International Consultant: Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (FP CIP) Evaluation & Strategy

Background

South Sudan continues to face high fertility, high maternal mortality, and low modern contraceptive prevalence, within a fragile health system and a protracted humanitarian context. The Ministry of Health, with support from UNFPA, developed the Family Planning Costed Implementation Plan (FP CIP) 2021–2026 as the country’s principal roadmap for scaling up equitable, rights-based access to family planning, anchoring national commitments under the FP2030 global partnership.

As the FP CIP 2021–2026 nears completion, the Ministry of Health with support from UNFPA wish to engage an international consultant to lead a comprehensive review of its implementation and to facilitate the development of a new, evidence-based, costed FP CIP for 2027–2031, through a participatory process engaging national and sub-national stakeholders.

Purpose of the Assignment

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a nationwide survey to gather comprehensive data on RH commodity consumption, assess existing supply chain gaps, and develop actionable recommendations for improved kitting and distribution processes.

Objectives of the Assignment Overall Objective:

Under the overall guidance of the Ministry of Health, the consultant will:

• Lead a comprehensive, participatory review of the FP CIP 2021–2026, assessing progress, achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Facilitate a nationally owned, evidence-based process to design the FP CIP 2027–2031, including its strategic framework, results framework, and detailed five-year costing
• Provide technical leadership and quality assurance throughout stakeholder consultations, validation workshops, and document finalization.
• Build the capacity of Ministry of Health and Technical Working Group members in strategic and financial planning for family planning.

Scope of work:

The consultant will be responsible for the following:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Ministry of Health’s Directorate of Reproductive Health, in close collaboration with the UNFPA Country Office, and will engage with the national FP Technical Working Group, development partners, civil society, and community/youth representatives. The scope covers all technical domains of the FP CIP: service delivery, demand generation, contraceptive security, human resources, policy and enabling environment, financing, and monitoring and evaluation, with explicit attention to humanitarian and resilience programming.

Duties and Responsibilities Inception

• Review relevant background documents (FP CIP 2021–2026, annual work plans and reports, HMIS/DHIS2 data, FP2030 commitment reports, national health sector strategies, and relevant global guidance).
• Develop and present an inception report outlining the detailed methodology, stakeholder engagement plan, and workplan for Ministry of Health and UNFPA approval.

Review of the FP CIP 2021–2026

• Design and apply data collection tools (document review, key informant interviews, focus group discussions, site visits) to assess programmatic and financial performance against FP CIP targets.
• Analyze achievements, bottlenecks, and lessons learned across all technical areas, including commodity security, service delivery, human resources, demand generation, financing, and the enabling environment.
• Conduct consultations with national and sub-national stakeholders, including at least one humanitarian/conflict-affected setting.
• Draft and present the FP CIP 2021–2026 Review Report for stakeholder validation.

Development of the FP CIP 2027–2031

• Facilitate participatory strategic planning workshops with the Technical Working Group and stakeholders to define the Theory of Change, strategic objectives, and priority interventions.
• Develop a robust results and monitoring and evaluation framework, with SMART indicators aligned to national and global (FP2030) targets.
• Conduct detailed five-year technical costing using standard, internationally recognized costing methodologies and tools, including scenario-based costing and a resource/financing gap analysis.
• Develop a resource mobilization and sustainability strategy, including domestic financing pathways.
• Draft the full FP CIP 2027–2031 document, including an executive summary suitable for high-level dissemination.

Validation and Finalization

• Facilitate a national validation workshop with Government, UNFPA, and development partners.
• Incorporate feedback and finalize all deliverables for formal endorsement by the Ministry of Health.
• Prepare a brief capacity-building/handover note summarizing methodology and tools for future Ministry of Health planning cycles.

Methodology

The assignment will utilize a mixed-methods approach, including:

• Quantitative: Collection and analysis of RH commodity consumption data, stock reports, and logistics records.
• Qualitative: KIIs and FGDs with healthcare workers, supply chain personnel, MOH staff, and implementing partners.
• Field Assessments: On-site validation visits to a representative sample of healthcare facilities and warehouses.
• Stakeholders Engagement: Regular consultations with key stakeholders to validate findings and ensure alignment with national priorities.

Duration and working schedule:

The consultancy is expected to last three (3) months, including preparation, data collection, analysis, and final reporting.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Juba, South Sudan

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered

• Inception Report with methodology, tools, and timeline.
• Validated FP CIP 2021–2026 Review Report
• Draft FP CIP 2027–2031, including results framework and costing
• Final validated FP CIP 2027–2031 and executive summary
• PowerPoint presentation for stakeholders.
• Facilitation of one dissemination/validation workshop.

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

The consultant is expected to submit; weekly reports on tasks and assignments. These reports must be submitted by the last day of the week. A final Report and knowledge transfer note is expected at the end of the assignment.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will report jointly to the UNFPA Reproductive Health Programme and the Ministry of Health Director General of Reproductive Health (or designate), and will work in close coordination with the national FP Technical Working Group. All deliverables will be submitted in English, in electronic format, and will require formal review and clearance by both UNFPA and the Ministry of Health prior to acceptance.

Expected travel:

The consultant will be based in Juba, South Sudan, for the duration of in-country missions, with home-based work permitted for desk review, analysis, and drafting phases. Travel to selected states/counties, including at least one humanitarian/conflict-affected setting, will be required for consultations and field visits, subject to UN security clearance. All in-country travel will be arranged and funded in accordance with UNFPA travel policies.

The selected consultant must have the following basic educational and professional experience:

Qualifications and Experience:

For individual consultants or consulting firms:

Education

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in Public Health, Population Studies, Health Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field.

Experience

• Minimum 10–15 years of progressively responsible international experience in family planning/reproductive health strategic planning, including leading Costed Implementation Plan development or review processes.
• Demonstrated technical expertise in family planning costing methodologies and tools (e.g., FP costing tools, OneHealth Tool, or equivalent).
• Proven experience facilitating participatory, multi-stakeholder strategic planning processes with Ministries of Health and UN agencies, preferably in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Experience working in fragile, conflict-affected, or humanitarian settings; familiarity with the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) is an asset.
• Sound understanding of global reproductive health and rights frameworks (FP2030, ICPD Programme of Action, SDGs) and health financing and domestic resource mobilization approaches.
• Prior experience in South Sudan or similar contexts is highly desirable.

Skills and Competencies

• Excellent facilitation, analytical writing, and communication skills in English.
• Strong stakeholder engagement, coordination, and consensus-building abilities.
• High level of cultural sensitivity, professionalism, and integrity, with a demonstrated commitment to gender equality and human rights-based programming.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA

The consultant will be provided an office space at the Ministry of Health and work with RHCs team and UNFPA will provide support services including transport, office space, and telephone airtime for the consultant.

Other relevant information or special conditions

Payments will be made in installments linked to the achievement and formal acceptance of each deliverable listed above, in accordance with UNFPA financial rules and regulations, and upon written confirmation of satisfactory completion by the UNFPA Reproductive Health Programme and the Ministry of Health.