starting point. Its flexible framework provides several options to tailor the PSA to national realities. Therefore, every outcome document of the PSA will be different and country-specific, yet unified by a common methodology and substantive vision.

The PSA informs the next Country Programme document as well as the Common Country Assessment and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework. In the context of the reform of the United Nations System and the changes in the architecture and the objectives of development cooperation, the PSA reflects the principles underlying the reform – enhancing its relevance and effectiveness for the world’s people in the 21st century – and catalyzes analytical processes that can play an important role in joint programme/programming exercises. Hence, the services of a team of consultants who will work on a comprehensive population situation analysis in Papua New Guinea are needed. These include (a) International Team Leader who is an expert in Population Dynamics; (b) Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights - International Consultant; (c) Gender/Gender-Based Violence - National Consultant; (d) Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health - National Consultant; and (e) an Economist - National Consultant.

Scope of work

With the overall guidance of the Country Representative and Deputy Representative the Team Leader the Consultant will:

• Prepare the joint inception report, drafts and final version of the PSA;
• Gather and analyze accurate and timely data/information as inputs to the PSA;
• Hold a consultative workshop on the PSA with key stakeholders, including Government;
• Conduct follow-up consultations with key stakeholders;
• Draft presentation, meeting/workshop materials, action points/minutes of the meeting, and prepare the draft report (outcome) of the follow-up consultation; and
• Arrange for the review of the initial draft inputs.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications

• Masters in Public Health or Medical degree;
• Training in adolescent and reproductive health in the last five years is desirable;
• Must be able to remain focused under pressure, with a commitment to working hard and long hours; and
• Must be meticulous - have a keen eye for details, looking for excellence/perfection in all technical matters.

Professional experience

• At least five years of solid and recent experience in preparing a country adolescent health analysis;
• At least five years of work experience in coordination with government entities and civil society organizations, the conduct of workshops/consultations.

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,
  • Communicating for impact

Languages:

• Fluency in oral and written English is required.

Submission of applications:

Interested applicants should submit their applications of interest to:

The UNFPA Representative, UNFPA,  Level 14, Kina Haus, Douglas Street, PO Box 1041, Port Moresby via email to png-recruitment@unfpa.org no later than 14 June 2023.

Submissions should include:

Letter of Interest, CV, and UN Personal History Form (P11)