Local Consultant - Development of new National Family Strategy (2027-2030)

The Zimbabwe National Family Planning Council (ZNFPC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, UNFPA and other key stakeholders, has been implementing the National Family Planning Strategy (2022–2026) as a guiding framework for advancing family planning (FP) services across the country. The strategy has been instrumental in promoting accessible, high-quality, integrated, equitable, and rights-based family planning services. A new strategy needs to be developed as the current strategy expires at the end of the year. Resources to support the development of a new national strategy have been mobilised under the UNFPA Supplies Partnership Programme.

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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 who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Objectives of the Assignment: Review Objectives

The specific objectives of the strategy review are to:

• Assess the extent to which the objectives, targets, and priorities of the 2022–2026 Family Planning Strategy were achieved;
• Evaluate the effectiveness, relevance, efficiency and sustainability of implemented interventions;
• Identify key achievements, best practices, innovations, challenges, gaps, and barriers affecting implementation
• Review trends in family planning indicators, including the modern contraceptive prevalence rate, unmet need and method mix;
• Evaluate financing, governance, commodity stock security, coordination, and accountability mechanisms;
• Generate strategic recommendations for future programming.

Strategy Development Objectives

The objectives for the development of the 2027–2030 strategy are to:

• Develop a clear strategic vision, goals, and priorities for family planning programming in Zimbabwe;
• Define strategic interventions based on evidence from the strategy review;
• Align the strategy with national, regional, and global reproductive health commitments;
• Develop measurable objectives, indicators, and implementation targets;
• Establish an implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and accountability framework;
• Provide a resource mobilization and financing framework for implementation.
• Cost the strategy

The consultant/team will undertake the following tasks:

           Desk Review

Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant documents, including:

1. Family Planning Strategy (2022–2026)
2. Annual FP programme reports
3. Monitoring and evaluation reports
4. National health sector strategies
5. Demographic and health survey reports
6. DHIS2 service statistics
7. FP2030 commitment reports
8. Partner reports and evaluations

9. Relevant policy and regulatory documents

    

Stakeholder Consultations

Engage key stakeholders through interviews, focus group discussions, and consultative meetings, including, Government ministries and departments, provincial and district health teams, development partners, civil society organizations, healthcare providers, community representatives, adolescents and youth groups and private sector actors

Performance Assessment

Assess progress against strategic objectives using agreed evaluation criteria such as - Relevance, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Sustainability and Impact

Situation Analysis

Conduct a situational assessment of the following; family planning service delivery landscape, demographic trends, policy environment, financing mechanisms, commodity security, human resources capacity, demand generation  and emerging reproductive health priorities

Strategic Framework Development

The consultant should develop:

1. Strategic vision
2. Mission statement
3. Strategic objectives
4. Conceptual framework
5. Theory of change
6. Environmental Analysis
7. Strategic interventions
8. Monitoring and Evaluation framework
9. Costed implementation plan
10. Key performance indicators

11. Risk mitigation framework

     

Stakeholder Validation

The consultant should facilitate a stakeholder validation workshop to refine and finalize the strategy.

The consultant will be expected to produce the following:

1. Inception Report which include methodology, work plan, and data collection tools.
2. Stakeholder consultative meeting report.
3. Review Report of the 2022–2026 Family Planning Strategy with findings, lessons learned, and recommendations.
4. Situation Analysis Report 
5. Stakeholder Validation Workshop Report
6. Draft Family Planning Strategy (2027–2030)
7. Final Family Planning Strategy (2027–2030)
8. Presentation of Findings and Strategic Framework

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Demography, Health Policy, Development Studies, or related field;
• Advanced degree in Public Health, Demography, Health Policy, Development Studies, or related field;
• At least 7–10 years’ experience in strategic planning, programme evaluation, or reproductive health;
• Strong expertise in family planning and sexual and reproductive health programming;
• Experience conducting strategy reviews and developing national strategic plans;
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and report-writing skills;
• Familiarity with Zimbabwe’s health system and policy environment.

• Excellent communication skills in English and Shona and/or Ndebele. 

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 highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance 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. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Same Posting Description for Internal and External Candidates