International Consultant for Digital Comprehensive Sexuality Education Models

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead United Nations agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of approximately 4,000 employees. The organization is dedicated to promoting sexual and reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of young people. UNFPA's mission is to ensure that every individual has access to comprehensive sexuality education and reproductive health services, particularly in the Asia-Pacific region, where they work to address the unique challenges faced by adolescents and youth. The organization is committed to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 and focuses on four interconnected outcomes: ending unmet needs for family planning, preventing maternal deaths, eliminating gender-based violence, and adapting to demographic changes through evidence-based policies.

Job Overview:
The purpose of this consultancy is to document, compile, and curate promising digital comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) models relevant to the Asia-Pacific region. The consultant will focus on understanding the factors influencing adolescents' use of digital platforms for sexual and reproductive health information. This role is crucial as young people increasingly rely on digital spaces for information about sexual health, gender equality, and related issues. The consultant will conduct a landscape analysis to map the digital determinants affecting adolescents' sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). This includes identifying pathways through which digital ecosystems impact adolescent knowledge, attitudes, norms, and practices regarding SRHR. The consultant will also explore how generative AI influences young people's understanding of intimacy, consent, and sexuality, an area that has not been extensively studied.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive landscape analysis of promising digital CSE models that can be adapted and scaled in the Asia-Pacific region. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing a conceptual framework that maps the digital ecosystem factors affecting adolescent SRHR, including social media influences and online communities.
• Conducting a state of evidence and scoping review to assess existing digital ASRHR and CSE models, focusing on the Asia-Pacific region.
• Analyzing digital determinants, including the most frequently used digital information ecosystems by young people, such as e-modules, social media platforms, and conversational AI/chatbots.
• Scoping and documenting promising digital CSE models, particularly those that are youth-led and scalable.
• Identifying pathways that facilitate CSE-ASRH linkages, such as how digital CSE can lead to offline SRH counseling and services.
• Conducting a desk review of project documentation and user engagement metrics, and facilitating regional consultations with stakeholders to validate the models and their effectiveness in addressing digital determinants.
• Considering the impact of generative AI and the need for digital literacy in youth SRHR.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master’s degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Psychology, or other interdisciplinary fields that incorporate technology. A minimum of five years of experience working at the intersection of adolescent and youth health, technology, and AI is required. Experience in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly concerning online safety and mental health, is highly desirable. Candidates should have prior experience conducting scoping reviews and qualitative interviews, as well as demonstrated skills in evidence synthesis and knowledge translation for policy and program audiences. Experience working with youth and youth-led entities, especially in online communities and digital platforms, is a plus. Familiarity with fostering communities of practice and digital content creation will be advantageous.

Educational Background:
The educational requirement for this position is a Master’s level degree in relevant fields such as Public Health, Social Sciences, Psychology, or other interdisciplinary disciplines that incorporate technology. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of adolescent health and the role of digital technologies in shaping health outcomes.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of five years of professional experience in the fields of adolescent and youth health, technology, and AI. Candidates should have a strong background in youth sexual and reproductive health and rights, particularly in relation to online safety and mental health. Regional experience in the Asia-Pacific area is strongly preferred, as it will provide valuable context for the consultancy work. Additionally, prior experience in conducting scoping reviews and qualitative interviews is necessary, along with demonstrated experience in evidence synthesis and knowledge translation for policy and program audiences.

Languages:
Excellent written and oral communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages relevant to the Asia-Pacific region may be considered an asset, enhancing the consultant's ability to engage with diverse stakeholders and communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is home-based, with a total duration from July to December 202

• The consultant will be expected to deliver several key outputs, including an inception report, a draft conceptual framework, a main report, and a series of insight briefs. Payment will be based on the successful completion and acceptance of deliverables by UNFPA. No travel is expected for this consultancy, and the consultant will utilize their personal laptop or computer for work. 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 will be provided to support applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.