Purpose of consultancy:

UNFPA’s new Strategic Plan and ASRO’s new Regional Programmes, both starting in 2026, emphasize emergency preparedness as critical to achieving progress on the transformative results and enhancing resilience. As summarized in the 2020 MISP readiness assessment guidelines, “sexual and reproductive health (SRH) needs are not put on pause during emergencies—and often increase due to disruptions to health systems, displacement and breakdowns in societal protection and social structures. Pregnancies, complications, risk of STI and HIV transmission and the wish to access contraceptives do not stop when an emergency strikes. In addition, the risks of unsafe abortions, unsafe deliveries and sexual- and gender-based violence can worsen during times of crisis and exacerbate the existing vulnerability of women, girls, marginalized and underserved groups. To mitigate these risks, access to quality SRH care in emergencies is essential.
To assess a country’s readiness to provide these services, the MISP readiness assessment (MRA) tool was developed. This tool allows a team of experts in a country to evaluate the country’s capacity to implement the MISP at the outset of a crisis. During the previous regional programme in 2023-2025, UNFPA ASRO supported thirteen country offices (COs) to undertake the MRA. The results of the assessments were presented in country-level reports and a regional report has been consolidated. Regional activities responding to recommendations to enhance SRH preparedness have been integrated into the regional office work plan for 2026.
UNFPA ASRO intends to recruit an international expert to support the two country offices undertaking the assessments in 2026 (Sudan and Syria), and to engage with and advise the 13 COs that undertook the 2023 and 2024 assessments to review their assessments and to identify priority actions to advance preparedness efforts in their countries in 2026. While the MRA is a multi-hazard assessment, efforts will be made to consider how inclusion of climate hazards within national preparedness plan and, conversely, MISP within national climate preparedness can be better analyzed to respond to requests from country offices and avoid a siloed approach.
The deliverables from this consultancy will contribute to ASRO’s commitment to enhance the integration of SRH into national emergency preparedness plans and policies across the Arab States Region. 

You will report to ASRO SRH Specialist, who provides direction and guidance, certify delivery of outputs and evaluate performance and will work closely with the ASRO Humanitarian Advisor

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Scope of work:

The International Consultant is expected to submit to UNFPA ASRO the following deliverables and complete the following tasks:

• Develop an approach to link MRA assessment tools and findings to climate-related health preparedness without increasing assessment burden for country offices; this
  approach will then be integrated into the new assessments conducted as well as into the review meetings with the COs that have already undertaken MRAs.
• Provide guidance and technical support to the 2 country teams (Sudan and Syria) to implement the MISP Readiness Assessment and to develop action plans (also
  inclusive of climate impacts) to be implemented over a period of 2 to 3 years with national stakeholders.
• Conduct meetings with the 13 Country Offices that completed MRAs between 2023- 2025 to understand progress and challenges in implementation of the assessment
  results. Follow up with COs to monitor progress by the end of 2026.
• Provide guidance to ASRO on implementation of priorities identified through regional MRA review including integration of SRH data into HMIS/DHIS2 and support to
  strengthening linkages between SRH WGs and coordination structures. These activities are included in the ASRO Annual Work Plan but would benefit from the
  expertise of the technical expert.
• Prepare a presentation based on regional assessment findings to be shared during the MISP meeting with LAS to advance regional policy-level commitments to
  integrating SRH into emergency preparedness planning.

Deliverable:

1. One- two page proposal on approach to integrate climate-related health preparedness into 2026 MRA assessments and action plans for assessments undertaken from 2024-2026.
2. Webinar or calls to introduce the regional and global MISP readiness assessment reports and the process to countries participating in the 2026 assessments (Sudan and Syria).
3. Individual meetings with 13 COs that undertook MRA in 2023-2025 to review results, discuss progress and agree on priority actions in 2026. These priority actions will be documented for follow up over the course of the year.
4. Presentation for League of Arab States summarizing findings from MRAs. 
5. Report documenting: (1) key/interesting findings from Sudan and Syria MRA assessments, highlighting any adaptations
   necessary for conflict affected countries; (2) progress made by 13 COs against priority actions in 2026 including recommendations for assessments to be undertaken in 2027; (3)suggested priority actions for ASRO in 2027 to continue to advance SRH preparedness in the region including reflections on integration of climate-related preparedness.

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  An advanced University Degree (Masters of equivalent) in humanitarian affairs, social sciences, international relations, international development, public administration or related disciplines;

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 10 years of professional experience in working in humanitarian and development sector;
• Demonstrated personal commitment, passion and engagement in SRHR, particularly on serving the needs of the most vulnerable;
• Strong SRH expertise, with solid experience and extensive knowledge of the MISP;
• Strong expertise and in-depth knowledge of the new MISP Readiness Assessment tool developed by IPPF, as well as other tools such as the preparedness toolkit “ready
  to save lives”;
• Strong experience in supporting SRH national working groups;
• Strong capacity to work remotely and independently;
• Strong leadership and sense of initiative;
• Extensive experience in generating summaries, analyses and activities’ reports;
• Experience of development of communication, advocacy and training materials for policymakers in the field of SRHR;
• Strong oral presentation skills;
• Previous experience in delivering similar assignments;
• Familiarity with UNFPA mandate and the Inter-Agency Working Group.

Languages: Excellent command of English is required; French or Arabic skills are an asset.

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,

Place where services are to be delivered: Home-based - Remote

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 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.