National Consultancy to develop the National Guidelines and tools for Menst at UNDP

Monrovia, Montserrado County, Liberia -

Full Time

Start Date

Immediate

Expiry Date

15 Jun, 26

Salary

0.0

Posted On

17 Mar, 26

Experience

5 year(s) or above

Remote Job

Yes

Telecommute

Yes

Sponsor Visa

Skills

Desk Review, Co-creation, Inclusivity, Stakeholder Consultation, Guideline Drafting, Standard Operating Procedures Development, IEC Material Development, Validation, Participatory Approach, Analytical Skills, Writing Skills, Communication Skills, Independent Work, Deadline Management

Industry

International Affairs

Description

The Position: Menstrual hygiene management (MHM) is a critical public health issue that significantly impacts the health, dignity, education as well as ability to thrive for many women and adolescent girls who do not have adequate information and services to manage their menstrual health and hygiene. Many countries in West Africa face significant challenges in addressing menstrual health and hygiene management (MHM) needs of adolescent girls often as a result of the taboo associated with the issue and Liberia is no exception. Menstrual health remains a significant barrier to adolescent girls' education and social participation in Liberia. Many adolescent girls experience absenteeism in school during their menstrual periods due to stigmatization, lack of information, limited access to proper sanitary materials, inadequate sanitation facilities, and deeply rooted cultural taboos surrounding menstruation. Various reports across developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa have reported 25% to 40% absenteeism amongst adolescent girls in school1 . According to a study conducted in Lofa County among 300 senior high school students using a mixed method, 47% to 51% of adolescent girls missed school, accounting for an average of 2.5 days per month2 . Although there has been no representative study conducted in Liberia, studies from the region and parts of Liberia do illustrate the dire need to invest in menstrual hygiene management focusing on the adolescent girl. These challenges lead to adolescent girls' lack of access to affordable menstrual hygiene products, such as sanitary pads, leading to the use of unhygienic alternatives like rags and newspapers. These alternatives could pose serious health risks and can lead to infections, reproductive ill health, and other health complications. Furthermore, the lack of clean and sanitation facilities, particularly in schools, exacerbates the issue, making it difficult for adolescent girls to appropriately manage their period hygienically and with dignity. Disproportionately, adolescent girls from low-income families and rural communities are most affected, perpetuating low self-esteem that affects the social outlook of the lives of adolescent girls. Information on MHM practices amongst adolescent girls out of school is also limited. And it is not clear how the role of community structures interplay to support the adolescent girls particularly the young ones. Additionally, the government ministries responsible for Health, Education and Gender have separate stand-alone guidelines that address the issue of MHM for women and girls. Fragmentation of prevention and response efforts around Menstrual Hygiene by various ministries results in sending mix messages about MHM among girls, parents and guardians. The absence of comprehensive national guidelines has resulted in fragmented information, inconsistent messaging, and gaps in service delivery across health, education, and social sectors. Recognizing these challenges, the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Protection and its partners with support from UNFPA (MoH) are committed to developing a comprehensive national guideline for menstrual hygiene health (MHM) with emphasis on the adolescent girl, including those vulnerable and marginalized. The guidelines, SOPs and its compendium of documents including: i) Integrated national guidelines with emphasis on the adolescent girl, ii) Standard Operating Procedures for the use of Pad dispensers and pad availability, iii) Standard operating procedures for Pad waste management in schools iv) User Friendly Awareness leaflet that considers good hygiene practices. The National Menstrual Hygiene Guideline will be developed in alignment with national policies and guidelines of the Ministries of Health, Gender Children and Social Protection, Education and international frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals. Against this background, with funding from the Embassy of Ireland through the Adolescent Joint Programme, Nurture, Empower and Protect (NEP), UNFPA will provide financial and technical support in the development of an inter-ministerial national guideline for Menstrual Hygiene Health with emphasis on the adolescent girl wherever they are, regardless of their social status. These guidelines will provide a standardized framework for interventions and programs across the country, aiming to improve MHH practices and outcomes focusing on the adolescent girl. You will report to : the Program Specialist, SRHR, Quality of Care and Services with oversight from the Deputy Representative. How you can make a difference: 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. Job Purpose: The consultancy seeks to develop comprehensive, evidence-based national guidelines and tools listed further above for menstrual health and hygiene management thereby serving as a guide on MHM programming for stakeholders including line ministries in Liberia. Specific objectives: ● Develop evidence-based and culturally appropriate, user-friendly national guidelines for MH Health with emphasis on the adolescent girls, addressing key areas in line with international standards of the World Health Organization, UNICEF and UNFPA as well as others ● To develop corresponding SOPs and IEC materials as well as the relevant IEC materials that are user friendly for younger adolescent girls 10 to 14 years. YScope of work: To develop the national guidelines and its set of tools for menstrual health and hygiene management, the national consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: ● Desk review: Review current and existing national MHM policies, strategies, global best practices and programs related to menstrual hygiene with emphasis on the adolescent girls ● Ensure Co-creation and inclusivity: Ensure the participation of adolescent girls (including those marginalized and those with special needs) in the development of the Menstrual Hygiene Health and Management guideline process ● Consultative Workshop: Facilitate stakeholder consultations to gather input and ensure the guideline development process includes key government ministries (Education, Health, Youth and Sports, and Gender) and partners ● Guideline Drafting Process: Draft comprehensive national guidelines and relevant SOPs for menstrual health and hygiene management covering all aspects of MHM- education, access to menstrual products, WASH Facilities, waste management, monitoring and evaluation. Finalization: Validation and finalization of the Guideline, SOPs and IEC Materials ● Submission of the final guidelines and tools Methodology: The consultant will employ a participatory approach bringing together CSOs, UN Agencies, Government Ministries, Adolescent and Youth Networks, Women groups as well as those marginalized at all levels of the consultation. A comprehensive, systematic desk review of global literature on MHM as well as the Regional and National documents. He /She will ensure that the guidelines and tools are simple, practical and adaptable for all adolescents, various Ministries and stakeholders. Expected results: 1. Inception report and workplan is submitted and approved 2. Evidence of Desk review conducted to inform inception report and guidelines 3. A report on the consultative workshop is available 4. Draft national guidelines are available 5. Draft SOPs are available 6. Draft IEC materials are available 7. A validation workshop report is available 8. Finalized national guidelines and relevant tools are available for printing and dissemination Duration and working schedule: Qualifications and Experience: The consultancy is for a period of 35 days Deliverables Timelines 1. Inception report submitted and approved…. 5 days 2. Consultation workshops report…. 3 days 2.1. Draft of National MHM Guidelines 2.2. Draft SOPs for Pad Dispensers, 2.3. Draft SOP on Pad disposal 2.4. Draft User-friendly Menstrual Hygiene Health Peer education booklet for younger and older adolescents with illustrations 2.5. User-friendly guide for providers with illustrations……….. 14 days 3. Validation workshop Report with key GOL ministries and stakeholders …..2 days 3.1. Final National MHHM Guidelines and tools submitted and cleared……. 9 days 3.2 Final SOP for Pad Dispensers, 3.3. Final SOP on Pad disposal 3.4. Final User-friendly Menstrual Hygiene Health Peer education booklet for younger and older adolescents, 3.5. Final User-friendly guide for providers Place where services are to be delivered: The consultancy will be undertaken in Monrovia, Montserrado County Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.): From October 13th to November 28th, 2025. The consultant is expected to submit electronic copies of all key deliverables mentioned in the expected results section. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The overall consultancy will be managed by the Program Specialist, SRHR, Quality of Care and Services. In close collaboration with the Programme Analyst, ASRH the consultant will receive required support for the assignment. Referring to the abovementioned timelines, all deliverables will be initially reviewed by the Program Specialist, SRHR, Quality of Care and Services and technical working group prior to submission to the Deputy Representative for final inputs. Once reviewed by the Deputy Representative, the report will then be shared with the ministries: MOE, MOH, and MOGSCP. Expected travel: The consultant is not expected to travel outside of Montserrado County as the service is being provided in Monrovia Education: Advanced degree in Public Health, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Education, or a related field with 5 to 7 years’ experience Knowledge and Experience: * Demonstrated experience in developing national guidelines, policies, strategies. * Proven ability to facilitate workshops * Experience with multi-stakeholder consultations of diverse groups. * Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English. * Ability to work independently and meet tight deadlines. Languages: English Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: UNFPA will provide a working space for the consultants and provide transportation means during the working hours. The consultant is expected to work with his or her own computer. While in the Office, UNFPA will provide internet access to the consultant. Required Competencies: Values: Exemplifying integrity, Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity, Embracing change Core Competencies: Achieving results, Being accountable, Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen, Thinking analytically and strategically, Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships, UNFPA Work Environment: UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here [https://www.unfpa.org/diversity-equity-inclusion] to learn more. Disclaimer: Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

Responsibilities

The consultant is responsible for developing comprehensive national guidelines and tools for Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (MHM), including drafting integrated national guidelines, Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for pad dispensers and waste management, and user-friendly awareness leaflets.