UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Background:

Adolescence is a distinctive development phase between childhood and adulthood. It is characterised by significant growth which shapes the biological and social transitions. Whilst the changes are taking place in
adolescents, it is also a time of increased vulnerabilities of early sexual debut,  risky behaviours, unplanned and unwanted pregnancies, and gender-based violence, amongst others. This is a critical phase for laying the foundation for young people to reach their full potential. UNFPA supports positioning the adolescent and youth agenda within the larger development context of poverty reduction, through engaging in policy dialogue, analysis, and advocacy for young people’s issues in the national, provincial, and district development strategies, plans, and processes of Sector Wide Approaches, Poverty Reduction Strategies, and the Sustainable Development Goals. UNFPA’s approach is one of building alliances and forging partnerships with governments, development partners, civil society, youth-serving organizations, youth networks, academia, and media in support of the rights-based investment in the overall well-being of adolescents. We are witnessing an unprecedented rise in teenage pregnancy, child marriages, gender-based violence, and HIV infection in adolescent girls in East and Southern Africa. We have been called to action, to act as a collective and with urgency.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA in partnership with the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Social Development will be hosting a Conference on 28-29 November, at Unite Conference Centre at University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban to address the Triple Threat of Teenage Pregnancies, Gender-based Violence & HIV among adolescents. The Conference will bring together multi-sectoral and multidisciplinary stakeholders to bridge the gap between evidence, policy,
and programmes. The purpose of this consultancy is for a primary rapporteur for the conference.

Scope of work:

The Consultant will undertake the following activities:

● Convene a meeting with the Conference Technical Working Group to align on the conference objectives and deliverables pre and post conference
● Work with rapporteurs and chairs appointed for the various streams pre, during, and post conference
● Consolidate the key results from the various streams at the conference and present highlights and the way forward in plenary on the last day of the conference.
● Develop a detailed report with an executive summary on the deliberations of the conference with  recommendations and an accompanying action plan, accompanied by ppt.

Place where services are to be delivered:

The consultant will be based in KwaZulu-Natal. The consultant is expected to submit the final report approved by the KZNDSD and UNFPA

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (electronic, hard copy etc.)

The contract starts on 18 November 2024 and will end on 6 December 2024 (TOTAL OF 15 DAYS, EXCLUDING WEEKENDS) Work will be delivered electronically and in person.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format, and deadline:

The consultant will provide progress reports on the scope of work on a weekly basis or as required to KZNDSD and UNFPA

Supervisory arrangements:

UNFPA Programme Analyst in KZN

Expected travel:

As per the scope of work

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

● A post-graduate university degree or equivalent, preferably with a substantial focus on population and development related matters

● Excellent oral and written communication skills in English

 ● Extensive experience in public speaking and communication with governments, the media, and other relevant stakeholders

● Flexibility in working hours and sound project management

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

None