International Consultant for the Development of a National Social and Behav at UNDP

Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

26 Aug, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

28 May, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Social and Behavior Change Communication, ASRH Strategy Development, Stakeholder Mapping, Desk Review, Qualitative Research, Theory of Change, Monitoring and Evaluation, Gender-Responsive Programming, Disability-Inclusive Design, Public Health Analysis, Strategic Planning, Workshop Facilitation

Industry

International Affairs

Description

Introduction: Liberia has a young population, with 46% (2.4 million people) under the age of 19. Adolescents (10 to 19 years) constitute approximately 35.6% of the population. The young generation represents a powerful force that can drive the country’s development agenda. Adolescents are at a time of tremendous physical, cognitive, and social change and require a range of support to thrive, ensure a safe transition into adulthood, and adopt lifelong healthy behaviors that support their journey through education, learning, and skill development, free from violence, abuse, and all forms of exploitation. Pervasive poverty, limited access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, including contraception, and prevalent harmful social and gender norms, coupled with the disconnect between laws and policies and their implementation, hamper adolescents, particularly girls and other vulnerable groups, from realizing their rights and potential. Adolescent girls often initiate sex at an early age, between 14 and 16 years, and 47% of sexually active adolescent girls who wish to use contraception do not use any modern method, and as a result, 32% of girls are already mothers by age 19. The high rate of teenage pregnancies contributes to lower educational attainment and a higher rate of school dropout amongst girls. Data from the 2022 population and housing census confirms that 15% of girls drop out of primary and secondary school due to early pregnancies. Pregnant adolescents experience psychological challenges as well as social isolation and stress as they deal with unwanted and early pregnancies, and unpreparedness for parenthood. Complications during pregnancy and childbirth are prevalent amongst adolescent girls, with an estimated 60% of Obstetric fistulas in Liberia reported among this group. Malnutrition is another key contributor affecting adolescent development, with 55% of adolescent girls experiencing anemia (haemoglobin

Responsibilities

Develop an evidence-based, gender-responsive national SBCC strategy for Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health in Liberia. This includes conducting desk reviews, stakeholder consultations, and creating a comprehensive implementation and MEL framework.