Consultant for Comprehensive Sexuality Education Evaluation

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) 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 mission to ensure that every individual has access to sexual and reproductive health services and education. The organization emphasizes gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, working towards transformative results that include ending preventable maternal deaths, unmet needs for family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 highlights the importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in addressing the needs of young people in the Arab region, where there is a growing demand for such education amidst various challenges.

Job Overview:
The consultant will play a crucial role in evaluating UNFPA ASRO's CSE programming over the past four years (2021-2024). This evaluation aims to assess the relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability of CSE initiatives in the Arab region. The consultant will work closely with the Youth team, under the supervision of the Youth Advisor, and in collaboration with the Monitoring and Evaluation unit, as well as gender and reproductive health units. The evaluation will not only look back at past performance but also adopt a forward-looking perspective to generate actionable findings that can enhance future CSE delivery to adolescents and youth. The consultant will be responsible for conducting a comprehensive literature review, analyzing current CSE initiatives, and providing recommendations for improvement based on the evaluation findings.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant's primary responsibilities will include:

• Conducting a literature review of current CSE initiatives in the Arab region, including an inventory of programs across in-school, out-of-school, and digital domains.
• Evaluating the UNFPA ASRO CSE theory of change, identifying strengths and areas for improvement based on evaluation findings.
• Assessing the relevance of CSE programs to national strategies and beneficiary needs, ensuring coherence with other development actors.
• Analyzing the efficiency and effectiveness of CSE delivery methods, including cost-effectiveness and scalability for future reach.
• Identifying barriers to CSE delivery and uptake, and recommending strategies to address these challenges.
• Engaging with stakeholders through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and virtual surveys to gather diverse perspectives.
• Developing a draft evaluation report, conducting a validation workshop, and finalizing the report with actionable recommendations for future CSE programming.
• Ensuring ethical considerations are adhered to throughout the evaluation process, including informed consent and confidentiality.

Required Qualifications:
The consultant must possess a postgraduate degree in a relevant field such as medical sciences, public health, education sciences, or social sciences. A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in relevant areas is required, with a strong background in conducting evaluations of projects or programs. Previous experience working with UN or international NGOs on sexual and reproductive health, adolescent sexual and reproductive health, or youth-related initiatives is highly desirable. Familiarity with Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) aspects is considered an asset. The consultant should also demonstrate excellent analytical and writing skills, as well as a solid understanding of UNFPA's mandate and objectives.

Educational Background:
Candidates must hold a postgraduate degree in a relevant discipline, which may include medical sciences, public health, education sciences, or any related social sciences field. This educational background is essential for understanding the complexities of sexual and reproductive health and education, particularly in the context of the Arab region's unique cultural and social dynamics.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 7 years of relevant professional experience. This experience should include a strong focus on conducting evaluations of projects and programs, particularly in the fields of sexual and reproductive health, education, or youth engagement. Previous work with UN agencies or international NGOs will be considered a significant advantage, especially if it involves CSE or related initiatives. The consultant should also have a proven track record of successfully managing evaluation processes and delivering high-quality reports.

Languages:
Fluency in English and Arabic, both written and spoken, is mandatory for this position. The ability to communicate effectively in both languages is crucial for engaging with stakeholders, conducting interviews, and producing evaluation reports. Proficiency in additional languages may be considered an asset but is not required.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will be conducted remotely, allowing for flexibility in work arrangements. The consultant will be expected to adhere to a timeline that includes specific deliverables, such as an inception report, literature review, draft evaluation report, and final report. The evaluation process will involve comprehensive desk reviews, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and virtual surveys. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups. The organization emphasizes the importance of ethical considerations throughout the evaluation process, ensuring confidentiality and informed consent.