International Consultancy: Development of Costed Implementation Framework - Somalia SRHR BCC & Advocacy Strategy 2026–2030

Consultancy to develop a  costed implementation framework for the Somalia SRHR BCC and Advocacy Strategy 2026 - 2030.

Duty Station: The position will be home based with possible travel to Mogadishu as and when required.

Duration:  10 Days
Grade/Level: P3
Contract Type: International Consultancy

Background
Somalia continues to face significant sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) challenges, including limited access to quality information and services,  harmful social and gender norms, misconceptions, and other demand-side barriers. Key indicators remain among the most challenging globally, with a maternal mortality ratio of 563 deaths per 100,000 live births, modern contraceptive use of approximately 1.5–2%, and FGM prevalence of approximately 99% among women and girls aged 15–49 years (WHO, 2024; SHDS, 2020). GBV and adolescent/teenage pregnancy also remain significant concerns, compounded by early marriage, harmful norms and limited access to adolescent-responsive SRH services (WHO, 2026; UNFPA; UNICEF).

In response, UNFPA Somalia developed the SRHR Behavior Change Communication (BCC) and Advocacy Strategy 2026–2030, which provides a strategic framework for addressing key behavioral and social determinants of SRHR outcomes. However, the Strategy was developed without a detailed costing of its proposed interventions. A comprehensive, activity-based and multi-year costing is therefore required to translate the Strategy into an operational investment plan, quantify resource requirements, identify financing gaps and priority investment areas, and inform annual planning, budgeting and resource mobilization.

UNFPA Somalia therefore seeks to engage an experienced Individual Consultant to develop a comprehensive, evidence-informed costed implementation and resource mobilization framework for the Somalia SRHR BCC and Advocacy Strategy 2026–2030, translating strategic priorities into costed activities, resource requirements, annual and five-year budgets, funding gaps, and resource mobilization priorities.

2. Scope of Works

1. Review and analyze the SRHR BCC and Advocacy Strategy 2026–2030, relevant policies, interventions, activities, and available resources to identify activities requiring costing.
2. Develop a costing methodology covering costing categories, unit costs, resource requirements, target populations, geographic coverage, activity frequency, annual costs, and key assumptions.
3. Undertake activity-based costing of strategic interventions, including community engagement, advocacy, media and digital communication, BCC materials, capacity building, youth-focused activities, stakeholder engagement, MEL, and coordination.
4. Develop a five-year costed implementation plan, including annual budgets for 2026–2030 and a consolidated five-year budget.
5. Conduct a resource-gap and investment analysis to identify available resources, funded and unfunded activities, financing gaps, priority
   investments, and resource mobilization opportunities.
6. Validate the costing through consultations with UNFPA and relevant stakeholders, covering activities, assumptions, unit costs, implementation
   scope, budgets, and funding gaps.
7. Produce a final costed implementation and resource mobilization framework for annual planning, budgeting and resource mobilization
   Key deliverables will include:

3. Key deliverables will include:

1. Inception Report – methodology, costing approach, workplan, data requirements, consultation plan, costing template and assumptions.
2. Intervention/Activity Costing Matrix – mapping strategic objectives, interventions, activities, targets, inputs, unit costs and total costs.
3. Draft Activity-Based Costing and Five-Year Budget – detailed costs by activity and intervention, annual budgets for 2026–2030, and consolidated five-year costs.
4. Resource-Gap and Investment Analysis – available resources, funded and unfunded activities, financing gaps and priority investment areas, validated with stakeholders.
5. Final Costed Implementation and Resource Mobilization Framework – incorporating feedback and including the costing matrix, annual and five-year budgets, resource-gap analysis, priority investments, resource mobilization considerations and an editable Excel costing tool.

Expected Outputs

UNFPA Somalia will receive a fully costed SRHR BCC and Advocacy Strategy 2026–2030, including a detailed costing matrix, annual and five-year budgets, documented cost assumptions, resource-gap and priority investment analysis, and an editable Excel costing tool.

Duration and Working Schedule:  The assignment should be completed within 10 Days

Place where services are to be delivered:

The consultancy will be home-based with consultations conducted virtually and/or in Mogadishu, Somalia, as required.

All material should be delivered electronically.

Monitoring and progress control including reporting requirements: Regular progress reporting with supervisor and team on a weekly basis at minimum.

Supervisory arrangements: The consultant will report to the Deputy Representative and SRH Unit Team Lead and coordinate closely with relevant SRH, GBV, communications, M&E, and operations teams, while engaging government and implementing partners as appropriate.

Expected Travel: Any travel required for the assignment should be agreed in advance with UNFPA and will be subject to applicable UNFPA rules and procedures.

Language requirements 

●    Proficiency in spoken and written English language.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• A Master’s degree in public health, health economics, social/behavioral sciences, development studies, economics, communication, programme management, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of relevant professional experience in programme costing, SRH/health programming, SBCC/BCC, programme planning, health economics, or related areas.
• Proven experience in activity-based and multi-year budgeting, costing national or sub-national strategies, and conducting resource-gap and investment analyses.
• Experience working with UN agencies, government, or international development organizations is desirable.

Skills and Competencies:

●    Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
●    Excellent report-writing and data presentation abilities.
●    Knowledge of the Somalia context is an added advantage
●    Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a complex and dynamic environment.
●    Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage diverse stakeholders.

5. Application Process

Interested candidates will be required to submit the following documents:
●    A cover letter detailing their relevant experience.
●    An updated CV highlighting key qualifications and achievements.
●    At least three professional references.

Shortlisted candidates may be required to complete a written assessment and/or participate in an interview. 
 UNFPA will share the developed SRH SBCC Strategy with the consultant and provide any other support the consultant may require.