National Consultant - Support The SRHR/GBV Ebola Preparedness Interventions

Organizational Context

The UNFPA, as the UN sexual and reproductive health agency, plays a critical role in public health emergencies. This consultancy supports UNFPA Zambia's efforts to integrate SRH, HIV, GBV, and PSEA into national public health structures. The role sits under the direct supervision of UNFPA Zambia's SRHR Specialist, contributing to the national Grade 2 Public Health Emergency Operations Centre framework in response to Zambia's high risk of Ebola cross-border transmission.

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to provide expert technical assistance for coordinating, executing, and monitoring UNFPA’s emergency response and preparedness interventions under the Emergency Fund allocation. The consultant will facilitate the integration of Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) preparedness into Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) structures. This includes overseeing frontline health worker capacity building, coordinating subnational SRH/GBV service mapping, adapting referral pathways, and ensuring functional Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) mechanisms. The role is crucial in mitigating the severe impact of potential Ebola outbreaks on essential health services and vulnerable populations in high-risk provinces.

Responsibilities

The consultant will support UNFPA’s co-leadership in SRH and GBV Working Groups within the Grade 2 PHEOC framework, ensuring integration of maternal health, SRHR, and GBV priorities into national Incident Action Plans and cross-border coordination. Duties include conducting subnational SRH and GBV service mapping, facility readiness assessments, and gap analyses across six high-risk provinces, updating existing GBV and clinical referral pathways to integrate Ebola IPC protocols, screening, and survivor confidentiality. The role involves coordinating competency-based trainings and simulation exercises for frontline health workers and call center staff, focusing on outbreak IPC, safe deliveries, Clinical Management of Rape (CMR), Psychological First Aid, and PSEA, while monitoring the distribution of specialized PPE. Furthermore, the consultant will facilitate ground-level Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) outreach, incorporating messaging on EVD sexual transmission and stigma reduction, and monitor multi-channel Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP) feedback mechanisms to adapt operational responses.

Work Experience

Candidates must have at least 7-10 years of experience in designing, managing, or coordinating SRH, maternal health, or GBV emergency responses during disease outbreaks or complex humanitarian crises. This includes direct operational knowledge of Ebola/VHF outbreak preparedness, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in clinical settings, and frontline health workforce support. Experience adapting GBV referral pathways, Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) protocols, and Psychological First Aid/Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (PFA/MHPSS) in epidemic contexts is essential, along with working experience with UN agencies, Ministries of Health, or international NGOs.

Skills

Strong understanding of integrating SRH/GBV into Emergency Operations Centres and Incident Action Plans, with practical experience in designing or training health personnel on IPC protocols for high-consequence pathogens like Ebola. Expertise in supporting PSEA systems, including community feedback mechanisms, hotlines, and reporting pathways. Deep familiarity with Zambia’s health sector, border dynamics, and multi-sectoral gender response structures is crucial. Fluent English with superior technical writing and analytical skills, proficiency in digital tracking tools, spreadsheets, and presentations, alongside high cultural sensitivity and adaptability to deliver quality outputs under tight emergency deadlines. Knowledge of major Zambian national languages is an advantage.

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