National Consultant, Adolescents and Youth (Gender & Child Marriage)

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead 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 has a mission to promote the right of every woman, man, and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. The organization focuses on four interconnected outcomes: ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal deaths, ending gender-based violence and harmful practices, and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. UNFPA Bangladesh's current country programme emphasizes the importance of addressing the challenges faced by adolescents and young people, particularly in relation to child marriage, which affects a significant percentage of women in the country. The organization is committed to mobilizing support and resources to accelerate progress towards ending child marriage and promoting gender equality.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Adolescents and Youth (Gender & Child Marriage) plays a crucial role in managing UNFPA's activities related to adolescents and youth, with a specific focus on gender equality and the reduction of child marriage. This position involves analyzing and assessing political, social, and economic trends that affect adolescents and youth, and providing substantive inputs for the implementation of joint programming initiatives. The consultant is expected to guide and facilitate the delivery of UNFPA's programmes by monitoring results achieved during implementation and ensuring the appropriate application of systems and procedures. The consultant will collaborate closely with various units within UNFPA, including Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights, Gender, Data and Demographic Intelligence, Communications, and Monitoring and Evaluation Units. This role is essential for ensuring that UNFPA's strategic objectives are met and that the organization effectively addresses the needs of adolescents and young people in Bangladesh.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for a wide range of duties, including:

• Programme Management: Contributing to the formulation and design of component projects of the UNFPA Country Programme, ensuring timely development of results-based work plans, preparing procurement plans, liaising with implementing partners, and maintaining effective communication with district and upazila administrations.
• Monitoring and Evaluation: Monitoring project implementation, preparing M&E reports, conducting field visits, and collaborating with the M&E Unit to analyze data and draft reports.
• Advocacy, Knowledge Management, and Partnerships: Maintaining collaborative relationships with project counterparts, providing inputs for policy discussions, and supporting advocacy and resource mobilization efforts.
• Capacity Development: Providing technical advice to project directors, identifying capacity development needs, and planning training sessions for implementing partners.
• Other Corporate Tasks: Collaborating with relevant units, analyzing policy developments, and preparing briefs for policy dialogue and technical assistance coordination.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree in health, population, sociology, gender studies, development studies, demography, education, or a related social science field. A minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in the development sector is required, with practical experience in managing projects, providing capacity development, and policy support. Candidates should have prior experience in child marriage programming, adolescents and youth issues, sexual and reproductive health, and gender issues, including gender-based violence. Strong expertise in capacity development, knowledge management, and advocacy is essential, along with exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to engage with senior officials and possess strong writing skills in English.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree in a relevant field such as health, population, sociology, gender studies, development studies, demography, education, or other related social sciences is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to address the complex issues related to adolescents and youth, gender equality, and child marriage.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of two years of progressively responsible professional experience in the development sector. Candidates should have practical experience in managing projects, providing capacity development, and policy support, particularly in the areas of child marriage programming, adolescents and youth, sexual and reproductive health, and gender issues. Experience in coordinating with government officials and other stakeholders, including NGOs and communities, is also essential. Field experience is strongly desired, as it provides valuable insights into the socio-cultural and economic factors influencing child marriage and gender issues in Bangladesh.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with strong writing skills required for effective communication and documentation. Knowledge of Bengali or other local languages is considered an asset, as it can facilitate better engagement with local communities and stakeholders.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is for a duration of 11 months, with a working schedule of 40 hours per week. The consultant will be based at the UNFPA Bangladesh office in Dhaka and is expected to travel within Bangladesh as required. The consultant will be paid on a monthly basis, subject to the submission of monthly reports. This position offers an attractive remuneration package, including a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other benefits. UNFPA promotes a work environment that reflects values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work-life balance, and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.