National Consultant – Support The SRHR/GBV Ebola Preparedness Interventions

The Position:

Zambia faces a severe, heightened risk of Ebola Bundibugyo Virus Disease (EVD) crossborder transmission due to its porous borders and high population mobility with the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). High transmission risks extend across informal trade routes, mining corridors, and heavy transit hubs in Luapula, North-Western, Muchinga, Copperbelt, Central Provinces, and Lusaka. Key populations—including women of reproductive age, pregnant women, IDPs, and refugees in vulnerable border settlements like Mantapala—face acute exposure. Without rapid infection control and continuous health service protection, a cross-border outbreak threatens to strain local infrastructure and cause a severe breakdown in essential health services.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff who embody these international norms and standards and will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results

Globally and regionally (under the Level 3 Emergency framework), UNFPA’s operational role during Ebola crises focuses on five mandate-critical pillars:

● Continuity of Safe SRH & Maternal Care: Ensuring health facilities and maternity wards remain open, safe, and zero-transmission zones through the deployment of high-fluid obstetric Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), clean delivery kits, and trained midwives.

● Infection Prevention & Control (IPC) in SRH Facilities: Training health workers on outbreak-adapted clinical protocols and equipping maternal care points with specialized PPE and disinfectants.

● GBV Protection & Clinical Management of Rape (CMR): Safeguarding clinical pathways for rape survivors, delivering emergency post-violence care, maintaining One-Stop Centers (OSCs), and mitigating post-Ebola sexual transmission risks.

● Risk Communication & Community Engagement (RCCE): Mobilizing trusted community networks, faith leaders, and youth to dispel fear, combat stigma, address sexual transmission risks, and promote safe healthcare-seeking behavior.

● Protection Against Sexual Exploitation & Abuse (PSEA): Embedding accessible, confidential multi-channel reporting systems (including toll-free hotlines) and community feedback loops into national response plans.

Country Alignment & Operational Framing: 

Under the Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI) Grade 2 Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) framework and the “One Plan, One Budget” approach, UNFPA is supporting the Ministry of Health (MoH) and ZNPHI to implement targeted preparedness interventions. Supported by the Emergency Fund (EF/HTF), UNFPA Zambia directly addresses mandate-specific gaps by integrating SRH, HIV, GBV, and PSEA into national public health structures across six high-risk provinces.

Objective 

The objective of this individual national consultancy is to provide expert technical assistance to coordinate, execute, and monitor UNFPA’s emergency response and preparedness interventions under the Emergency Fund (EF/HTF) allocation. The consultant will facilitate the integration of SRH and GBV preparedness into ZNPHI structures, oversee frontline health worker capacity building, coordinate subnational SRH/GBV service mapping and referral pathway adaptations, and ensure functional PSEA mechanisms.

The consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNFPA Zambia and in close coordination with MoH, ZNPHI, DMMU, Gender Division, Zambia Police (VSU), Lifeline Childline, and civil society partners. The consultant will:

1. SRH & GBV Emergency Coordination & Integration:

Support UNFPA’s co-leadership in the SRH and GBV Working Groups within the Grade 2 PHEOC framework and Incident Management System (IMS).

Ensure integration of maternal health, SRHR, and GBV priorities into national Incident Action Plans (IAP) and cross-border coordination mechanisms.

2. Subnational Service Mapping & Referral Pathway Adaptation:

Conduct subnational SRH and GBV service mapping, facility readiness assessments, and gap analyses across six high-risk border provinces.

Update existing GBV and clinical referral pathways to integrate Ebola IPC protocols, screening procedures, survivor confidentiality, and service continuity contingencies.

3. Frontline Capacity Building & Clinical Preparedness:

Coordinate competency-based trainings and simulation exercises for 200 frontline health workers (midwives, nurses, clinicians) and 50 call center staff.

Focus training content on outbreak IPC, safe deliveries during epidemics, Clinical Management of Rape (CMR), Psychological First Aid , MHPSS, RCCE, and PSEA.

Monitor the distribution of specialized high-fluid obstetric PPE, chemical disinfectants, and clinical job aids to high-risk health centers and One-Stop Centers (OSCs).

4. RCCE, AAP, and PSEA Operationalization:

Facilitate ground-level RCCE outreach with Community Health Workers (CHWs), youth networks, and traditional/faith leaders, incorporating messaging on EVD sexual transmission and stigma reduction.

Monitor and synthesize data from multi-channel AAP feedback mechanisms (Lifeline Childline 116/933, DMMU 909, and lockable suggestion boxes) to close feedback loops and adapt operational responses.

Deliverables: 

1. Inception Report & Detailed Emergency Workplan: Clear operational roadmap, stakeholder engagement map, and implementation timeline for the 6month preparedness response. (Due: End of Month 1)

2. SRH & GBV Subnational Gap Analysis & Adapted Referral Pathways Package: Comprehensive mapping report detailing facility readiness, commodity gaps, and finalized Ebola-adapted GBV/SRH referral pathways and SOPs across 6 high-risk provinces. (Due: End of Month 2)

3. Capacity Building & Simulation Report: Detailed completion report on the training of 200 frontline health workers and 50 call center staff, including pre/post evaluations, job aid rollouts, and simulation exercise outcomes. (Due: End of Month 4)

4. PSEA & RCCE Implementation Report: Synthesis of community feedback data, documented resolution of complaint loops, broadcast records of multimedia/podcast series, and reach metrics. (Due: End of Month 5)

5. Final Emergency Response & Transition Package: End-of-assignment package consolidating all program deliverables, indicator performance tracking (reaching 20,000 SRH and 60,000 GBV beneficiaries), and transition/sustainability recommendations for MoH/ZNPHI. (Due: End of Month 6)

Contract Duration: 6 months

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered 

Output ⁻ All draft reports, datasets, training packages, adapted referral pathways, and final packages will be submitted electronically in editable MS Word/Excel formats and compliance-ready PDFs.

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

The consultant will provide bi-weekly progress updates to the UNFPA SRH/GBV leads and participate in Grade 2 PHEOC review meetings. Progress will be monitored against the timely completion of the 5 core deliverables and target coverage indicators (20,000 SRH and 60,000 GBV reached).

Supervised directly by the UNFPA Zambia SRHR Specialist, in collaboration with the technical team.

Education and Work Experience

Minimum of a Masters in Medicine, Public Health, Global Health, Nursing/Midwifery, Social Work, Humanitarian Affairs, or a related field.

At least 7–10 years of experience designing, managing, or coordinating SRH, maternal health, or GBV emergency responses during disease outbreaks or complex humanitarian crises.

Direct operational knowledge of Ebola/VHF outbreak preparedness, Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in clinical settings, and frontline health workforce support.

Experience adapting GBV referral pathways, Clinical Management of Rape (CMR) protocols, and PFA/MHPSS in epidemic contexts.

Demonstrated working experience with UN agencies (UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF), Ministries of Health, National Public Health Institutes, or international NGOs.

Specific Expertise

Public Health Emergency Integration: Strong understanding of integrating SRH/GBV into Emergency Operations Centres (EOC) structures and Incident Action Plans.

Practical experience designing or training health personnel on IPC protocols specifically tailored to high-consequence pathogens (Ebola, Marburg, or Cholera).

PSEA Systems: Practical expertise in supporting community feedback mechanisms, lockable suggestion boxes, toll-free hotline integration, and PSEA reporting pathways. Contextual Knowledge: Deep familiarity with Zambia’s health sector, border dynamics, and multi-sectoral gender response structures

Language & Core Competencies 

Fluent in English with superior technical writing and analytical skills.

Proficient in digital tracking tools, spreadsheet management, and presentation tools.

High level of cultural sensitivity, adaptability, and ability to deliver quality outputs under tight emergency deadlines.

Working knowledge of major Zambian national languages spoken in the target provinces (e.g., Bemba, Nyanja, Kaonde, Luvale, Lunda) is a strong advantage for conducting field monitoring, community consultations, and reviewing local RCCE/IEC materials.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner.

Access to all project proposals, ZNPHI Action Plans, and national SRH/GBV protocol documents.

Operational facilitation and introduction to ZNPHI, Ministry of Health, and subnational partners.

Travel support and Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) for official field travel outside Lusaka per standard UN rate

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 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, and other administrative requirements.

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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.