Application Guide

How to Apply for Consultancy: TAHub04 Call, Humanitarian, Integrate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights into Early Warning Systems (EWS) and Anticipatory Actions

at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

🏢 About United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

UNFPA is the UN's lead agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), uniquely positioned at the intersection of humanitarian action, gender equality, and population dynamics. Working here offers the opportunity to contribute to a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled, with a specific mandate to end preventable maternal deaths and gender-based violence.

About This Role

This consultancy focuses on developing frameworks and providing strategic guidance to integrate SRHR into Early Warning Systems (EWS) and anticipatory actions in humanitarian contexts. The role is impactful because it aims to proactively address SRHR needs and gender-based violence risks before crises escalate, potentially saving lives and reducing suffering through data-driven, anticipatory humanitarian action.

💡 A Day in the Life

A typical day might involve conducting desk research on EWS indicators and SRHR data, drafting sections of a conceptual framework or policy brief, and participating in virtual meetings with UNFPA country offices or humanitarian partners in Southern Africa to discuss integration challenges. You could also be reviewing early warning data to identify SRHR risks and developing recommendations for anticipatory actions, such as pre-positioning reproductive health supplies or GBV services ahead of a forecasted cyclone.

🚀 Application Tools

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Interview Prep

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🎯 Who United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Is Looking For

  • Has 5+ years of experience in SRHR programming, preferably within humanitarian or development settings, with demonstrated knowledge of gender-based violence prevention and response.
  • Possesses strong technical expertise in Early Warning Systems, anticipatory action frameworks, or disaster risk reduction, with experience in data collection, analysis, and forecasting methodologies.
  • Demonstrates experience in policy development, stakeholder engagement (especially with UN agencies, governments, and NGOs), and capacity building in cross-sectoral integration.
  • Has a proven track record of conducting desk reviews, developing conceptual frameworks, and providing actionable implementation recommendations for complex humanitarian or development challenges.

📝 Tips for Applying to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

1

Explicitly highlight any experience you have working at the intersection of SRHR and humanitarian action, disaster risk reduction, or climate change adaptation, as this is the core of the TAHub04 call.

2

Tailor your CV to demonstrate concrete outcomes from past work on framework development, policy guidance, or technical assistance related to integrating health/gender issues into other sectors.

3

Reference UNFPA's specific mandate and strategic plan (2022-2025) in your application materials to show alignment with their focus on ending unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, and GBV.

4

If you have regional experience in Southern Africa or similar contexts, emphasize this, as the location is South Africa and understanding local humanitarian landscapes is valuable.

5

Prepare a concise technical proposal or methodology outline (even if not requested initially) showcasing how you would approach the desk review, framework development, and integration recommendations for SRHR-EWS.

✉️ What to Emphasize in Your Cover Letter

['Your specific experience and achievements in integrating SRHR or GBV programming into other sectors (e.g., humanitarian response, climate, disaster management).', "Your understanding of Early Warning Systems and anticipatory action in humanitarian contexts, with examples of how you've used data for forecasting or proactive interventions.", 'Your ability to provide strategic guidance and technical assistance to diverse stakeholders, including UN agencies, governments, and NGOs, in policy and program design.', "Your motivation to contribute to UNFPA's mandate, particularly in preventing SRHR-related morbidity and mortality through innovative, anticipatory approaches."]

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🔍 Research Before Applying

To stand out, make sure you've researched:

  • → UNFPA's Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and its thematic focus on humanitarian action, SRHR, and gender equality, particularly the 'TAHub' initiative and anticipatory action work.
  • → Existing global and regional frameworks for Early Warning Systems and anticipatory action in humanitarian contexts (e.g., UN OCHA, IFRC, Start Network) and how SRHR is currently addressed (or gaps therein).
  • → UNFPA's previous work on SRHR in humanitarian settings, such as the Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for SRH in crises, and reports on GBV in emergencies.
  • → The humanitarian and SRHR landscape in Southern Africa, including key actors, ongoing crises (e.g., climate-related disasters), and regional policies related to disaster risk reduction and SRHR.

💬 Prepare for These Interview Topics

Based on this role, you may be asked about:

1 Walk us through how you would develop a framework for integrating SRHR indicators into an existing Early Warning System for droughts or floods in Southern Africa.
2 Describe a time you provided technical assistance or capacity building on gender or SRHR integration to non-health sector stakeholders. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?
3 How would you approach stakeholder engagement to ensure buy-in for integrating SRHR into anticipatory action plans from humanitarian clusters, governments, and local communities?
4 What key data sources and methodologies would you prioritize in the desk review to inform SRHR-EWS integration recommendations?
5 How do you align your work with UNFPA's three transformative results (ending unmet need for family planning, ending preventable maternal death, ending GBV) in a humanitarian setting?
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⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid

  • Submitting a generic application that doesn't explicitly link your experience to SRHR integration into EWS/anticipatory action—this role is highly specialized.
  • Overemphasizing clinical SRHR experience (e.g., direct service delivery) without demonstrating systems-level, policy, or framework development skills relevant to humanitarian coordination.
  • Failing to acknowledge the humanitarian context—this isn't a development-only role; candidates must show understanding of crisis settings and the urgency of anticipatory action.

📅 Application Timeline

This position is open until filled. However, we recommend applying as soon as possible as roles at mission-driven organizations tend to fill quickly.

Typical hiring timeline:

1

Application Review

1-2 weeks

2

Initial Screening

Phone call or written assessment

3

Interviews

1-2 rounds, usually virtual

✓

Offer

Congratulations!

Ready to Apply?

Good luck with your application to United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)!

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