International Consultancy: Programmatic Support to the Safeguard Young People (SYP) Programme at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Purpose of consultancy:    
UNFPA in East and Southern Africa has been implementing the Safeguard Young People (SYP) Regional programme since November 2013. The programme aims to empower adolescents and young people aged 10-24 to protect themselves from STIs including HIV, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, early marriages, gender-based violence and harmful practices while promoting gender equitable norms and protective behaviours in twelve East and Southern African Countries (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

As the exit phase of the SYP programme commences, the programme will require accelerated support for programme implementation with a focus on accelerating on the ‘unfinished business’ as identified in the Theory of Change of the programme, in addition to ensuring compliance, and quality assurance of the programme, particularly the regular technical and administrative engagement required by the donor. Under the direct supervision of the Youth Team Lead/SYP Coordinator, the consultant will to accelerate and consolidate progress towards the goals of the SYP.

UNFPA ESARO is looking for an International consultant to support our work related to the UNFPA flagship programme - Safeguard Young People (SYP) innovation, and programme implementation

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Quality Technical Support to countries implementing SYP 

• Technically support to countries implementing SYP to design, programme, implement, monitor and evaluate components of the SYP programme that relate to ASRHR and economic empowerment.
• Sustain the partnership with the Youth Connekt Africa - the continental platform on demographic dividend and enhancing investing in young people.
• Capacitate national counterparts on the use of the SYP programmatic guidance on the integration of ASRHR and economic empowerment initiatives which has been developed in collaboration with ILO and the World Bank Group. 
• Support continental, regional, and national level advocacy and policy advancements towards  ASRHR
• In collaboration with the SYP CSE and YFHS Specialist, ensure the scale up of self-care models as identified in the SYP supported study on self-care for ASRHR including strengthening linkages between CSE and services, and integration of mental health and menstrual health strategies into ASRHR interventions, 
• In collaboration with the M&E Specialist, support reporting and documentation of regional and country specific best and/or promising practices on matters related to innovation including ASRHR and economic empowerment.
• Represent SYP in unit meetings and document reviews within the East and Southern Africa Regional Office to ensure that ASRHR issues are mainstreamed across thematic areas within the UNFPA Regional Programme. 

 Support general implementation, management, monitoring and reporting of    the UNFPA youth programme and specifically the SYP Programme

• Under the guidance of the SYP Coordinator/Youth team lead and in collaboration with the Youth team, support the implementation of the SYP with a special focus on the unfinished business 
• Participate and contribute to the SDC and EKN programme meetings and provide timely high quality  input into annual reports, AWPs and any other required process.
• In collaboration with the Youth team, support youth participation, leadership and accountability initiatives including participation in international, continental and regional conferences as this is a cross cutting strategy for the whole programme,
• Support the scale up, implementation, capacity building, technical improvements and sustainability of the SYP tech-based initiatives such as TuneMe Mobisite, TuneMe App and iSay (AI-based solution) in collaboration with the SYP social media and communication analyst and the UNFPA innovations specialist. 

General support to the SYP Regional Youth team 

• Participate in resource mobilization and partnership efforts, as required, to further scale up the Safeguard Young People Programme.
• Contribute to relevant research and publications related to adolescents and young people.
• Undertake any other duties as identified by the supervisor.

Duration and working schedule:    

• The consultancy will last for a duration of 5 months from 7 January 2024 to 6 June 2024.

Place where services are to be delivered:    

• This will be an in-person consultancy, however, the consultant will not be paid DSA during the course of the consultancy unless they are required to undertake mission travel outside Johannesburg as part of the consultancy.