Consultant for Family Life Education Integration

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and territories, with a mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization has been active in the Pacific region for over 30 years, implementing sexual and reproductive health programs in 14 countries and territories through its Pacific Sub-regional Office (PSRO) in Suva. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, fulfilling unmet needs for family planning, and eliminating gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA collaborates with national governments and local partners to enhance capacities and achieve sustainable responses to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR).

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to provide technical guidance and lead the development of a comprehensive scope and sequence and health syllabus for integrating Family Life Education (FLE) into the school curriculum and pre-service education at Solomon Island National University. The consultant will work closely with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development, ADB-supported curriculum writers, and faculty members to ensure that FLE is effectively integrated into the educational framework. This role involves reviewing existing syllabi, identifying gaps, and revising educational materials to align with national standards and cultural contexts. The consultant will also develop teacher guides and teaching-learning resources, ensuring they are age-appropriate and culturally sensitive. The consultancy is structured for 60 days, with 20 days of remote work and 40 days of on-site work in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Review the current syllabus for health education and identify gaps in the integration of Family Life Education (FLE).
• Revise the scope and sequence for health education for years 1-12 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development.
• Provide expert technical guidance for integrating comprehensive, evidence-based, culturally sensitive, and age-appropriate FLE into teacher guides for grades 10-1
• Ensure alignment of FLE materials with national curriculum frameworks and standards.
• Participate in quality assurance and validation workshops organized by the Ministry of Education.
• Review draft FLE guides for grades 4-9 and suggest timelines for finalization.
• Provide tailored technical assistance for integrating FLE into pre-service education courses at Solomon Island National University.
• Develop and deliver training content for educators on the effective use of the new FLE curriculum and resources.
• Create a handover package that includes training materials, capacity-building outputs, and a detailed report on the integration process. 1
• Prepare and submit a final report detailing progress, challenges, and outcomes related to the development of the FLE curriculum and resources.

Required Qualifications:

• Master’s degree in education, public health, or a related social science discipline.
• At least 7 years of relevant experience in education or public health.
• Familiarity with UNFPA's core mission and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
• Experience in developing comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) or family life education (FLE) curricula and teaching materials.
• Demonstrated expertise in FLE/CSE and knowledge of international frameworks such as the UN International Technical Guidance on Sexuality Education (ITGSE).
• Proven experience in teacher training and capacity building for educators and youth.
• Strong analytical and research skills, with experience in evaluations and developing monitoring and evaluation tools.
• Experience working with UN agencies or international NGOs is an asset.
• Ability to adapt content to be culturally relevant and contextually appropriate.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree in education, public health, or a related social science discipline is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant possesses the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to effectively contribute to the development of Family Life Education curricula and resources.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant experience in the fields of education, public health, or related areas. Candidates should have a strong background in developing educational curricula, particularly in the context of Family Life Education or Comprehensive Sexuality Education. Experience in teacher training, capacity building, and working with diverse stakeholders, including government representatives and community organizations, is also essential.

Languages:
Excellent written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. Knowledge of Pacific languages is considered an asset, as it may enhance communication and engagement with local stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is structured for a total of 60 days, with 20 days of remote work and 40 days of on-site work in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Compensation will be based on the submission and approval of deliverables, with specific payment percentages allocated to different milestones. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to support applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.