Local Consultancy: To Support Consultative Input to South Africa’s National Strategy for Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy and its Adverse Effects 

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.

 Purpose of work:

UNFPA South Africa is currently supporting the South African Government with development of a comprehensive National Strategy for Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy and Its Adverse Effects. To ensure the strategy is evidence-based, reflects current best practice, and is grounded in the lived realities of South Africans, UNFPA is seeking the professional services of an individual consultant to conduct qualitative consultations across the country. These insights will directly inform the lead writer in the drafting of the National Strategy. 
 

Objectives of the assignment:

To conduct qualitative consultations across South Africa to inform the National Strategy for Reducing Adolescent Pregnancy and Its Adverse Effects.  

Scope of Work, Methodology, Deliverables, Timeframe :

The consultant will be responsible for gathering qualitative data through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Key tasks include: 

• Collaboration: The consultant will work closely with the strategy’s lead writer  in developing the sampling plan, discussion guide, and template for reporting. Regular communication between the lead writer and the consultant  is expected throughout the duration of the project.
•  Stakeholder Engagement: Scheduling and conducting in-person and remote interviews with: 

1. Government officials (National, Provincial, Municipal) & working groups/initiatives 
2. Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and NGOs 
3. Community leaders and youth representatives 

• Logistics & Coordination: Managing travel arrangements, setting up the interview schedule, and tracking progress.
• Data Collection: Facilitating nuanced conversations and taking detailed, high-quality notes. Use of recording devices and AI tools for note taking assistance is encouraged, though thorough validation is required.
• Technical Writing: Synthesizing findings from each consultation into a concise summary that highlights barriers, enablers, and recommendations for the strategy. An additional report highlighting key outcomes across all consultations will also be required. 

Deliverables  

Duration of assignment 

•  Number of days: 15 days total  

Place where services are to be delivered Required: 

• Consultant  must be based in South Africa 

Expected travel 

Domestic travel (air and road) expected for 3-4 provinces. (Interviews in the other provinces will be done remotely.)

Supervisory arrangements

The consultant will be directly supervised by the lead writer with overall supervision from the UNFPA Assistant Representative.

Qualifications, Background, Experience;

• Academic Qualification: Advanced degree in the field of Social Sciences, Gender, Public Health or related area.
• Technical Expertise: Proven experience in qualitative research, specifically in public health, social development, and gender-based issues. Familiarity with issues contributing to adolescent pregnancy in southern Africa is a plus.
• Communication: Ability to engage professionally with high-ranking government officials and empathetically with young people and community members.
• Language: Proficiency in English is required; fluency in other official South African languages (e.g., isiZulu, isiXhosa, Sesotho) is highly advantageous.
• Availability: Ability to begin immediately and travel domestically through April 2026. Must have a valid driver's license to facilitate local travel. 

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.