National Consultancy – CSE Situational Analysis, Manual Review and Translation

Job Title

Consultant – Situational Analysis and Revision of Out-of-School CSE Training Manuals (EmpowerED Initiative)

Organisation

UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund)

Location

Malawi

About the Organisation

EmpowerED is UNFPA’s global initiative to expand universal access to comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) for adolescents and youth. This initiative seeks to enhance their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) and ensure they live a life free from violence. The project improves access to in-school and out-of-school gender-transformative CSE for adolescents and youth in 10 countries, including Malawi, while also strengthening the linkages to services for gender-based violence.

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 who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and 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.

Job Purpose

The purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a situational analysis and technical review of existing CSE training manuals in Malawi, and revise them to align with the International Technical and Programmatic Guidance on Out-of-School CSE (ITPG) and the Gender & Social Norms Toolkit.

The consultancy will ensure that the revised manuals:

• Integrate gender-transformative approaches that address harmful gender norms, power relations, and inequalities affecting adolescents’ SRHR;
• Strengthen young people’s agency, decision-making, and critical thinking;
• Reflect emerging issues and the needs of diverse groups, including AGYW, young people living with HIV, and young people with disabilities;
• Are practical and usable for facilitators in real delivery settings.

Overall, the consultancy will contribute to improving the quality, relevance, and effectiveness of out-of-school CSE in Malawi, supporting better SRHR outcomes and GBV prevention.

You Would Be Responsible For

Under the direct supervision of the Director and Deputy Director of the Ministry of Youth, and in close collaboration with the UNFPA Youth Team Lead and the Gender Specialist in the UNFPA office in Malawi, the consultant will:

1. Inception and design

• Hold inception meetings with UNFPA and Government counterparts to affirm consultancy scope, stakeholders, and approval processes.
• Submit an inception report including methodology, sampling plan, tools, ethics plan, work plan, and quality assurance approach for revision and translation. This inception report should provide the final sampling.

2. Data collection and situation analysis

• Prepare all relevant documentation and follow up on ethical review processes for data collection and analysis.
• Conduct literature review, surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and other data collection activities as detailed in the methodology, to collect data on the relevant indicators for the EmpowerED country programme.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data analysis to inform future programming of CSE and gender transformative approaches.
• Ensure meaningful inclusion of AGYW, youth living with HIV, and youth with disabilities, and document barriers and mitigation options.

3. Review and Alignment

• Undertake a structured gap analysis between the current manual and ITPG and Gender and Social Norms Toolkit requirements in terms of content, sequencing, pedagogy, inclusion and safeguarding.
• Revise the manual to strengthen rights-based and gender-transformative content, such as gender equality, consent, power, relationships, violence prevention, human rights, and address emerging issues relevant to adolescents and youth.
• Strengthen facilitator guidance and participatory methodology, such as role-plays, simulations, and reflective exercises, to move beyond one-directional lecture delivery.
• Update examples, activities, and images to be context-appropriate, inclusive, and non-stigmatising.

4. Validation, Pre-test and Finalization

• Facilitate a validation workshop to present preliminary situational analysis findings and the revised manual outline and content, and incorporate structured feedback from key stakeholders.
• Pre-test key sections of the revised manual with a sample of facilitators, implementing partners, and youth to check for clarity, ease of use and effectiveness; while documenting usability findings and revisions made.
• Finalize the situational analysis report for Malawi, following the provided methodology/metadata for each indicator, the logic model and M&E framework.
• Develop data visualization materials and presentations to communicate key findings to diverse stakeholders.
• Share findings and tools at the national and, if necessary, district levels.

The consultant will conduct a gender analysis of the existing manuals to assess the extent to which current materials address:

• Gender norms and stereotypes.
• Power dynamics in relationships.
• Consent and bodily autonomy
• Positive masculinities and engagement of boys and young men.
• Stigma and discrimination related to sexuality, HIV, and disability.

5. Translation of the Revised CSE Manual into Chichewa Language

• Translate the final revised manual into Chichewa, ensuring consistency of technical terminology and meaning as well as ensuring that concepts are culturally appropriate and understandable to local facilitators and youth.
• Develop a short glossary of key terms, English to Chichewa, to support consistent delivery in vernacular settings.
• Conduct translation quality assurance, including editorial review and targeted back-translation checks of selected sections.
• Facilitate a brief validation process with programme staff, facilitators and youth representatives, to ensure translated materials remain clear.
• Pre-test translated sections with facilitators and incorporate feedback before finalization.

Qualifications and Experience

Education

Master’s or equivalent in international relations, gender studies, sexual and reproductive health, international development or other field directly related to the substantive area of work.

Knowledge and Experience

• A minimum of 5 years of experience working in the area of gender equality in international development.
• Ability to connect gender equality with wider SRH issues, including GBV and CSE.
• Exposure to UNFPA work at the country level and experience in UNFPA programming is an asset.
• Experience in writing for UN development programmes.
• Excellent analytical and writing skills.

Languages

Fluency in English and Chichewa is required. Knowledge of other local languages, such as Tumbuka or Tonga, will be an advantage.

Required Competencies

• Demonstrated ability to work in multicultural settings and with diverse stakeholders.
• Strong organizational and project management skills.
• Commitment to ethical standards and data protection principles.
• Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks effectively.

Compensation and Benefits

The consultant will be paid as per the UNFPA consultancy payment guideline.

How to Apply

Applicants should submit: (i) a CV/UN P11; (ii) a brief technical proposal outlining the proposed approach and work plan; and, selection will consider technical quality, relevant experience, language capacity, and cost competitiveness.