Individual Consultant: VALIDATION OF 30 YEARS OF QUANTITATIVE DATA ANALYSIS, POLICY REVIEW, AND ...

The consultancy commissioned by UNFPA ESARO is to conduct a qualitative validation and operational audit of 30 years of demographic data to uncover the underlying causes and mechanisms of structural inequities in family planning access across the East and Southern Africa Region (ESAR). The assignment will bridge quantitative modelling with actionable policy by humanising statistical trends and focusing on sub national level inequities.

• Validation - Conduct a technical review and validate the findings of the 30 year secondary data analysis against current institutional and field realities.
• Qualitative - Perform desk reviews of laws, policies, and social norms; conduct in depth interviews and other qualitative studies to understand barriers and facilitators of family planning use.
• Triangulation - Capture specific narratives to triangulate with quantitative evidence.
• Attribution - Assess the impact of UNFPA investments in family planning programmes, including service quality and community engagement.

The consultant will update and expand existing data, add new layers of information, and conduct qualitative data collection and analysis for all countries in the Eastern and Southern Africa region. Activities include:

• Validate and update findings using the latest available data (reference year 2025).
• Develop and use a validation tool based on DHS protocols.
• Conduct structured qualitative interviews to document policy, context, and user experiences.
• Analyse provider bias, community health worker models, and policy coverage.

• Inception report (methodology, milestones, data access plan) - due 31 May 2026.
• Draft updated report (with references, datasets, and presentation material) - due 15 July 2026.
• Final report package including validated tool, data, policy briefs, and presentation - due 15 August 2026.
• Virtual presentation of findings to stakeholders.
• Dissemination strategy and plan for policy briefs and web story.

Three months (50 days of effort) starting 15 May 2026, with all deliverables submitted electronically by the specified dates.

• Provide weekly updates via email and participate in virtual meetings as needed.
• Demonstrate expertise in demographics, family planning, and policy analysis.
• Deliver high quality analytical reports and policy outputs within agreed timelines.
• Coordinate with country focal points and other stakeholders.

• Master's in population studies, statistics, public health, or related field (with at least 10 years of experience) or PhD with 7 years of experience.
• Strong analytical skills to interpret and validate complex demographic models.
• Experience applying proximate determinants of fertility and regression outputs.
• Deep understanding of the ESAR context and ability to engage with sub national data.
• Methodological experience using visual aids and structured validation narratives.
• Proven track record in delivering analytical reports to UN agencies or development partners.

No travel is required; all activities are virtual. UNFPA will provide electronic copies of reports and background documents. Payment will be released in three installments: 20% upon submission of the inception report, 60% upon submission of the draft analytical report, and 20% upon approval of the final report package.