Individual Consultant: VALIDATION OF 30 YEARS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS, POLICY REVIEW, AND QUALITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FAMILY PLANNING INEQUITY IN EASTERN AND SOUTHERN AFRICA REGION
- Short Posting Period (6d): Only 6 days between posting and deadline. UN vacancies typically allow 2–4 weeks. Very short windows can indicate the hiring decision is already made.
TERMS OF REFERENCE (to be completed by Hiring Office)
Hiring Office:
FP/Supplies Unit, UNFPA ESARO
Purpose of contract:
Background & Context:
The ESAR has undergone a demographic transformation in the last three decades. Preliminary analysis shows that, between 1990 and 2024, the mCPR escalated almost tripled, while unmet need declined by one third, from 35.4% to 22.7%. However, this progress is non-linear. The region faces a High-Inequality paradox in countries like Kenya and Namibia, where national success is fueled by affluent urban groups, leaving rural populations in conditions reminiscent of the 1990s[1] [link removed]. Conversely, the negative equity trap seen in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) represents an infrastructure failure, where equity is achieved only because access is universally low for both rich and poor. These disparities are most acute at the sub-national level, exemplified by the Simiyu-Lindi divide in Tanzania, where the Lindi region reports a world-class unmet need of 6.7% while Simiyu faces a crisis-level unmet need of 41.7%. Qualitative deep dives are essential to validate the institutional and behavioural context of these gaps.
The strategic intent of this consultancy is to humanize demographic trends and service access/utilization. It is not a simple information collection exercise, but a comprehensive operational audit designed to surface the narratives of invisible, high-risk populations. By synthesizing technical modelling with lived experiences, this exercise will help to bridge the gap between quantitative data and actionable policy informed by real-life experiences.
Primary Objectives:
Scope of work:
(Description of services, activities, or outputs)
The Scope of this work is rooted in rigorous validation logic, updating available recent information, adding more layers of information, incorporating reports, conducting qualitative data collection and analysis, based on agreed concept notes, validation tools, and DHS protocols to ensure high-fidelity reporting. The consultant will adapt a draft tool typically used for validation and gathering of additional information. The scope includes all countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region.
Specifically:
Duration and working schedule:
Three Months (50 days LOE) with a starting date of May 15, 2026.
Place where services are to be delivered:
The selected consultant will be required to provide weekly updates via email to monitor adherence to tight production schedules. Virtual meetings will be held when necessary.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):
All deliverables (including reports, completed tools, PPTs, policy documents, and datasets) will be presented electronically according to the specific delivery dates outlined above.
The selected consultant will be expected to deliver all work electronically by 15 August, 2026.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
The selected consultant will be required to provide regular updates via email to monitor adherence to tight production schedules. The consultant must demonstrate the following:
Supervisory arrangements:
The selected consultant will work under the supervision of the hiring manager, Population Dynamics Adviser, and the Regional Family Planning Specialist.
Expected travel:
No travel is expected. All activities are virtual (data collection, consultation, desk review, validations, etc).
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
The ideal profile is a Master's in population studies, statistics, or with a public health/medical background and quantitative skills, with strong exposure in interpreting demographic trends and social determinants, who can translate complex modelling into family planning and supply chain programmatic shifts.
Requirements:
Detailed Deliverables:
Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:
UNFPA will provide electronic copies of the reports, all relevant background documents to help inform the proofreading processes, as well as guidance for clarification purposes.
Remote assignment
[1] [link removed] Kenya has achieved a high modern Contraceptive Prevalence Rate (mCPR) of 62.5% and successfully reduced its overall unmet need from 44.60% in 1990 to 12.20% in 2024. However, it has an inequity score of 11.292, placing it in the Highest Inequality category for the region. Namibia has also reached the upper echelon of contraceptive use (mCPR >55%) and reduced its unmet need from 26.10% in 1990 to 15.20% in 2024. Despite this volume, it holds an inequity score of 11.042, representing the Highest Inequality among high-incidence.
Core Competencies:
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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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 [link removed] 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.
