Purpose of Consultancy:
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 Sierra Leone’s new Country Programme (2025-2030) seeks to end preventable maternal deaths, unmet need for family planning, and GBV and harmful practices in Sierra Leone through the prioritization of integrated gender-transformative interventions, with an emphasis on the health and well-being of adolescent girls. The Country Office is seeking qualified local professionals for the role of Youth Consultant to contribute to the effective management of UNFPA activities in the areas of adolescents and youth SRH, participation, and leadership.
Working within a country office environment, the Youth Consultant will provide inputs in the development of the youth and gender component of the country programme applying the appropriate application of UNFPA systems and procedures.
Scope of work:
The Youth/Gender Consultant will be responsible for:
• Providing technical advice and support for the development and implementation of UNFPA-supported youth participation and leadership interventions and strategies that provide the most appropriate contribution to national priorities
• Contributing to ensuring the quality of programme/project design, incorporating lessons learned, newly developed policies, and best practices, and establishing appropriate execution and monitoring mechanisms and systems
• Contributing to the analysis and interpretation of the political, social, and economic environment relevant to adolescents and youth, and identifying opportunities for UNFPA assistance and intervention
• Representing UNFPA in inter-agency and national coordination mechanisms and ensuring the prioritization of youth participation and leadership as well as their SRH needs
• Keeping abreast of new policy developments and strategies by analyzing policy papers, strategy documents, national plans, and development frameworks in relation to the development needs of adolescents and youth
• Preparing briefs and inputs for policy dialogue, technical assistance coordination, and development frameworks
• Establishing collaborative relationships with executing agencies, experts, government counterparts, and other UN agencies
• Facilitating the timely and efficient delivery of project inputs
• Creating, documenting, and sharing knowledge about current and emerging gender and youth issues, by analyzing programme, projects, strategies, approaches, and ongoing experiences for lessons learned, and best practices
• Promoting substantive and programmatic linkages between UNFPA-supported youth leadership interventions and efforts to promote gender equality, the prevention of child marriage and adolescent pregnancies, and the strengthening of access to youth-friendly SRH services
• Support capacity development for youth leadership, decision-making and participation
• Serving as a focal point for key implementing partners including the Ministry of Youth Affairs and providing relevant technical and implementation support to ensure the achievement of key priorities.
Key Deliverables
The Consultant will submit all monthly reports electronically and in English to UNFPA for review and approval. All documents produced as a result of the consultancy will be the property of UNFPA. The following deliverables are expected of this consultancy
Duration and work schedule
6 months, full-time, for the period 1 February- 30 July 2025
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
Master’s degree in public health, sociology, public administration, or other related fields.
Knowledge and Experience:
Three years of relevant experience working in youth and gender programming is required;
Understanding of youth leadership and participation
Demonstrated interest and/or experience in youth empowerment, civic engagement, local governance, development, project management and/or monitoring and evaluation;
Good interpersonal, networking, and communication skills, both written and oral;
Ability to organize effectively, and to work under pressure with attention to detail, precision, and accuracy;
Previous experience working on a gender and/or youth programme.
Languages:
• Fluency in spoken English and excellent writing skills in English required.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
Communicating for impact
Functional Competencies:
Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda
L Leveraging the resources of national governments and partners/ building strategic alliances and partnerships
Delivering results-based programme
Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization
UNFPA Work Environment:
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, therefore, encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, Indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are also highly encouraged to apply. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion are at the heart of UNFPA's workforce—click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.