Adolescent and Youth Specialist

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is a leading organization in the field of reproductive health and rights, established to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA operates in over 150 countries, with a mission to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization focuses on various areas including family planning, maternal health, and gender equality, and is committed to promoting the health and rights of women and adolescents. UNFPA has a diverse workforce and emphasizes the importance of gender equality and diversity in its operations, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups.

Job Overview:
The Adolescent and Youth Specialist position is a consultancy role aimed at evaluating the UNFPA-UNICEF-WHO Joint Programme on Accelerating the Reduction of Adolescent Pregnancy (JPARAP) in the Philippines, particularly focusing on the provinces of Samar and Southern Leyte. The consultant will assess the programme's progress towards its intended outcomes, analyze implementation strategies, and provide actionable recommendations for improvement. The role requires a deep understanding of adolescent health issues, particularly in the context of reproductive health, and the ability to engage with various stakeholders to gather data and insights. The consultant will work closely with a team of evaluators, contributing to the design and execution of the evaluation process, ensuring that it aligns with national priorities and realities related to adolescents and youth.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for leading the evaluation process, which includes designing the evaluation methodology, conducting data collection, analyzing data, and preparing reports. Specific duties include:

• Developing an inception report that outlines the evaluation approach and methodology.
• Leading the evaluation team and ensuring the quality of deliverables.
• Conducting interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders, including adolescents, health service providers, and community leaders.
• Analyzing data collected from various sources to assess the programme's effectiveness.
• Preparing a draft evaluation report and presenting findings to stakeholders.
• Collaborating with the National Evaluation Specialist to ensure contextual relevance of the evaluation.
• Providing recommendations for programme improvement based on evaluation findings.
• Engaging in regular meetings with the Evaluation Manager and JPARAP Team to discuss progress and challenges.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health economics, epidemiology, social sciences, or a related field. A minimum of 5 years of experience in conducting evaluations, assessments, or research studies in international development is required. Candidates should have substantive knowledge of adolescent and youth issues, particularly in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and experience in applying both qualitative and quantitative evaluation methodologies. Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills are essential, along with the ability to work collaboratively in a multidisciplinary team.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in a relevant field such as public health, medicine, health economics, epidemiology, or social sciences is required. This educational background should provide the necessary theoretical and practical knowledge to effectively evaluate adolescent health programmes and contribute to the development of evidence-based recommendations.

Experience:
Candidates should have at least 5 years of relevant experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, or assessments in the field of international development, particularly related to adolescent health and reproductive rights. Experience working in the Philippines or similar contexts is highly desirable, as is familiarity with UNFPA or other UN organizations' mandates and activities.

Languages:
Fluency in written and spoken English and Filipino is mandatory. Familiarity with at least one of the major local dialects in Region 8 is considered an advantage, as it will facilitate communication with local stakeholders and enhance the evaluation process.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 3.5 months, with a total of 60 person-days allocated for the evaluation. The consultant will primarily work remotely but will be required to attend regular in-person and online meetings with the Evaluation Manager and JPARAP Team. UNFPA will cover travel costs where applicable, in addition to the professional fee. The evaluation team will be supervised by the Evaluation Manager and the JPARAP Programme Team, with oversight from the UNFPA Country Representative. The consultancy is open to individuals from diverse backgrounds, and UNFPA encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.