International Consultancy: Menstrual Health Symposium Technical Briefs at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Scope of Work

The consultant is expected to:

• Undertake a desk review of  evidence on effective strategies and resources for integration of MH into the above 9 thematic areas, policies and programming throughout the reproductive life course, both in development and humanitarian contexts; such as
• Synthesise evidence on the extent to which current public infrastructure (for example schools or health facilities) is appropriately equipped in regard to  MH  sanitary requirements
• Synthesize existing evidence on the link between MH and school drop-out rates, including interventions to keep girls in school.
• Review existing guidance and other resources produced by UNFPA and other partners working to support the integration of  MH policies and programmes into the identified thematic areas;
• Identify key lessons learned, gaps and possible recommendations  in existing policy and programmatic responses to the integration of MH into thematic areas policies and programmes throughout the reproductive life course, both in development and humanitarian contexts to inform the development of the 9 technical briefs; and
• Develop 9 thematic technical briefs and  a summary technical brief that encompasses all the 9 thematic areas which will cover the Africa region for all countries covered by UNFPA ESARO, ASRO and WCARO. 

Duration and working schedule:

• The consultancy is for a total of 50 working days to be undertaken within 3 months from the day of contract signature.

Place where services are to be delivered:

• This is a home-based assignment

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered:

• Inception report - including proposed detailed methodology and tools for literature search, review and synthesis  and an annotated table of contents for the technical briefs and the overall summary brief  (5 days);
• Desk review of evidence  on the 9 thematic areas and their intersection with menstrual health throughout the reproductive life course, both in development and humanitarian contexts, gaps and lessons learned, and summary of key resources  (20 days);
• First Draft of the 9 technical briefs, an overall summary brief and master PPT (15 days); and
• Final 9 technical briefs, final summary brief and final PowerPoint to be presented at the African Menstrual Health Symposium in 2023 (10 days).
• All documents collected, analysed and generated for the purpose of this assignment are to be submitted to UNFPA ESARO in electronic copies.
• The consultant is expected to create, share with ESARO and maintain a google drive with all relevant resource documents and draft reports collected or prepared by the consultant for this assignment.
• Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
• The consultant is expected to strive to complete the assignment within the set deadlines as per the timelines indicated in this TOR and further agreed upon during the inception phase.
• At least Six meetings will be needed with UNFPA technical focal points. The schedule is to be determined in consultation with the two parties.

Supervisory Arrangements:

• The consultant is expected to work under the guidance of  and daily supervision of the Youth Team Lead and the Youth Specialists (and or SRH team as appropriate) from the regional offices of East and Southern Africa and West and Central Africa alongside  the Coordinator for the African Coalition for Menstrual Health. The consultant is also expected to collaborate with the UNFPA HQ, country offices and external partners

Expected Travel: None

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

Master’s Degree in public health, medicine, gender or social sciences studies; demography or equivalent.

Experience and qualifications:

• A minimum of 10 years of international experience from working with public health, sexual and reproductive health, gender equality, health promotion or in a related field;
• Extensive knowledge of current evidence on what works on menstrual health throughout the reproductive life course, both in developing and humanitarian contexts; 
• Comprehensive experience in conducting systematic literature reviews and analyses;
• Proven experience in developing technical briefs/guidance documents in the area of MH integration or related fields;
• Proficiency in English
• Working knowledge of French and Portuguese is an asset.