Individual Consultant for End-line of Improving Reproductive, Maternal and Adolescent Health in Sofala (IRMAH)

Terms Of Reference:

End-line of Improving Reproductive, Maternal and Adolescent Health in Sofala (IRMAH), Mozambique.

Hiring Office: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – Maputo, Mozambique

Purpose Of Consultancy:

Background:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the United Nations' sexual and reproductive health agency. Its mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. Within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals and the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), UNFPA is working towards three transformative results: (i) zero preventable maternal deaths; (ii) zero unmet need for family planning; and (iii) zero gender-based violence and harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage.

In recent years, Sofala Province has faced a sharp decline in humanitarian conditions, marked by escalating violence and frequent attacks on civilians by armed groups, along with increased clashes between these groups and security forces. Compounding the situation, the province has been hit by a series of extreme weather events, including Cyclone Idai and severe flooding in 2019, followed by Cyclone Chalane in December 2020 and Cyclone Eloise in January 2021. These disasters have significantly impacted and displaced communities in riverside districts such as Búzi, Nhamatanda, and Dondo, as well as in Beira city.

The convergence of conflict, climate shocks, and pre-existing vulnerabilities—including poverty, marginalization, and harmful social and gender norms—has greatly intensified protection risks, particularly for women and children. Many face heightened threats of exploitation, abuse, and sexual violence, while access to education remains limited for both girls and boys. In resettlement areas, meeting basic needs is a major challenge due to limited access to essential services. Displaced populations struggle with restricted access to information, healthcare, hygiene, protection, and livelihoods, placing them in an increasingly precarious situation.

In response, UNFPA and its implementing partners have been delivering critical sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and gender-based violence (GBV) services in the hardest-hit districts and communities hosting internally displaced persons (IDPs), including Beira, Dondo, Búzi, and Nhamatanda. Support efforts include maintaining SRH services through mobile brigades and maternal and child health (MCH) nurses deployed to transit centers and resettlement sites, offering integrated services such as SRH care, GBV response, maternal health, and family planning.

Through this project, UNFPA collaborates with the Government and NGO partners to address the barriers that vulnerable populations, particularly women and girls in areas affected by Cyclone Idai, face in accessing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and gender-based violence (GBV) services. The initiative primarily focuses on strengthening the capacity of public health service providers through training in areas such as Basic and Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (B/CEmONC), family planning methods, and safe abortion care. It also includes the provision of medical equipment and ambulances to support hospital referral systems.

In addition, the project actively engages with local communities and secondary school students through training sessions on essential SRHR and GBV services. These efforts aim to increase awareness, generate demand for family planning, and reduce GBV risks at both the community and school levels.

Purpose of the consultancy: The objectives of the proposed assignment are mainly to conduct a project end-line evaluation in four target districts (Beira, Buzi, Dondo, and Nhamatanda) in Sofala province, assessing the project’s performance in achieving its mandated outcomes and outputs. The evaluation will explore the strengths and weaknesses of the project. It will highlight all factors influencing the effective and efficient implementation of the interventions and their contribution towards the realization of the project targets as set out in the results framework. Finally, the evaluation will provide recommendations that will inform future programming of this nature.

Scope of work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Following the establishment of the baseline dataset utilized to measure progress against project indicators and a Mid-term review of the project, which assessed the performance of the project in achieving its goal and expected outcomes, it is requested that the consultant conduct the “IRMAH “end-line evaluation with the main objective of:

• Provide evidence on how the project achieved or did not achieve its objectives, specifically changes in the service delivery capacity and the degree of satisfaction of beneficiaries in the target districts, in comparison to the baseline, while taking into consideration the Mid-term evaluation result.
• Evaluate the state of key indicators at the end of the “IRMAH” project cycle.

Methodology

It is proposed that this research will use a mixed-methods approach to cover the two components. Quantitative methods will be applied to extract data from existing routine district health systems, such as the District Health Information Management Software-2 (DHIS2/SISMA), program-based data sets, existing reports, as well as the most recent Mozambique DHIS report. Sub-national analysis of this data may need to be performed to determine district-level values. 

In addition to the quantitative data, the study will use qualitative methods, including focus group discussions (FGD), key informant interviews (KII), and observation, to collect data for the qualitative indicators and to determine the underlying causes of GBV and of maternal mortality. This will be in addition to an extensive desk review on GBV and maternal mortality in the country and in the province and region, as well as a review of project documents. 

The services to be provided by the consultant include (but are not limited to): 

• Training of Data Collectors
• Data collection and compilation into a database
• Analysis of endline data in comparison with midline evaluation results.
• Submission of timely preliminary and final reports
• Presentation/s of the report to UNFPA and other relevant program partners and stakeholders

The evaluation will examine the following five OECD/DAC evaluation criteria: relevance, coherence, effectiveness, efficiency, and sustainability. Furthermore, the evaluation will use the humanitarian-specific evaluation criteria of coverage and connectedness to investigate how the UNFPA has been able to provide life-saving services to affected populations that are hard to reach.

Duration and working schedule: The consultant is hired to undertake the end-line survey, collect data, analyze it, and provide a report and presentations before November 30, 2025. 50 Working Days

Place where services are to be delivered: The Consultant is expected to visit the 4 project districts (Beira, Dondo, Buzi, and Nhamatanda) in Sofala province

Delivery dates and how the work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.): The consultant should submit the following key deliverables on the following dates, all deliverables should be submitted through a soft copy in both English and Portuguese versions:

Financial proposal - before the signature of the contract: Itemized costs, including training plan for data collectors*fees to obtain the approval from the Bioética at MISAU/CIOB, stationery, local language translator, accommodation, including to the district and peripheries, and all the expenditure needed for this assignment.

Deliverables:

First Deliverable: 1 week later, the contract start date: Payment percentage 40%

1.  Inception report: with initial literature review, detailed scope, methodology, draft questionnaires, work plan, and timelines. 
2. Final data collection tools, a field visit plan, identify a sample number for surveying,  guides for interviewing IPs and the local community, adolescent girls and boys, women and adolescents attending mobile brigades, members of the maternal death committee, and people and expected beneficiaries in four target districts. Secured the approval from Bioética MISAU / CIOB on the endline evaluation survey
3. Data Collection Process: The Consultant will receive part of the Estimated Budget from UNFPA to proceed with the Data Collection, and the remaining will receive 2nd and final deliverable submission. 

Second Deliverable: 2 weeks later, after data collection was  completed: Payment percentage 20%

1. Draft final report, including site assessment and field visit report with findings from final evaluation in four target districts, submitted to UNFPA for comments and input

Final Deliverable: 2 weeks after the submission of the 3rd deliverables 40%

1. Final report incorporating feedback from UNFPA - two weeks after submitting deliverable The final report must be delivered in two languages, Portuguese and English 
2. Workshop in Sofala to disseminate the results of the evaluation to all the stakeholders, including the donor agency.

*Recruitment of data collectors, it is recommended to be local with SRH and GBV skills, and at least one in each district to be from the government system. The consultant will contract the data collectors and manage the payment of the data collectors and the administrative work related to them. 

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format, and deadline: The above-referenced reports will be prepared by the consultant, reviewed by the SRH Technical Specialist, SRH Program Specialist, UNFPA Sofala province coordinator, and M&E officer, and signed off by the Deputy Representative.

Supervisory arrangements: The Consultant shall work under the direct supervision of the SRH Technical Specialist and the SRH Program Specialist and coordinate with the UNFPA Beira sub-office head.

Expected travel: The consultant will be working remotely but will have to travel for data collection. Travel will be requested by the UNFPA Mozambique country office for data collection and key informant interviews in the target districts: Beira, Búzi, Dondo and Nhamatanda. In addition, the UNFPA Mozambique country office will request travel to present the findings from the endline survey, its results, and recommendations to UNFPA and IPs in Maputo and Beira. Travel is expected to some of the selected project districts for data collection. The sites, in the following districts, will be agreed upon during the inception meeting: Sofala: Beira, Dondo, Búzi, Nhamatanda. The arrangement and payment of logistics will be the responsibility of the consultant.

Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

• Master's degree in any of the following fields: public health, international relations, social science, statistics, population studies, human rights, and gender studies, with a focus on sexual and reproductive health studies. 

Qualifications And Skills

• Experience in conducting evaluations, reviews, assessments, research studies, and/or M&E work in the field of international development and/or humanitarian assistance.
• Knowledge and experience in sexual and reproductive health (SRH), maternal health, and gender (GBV) related research projects, SRH and GBV project monitoring and evaluation, project baseline study, etc.
• Familiar with the Mozambican health system and structure; working experience and understanding of the health systems in Central Mozambique is an advantage
• Demonstrated knowledge and experience in project evaluations, particularly for SRH and GBV-related projects;
• Research skills: data collection, data analysis, and report writing;
• Excellent planning, analytical, organizational, and managerial skills;
• Attention to detail and strong analytical skills;
• Full computer literacy, including proficiency in statistical packages.
• Fluency in English and Portuguese

Professional Experience

• Minimum 2 years’ experience;
• The proposed consultant should have at least 3 completed projects of a similar nature and scope in other countries, particularly in the East and Southern Africa region.
• Previous positive working experience with UNFPA is an asset.
• Experience with primary data collection, household assessment, and qualitative surveys, baseline survey, midline, and endline evaluation. 

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g., support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: A consultant is expected to use his/her own laptop or any other equipment if required.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: The consultant will work independently. The consultant shall be entitled to fees as per UNFPA policy guidelines. 

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 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.