International Consultant: Evaluation of the Obstetric Fistula Project, Freetown, Sierra Leone

Obstetric fistula (OF) remains a critical public health and human rights challenge, disproportionately affecting vulnerable and marginalised women and girls in hard-to-reach areas of developing nations with limited access to quality healthcare. Sierra Leone faces this challenge acutely, characterised by a fragile health system and some of the world's highest rates of maternal mortality, morbidity, and obstetric fistula. Beyond severe physical incontinence, survivors frequently experience profound social stigmatisation, isolation, and abandonment by their families and communities, a vulnerability often compounded by high rates of intimate partner and gender-based violence.

To address these intersecting issues, UNFPA in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, and other partners, implemented “An Integrated Results-Based Approach Towards Elimination of Obstetric Fistula in Sierra Leone”. Operating through a comprehensive multi-dimensional framework encompassing prevention, clinical treatment, holistic rehabilitation, and social re-integration. 

The project has been implemented since 2022 and is scheduled to conclude on 31st December 2026. 

UNFPA in collaboration with the Ministry of Health is planning to undertake an end-term evaluation of the implementation of the project. This will not only assess the performance in the project’s outputs, but also its relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, sustainability and contribution to health system strengthening.

Therefore, UNFPA, as the lead agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights, seeks to engage a highly qualified consultant to provide a comprehensive end-of-project evaluation to assess project’s performance, achievements, outcomes, challenges, lessons learned, sustainability plans, and to inform future programming. 

Scope of the review,

Description of services, activities or outputs:

The consultant will conduct a comprehensive evaluation covering all project outputs, including:

1. Relevance: - Assess the relevance and contribution of the project compared to the project proposal's aims.
2. Effectiveness: - Assess the extent to which the project has successfully achieved its stated objectives so far, including establishing how the implementation framework enabled or hindered the achievement of results, i.e. identifying what worked well and what did not work well.
3. Efficiency: - Assess the extent to which the objectives have been achieved, with the allocation of resources (funds, expertise, time, administrative costs, coordination, etc)
4. Sustainability: - Assess the sustainability plans beyond the end of the project period.
5. Lessons learned:

• Identify successful approaches, innovations, and implementation models.
• Highlight challenges and how they were addressed.
• Document replicable practices for future maternal health and fistula programming.

1. Recommendations:

• Recommend strategies for strengthening fistula prevention, treatment, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
• Identify priorities for scaling up successful interventions.
• Recommend measures to improve sustainability, quality of care, and health system integration

This assignment will be undertaken over a period of 6 weeks (approx. 30 working days).

Payments are strictly output-based and will be disbursed upon satisfactory completion and approval of deliverables.

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Epidemiology, Monitoring and Evaluation, Social Sciences, Development Studies, or a related field. 
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting project evaluations, particularly in sexual and reproductive health (SRH) programs. 
• Strong analytical skills and experience with both quantitative and qualitative research methodologies.
• Experience in working with the UN, Ministry of Health, NGOs and/or development partner institutions.  
• Prior experience working within sub-Saharan Africa, with specific experience in Sierra Leone’s healthcare landscape considered a distinct advantage.
• Proven capacity to facilitate multi-stakeholder dialogues under compressed timelines.  Strong analytical skills with a track record of translating epidemiological and financial data into strategic national programmatic text.
• Fluency in written and spoken English is mandatory.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work in a team.

The consultant is expected to deliver this assignment using his/her own equipment and workspace.

The consultant must undertake mandatory courses by UNFPA / or demonstrate certification of the same – eg. PSEA, BSAFE, etc.