Individual Consultant Public Health Consultant - Development of Midwifery Investment Case

Organizational Context

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency dedicated to fulfilling women's and girls' rights to health, including sexual and reproductive health. The organization's mandate focuses on ending unmet needs for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, gender-based violence, and harmful practices, while adapting to demographic changes. This role contributes to achieving these goals by strengthening midwifery services in Kenya.

Job Purpose

The Public Health Consultant will lead the development of a comprehensive midwifery investment case for Kenya. This critical initiative aims to increase global and domestic funding for midwifery services as a strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3. The consultant will adapt UNFPA's global framework to the Kenyan context, generating country-specific evidence to advocate for and drive sustainable improvements in Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) through enhanced midwifery care.

Responsibilities

The consultant will lead a thorough situation analysis of Kenya's SRMNCAH landscape, including mortality rates, causes of death, health system characteristics, policies, and the midwifery workforce. Responsibilities include defining an evidence-based midwifery intervention package, modeling the health impacts of scaling up these interventions using tools like LiST, and estimating workforce requirements. A gap analysis of the current workforce and development of evidence-based strategies for training and retention are key. The role also involves assessing the enabling environment for midwifery, including regulation and professional status, and leading the drafting of the public health and workforce sections of the investment case. The consultant will apply a mixed-methods approach, including desk reviews, data analysis, key informant interviews, and stakeholder workshops, and will co-facilitate induction and validation workshops.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in SRMNCAH, health systems strengthening, or health workforce planning. Demonstrated experience in conducting health situation analyses and program design in low- or middle-income countries is required. Experience in developing investment cases and knowledge of health impact modeling tools like LiST are assets. Strong understanding of the Kenyan health system is highly desirable.

Skills

Exemplifying integrity, commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, embracing cultural diversity and change, achieving results, accountability, developing professional expertise, analytical and strategic thinking, and teamwork.

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