Local Consultancy: Maternal and Newborn Health Consultant, UNFPA Pretoria

Local Consultancy: Maternal and Newborn Health Consultant, UNFPA Pretoria

• Level: Consultant
• Contract type: Consultancy
• Duty station: Pretoria

The Position:

Local Consultancy: Maternal and Newborn Health Consultant

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025) reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA, focusing on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in managing the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Purpose of consultancy:

Serve as a principal technical advisor in providing integrated technical, policy, and programme advice on Maternal and Newborn Health (MNH) and Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH).

Scope of Work & Deliverables

The scope of work and deliverables for the assignment will include:

• Act as a liaison between various stakeholders, including UNFPA Country Office, government, and other partners involved in health system strengthening.
• Provide technical guidance on the roll-out of Integrated Maternal and Perinatal Care guidelines for South Africa.
• Contribute to the operationalization of UNFPA Country Office (CO) Maternal and Newborn Health Fund activities.
• Encourage and support research initiatives and innovative solutions to improve maternal and newborn health outcomes.
• Lead teams in the design, implementation, and evaluation of UNFPA programs in partnership with Department of Health counterparts and other institutions.
• Participate in and provide strategic leadership and technical assistance through technical working groups (TWGs), workshops, campaigns, and evaluations that support system strengthening.
• Identify and document technically sound, cost-effective, and practical approaches to programming consistent with UNFPA policies and priorities.
• Remain informed and up to date on technical and management issues affecting the design, implementation, and evaluation of UNFPA’s activities in the 2025 workplan.
• Participate in the UNFPA Programme Review meetings and other strategic discussions with the regional office and the MIC Hub.
• Produce concept notes to support strategic MNH and SRH projects jointly identified with stakeholders and partners.
• Develop research protocols to generate evidence to support emerging best practices within MNCH and SRH activities.
• Review and contribute to UNFPA CO quarterly and technical health reports.

Duration and working schedule:

This assignment will last eight months, from 1 April to 30 November 2025.

Place where services are to be delivered:
Consultancy will be virtual, with travel as required to Pretoria or to the UNFPA-supported provinces.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will be under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Assistant Representative/Head of Programmes.

Expected travel:

The consultant is expected to work both remotely and be available to travel for fieldwork and stakeholder engagement as appropriate.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• Demonstrable previous experience in SRHR and/or HIV programmes.
• Postgraduate degree in Medicine, Public Health, or Epidemiology.
• Experience working in collaboration with government, particularly the Department of Health, and development partners.
• Demonstrated strong report writing skills.
• Excellent knowledge and at least 7 years’ experience working in Family Planning and Maternal and Child Health.

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply.

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