NATIONAL CONSULTANT: Family Planning (FP) Policy, Nepal

This consultancy will support the UNFPA CO Nepal to develop a country specific brief based on the outputs of the research project. The briefs are intended to be used by UNFPA country offices for positioning, policy dialogue, and advocacy at the national and subnational level.

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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, 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. 

Profound global and regional demographic shifts are triggering “anxiety” as fertility rates drop below the replacement level of 2.1 in 15 out of 22 UNFPA-programmed countries in the Asia-Pacific, and 12 out of 17 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. As governments increasingly view declining and aging populations as threats to economic prosperity, there is a rising risk of states adopting coercive pronatalist policies that compromise individual bodily autonomy. In response, UNFPA’s Asia and Pacific Regional Office and Eastern Europe Central Asia Regional Office, along with the FP2030, commissioned the Population Council to conduct a multi-country study across nine nations-including Nepal-to analyze the drivers of declining fertility, evaluate policy responses, and model the cost-effectiveness and investment returns of rights-based policy alternatives.

Within this regional context, Nepal is also navigating a complex demographic transition, with its Total Fertility Rate (TFR) falling to approximately 1.9 along with rapidly aging population and high youth out-migration. This shift has fueled a populist, pro-natalist political narrative that risks overshadowing decades of progress in reproductive autonomy by prioritizing population targets over human rights. To counteract this trend, UNFPA CO believes that renewed momentum and a new approach will be required to galvanize stakeholders and sharpen rights-based advocacy messages around “demographic resilience.” This assignment aims to synthesize the Population Council’s findings with localized data to produce targeted policy briefs that equip advocates and policymakers with evidence-based, rights-compliant solutions that support families in achieving their fertility preferences.

• Consult with concerned focal points at UNFPA CO to fully align on the scope of work, strategic framing, milestones and expected deliverables.
• Review the multi country research report conducted by the Population Council, extracting the Nepal specific data, and findings.
• Analyze and summarize Nepal’s existing constitutional, legal and policy provision regarding right based planning and bodily autonomy such as population policy, FP2030 commitment, Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan etc.
•  Analyze and synthesize the findings from previous national or subnational studies, relevant analytical reports (e.g. census thematic reports etc) and latest socio-demographic household surveys (e.g. DHS, NMICS). In addition, analyze the implications of fertility decline in conjunction with population ageing, migration, changing age structures, and labor force dynamics, with a view to informing Nepal's demographic resilience agenda. The focus should remain on highlighting issues such as unmet need for family planning, unintended pregnancies, and equitable access to services that promote reproductive agency and autonomy.
• Develop one demographic resilience policy note (5-8 pages) synthesizing implications of Nepal's demographic transition and policy options for government and development partners.
• Facilitate one consultation or validation meeting with UNFPA and key stakeholders to discuss findings and refine policy recommendations. 

The briefs should frame the findings of the final report and messages to resonate with national policymakers and program managers, emphasizing how evidence can inform policy dialogue, program design, and resource allocation. The briefs will also contain actionable messages for national decision-makers and other stakeholders. The brief should be both in Nepali and English language. Expected to be about 15 pages in length (including graphs/tables and excluding cover/title pages and references).

• An advanced degree in public health, population studies, gender studies, social sciences, or similar field. 

• At least two years’ experience on research, data analysis, evidence generation, policy brief preparations and advocacy.
• Knowledge of sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning, and rights-based approaches in line with the ICPD PoA principles. 
• Experience in translating research and evidence into documents targeted at government, development partners, and other stakeholders.

• Strong writing skills in both English and Nepali.

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change.

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships.

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.