Hiring Office:
UNFPA, Maternal Health Unit
Purpose of consultancy:
Midwives in Africa play a critical role in improving access to sexual, reproductive, maternal, newborn and adolescent health (SRMNAH) services. A key goal is around efforts towards achievement of SDG3, targets 3.1 on maternal mortality and 3.2 on neonatal and child mortality and beyond.
The midwifery leaders in Africa, under the auspices of the Centre for Health Development and Research (CEHDAR, an Africa, midwifery, nursing and health systems strengthening focused NGO), organised a Summit in Accra-Ghana in collaboration with a multidisciplinary Steering Committee of midwifery leaders and stakeholders. The Summit with the theme “Unifying Midwifery in Africa: Reimagine, Reignite and Rise” took place between April 30 and May 2, 2024. The Summit focused on strategic discussions allowing participants to engage and deliberate with each other on midwifery in Africa, the challenges faced by the profession, and emphasized the value in promoting collaboration among midwives’ healthcare providers, policymakers and communities.
The Summit served as the catalyst for midwives resolving to establish a regional entity to stand as the voice of the profession on the continent.
The Unifying Midwifery in Africa Steering Committee (SC) has therefore initiated a process to establish the new continental body representing midwives across Africa. A Constitution Development Sub-committee (CDC) has been formed to guide the process, provide reference materials, and facilitate consultation.
In collaboration with SC/CDC, UNFPA ESARO seeks to recruit a consultant to develop a draft constitution for the proposed pan‑African midwives’ organization that aligns with global thinking and best practices in the governance of professional bodies, is informed by mission‑aligned organizations in Africa and globally, supports and drives its vision and mission whilst incorporating African cultural sensitivities and regional diversity.
Scope of work:
(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The Consultant will:

• Review reference materials and resources provided by the CDC.
• Conduct an additional literature search and document a review on constitutions and governance models of regional/global midwifery or health professional bodies that are best practices for consideration.
• Present findings and recommendations to CDC/SC for approval.
• Draft: Mission, Vision, and Objectives statements.
• Fully draft constitution (preamble, governance structure, membership categories, decision-making processes, amendment and dissolution clauses, etc.).
• Share working drafts for review and incorporate feedback.
• Attend virtual meetings with CRC and/or SC as required.

• Produce a final draft constitution ready for validation and approval by the SC and Summit delegates.Finalise and submit a fully validated document

• Duration and working schedule:
  The consultancy is expected to be for 15 days spread over the period 20 th of August to 30 th of November.
  Place where services are to be delivered:
  Online

Deliverables and Delivery dates

• Inception Report containing Work plan, outlining approach, key milestones, timeline, and required inputs (25 th of August).
• Draft Constitution (First Draft) – based on initial review and resources informed by recommendations of literature review (18 th of September).
• Draft Constitution ready for validation – incorporating all feedback from CRC and SC (30 th of September).

Final version based on validation meeting outputs (30 th of November).
-
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
Regular check-ins (virtual) with the Constitution Development Sub-committee (CDC) /UNFPA (ESARO, WCARO and ASRO) will be scheduled at key stages of development.
The consultant will provide email-written updates alongside draft deliverables.
Supervisory arrangements:
The consultant will work under the supervision of the Maternal Health Programme Specialist at UNFPA ESARO under the overall guidance of the Health System Specialist at UNFPA ESARO.
The consultant will also collaborate closely and be strategically guided by the Constitution Development Sub-committee and the Steering Committee.
Expected travel:
During technical consultation meetings, the consultant’s travel (if required) and daily subsistence will be covered by UNFPA ESARO
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Please refer the Job description for details