Local Consultant - Young People and Access to SRHR Services

Job Posting Organization:
The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program is a globally recognized initiative established in 1984 under the sponsorship of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program aims to collect, analyze, and disseminate representative data on various demographic, health, and socio-economic indicators that inform evidence-based policy and program planning. The DHS Program has a rich history in Zimbabwe, having conducted multiple rounds of surveys since 1988, with the most recent being the 2023/24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The organization operates in numerous countries, supporting them in tracking progress toward strategic developmental targets and enhancing national analytical capacities.

Job Overview:
The primary purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a rigorous secondary analysis of the Young People and Access to Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Services module from the 2023/24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) dataset. The consultant will produce a publication-quality thematic report by applying advanced demographic and statistical methods, including multivariable regression and other appropriate modeling techniques. The analysis will focus on identifying patterns of SRHR service access and utilization, unmet needs, and barriers affecting adolescents and young people. The findings will generate policy-relevant evidence to strengthen national planning, youth-responsive programming, and improve equitable access to quality SRHR services for adolescents and young people in Zimbabwe.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting an in-depth secondary analysis of the Young People and Access to SRHR Services module and related indicators from the 2023/24 ZDHS. Key duties include measuring service access and utilization patterns among adolescents and youth, applying advanced multivariate regressions to analyze barriers across equity dimensions, and examining statistical associations between SRHR access and critical life-course outcomes such as adolescent pregnancy and child marriage. The consultant will also undertake additional analyses of relevant ZDHS modules, ensuring that all analyses account for the complex survey design by applying sampling weights, clustering, and stratification. Statistical methods may include descriptive statistics, logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, Poisson regression, Cox proportional hazards models, and multilevel models.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal consultant must possess a track record in complex demographic modeling, survey data analysis, and translating quantitative evidence into strategic policy outputs. Required qualifications include a minimum of 7 to 10 years of professional experience in conducting complex secondary data analysis and statistical modeling, with a focus on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). The consultant must have expert-level programming skills in Stata or R, with the ability to write clean, fully documented syntax files that incorporate complex survey design parameters. Additionally, demonstrated experience in data visualization, adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and strong communication and analytical writing skills are essential.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or PhD in Demography, Social Statistics, Public Health, Sociology, Epidemiology, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of demographic data and the methodologies used in statistical analysis.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of 7 to 10 years of professional experience in conducting complex secondary data analysis and statistical modeling. This experience should include a proven focus on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), as well as a mastery of hierarchical dataset structures and standard DHS recode file formats. The consultant should also have demonstrated experience in adolescent and youth sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programming, research, policy development, monitoring, and evaluation.

Languages:
Excellent communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset, but English is the primary language of communication within the organization.

Additional Notes:
The UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. The organization encourages applications from women, individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all, regardless of personal characteristics. The organization does not charge any fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.