The Position:

UNFPA is the United Nations sexual and reproductive health agency. UNFPA’s mission is to deliver a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.

Bangladesh has achieved significant progress towards universal access to sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), but still some challenges persist. Home deliveries remain high at 35%. Maternal mortality has decreased to 136/100,000 live births, but contraceptive use has plateaued at around 2.3 for over a decade. Discontinuation of modern contraceptives and gender-based violence (GBV) rates are unacceptably high. Preventable conditions like sexually transmitted infections (STIs), HIV/AIDS, Obstetric Fistula (OF), Cervical Cancer (CC), and unsafe abortions are areas of concern. Health disparities based on geography and background characteristics are growing. Urban health, as well as climate change impact on health require immediate attention. SRHR and HGBV services are lacking in rural and urban communities due to gaps in availability and distribution of skilled-mix staff, and inadequate facilities readiness. Governance and policy issues, particularly financing on health issues, remain critical to address them. The Rohingya influx in Bangladesh added more dimensions in the constrained health systems.

The public health sector of Bangladesh is mainly financed through the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) by two modalities, viz., through the Government of Bangladesh’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) and Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), that was adopted in 1998. In addition, some other ministries also allocate budget to health for their staff. The key such ministries are: Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of LGRD, Ministry of Social Welfare, Ministry of Railway, Ministry of Labour and Manpower, Ministry of Women and Children affairs, etc.

Since the introduction of SWAp in 1998, it has been the main stay of the health sector financing in Bangladesh. Till date, three successive sector programs have been implemented and the 4th, which began in 2017, is underway (officially ended in June 2024, but still operational in some form). The 5th sector programme was developed in 2024 and ready to be launched when mass uprising in July-August 2024 halted it. The current interim government that is in place intends to replace SWAp completely with ADP by June 2026. Till then 4th sector programme will continue in one or the other form.

While there is relatively better and detailed information available on public health finance in the country that is not so for an important component of it, viz., SRHR.

SRHR comprises of maternal health (MH), Family Planning (FP), Safe Abortion, HIV/STI, Obstetric Fistula, Cervical Cancer, midwifery, MPDSR, Climate Change impact on SRHR, Adolescent Pregnancy and Health Sector Response to Gender Based Violence and all of this within urban health, is an important component of Primary Health Care (PHC) and is essential to achieve universal health coverage, including the health goals and SDG of Bangladesh. However, not much is known about SRHR financing in the country, without which substantive improvement in SRHR financing / funding and programming as such is not possible.

How much is allocated to SRHR by different SRHR components (above) in the national health budgets, Health sector programme (SWAp) and other ministry budgets is not well understood. Due to which, the budget and expenditure analysis for SRHR, factoring budgets, revised budget and actuals, is not available. one of the reasons could be that SRHR is spread across different programmes and particularly, different operational plans (OPs) of sector programmes. Additionally, not unique to SRHR, some challenge is also due to cross-cutting costs that come from sharing infrastructure, human resource, commodities, information systems etc.

It is in this background that this consultancy is sought from a highly qualified, experienced and well-published health economist, not below the professor rank, who has been engaged with the public health financing systems in the country and has been working with the MoHFW in higher advisory and consultative roles to conduct a thorough public SRHR financial analysis and generate a report and visibility materials (PPT, fact sheet, Summary for Policymakers and wider dissemination), looking at different sources of financing for different components of SRHR (outlined above). This would include both budget and expenditure analysis, leading to 1) evidenced-based documentation of SRHR financing in the country since the inception of the first health sector programme in 1998 (trend analysis), 2) identification of strengths and weaknesses / gaps of SRHR financing in the country and 3) conclusion and 4) recommendations for action at policy and implementation levels and donor engagement.
How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

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 that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Scope of work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs):

Working under the direct supervision of the Chief of Health, and through the National SRHR Financing Review Task Force, under the chair of DG, HEU, MOHFW, the Consultant will be responsible for working with the leadership of relevant sections, departments and directorates of MoHFW and other ministries that have health portfolios and budget. This will comprise include but not limited to as per the need, secretaries /addl. Secretaries, DGs, directors, OP Line Directors (LDs) and other senior officials.

1. Creating a central Public SHRH Financing Review Task Force under MoHFW, with DG, Health Economic Unit as the chair and comprising relevant and senior officials from other relevant ministries, directorates of MoHFW, and UNFPA.
2. Conducting the first brainstorming meeting with the task force to 1) map different sources of financing in the country, like ADPs/budgets of MoHFW and other relevant ministries, OPs of health sector prorgamme, National Health Accounts, annual reports of ministries and government, giving details of budget and expenditures etc. and 2) map the major ministries that have health budget and components.
3. Collecting and conducting detailed budget and expenditure analysis of those documents by different components of SRHR (above) from 1998 (1st Sector Programme) factoring in budget, revised budget and actuals, leading to a unified picture of the trend of budget and expenditure by components of SRHR since 1998, with sections on strengths and gaps, conclusion and recommendations.
4. Conducing minimum 4 validation meetings throughout the consultancy to have consensus on observations, analysis, findings and conclusion and recommendations, including the final dissemination.
5. Developing the Final Report and PPT
6. Dissemination of the Report at the National Level
7. Review the operational plans of the five consecutive sector plans and identify all SRHR-related OPs with budget allocation and expenditures.

Key Deliverables:

1. Detailed Plan of Action with timelines as per the tasks identified above
2. Formation of the National Review Task Force, with DG HEU as chair
3. Mapping of financing sources and the ministries that have health budget to be analyzed for developing the report / paper
4. Minutes of the National Review Task Force – 3 to 4 meetings as outlined above
5. First Draft Report – National SRHR Financial Management Report – both as editable version as MS Word and PPT
6. Second Draft Report – Feedback incorporated into the draft report and PPT
7. Validation of the Second Draft Report and PPT
8. Final Report and PPT

Duration:  45 Working Days from April – August 2025

Place where services are to be delivered: UNFPA Bangladesh Country Office.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):
The consultant will work on a daily basis as per UN working day/hours and will be paid on a fixed agreed amount. The work will be submitted as deliverables identified above under scope of work. These would be electronic and where needed hard copies.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
The consultant will be expected to work remotely with regular in-person meetings to be held at UNFPA country office, project offices and in other partners’ office. The Chief of Health, UNFPA will provide day-to-day monitoring and supervision.

Supervisory arrangements: 
The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Chief of Health, UNFPA and work with the National SRHR Financing Review Task Force, chaired by DG, HEU for day-to-day activities.

Expected travel:
The Consultant will have to make her/his own arrangements and bear costs to attend meetings and consultations while in Dhaka. UNFPA will pay for any work-related travel outside Dhaka.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• A renowned and well published academic not below the professor rank in Economics/Health Economics, with more than 15 years of teaching and research experience in the field, with sound understanding of the public health financial management systems in Bangladesh.
• Postgraduate university degree in Development Studies/Health Economics/ Public Health / Programme and Business management or any other relevant field.
• Knowledge of health systems and structures of MoH&FW and its Directorates and other ministries and understanding of interlinkages of health with development and social sector areas.
• Knowledge on health financing, especially on sexual and reproductive health related OPs of the MOHFW.
• Demonstrated experience of national health financing management system along with the experience and understanding of the national Health Sector planning and implementation.
• Fluent in English with excellent writing proficiency. Familiarity with UNFPA’s mandate and work.
• This position is equivalent to NOC level.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:   The consultant will have to use his/her own laptop.

Payment Instruction:
The final payment will be made upon satisfactory, UNFPA-approved delivery of all deliverables. However, the schedule of payment is as follows:

– 50% of payment on submission and clearance of the inception report.
– 50% of payment on submission and acceptance of the final report and deliverables.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

The tools, reports or documents or any part, cannot be sold, used, or reproduced in any manner without the prior written approval of UNFPA.
This consultancy is open to nationals of Bangladesh.

Expected start date: As soon as possible

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

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 the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. 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, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants’ bank accounts.

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.

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