Type of Contract : Consultant (full time, six month period, working remotely).
Purpose of consultancy:
An experienced consultant is needed to serve as a Governance Adviser to the UNFPA Supplies Partnership.
The UNFPA Supplies Partnership is UNFPA’s flagship thematic fund dedicated to expanding access to contraceptives and maternal health medicines in low- and middle- income countries.
The Partnership is UNFPA’s main driver towards ending unmet need for family planning and the main vehicle for implementing the UNFPA Strategy for Family Planning (2022–2030).
The programme is a partnership for impact. We work alongside countries in a system of shared accountability and prioritize the most strategic and effective use of technical and financial resources to reach the last mile. This partnership leverages the commitments of national governments, donors, non-governmental organizations, implementing partners, civil society organizations and other United Nations agencies – working together to ensure countries are equipped to overcome barriers to family planning and strengthen their health systems. Our sharpened focus on sustainable financing aims to ensure that governments are supported to gradually increase domestic financing for reproductive health commodities – building their capacity for long-term sustainability.
The purpose of this consultancy will be to:
1) Refine and strengthen governance norms and procedures, drawing on lessons learned and best practices of other Global Health Initiatives.
2) Improve transparency and accountability of the UNFPA Supplies Partnership through effective data sharing and communications with key donors and partners.
3) Facilitate more effective, inclusive decision-making through the management of governance events, including Steering Committee and subcommittee meetings.
Under the guidance and supervision on of the UNFPA Supplies Programme Lead, the Consultant shall be responsible for the following:
Governance Norms and Procedures
● Review and refine the programme’s Governance ToRs in line with partner feedback and best practices from other Global Health Initiatives.
● Develop and implement an improved system to track data requests and action items emerging from governance meetings.
● Oversee the implementation of the UNFPA Supplies Governance Calendar, ensuring that governance meetings are well-timed throughout the year in line with business needs and team capacity.
Steering Committee Management
● Lead the coordination of Steering Committee (SC) meetings in April and October 2025, including the development of meeting agendas, slide decks, background documents and facilitation guides.
● Ensure the timeliness, quality, and consistency of all materials submitted to the SC.
● Organize a series of ad hoc Strategy and Planning Committee (SPC) and Finance and Risk Subcommittee (FRC) meetings to seek views on contentious issues and pressuretest UNFPA proposals.
● Oversee the coordination of onboarding/‘refresher’ webinars for Steering Committee members that are new to the Partnership and/or interested to learn more about the programme.
Communications
● Set up an online governance portal to serve as a repository for key programme documents, including background documents for Steering Committee and subcommittee meetings.
● Work with technical leads to develop a suite of communications products designed to explain key elements of the programme model, including the Compact contingency measures, country groupings framework, and the Health System Strengthening (HSS) funding stream.
● Develop a dashboard which provides an overview of country profiles, including country groupings, funding eligibility, and progress against Compact requirements.
● Develop a Key Messages document that outlines key messages and terminologies on contentious issues and UNFPA proposals.
The commissioned consultant is to work remotely on a full time basis, and may travel as required for key meetings.
Required Expertise and Qualifications:
Education:
● Post-graduate degree in public policy, international relations, public health studies or relevant degree and a minimum of 10 years of leadership experience in public policy or related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:
● At least 10 years of relevant experience in global health, including sexual and reproductive health and rights
● Proven track record in managing the operations of complex global health programmes and multi-stakeholder governance bodies
● Highly skilled in managing relationships and fostering collaboration among a diverse range of stakeholders, including governments, civil society, donors, and implementing partners;
● Excellent communication, strategic planning, and analytical skills.
Desirable qualifications:
● Experience managing a board of directors for an international organization
● Demonstrated experience working productively with colleagues from diverse cultural backgrounds and across multiple geographies
Languages:
● English and knowledge of another UN language is an asset
How to Apply:
Please send your application and a short letter of motivation with “Governance Adviser Application” on the subject line and email the documents to Pramaporn Mongkolthavorn at mongkolthavorn@unfpa.org Due to the volume of applications received, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for an interview.
DEADLINE: 20 November 2024. See all current vacancies