Individual Consultant Public Health Consultant - Development of Midwifery Investment Case

The Position:

The Public Health Consultant will lead the development of the midwifery investment case. This involves conducting a comprehensive situation analysis, defining the health interventions, modeling the health impacts of scaled-up midwifery care, and developing an evidence-based workforce development strategy to accelerate progress towards improved Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) in Kenya.

The consultant will work under the overall 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

Job Purpose:

The primary objective for the Public Health Consultant is to lead the development of the midwifery investment case. This involves conducting a comprehensive situation analysis, defining the health interventions, modeling the health impacts of scaled-up midwifery care, and developing an evidence-based workforce development strategy to accelerate progress towards improved Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, and Adolescent Health (SRMNCAH) in Kenya.

 

Consultancy Background 

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.

A Public Health Consultant is required to lead the development of the midwifery investment case for Kenya, in close collaboration with an Economist and relevant stakeholders including, the MOH, Midwives Association of Kenya, RMNCAH stakeholders, Nursing Council of Kenya,Kenya Health Professionals Oversight Authority (KHPOA) and professional associations like Kenya Obstetrics and the Kenya Gynaecology Society (KOGS), Kenya Progressive Nurses Association (KPNA), WHO and UNICEF under the guidance of UNFPA team and international experts. 

 

You would be responsible for:

• Situation Analysis: Lead a thorough analysis of the national and subnational SRMNCAH landscape in Kenya. This includes reviewing maternal and neonatal mortality rates, the primary causes of preventable deaths, health system characteristics, existing policies, and the current state of the midwifery workforce and model of care.

   

• Define Midwifery Intervention Package: In line with the investment case framework and national priorities, define and select a package of evidence-based interventions that can be delivered by midwives in the Kenyan context.

• Model Health Impacts: Utilizing tools such as the Lives Saved Tool (LiST), model the health impacts of different scenarios for scaling up the defined midwifery intervention package. Key outputs will include maternal and neonatal lives saved, stillbirths averted, and morbidity reductions.

   

• Workforce Analysis and Strategy: 
  • Estimate the workforce requirements needed to deliver the modeled scale-up scenarios.
  • Conduct a gap analysis of the current midwifery workforce supply, distribution, and skill mix against the projected demand.
  • Develop evidence-based workforce development strategies, considering options such as training new cadres, scaling up existing training programs, and improving retention.

• Analyze Enabling Environment: Assess the contextual factors required for an enabling environment for midwifery in Kenya, including regulation, professional status, gender equality, and system-level integration.

   

• Reporting: Lead drafting of the final midwifery investment case and the public health and workforce sections of the IC ensuring a cohesive and integrated final investment case document. The health analyses and work force strategies will be developed by Economist/Health Economist that will lead the economic and financial analysis for the midwifery investment case.

 

The consultant will apply a mixed-methods approach that includes a desk review of relevant policies, strategies, reports, and evidence; secondary analysis of available data and indicators; key informant interviews (KIIs) with national and subnational stakeholders; and consultative workshops to validate findings and build consensus around priorities and recommendations. 

The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Induction workshop: Design and co-facilitate a national induction workshop, in coordination with MOH, MAK and other stakeholders, to present and discuss the objectives of the investment case, scope and methodology. The workshop will aim to establish a multi-sectoral Task Force and develop a roadmap for implementation.
• Desk Review and Secondary Data Analysis: Conduct a comprehensive review of relevant national policies, strategies, guidelines, investment plans, workforce assessments, and global evidence, and undertake secondary analysis of available data to assess the status, gaps, needs, and opportunities for strengthening midwifery services in Kenya. 
• Key Informant Interviews: Conduct key informant interviews with representatives from government, professional associations, training institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to gather insights and inform the development of the investment case. 
• Stakeholder Workshops: Plan and facilitate 3–4 national and subnational stakeholders workshops to support the development of the midwifery investment case. These will include an inception workshop, technical coordination meetings, validation of draft results, and recommendations, and a final dissemination event with MOH and relevant stakeholders.
• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: 
  • Work in close collaboration with the Economist consultant to ensure health analyses and workforce strategies inform the economic modeling, and vice versa.
  • Act as the primary technical liaison with counterparts at the Ministry of Health and other health-sector stakeholders.
  • Co-design and co-facilitate national workshops to share, discuss, and validate findings with key stakeholders.

 

Key Deliverables:

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

• An inception report detailing the methodology, work plan, timelines, data required and outline of the Investment Case Report.
• Comprehensive reports for the national induction and the Inception Workshops with the MOH and related stakeholders.
• A comprehensive Situation Analysis report on the SRMNCAH and midwifery landscape in Kenya.
• Draft and final reports on the modeled health impact and workforce development scenarios.
• Final, integrated Investment Case document with a roadmap for implementation, and the monitoring and evaluation framework.
• Policy brief based on the investment case findings.
• PowerPoint Presentation of the Investment Case.

 

Consultancy Duration:

The consultancy is for a period of 45 days over a 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 successful submission and approval of specific deliverables.

The payment is made upon receiving a confirmation email for the final approval from UNFPA (and MOH if needed) on the deliverables.

The consultant is required to attend any meetings specifically requested by the Ministry of Health and Midwives Association of Kenya(MAK).

Transportation within Nairobi and its environs will be provided.

Limited domestic travel for activities outside Nairobi is expected for this consultancy. However, may this be required, UNFPA will cover the related costs. 

 

Payment Schedule

Payments to the consultant will be made in 3 tranches upon successful submission and approval from UNFPA Kenya CO based on the below breakdown.

 

Place where services are to be delivered:

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

 

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 stakeholders and 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

 

Other relevant information or special conditions:

1. IC should prepare and submit a list of the documents and materials required from the CO with a timeline.
2. 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 relevant qualifications and experience 
3. At least one sample of a similar assignment undertaken within the last five years (e.g., investment case, costing study, health workforce assessment, landscape analysis, design of intervention packages, strategy development, or related analytical work).
4. Detailed technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology, work plan, timeline.

 

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree in Public Health, Midwifery, Medicine, Nursing, or a related health field.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• A minimum of 7-10 years of professional experience in SRMNCAH, health systems strengthening, or health workforce planning.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting health situation analyses and program design in low- or middle-income countries.
• Knowledge of health impact modeling tools, particularly the Lives Saved Tool (LiST), is an asset.
• Experience in development of investment cases.
• Strong understanding of the Kenyan context and health system, and how to integrate midwifery models of care and the enabling environment required for their success.
• Experience working in Kenya or the East and Southern Africa region is highly desirable. 
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English. 

Languages: 

• 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 and 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.