The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is inviting applications for an international consultant to document successful programming approaches aimed at addressing harmful practices, including child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) and female genital mutilation (FGM).
The consultancy is home-based and will support the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO) in documenting evidence, lessons learned and successful approaches to changing social norms across the region.
The selected consultant will be expected to develop strategic knowledge products, advocacy briefs and a harmonised tool for measuring social norms change. The assignment offers an opportunity for an experienced researcher or development professional to contribute to global efforts to eliminate harmful practices and strengthen evidence-based programming.
Applications must be submitted by 6 September 2026 at 23:59, New York time.
About the UNFPA Consultancy
The consultancy is designed to support UNFPA’s work under its Strategic Plan 2026–2029, particularly its objective of accelerating progress towards ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
The assignment will focus on analysing and synthesising regional evidence concerning social norms associated with child marriage and FGM. The consultant will document successful interventions and identify strategic lessons that can inform future programming, advocacy, resource mobilisation and investment decisions.
UNFPA APRO is particularly interested in documenting the experiences and results of UNFPA-supported interventions addressing harmful practices across the Asia-Pacific region.
The consultancy will also draw on major programming and funding streams, including the DFAT-funded Towards Universal Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights in the Indo-Pacific (TUSIP) programme and the UNFPA-UNICEF Global Programme to End Child Marriage.
Key Responsibilities
The selected consultant will be responsible for analysing, synthesising and documenting evidence related to social norm change and harmful practices.
A major component of the assignment will be the development of seven strategic knowledge products and advocacy briefs.
These will cover:
- TUSIP Catalytic Impact: Mapping funding pathways and identifying how catalytic or seed funding contributed to larger government resources, institutional changes or policy reforms addressing CEFM and FGM.
- Adaptive Management: Documenting how programmes adapted to crises such as climate-related disasters, economic changes and political instability while maintaining social norm transformation objectives.
- Long-Term Investment: Combining qualitative evidence of changes in community attitudes and behaviour with quantitative evidence concerning long-term reductions in child marriage.
- Evidence-Based Approaches to End FGM in Indonesia: Documenting holistic approaches used by UNFPA and its partners to address FGM in Indonesia.
- Comparative Advantage: Examining organisational mandates and highlighting UNFPA’s strengths in sexual and reproductive health and rights, bodily autonomy, adolescent health and gender-responsive data systems.
- From Drivers to Strategic Interventions: Developing a visual and conceptual framework connecting the drivers of child marriage with strategic interventions implemented across six countries in the region.
- Pronatalism and CEFM: Developing a regional brief examining the relationship between pronatalism and child marriage, drawing on a previous UNFPA APRO scoping review.
In addition to the seven knowledge products, the consultant will support at least four countries in the region in measuring social norms change initiatives through the development and rollout of a harmonised measurement tool.
Consultancy Duration
The consultancy will run for a maximum of 155 working days, from 1 November 2026 to 30 October 2027.
The selected consultant will develop a detailed workplan in consultation with the UNFPA APRO GBV team.
The assignment is entirely home-based, meaning the consultant will work remotely rather than being assigned to a UNFPA office.
Expected Deliverables
The consultancy has four major deliverable stages.
Deliverable 1 – 15 December 2026
The consultant will produce:
- An inception report and analytical framework.
- A detailed desk review summary and timeline.
- Stakeholder mapping.
- Draft outlines for the knowledge briefs.
Deliverable 2 – 30 March 2027
The consultant will submit first drafts of Knowledge Products 1, 2 and 5.
Deliverable 3 – 30 June 2027
First drafts of Knowledge Products 3, 4, 6 and 7 will be submitted.
Deliverable 4 – 20 October 2027
The final stage will include:
- Validation workshop slides and report.
- Consolidated final drafts.
- Social norms change measurement tool.
- Report summarising the support provided to participating countries.
Payment Structure
Payment will be made in four instalments following satisfactory acceptance of each deliverable by UNFPA APRO.
The payment schedule is:
- 10% upon acceptance of Deliverable 1.
- 35% upon acceptance of Deliverable 2.
- 35% upon acceptance of Deliverable 3.
- 20% upon acceptance of Deliverable 4.
The consultant will report to the UNFPA APRO GBV Advisor.
Qualifications and Experience
UNFPA is seeking an experienced specialist with an advanced academic background and extensive experience in harmful practices and social norm change.
Applicants should have a PhD or Master’s degree in one of the following areas or a related discipline:
- Gender Studies
- Sociology
- Human Rights
- Public Health
- International Development
Candidates must also have at least 10 years of relevant research and programming experience addressing harmful practices and changing social norms.
Additional requirements include:
- Demonstrated experience managing or conducting research on social norms change, harmful practices or gender-based violence.
- Experience documenting programmes addressing harmful practices.
- Demonstrated experience with UNFPA or UNICEF programming on harmful practices.
- Expert-level ability to write clear and concise policy briefs and strategic documents for institutional donors.
- Strong writing and documentation skills.
- Proficiency in English.
Who Should Apply?
The opportunity is particularly relevant to senior researchers, gender specialists, social norms experts, public health professionals, international development specialists and experienced programme documentation professionals.
Candidates should have a strong understanding of harmful practices and demonstrated ability to turn complex research findings and programme evidence into strategic knowledge products that can influence policy, programming and funding.
UNFPA Commitment to Inclusion
UNFPA states that it promotes gender equality, diversity, integrity and a healthy work-life balance.
The organisation encourages applications from women and from individuals from underrepresented groups, including persons with disabilities, Indigenous populations, minority ethnic groups and members of the LGBTQIA+ community.
Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request.
Important Details
- Organisation: United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
- Position: Consultant to Document Successful Programming Approaches on Addressing Harmful Practices
- Job ID: 36609
- Contract type: Temporary Appointment
- Duty station: Home-based
- Duration: Up to 155 working days
- Assignment period: 1 November 2026 – 30 October 2027
- Supervisor: UNFPA APRO GBV Advisor
- Education: Master’s or PhD
- Experience: At least 10 years
- Focus areas: CEFM, FGM, harmful practices and social norm change
- Application deadline: 6 September 2026
How to Apply
Qualified candidates interested in this UNFPA consultancy should review the complete vacancy announcement and submit their applications through the official UNFPA recruitment system.
Apply for the UNFPA Consultant Opportunity
Applicants should ensure that they meet the required education and experience criteria before applying. UNFPA also states that it does not charge any application, processing, training, interview, testing or recruitment fees.
With a focus on documenting evidence and strengthening approaches to ending child marriage and FGM, this home-based consultancy provides an opportunity for a highly experienced professional to contribute to evidence-based policy, advocacy and programming across the Asia-Pacific region.
