UNFPA Egypt CO - National Consultancy - Public Health Expert (Reproductive and Maternal Health)

Purpose of Consultancy: The United Nations Population Fund (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 new country programme for Egypt (2023-2027) is designed to support the Government of Egypt in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and is aligned with the national development agenda. The UNFPA Egypt Country Office is committed to supporting the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP) in strengthening the national health system to ensure universal access to high-quality reproductive health services. This includes a strategic focus on reducing preventable maternal mortality and morbidity, addressing the unmet need for family planning, and empowering women and girls to make informed choices about their reproductive health. This consultancy will provide targeted technical support to the Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), operating under the guidance and leadership of the UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist.The consultant will contribute specialized inputs to priority strategic areas, as mutually agreed and led by the RH Specialist. These include strengthening the delivery of comprehensive, high-quality services within the Basic Benefits Package (BBP) at the PHC level, with particular emphasis on integrating family planning (FP) and ensuring the availability and effective management of reproductive health commodities. The consultant will also support efforts to improve the quality of maternal health services particularly the appropriate use of Cesarean Sections (CS) and to strengthen the midwifery profession, while addressing other emerging priorities jointly identified by the MOHP and UNFPA.These focused efforts are designed to directly support the achievement of the UNFPA Egypt Country Programme Document (CPD) 2023-2027 outcome on Reproductive Health and complement the broader strategic work of the RH Specialist. Scope of work: Under the direct supervision of the UNFPA Reproductive Health Specialist, the consultant will be responsible for the following key tasks: Coordinate and follow up with MOHP on

• Development of national strategies/policies, with a particular emphasis on reducing the rate of medically unnecessary Cesarean Sections (CS).
• Development of a comprehensive note on regional midwifery best practices and challenges to provide actionable recommendations aligned with Egypt's national midwifery strategy.
• Support the development of the CS Investment Case by coordinating with and providing technical assistance to MOHP and UNFPA experts. This includes analyzing the current status of CS in the country, identifying and compiling available data, and facilitating data collection activities such as Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and stakeholder meetings as required.
• Adaptation and contextualization of evidence-based global best practices on comprehensive RH in relation to Maternal and women’s health outcomes. Support Enhancing Primary Health Care Comprehensive Basic Benefits Package (BBP) Service Delivery
• Contribute to the PHC improvement taskforce and represent UNFPA in different taskforce groups.
• Service Delivery and Integration: support the assessment of Comprehensive Basic Benefits Package implementation in PHC facilities, identify gaps in comprehensive RH, maternal and family planning services, and recommend strategies to expand access, quality, and responsiveness.
• Support integration with referral systems linking PHC to secondary and tertiary care.
• Human Resources and Capacity Development: Support the PHC improvement taskforce group in development of job descriptions, continuous professional development, and workforce planning to strengthen PHC staff skills in maternal health, family planning counseling, case management, and patient-centered care.
• Digital Health and Data Systems: provide insight, guidance and strategic recommendation for the implementation of electronic health records, digital tracking of patient journeys, and data-driven decision-making to monitor maternal health and FP service coverage, quality, and outcomes.
• Guide the integration of the Midwifery Continuity of Care model into PHC and leveraging on Midwifery Investment Case as an evidence-based advocacy tool for decision-makers.
• Provide technical guidance on quality improvement and patient experience, including establishing patient feedback mechanisms, enhancing service environments, reducing waiting times, and strengthening quality assurance processes to improve maternal and reproductive health services.
• Governance, Planning, and Resource Optimization: Facilitate coordination among MOHP, UNFPA, and partners, support monitoring and evaluation of PHC service delivery, develop actionable plans with KPIs, and guide sustainable resource allocation for maternal and FP services as needed. Support for expert meetings and Technical Dialogue
• Provide technical support for coordination and expert meetings/workshops with the MOHP and other partners, as required by the RH Specialist. Responsibilities in this area will include:
• Developing Concept Notes that reflect key objectives for technical meetings and points of discussion.
• Preparing and disseminating relevant background materials to participants ahead of scheduled meetings.
• Developing reports and presenting clear, actionable next steps based on the outcomes of the meetings and discussions for review by the RH Specialist. Knowledge Management and Policy Dialogue
• Develop policy briefs and policy papers on key reproductive health topics aligned with UNFPA support and MOHP priorities, reflecting national achievements, challenges, and policy directions.
• Support the development & review of documents and publications that capture evidence, lessons learned, and strategic recommendations on RH interventions, as indicated by UNFPA and MOHP leadership. Contract Duration: 1st May 2026 to 31 March 2027. Working schedule: Maximum of 12 days per month. Place where services are to be delivered: Cairo, Egypt (Remote Work - Home-Based) Attend physical and/or online meetings as required with MOHP, UNFPA, or any relevant stakeholders. Delivery dates and how work will be delivered The monthly tasks, deliverables, and their associated workload, will be identified and agreed upon with the RH specialist at the beginning of each month, aligning with the consultancy's scope. A detailed Timesheet will be submitted by the consultant by the end of each month, outlining the number of working days and progress on deliverables as per the above mentioned. The deliverables shall be submitted in both Arabic or English language, based on the prior agreement with the RH specialist. The Work will be delivered electronically. Payment is made on a monthly basis based on the number of working days versus assigned tasks. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format, and deadline: The Payment will be processed monthly, upon submission and approval of the The identified deliverables and the monthly timesheet, based on the agreed daily rate. The payment is made upon receiving a confirmation email for approval from the UNFPA Supervisor on the deliverables. Supervisory arrangements: The UNFPA Egypt country office under the direct supervision of the Reproductive Health (RH) Specialist. Expected travel: The consultant might conduct, if needed, field visits in Egypt, with each visit lasting one to two days maximum. The number of visits will be determined in coordination with the UNFPA project officer. Travel arrangements will be facilitated by UNFPA in accordance with its established rules and guidelines, and adhering to the defined budget limitations. Required expertise,qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:Education: - Advanced university degree (PhD’s or equivalent) in Public Health,Medicine, or related field.Knowledge and Experience: - 15-20 years of professional experience in reproductive and maternal health. - Technical expertise in maternal health services, specifically CS and midwifery. - Experience providing technical assistance to the Ministry of Health. - Familiarity with the Egyptian health system; previous UN/UNFPA experience is an advantage.Skills and Competencies: - Excellent analytical and strategic thinking skills. - Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to work effectively in a multicultural team. - Proven ability to produce high-quality technical reports and documents in English and Arabic. Languages: Fluency in written and spoken Arabic and English. Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g, support services, office space, equipment),if applicable: The UNFPA technical team will be following up closely with the consultant in reviewing all deliverables, providing inputs, and providing feedback. In addition, the technical team could support in coordination with national/stakeholders, or any identified partner as needed. Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: All interested applicants should submit the following: 1- CV/Resume with evidence of qualifications and experience 2- Letter of interest including a proposed daily rate.Please note that the final rate will be subject to negotiation with UNFPA in accordance with its established rules and guidelines, and adhering to the defined budget limitations