Purpose of consultancy:

The purpose of the International M&E Consultant is to lead the mid-term review of the DFAT-funded “Towards Universal SRHR in Indo-Pacific Initiative” (TUSIP) programme on “Reinforcing Data Systems for Lifesaving Maternal and Reproductive Health Interventions”, in short the SRHR Data Strengthening Programme, and align the results and findings of the review process with the broader evaluation of TUSIP conducted by DFAT, under which the SRHR Data programme fits.

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 SRHR Data Strengthening programme (“Reinforcing Data Systems for Lifesaving Maternal and Reproductive Health Interventions”) is a UNFPA programme, with an implementation timeline of June 2024 to June 2028, with an intended outcome of improving collection and use of SRH data from administrative data systems and population-based surveys for quality improvement and improved programming, leading to improved service delivery and reductions in preventable maternal mortality, gender-based violence and harmful practices.

The programme strengthens functionality and use across four connected areas:

1. Maternal and Perinatal Death Surveillance and Response systems (MPDSR), including operationalising review committees and strengthening the policy and implementation environment so that reviews lead to corrective action.
2. Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care monitoring and review (EmONC), strengthening facility and referral network data so countries can identify modifiable factors behind poor outcomes and improve readiness and quality of care.
3. Health Management Information Systems (HMIS) strengthening, including improved data quality, analysis and use, and stronger integration and interoperability so that evidence informs planning, budgeting and management.
4. Population-based SRH and violence against women (VAW) surveys, with a specific focus on continuing support for Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) and VAW prevalence surveys using the gold-standard WHO methodology in selected countries of Asia-Pacific. This will generate and support utilisation of reliable and high-quality data for improved SRHR and GBV programming and interventions, while complementing data obtained through administrative data systems.
    

UNFPA is working with selected countries of Asia-Pacific (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Timor-Leste, as well as Maldives) to implement programme components 1 to 3 (MPDSR, EmONC, HMIS), and will start working since Q2, 2026 with additional countries on Component 4 (DHS & VAW Surveys).

As the programme reaches its mid-term point in mid-2026, there is a need to take stock of progress to date, assess what is working well and what requires course correction, and draw early lessons to strengthen implementation in the remaining period. The mid-term review (MTR) is intended to serve as a formative and forward-looking exercise. It will review the progress, efficiency, effectiveness, relevance, coordination, and emerging sustainability of the programme, taking into account evolving regional and country contexts and incorporating any emerging priorities, risks, evidence, or operational developments that have surfaced since the programme began. 

The findings should inform Year 3–4 planning (July 2026 – June 2028). The key users of the findings and recommendations of this MTR will be UN programme staff implementing the programme at both national and regional levels. 

This MTR will also contribute to the mid-term review of the broad initiative “Towards Universal Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights in Indo-Pacific (TUSIP)” and of the overarching Partnerships for a Healthy Region (PHR), led by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) of the Australian Government. The consultant will be expected to collaborate with the DFAT counterpart when necessary and requested.

In details, the selected consultant will:

• Submit an inception report outlining the review key questions, methodological approaches, tools, sampling of stakeholders and interview guides (target countries: Cambodia, Lao PDR, Nepal, Timor-Leste and Maldives; target programme components: MPDSR, EmONC Data and HMIS)
• Conduct online key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions with UNFPA and key country stakeholders and partners, including key TUSIP partners and DFAT 
• Submit a draft  Mid-Term Review report presenting key findings, lessons learned, and conclusions, including (but not limited to): 1) Findings against agreed review criteria, including relevance, effectiveness, coherence, coordination, emerging sustainability, and cross-cutting issues such as disability inclusion, climate change, alignment with the goal of the broad TUSIP initiative; 2) progress against planned outputs and activities, identifying areas of strong performance, bottlenecks, and implementation risks; and 3) review the programme activity components and draw recommendations for  the Year 3 and 4 implementation.
• Present the findings at an online MTR validation meeting with key stakeholders

Coordinate with DFAT counterparts as needed in the completion of the MTR of the TUSIP programme, as well as other UNFPA technical consultants evaluating other programmes under the programme of work of TUSIP.

Duration and working schedule:

The total duration of the consultancy will be 40 working days, starting 20th April and completed within 15th September 2026.  The selected consultant will develop a monthly workplan in consultation with the SRHR team.

Place where services are to be delivered:  

This consultancy is home-based.  Travel is not expected.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:

While the type of deliverables is mentioned below, the exact nature of the work will also be dependent on and refined based on consultations with joint programme partners. 

Expected deliverables and payment schedule:

Deliverable 1: Inception report (estimated 8 workdays).

Deliverable 2: Draft mid-term review document, including findings from KII and FGDs conducted (estimated 15 workdays).

50% of the total fee will be paid after deliverables 1 and 2 are accepted and approved by UNFPA APRO.

Deliverable 3: Presentation and report of the validation meeting (estimated 10 workdays).

Deliverable 4: Final mid-term review with final proposed MEL framework, updated activity implementation plans & coordination with DFAT Evaluators (estimated 7 workdays).

50% of the total fee will be paid after deliverables 3 and 4 are accepted and approved by UNFPA APRO.
 

Monitoring and progress control: 

A work plan/delivery monitoring schedule will be determined by APRO and the Consultant at the outset of the consultancy. A tracking sheet will be used to note progress against the TOR deliverables and deadlines.   

Supervisory arrangements: 

The M&E consultant will directly report to UNFPA APRO SRHR Specialist with overall supervision from SRHR Advisor. 

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner:
The consultant will use their personal laptop/computer. The consultant will closely coordinate with other consultants hired to conduct mid-term reviews of other programmes under the same initiative (FGM). 

UNFPA APRO will link the consultant to relevant partners, country offices, and other key stakeholders as necessary. 

Professional Experience and Required Skills:

• A minimum of ten years’ experience of working in monitoring, evaluation, and learning
• Demonstrable experience and understanding of health systems and health systems strengthening interventions and their long-term impact on health outcomes
• Experience of working with UNFPA on SRHR, Health Systems, Health policy is desirable
• Demonstrable experience of conducting high-quality mid-term reviews of programmes on SRHR & Maternal Health
• Experience on working with different types of data, including quantitative and qualitative data
• Demonstrable experience of developing user-friendly monitoring and reporting tools, activity implementation plans
• Excellent written and oral skills in English is mandatory
   

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:

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.