Short Term Technical Consultant – To Develop Post-Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for federating areas

Ipas is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) which works to assist the Government of Pakistan in achieving the country’s commitment towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and well-being). It seeks to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity associated with complications due to unsafe practices. Improving reproductive healthcare is vital to preserve women’s reproductive capacity (fertility). We collaborate with provincial governments (in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and the ICT region to provide technical assistance and support for strengthening the public and private healthcare system.

 Over the years, Ipas Pakistan has provided technical assistance to the Government in its ongoing commitment to strengthen the policy environment around postabortion family planning (PACFP). As a result, in 2020, Sindh Government endorsed the first-ever policy on PAFP and endorsed standards and guidelines in 2023.

Post-pregnancy family planning (post-partum and postabortion family planning –PPFP and PAFP) is one of the most effective ways of addressing family planning needs. Integrating family planning services into maternal and child health services is an effective strategy for taking advantage of women’s increased contact with the healthcare system in the period around childbirth. More importantly, increasing the uptake of PPFP/PAFP has the potential to protect and empower women at a crucial time in their lives, establish healthy birth spacing practices, and reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality

Ipas expects to provide technical assistance to the federal government Department of Health in its goal to draft a Post Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for the federating areas of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to improve both postpartum and postabortion family planning indicators so that the overall FP indicators can be improved in these regions where provision and access to postpartum and postabortion family planning services is already a challenge. Furthermore, introducing such a policy would enable healthcare providers to confidently provide the required services to patients and guide investment in their capacity building to do so. For this purpose, Ipas seeks to engage the services of a reproductive health expert who, with the support of the Ipas team and in close collaboration with the government departments, will develop a Post-Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for the federating areas of GB and AJK through a consultative process.

IV. Reporting: Policy and Communications Advisor

V. Deliverables/Milestones and Due Dates:

1. To Develop a project kick-off report

• Road Map to develop the Post Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for GB and AJK; What Methodology shall be used? Potential Challenges and Risk Mitigations etc

Deliverable: Copy of the Report. Due date for this deliverable is 27th June 2024.

2. TO DEVELOP THE POST PREGNANCY FAMILY PLANNING STRATEGY

• Desk Review of the existing literature and draft zero report of the strategy and share with Ipas for feedback
  • Deliverable: Draft of Strategy with Ipas feedback incorporated and vetted by Ipas. Due Date is 19th August 2024.
• Lead and Facilitate the Consultative Meeting/s and gather input from the participants and incorporate in the draft strategy.
  • Deliverable: Draft of Strategy with all meeting/s feedback incorporated. Due date is 15th October 2024
  • Deliverable: Meeting/s Reports. Due date is 15th October 2024
• Ipas review of the draft strategy after the consultative meeting/s feedback is added

Deliverable: Ipas and relevant partners reviewed and vetted copy of the draft strategy with final formatting. Due date is 30th November 2024

3. Monthly Progress Report and Time Sheet

By 28th of every month. By 28th of every month

• Post-graduation in Public Health/RH/MNCH/ Population Studies/ Development Studies
• Experience of developing strategies and policies related to reproductive health/maternal health/postabortion care and/or family planning by analyzing meeting outcomes and literature reviews of relevant national, international policy, and other strategy documents.
• Experience of facilitating and conducting consultative, strategic meetings with key stakeholders /development partners on reproductive health, particularly in maternal health, postabortion care and/or family planning.
• Excellent analytical and report-writing skills based on previous assignments undertaken.
• Ability and willingness to make multiple edits and revisions to develop a high-quality product.

VII. Preferred Skills

• Clinical experience in family planning.
• Demonstrated skills in interpersonal communication.
• Deep understanding of issues surrounding FP, PAC, and RH in Pakistan, and ideally in GB and/or AJK as well.
• Excellent networking with key stakeholders in public and private health sector
• Good understanding of the overall context of RH/FP/PAC in Pakistan

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.  We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, caste, ethnicity, regional identity, tribal identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy. Ipas acknowledges that these personal characteristics may differ in different contexts.