International Consultant for Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency for 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 territories, focusing on reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and population dynamics. The organization aims to ensure that every individual has access to essential health services, particularly in the areas of family planning, maternal health, and gender-based violence prevention. UNFPA's mission is driven by the belief that every person has the right to make informed choices about their reproductive health, and it works tirelessly to support countries in achieving their development goals through evidence-based policies and programs.

Job Overview:
The consultancy aims to design a realistic, evidence-based, and fully costed 3-year implementation plan for the national Family Planning program in Timor-Leste. The consultant will operationalize the family planning and birth-spacing components of the national Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) Strategy 2026-2030 into actionable activities. This includes developing a detailed costing model for commodities, supply chain logistics, capacity building, and community outreach, as well as establishing a Monitoring, Evaluation, and Learning (MEL) framework with clear indicators, baselines, targets, and implementation milestones. The consultant will work closely with national consultants and provide mentorship, guidance, and quality assurance throughout the process, ensuring that the final outputs align with international standards and best practices.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's scope of work is divided into four distinct activities, each requiring specific deliverables and quality assurance reviews. Activity 1 involves conducting a literature review, orientation, and inception briefing for the national consultant, including the provision of global guidance documents and best-practice tools. Activity 2 focuses on the development of the Costed Implementation Plan (CIP), where the consultant will guide the construction of a dynamic costing matrix and perform rigorous quality assurance on the draft CIP strategy document. Activity 3 entails the development of the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, where the consultant will provide standardized templates and review the draft MEL matrix for technical alignment. Finally, Activity 4 involves validation and finalization, where the consultant will conduct a comprehensive quality assurance review of the final documents and tools before submission to the UNFPA Country Office.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree (Master's or Ph.D.) in Public Health, Health Economics, Global Health Policy, or a related field. They should have a minimum of 10 years of international experience in designing Health Strategic Plans, Costed Implementation Plans (CIP), and complex MEL frameworks within the UN or international public health architecture. Proven experience as a technical coach or mentor to national/local consultants in developing country contexts is essential. Additionally, candidates should demonstrate expert-level mastery of advanced Excel modeling and international health metrics, as well as a strong understanding of public financial management standards.

Educational Background:
The position requires an advanced university degree, either a Master's or a Ph.D., in relevant fields such as Public Health, Health Economics, or Global Health Policy. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of health systems and the development of effective health strategies and plans.

Experience:
The ideal candidate should have at least 10 years of international experience in the public health sector, specifically in designing strategic health plans and costed implementation plans. Experience working within the UN system or similar international organizations is highly desirable, as is a track record of mentoring and coaching national consultants in low-resource settings. The candidate should also have a strong background in monitoring and evaluation frameworks, particularly in the context of health programs.

Languages:
Complete professional proficiency in written and spoken English is mandatory for this position. This proficiency is essential for effective communication and collaboration with stakeholders, as well as for the preparation of high-quality documentation and reports. Additional language skills may be considered an asset but are not required.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other applicable benefits. The assignment will be conducted over a total of 9 working days, distributed part-time across a 30-day timeline to align with the national consultant's milestones. All deliverables must be submitted electronically, and payment for each deliverable will be processed upon written acceptance by the UNFPA Country Office. UNFPA promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from individuals of all backgrounds, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to support applicants with disabilities during the recruitment process.