UNFPA recruits 01 International Consultant: CSE in Humanitarian settings

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 purpose of this consultancy is to lead the co-creation, development, and pre-testing of a gender-transformative, trauma-informed CSE resource package for youth in humanitarian settings in West and Central Africa, and to train a core group of national facilitators who will then implement the package with youth in their communities.

The consultant will deliver

• A co-created, field-ready CSE Resource Package (Facilitator’s Guide, Peer Educator Workbook, Session Flipbook). This package will be informed by a regional scan of existing resources and direct youth input from 2-3 pilot countries, ensuring it is aligned to the specific needs of the West and Central Africa region.
• A cadre of trained national facilitators (30–40 across pilot countries) equipped with the skills and confidence to deliver CSE sessions safely and effectively, following a standardised online Training of Trainers (ToT).
• The consultant’s role ends after facilitator training and handover. Subsequent implementation of CSE sessions with youth will be led by trained national facilitators and partner staff, with support from UNFPA and UNESCO country offices.

You would be responsible for

The consultant will be responsible for leading the following activities across four interconnected phases:

Phase 1: Inception & Youth Consultations (Month 1-3)

• Conduct a regional desk review and mapping of existing CSE resources from WCA countries (Burkina Faso, Chad, Togo, Benin, etc.).
• Develop an inception report with methodology, timeline, and finalised pilot countries.
• Design and facilitate youth consultation workshops in 2-3 pilot countries (max 5 working days per country).

Phase 2: Resource Package Development (Month 3-5)

• Draft the three core resources based on youth input and regional scan:
• Facilitator’s Guide
• Peer Educator Workbook
• Session Flipbook
• Ensure alignment with CSE key concepts and humanitarian adaptations (trauma-informed, safe spaces, referral pathways).
• Circulate for technical review and incorporate feedback.

Phase 3: Training & Handover (Month 5-6 → Deliverable 3)

• Finalise selection of 30-40 national facilitators across pilot countries.
• Develop materials and deliver an online Training of Trainers (ToT) .
• Document a consolidated training report with pre/post assessments.
• Hand over all materials, plus a facilitator support and mentoring guide (for country staff to use during implementation).
• Conduct final handover briefing.

Qualifications and Experience

• At least 8–10 years of progressively responsible experience in designing and implementing CSE, SRHR, or youth programming, preferably in humanitarian or fragile settings.
• Proven experience in participatory curriculum development and adaptation of resources for diverse youth populations, including low-literacy and crisis-affected groups.
• Strong understanding of gender-transformative approaches, trauma-informed practice, and GBV prevention and response in humanitarian contexts.
• Demonstrated experience facilitating participatory workshops with adolescents and youth, including marginalised groups (e.g., displaced youth, persons with disabilities, married adolescents).
• Familiarity with humanitarian coordination mechanisms, MISP, and referral pathways for SRH and GBV services.
• Proven experience in facilitating Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops and building the capacity of adult learners and peer educators.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively across cultures and with diverse stakeholders (youth networks, UN agencies, NGOs, government counterparts).
• Proven ability to work independently, manage complex timelines across multiple countries, and deliver high-quality outputs under pressure.
• Experience in West and Central Africa is a strong asset.

Education

Advanced university degree (Master’s or equivalent) in public health, sexual and reproductive health, education, social sciences, gender studies, international development, or a related field.

Languages

• Fluency in French and English (verbal and written) is essential.
• Knowledge of relevant local languages (e.g., Arabic for Chad) is an advantage.

Core Competencies and values

• Commitment to UNFPA’s mandate, including human rights, gender equality, and leaving no one behind.
• Cultural sensitivity and ability to work respectfully with diverse communities.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, particularly regarding safeguarding and PSEA.
• Builds and maintains strong partnerships with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Thinks and acts strategically, with a focus on practical, scalable solutions.
• Manages ambiguity and complexity with flexibility and creativity.
• Drives to achieve results for impact, balancing quality and timeliness

Duration and working schedule

6 months (April 2026 – 30 September 2026), approximately 60 working days.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Home-based with travel to 2-3 pilot countries in West and Central Africa

Deliverables and dates

Description Timeline

Deliverable 1: Inception Report and Youth Consultation Report

Comprehensive report covering inception findings and youth consultation results.

Month 3/June 2026

Deliverable 2: Finalised CSE Resource Package

Print-ready Facilitator’s Guide, Peer Educator Workbook, and Session Flipbook.

Month 5/August 2026

Deliverable 3: Facilitator Training Completed and Handover

Online Training of Trainers delivered; training report; mentoring guide handed over; final briefing completed.

Month 6/Sept 2026

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

Regular virtual meetings will be scheduled to provide progress updates and address emerging challenges. The defined deliverables 1, 2, and 3 are expected at the end of Months 3, 5, and 6, respectively.

Supervisory arrangements

The consultant will report to the Regional Adolescent and Youth Focal Point at UNFPA WCARO and will work in close collaboration with the UNESCO Youth and Education Teams, the UNFPA Regional Humanitarian Team, and UNFPA and UNESCO country office focal points in pilot countries, and partner organisations. Regular virtual meetings will be scheduled to provide progress updates and address emerging challenges

Expected travel

Travel to 2-3 pilot countries in West and Central Africa is required for the Youth consultation workshops. In-country stay will be limited to a maximum of 7 consecutive days per country (5 working days + 2 travel days).

Inputs/Services to be provided by UNFPA

• All travel and accommodation costs
• Office Space when necessary

Other relevant information/Special conditions

• Professional fees are payable upon satisfactory completion of deliverables
• All travel (flights) will be booked directly by UNFPA in accordance with UNFPA policy.
• The consultant will use their own computer and equipment. Reliable internet access is required for remote coordination.
• Regular virtual meetings will be scheduled with the supervisor and country office teams.
• The consultant should be available during GMT working hours.
• Payment is linked to completed deliverables.
• The consultant is responsible for securing any required visas and maintaining valid health insurance throughout the contract.
• The consultant will be required to adhere to UNFPA’s policies on PSEA and child safeguarding.
  The consultant is expected to share with UNFPA WCARO a Google Drive folder
• containing all relevant documents and materials developed for this assignment