Re-Advertise -- Consultant To A Review Of Laws And Policies With Impact On Universal Access To Sexual And Reproductive Health And Rights In Asia And The Pacific

The Consultancy:
The consultancy to undertake a review of laws and policies which impact on universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights in Asia and the Pacific was advertised from 9-22 March 2023.
From the said advertisement, UNFPA does not find suitable candidate whose profile matches the requirement stated in the vacancy announcement. UNFPA therefore decides to re-advertise to look for a qualified candidatefor to provide this consultancy.
This consultancy is homebased and requires 65 workdays during the 4 months period as below details.
The Objective Of This Consultancy

• Provide recommendations to UNFPA on the next steps to strengthen legal frameworks and policies in the Asia-Pacific region, including suggested good legal practices and principles for enabling UHC to SR
• Describe how existing laws and legal frameworks in countries in the Asia Pacific, where UNFPA has offices, impact on the realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Review existing studies conducted by UNFPA APRO, WHO, UNAIDS and other relevant Agencies on SRHR and the law including Universal health coverage for achieving SRHR; SRHR inequities analysis, ASRH and the law, SRHR and UPR studies among others.
• Collect and collate other relevant information on legal contexts and practices in AP countries, for example from key informants, focus group discussions and other consultative mechanisms.
• Identify laws and legal frameworks which are the most conducive to UHC and full realization of SRHR, especially in groups most left behind and marginalized.

You will report to the SRHR Maternal Health Technical Advisor, United Nations Population Fund, Asia and the Pacific Regional Office in Bangkok.
How You Can Make a Difference
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.
Scope Of Work
The selected consultant will be required to collect and analyze data from existing studies, from interviews with key stakeholders and UNFPA staff in countries. The consultant should design a framework for the analysis of SRHR and the law in the Asia Pacific region. Using this framework the review should explore and analyze the following:

• The impact of national laws and policies on realization of universal access to SRHR in the Asia Pacific region
• Propose recommendations on good practices for laws, legal frameworks and policies to incorporate to ensure improved accountability and increased universal access to SRHR
• Whether there are specific laws or policies which are more conducive to the realization of SRHR in the region. If so those will be highlighted and explained.
• Identify enabling and inhibiting factors for the implementation of laws and policies which are conducive to universal access to SRHR

The specific method of data collection will be proposed by the consultant should include a literature/law and policy review, an online survey, online interviews with key stakeholders including UNFPA APRO staff and key UNFPA country office staff , as well as governments and civil society groups.
Duration Of Work
It is estimated that this consultancy will take 65 workdays during 4 months contract.
Place Where Services Are To Be Delivered
Consultant can work from her/his Home Base but will need to be able to hold meetings and conduct online interviews with participants in Asia and the Pacific during their working hours.
Delivery Dates And How Work Will Be Delivered

• Complete data collection as per agreed methodology and provide preliminary analyses in a PowerPoint presentation to be delivered to UNFPA APRO and country offices – ( 45 days work )
• Final print ready report with recommendations to UNFPA and power point presentation summary which incorporates all feedback on drafts (15 days work)
• Develop a concept note that outlines the proposed methodology and approach to the study that can be shared with APRO, UNFPA country offices and other key stakeholders (5 days work)

Monitoring and progress control
SRHR Maternal health technical advisor will conduct weekly calls with the consultant and will monitor approach and analysis following agreed methodology and timeline. Other members of the APRO team will review and provide feedback through each deliverable.
Education
Qualifications and Experience:
Minimum Master's degree in international law and public health
Knowledge And Experience

• Within this 10 years of experience, at least 3 years of experience conducting assessments or evaluations of policies and programs in the Asia Pacific region would be beneficial.
• Minimum of 10 years of experience in research, evidence generation, in the area of SRHR and the law.
• Experience in analysing laws or legal frameworks in the Asia Pacific region is desirable.

Languages

• English proficiency is mandatory

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA
The consultant will engage primarily with the SRHR Maternal Health Technical Adviser at UNFPA APRO. It is also expected that the consultant will engage with other UNFPA regional and country office staff and external partners and stakeholders as required which will be coordinated by UNFPA APRO.
Throughout the preparation process, the consultant and the UNFPA AP Regional Office will engage in periodic meetings, which may be complemented by email exchanges and informal discussions between the consultant and UNFPA APRO on scope of the project, clarification of deliverables, etc.
Special Conditions
Copyrights of the final product shall be the property of UNFPA. UNFPA shall provide the consultant with logos, texts, photos and any other material in an adequate format, as required by the assignment. The consultant shall not use UNFPA’s logo or any other material supplied by UNFPA, for any purposes outside the scope of the assignment and contract
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.