Mission and objectives

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. Our mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. In Sri Lanka, we deliver this mandate based on principles of human rights and gender equality by advocating for rights-based gender responsive & transformative policies that enable the full realization of sexual and reproductive health and rights for all.

Context

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 strategic plan (2022-2025), focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. 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 program results. The purpose of the perception monitoring exercise is to assess stakeholders (recipients of provisions, training, health facilities, equipment, all other services) perception on initiatives launched under Ditwah response of UNFPA. The perceptions would be captured based on the indicators stated in table 1 below. It allows communities to comment on CO’s performance on the planning and delivery of services related to their participation, quality, relevance and appropriateness of the programming as well as other cross-cutting components such as disability inclusion, access, localisation, reporting mechanisms on PSEA and others. The findings will support CO and the Implementing Partners (IPs) to course-correct and advocate for adjustments to donors using evidence. To ensure high-quality data collection tools and methodologies in place and quality reporting, the study requires an Expert UNV to attend to the stated actions while overseeing and managing a team of data collectors in Sinhala and Tamil mediums deployed in the 3 districts of the programme response namely, Badulla, Kandy and Nuwaraeliya. The Expert UNV will be responsible for the overall coordination, supervision, and quality assurance of the data collection process for the study, data cleaning, data analysis and compilation of the final report. Also should ensure that data collection adheres to ethical standards, research protocols, and the specific needs of the study.

Task Description

Under the overall guidance of the Assistant Country Representative and the direct supervision of the Project M&E Analyst, 3 UNVs will carry out the following key tasks: Participating in training for data collectors on research ethics and data collection methodology. Maintain accurate records of participants, interview dates, and locations, safeguarding the confidentiality and anonymity of all participants and their data, and storing and organizing all collected data securely. Take notes during interviews and focus group discussions, transcribing audio recordings of focus group discussions and interviews accurately and promptly into English. Provide regular updates to the main consultants on progress and any challenges encountered. Adhere to strict ethical guidelines, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and anonymity of all participants.

Competencies and values

● Accountability ● Adaptability and flexibility ● Planning and organising ● Professionalism

Living conditions and remarks

Sri Lanka is an island nation located off the south coast of India. An estimated population of around 21 million people is sheltered in this multi-ethnic, multi- cultural and multi- religious country. Colombo is situated in the Western Province of Sri Lanka and is the commercial capital of the country. The city is located on the west coast of the island, adjacent to the administrative capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. Bandaranaike International Airport is located 35km from Colombo and is served by the main international airlines. Sri Lanka is a tropical country with moderate temperature and high humidity all throughout the year. Average temperature in Colombo ranges between 27 and 30 degrees Celsius. The island experiences two main monsoon seasons, where heavy rainfalls occur, from May to August and October to January. Rice and curry comprise the main dishes. Sri Lankan cuisine tends to be quite spicy. There are hotels and other types of accommodation options available in Colombo. Supermarkets, banking, and medical facilities are present within the city. In addition to the specific requirements set out above, candidates for these volunteer assignments will be subject to background checks, confirmation and clearance provided by the United Nations Department for Safety and Security (UNDSS). Candidates who do not pass this security clearance are prohibited from serving as a UN Volunteer in Sri Lanka.