National Consultant - Developing recommendations on SRH to the National emergency preparedness plans

The National Consultant on Developing recommendations to the National emergency preparedness plans with SRH considerations and submission to the MoH, under the direct supervision of the UNFPA SRH National Program Analyst will provide specialized technical expertise to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ensure that the development of national emergency plan will incorporate SRH considerations and the MISP.

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 realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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

The Republic of Kazakhstan, currently ranked 60th on the Human Development Index, has faced significant humanitarian and development shifts between 2021 and 2025 that have tested the resilience of the healthcare system. While the country has made progress in general health indicators, recent crises – including the COVID-19 pandemic, the "Qantar" events, and the 2024 large-scale floods – have exposed systemic vulnerabilities in maintaining the continuity of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) services. During the pandemic, service disruptions contributed to a surge in the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) to 44.7 per 100,000 live births in 2021, though this was successfully reduced to a historic low of 10.1 by the end of 2024 as the system recovered.
Since 2016, UNFPA has been a lead technical partner to the Government of Kazakhstan, supporting the multisectoral response to gender-based violence (MSR to GBV) within the framework of the Concept on Family and Gender Policy until 2030. While a responsive health system is essential for protecting GBV survivors, the mechanisms for addressing SRH and GBV in humanitarian emergencies require a specialized approach. Since 1997, the global community has utilized the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) as the standard for prioritized essential SRH services to be deployed within 48 hours of an emergency.
In 2021, UNFPA initiated a third round of MISP preparedness assessments in the EECA region, which highlighted significant gaps in Kazakhstan’s regulatory framework and civil defence governance. To address these, UNFPA moved beyond theoretical advocacy to institutionalize sustainable capacity. A milestone was reached in December 2025, when a blended 60-hour university-level MISP curriculum developed by UNFPA and adapted for the Central Asian context – was officially approved by the Healthcare Educational and Methodological Council and recommended for nationwide implementation. Furthermore, UNFPA has developed a draft "Standard for Preparedness and Response to SRH and GBV in Emergencies" to provide a clear regulatory basis for life-saving interventions.
Despite this progress, the 2025 MISP Readiness Assessment (MRA) confirms that Kazakhstan’s SRH in Emergencies (SRHiE) readiness remains in an early institutionalization phase, particularly regarding the integration of SRH into national disaster management plans and the inclusion of commodities in mobilization reserves. The "National Healthcare Development Concept for 2025–2029" now presents an opportunity to bridge these gaps. To leverage this, UNFPA is hiring a consultant to develop comprehensive, evidence-based recommendations for the National Emergency Preparedness and Response Plans. The focus of this consultancy is to ensure that SRH considerations and MISP standards are formally integrated into the upcoming Public Health Emergency frameworks and successfully submitted to the Ministry of Health for adoption.
 

The National consultant, under the direct supervision of the UNFPA SRH National Program Analyst will provide specialized technical expertise to the Ministry of Health (MoH) to ensure that the development of national emergency plan will incorporate SRH considerations and the MISP.

The specific activities and technical tasks include:
1. Drafting Regulatory Proposals for National and Regional Emergency Plans
•    Develop structured legal and operational clauses for the "Public Health Emergency Response Plan 2026–2029" (at both National and Regional levels) to institutionalize SRHiE interventions.
•    Ensure the previously developed "Standard for Preparedness and Response to SRH and GBV in Emergencies" is translated into specific regulatory provisions that meet MoH requirements for formal integration into national health security protocols.
2. Standardizing Medical Reserves and Supply Chain Norms
•    Formulate draft proposals for updating the standards of medical reserve normalization, specifically defining the composition and quantification of medicines and medical devices (SRH/MISP kits) for populations with special and urgent medical needs.
3. Developing the Personnel Mobilization Framework
•    Draft a regulatory proposal for the "Flexible Procedure for Mobilization of Medical and Support Personnel" operating in disaster zones.
•    This task includes defining deployment algorithms and specific responsibilities of healthcare staff providing SRH services, ensuring that the roles are consistent with national labor and emergency legislation.
4. Institutionalizing Readiness through Situational Centers and Training
•    Develop a proposal for MoH Situational Centers to integrate SRH/GBV early warning and monitoring indicators into national digital response and alerting systems.

All proposals must be developed in accordance with the legislative drafting techniques (legal design) of the Republic of Kazakhstan to ensure they are ready for official adoption (drafts will be completed with explanatory notes and comparative tables). The consultant shall utilize the previously developed "Standard for Preparedness and Response to SRH and GBV in Emergencies" and the approved 60-hour training curriculum as the technical foundation, adapting them into a format and scope acceptable to the Ministry of Health.

All deliverables must be submitted electronically in Russian as per UNFPA requirements: 

1.        Inception Report (describing conceptual approaches for the development of necessary materials and a list of specific Normative Legal Acts to be amended)   - Not later than  25 June 2026
2.        Draft No. 1: First full draft of all proposed amendments and regulatory clauses  - Not later than 25 July 2026 
3.        Final Consultancy Report: A comprehensive package including all finalized materials and regulatory proposals  - Not later than 15 October 2026

• 
  
• Bachelors’ degree in medicine or public health or other related fields in social science 
  
• At least a master's degree in one of the areas: clinical medicine, public health, health policy
  

• Minimum 10 years of professional experience in public health
  
• Proven experience in developing strategic policy documents, national programs, or Normative Legal Acts  within the healthcare sector of Kazakhstan.
  
• Demonstrated track record of working with the Ministry of Health or other high-level government entities on health system strengthening.
  
• Prior experience in projects related to Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) or the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is required.
  
• In-depth knowledge of the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRH in emergencies and IAWG global standards.  
  
• Expertise in legislative drafting (legal design) and knowledge of the regulatory environment of the Republic of Kazakhstan (specifically regarding public health). 
  
• Previous experience in the area of SRHR, as well as SRHiE/MISP with UN agencies, or international organizations is an asset
  

• Fluency in Russian (required) 
  
• Proficiency in Kazakh (advance)
  

• Strong analytical and structured thinking
  
• High-quality drafting and documentation skills
  
• Strong coordination and facilitation skills
  

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary 

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.
 

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.