Individual Consultant Health Economist - Development of Midwifery Investment Case

The Position:

The Economist consultant is to lead the economic and financial analysis for the midwifery investment case. This involves quantifying the costs, economic benefits, and overall return on investment (ROI) of scaling up midwifery models of care, and developing a compelling case to persuade government and partners to adopt and increase investments in MMoC in Kenya.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the SRHR & Health Systems Specialist, overall guidance of the SRHR/Youth Advisor and Deputy Representative, with direct technical guidance from the designated team from UNFPA’s Regional and Headquarters offices.

How you can make a difference:

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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

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

Consultancy Background Information:

Global attention and investment in midwifery are increasing as an effective strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). To advance this agenda, the Midwifery Accelerator was launched in April 2025 by a global coalition including WHO, UNICEF, and ICM to scale up the Midwifery Model of Care (MMoC). A key part of this initiative is encouraging increased domestic and international funding for midwifery through evidence-based advocacy.

In this context, UNFPA has developed a comprehensive "Investing in Midwifery Models of Care" handbook to guide the creation of national investment cases. UNFPA will support the rollout of this framework in several countries, with Kenya selected for implementation in 2026. This consultancy is crucial for adapting the global framework to the Kenyan context, generating country-specific evidence to drive sustainable improvements in midwifery services.

An Economist/Health Economist is needed to collaborate with a Public Health Consultant  to develop the Midwifery Investment Case for Kenya. This will entail working with key stakeholders that include the MOH, the Midwives Association of Kenya (MAK), WHO, UNICEF, Private & FBO sectors and other relevant stakeholders under the guidance of UNFPA team and international experts.

Scope of Work and Responsibilities:

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Funding and Financial Analysis: 
  • Analyze the current funding landscape for SRMNCAH and midwifery in Kenya, including government budgets, donor flows, and out-of-pocket expenditures.
  • Identify financing gaps, opportunities for resource reallocation (e.g., from underspent budgets), and potential innovative financing mechanisms to advance MMoC.
• Costing Analysis: 
  • Using an ingredients-based approach and tools like the OneHealth Tool and LiST, estimate the total costs of scaling up the defined midwifery intervention package under different scenarios. This includes costs of drugs, supplies, labor, logistics, and programs.
  • Estimate the costs of the proposed workforce development, including estimation of workforce requirements, workforce modelling and development, and costs of workforce development- pre-service training, salaries, and incentives.
• Benefit Analysis: 
  • Health benefits: Quantify the long-term economic benefits resulting from improved health outcomes (reduced morbidity, mortality, stillbirths, unintended pregnancies and enhanced nutrition). This includes Years of Life gained, morbidity averted and unintended pregnancies averted. 
  • Estimate the economic benefits from averting unintended pregnancies, such as increased educational attainment for adolescent girls and reduced time out of the workforce for women.
  • Estimate the cost savings from a reduction in unnecessary medical interventions, such as cesarean sections.
• Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the benefit-cost ratio and ROI for investing in midwifery care by comparing total estimated costs against total monetized benefits for the defined scale-up scenarios.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: 
  • Work in close collaboration with a Public Health consultant, the MOH, Nursing Council of Kenya, Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA), Midwives Association of Kenya (MAK), RMNCAH Stakeholders, National Treasury and Economic Planning,professional associations such as KOGS, Kenya National Union of Nurses and Kenya Progressive Nurses Union   under close supervision and collaboration of  UNFPA team and international experts, using their health impact and workforce models as the foundation for the economic analysis.
  • Act as the primary technical liaison with counterparts at the Ministry of Finance and other economic and financial stakeholders. 
  • Co-design and co-facilitate national workshops to share, discuss, and validate findings with key stakeholders.
• Reporting: Lead the drafting of all economic and financial sections of the reports and deliverables, ensuring a cohesive and integrated final investment case document.

Key Deliverables:

All deliverables will be submitted in electronic copies. They must be written in English.

1. An inception report detailing the methodology, workplan, and data availability. 
2. A comprehensive report covering
   1. The financing landscape, funding gaps, and costing analysis for midwifery in Kenya. 
   2. The estimated economic benefits and the Return on Investment (ROI) analysis.
3. Substantial written contributions to the final, integrated Investment Case document, a roadmap for financing, and the monitoring and evaluation framework.
4. Policy brief on the economic arguments for investing in midwifery. 
5. Power Point Presentation on economic benefits of investing in Midwifery

Consultancy Duration:

The consultancy is for a period of 40 days over the period of four months. The consultancy will commence on the day following the contract's signature.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

A clear milestone-based payment is outlined for this consultancy, with each payment tranche released upon the submission and approval of specific deliverables, to the satisfaction of UNFPA. The payment is made upon receiving a confirmation email for the final approval from UNFPA on the deliverables.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment): 

• UNFPA will provide relevant support and guidance to ensure the successful undertaking of this consultancy.
• UNFPA will support the consultant to make the necessary contacts with relevant partners.
• UNFPA will share all relevant documents related to the consultancy once the assignment is awarded.
• UNFPA will facilitate the use of virtual platforms for meetings as needed and/or support any face to face consultation that might be required. 

Place where services are to be delivered:  Nairobi, Kenya

The consultant is expected to work remotely,  utilizing their own office space, computer, internet, telephone and other equipment as needed, to undertake this assignment. 

Expected travel:

The consultant is required to attend any meetings specifically requested by the Ministry of Health and MAK. Transportation within Nairobi and to various offices will be provided/covered.

No domestic travel for activities outside Nairobi is expected for this consultancy. However, may this be required, UNFPA will cover the related costs. 
 

Other relevant information or special conditions:

• IC should prepare and submit a list of the documents and materials required from the CO with a timeline.

• All documents prepared during the assignment shall be treated as property of UNFPA Kenya CO. The report/documents or any part, therefore, cannot be sold, used and/or reproduced in any manner without prior written approval of UNFPA Kenya CO. In the event of the consultant requiring additional time to complete the contract, over and above the time previously agreed to, but without UNFPA Kenya CO changing the scope of work, UNFPA’s prior written approval for the same shall be necessary.

   

All interested applicants should submit the following:

1. Letter of interest
2. CV with evidence of qualifications and experience

3. At least one sample of a similar assignment undertaken within the last five years (e.g., Funding and Financing analysis, investment case, costing study,Benefit analysis, or related analytical work). 

    

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Economics, Health Economics, Public Finance, or a related field.
   

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in health financing, economic evaluation of health programs, or cost-benefit analysis.
• Knowledge with health costing and economic modeling tools such as the OneHealth Tool and LiST is an asset.
• Demonstrated expertise in conducting return-on-investment (ROI) analysis for social sector programs.
• Strong understanding of innovative health financing mechanisms.
• Experience working in Kenya  or the East & South Africa region is highly desirable.
• Excellent analytical, quantitative, writing, and communication skills in English. 

Language Requirements:

English Language required 
 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

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

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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  reference checks, 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.