International Consultant on Aging Programme

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, 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 reproductive health and rights, gender equality, and the empowerment of women and girls. 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. The organization is committed to addressing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health services, and it calls upon UN Member States and individuals to build forward better in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.

Job Overview:
The International Consultant will work with UNFPA's Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECARO) to enhance the organization's capacity to address the challenges and opportunities presented by aging populations in the region. The consultant's primary responsibility will be to review existing UNFPA work on aging across 17 programme countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, mapping the challenges and opportunities, identifying good practices, and documenting key lessons learned. This analytical review will inform the development of regional guidance for integrating aging considerations into country-level programs and strategies. The consultant will also contribute to strengthening the knowledge management system in the region, ensuring that UNFPA's interventions are aligned with its mandate and effectively address aging-related issues. The role requires a human-rights-based, evidence-based, and gender-responsive approach, with a focus on both rural and urban settings.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks:

• Collecting information about UNFPA's work on aging over the past four years in the 17 countries of the EECA region. This includes designing and implementing data collection tools such as questionnaires and interview guides, and gathering information from Country Offices.
• Documenting and analyzing UNFPA's work on aging by developing a template for archiving the collected information, reviewing and analyzing the data, and creating a structured database of best practices to be placed on the Knowledge Management platform.
• Conducting in-depth analyses in 2-3 countries to identify future areas of work for UNFPA.
• Summarizing key results in a comprehensive report.
• Preparing a guidance note and recommendations to inform future UNFPA regional and country-level work on aging, based on the collected data and case studies.
• Conducting a webinar to present the results and gather feedback on the guidance note. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Strategic Partnerships Advisor and will be expected to deliver high-quality outputs within specified deadlines.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a Master's degree or equivalent in development studies, population studies, economics, social studies, international relations, or related fields. They should have at least 10 years of experience in conducting desk reviews and analytical work for international organizations or development agencies. Experience in human rights, gender and social norms, sexual and reproductive health, aging, or population policies is essential. Strong knowledge in demography, population dynamics, and development is an asset. Familiarity with the EECA region and extensive knowledge of UNFPA's mandate areas and the UN system is highly desirable. Proven skills in evaluation methodology and analysis, including both quantitative and qualitative research techniques, are required, along with excellent drafting and analytical skills.

Educational Background:
A Master's degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as development studies, population studies, economics, social studies, or international relations is required for this position. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and analytical skills to effectively address the complexities of aging populations and related issues.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 10 years of relevant experience in conducting desk reviews and analytical work for international organizations or development agencies. Candidates should have a strong background in areas related to human rights, gender and social norms, sexual and reproductive health, aging, or population policies. Experience in the EECA region or familiarity with its demographic and social contexts is an advantage, as is a proven track record in evaluation methodology and analysis.

Languages:
The consultant must have an excellent command of written and spoken English. Knowledge of the Russian language is considered an advantage, as it may facilitate communication and understanding of the regional context and stakeholders involved in the consultancy work.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last from March 2025 to May 2025, with a total of up to 30 working days. The consultant will provide home-based or remote technical support and will communicate with UNFPA EECARO throughout the consultancy period. Deliverables must be submitted electronically in English and should be professionally edited and proofread. The consultant will be supervised by the Regional Strategic Partnership Advisor, who will monitor the completion of deliverables. Travel to the Regional Office in Istanbul and selected country offices may be required, with all travel-related expenses covered separately according to UNFPA Travel Rules. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.