TERMS OF REFERENCE Hiring office: UNFPA Turkmenistan CO Title: Individual consultancy services (International) on update of National Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) Plan for Reproductive Health in Crisis Settings The background and purpose of consultancy:
ย ย UNFPA's central mission is to create a world where every pregnancy is desired, every birth is safe, and every young person can reach their full potential. In Turkmenistan, UNFPA has a long-standing partnership with the Ministry of Health and Medical Industry to secure reproductive health, rights, and choices for women, girls, and young people.
ย ย In this context, UNFPA Turkmenistan, in partnership with MOHMI, is seeking an international consultant to update the national Minimum Initial Service Package (MISP) for Reproductive Health in Crisis Settings plan. The last update to this plan in Turkmenistan was in 2014, following a period of significant capacity-building efforts from 2011-2013, during which national specialists and health providers in disaster-prone zones were trained on MISP. An assessment of MISP preparedness was also supported in 2014.
ย ย The MISP is a coordinated set of life-saving reproductive health interventions to be implemented at the onset of a humanitarian crisis. The national plan needs to be revised and enhanced to align with current global standards and local contexts.
ย ย To improve the coordination component of the MISP plan, there is a critical need to formalize and strengthen the Reproductive Health Working Group for preparedness and response. The consultant's work will directly contribute to this effort. The RH Working Group will serve as an informal technical platform among key stakeholdersโincluding government, UN organizations, and the Red Crescent Societyโto ensure the harmonization of support and to advocate for the integration of SRH in national preparedness plans. The consultant is needed to support the working group to conduct MISP readiness assessment and update of the national plan, promote the early implementation of MISP during emergencies, and foster capacity building at both national and local levels. Scope of work:
The consultant will work with the UNFPA Programme Analyst on Reproductive Health and national MOHMI specialists, including members of the RH Working Group with the support of National Consultant, to update the national MISP plan. The scope of work includes, but is not limited to, the following stages:
Stage 1: Readiness Assessment - 10 days
- ย Preparatory work together with specialists of the MoHMI on data collection and reflection process - 2 working days
- Review of existing policies, coordination mechanisms, resource availability, and health workforce capacity for MISP services - 3 working days
- ย Assessment of the capacity of national stakeholders and health systems to implement the MISP in a crisis setting by applying a comprehensive, multi-section readiness assessment - 5 working days
Stage 2: Alignment of the current MISP throughย ย Stakeholder Consultation - 7 days
- Drafting the Updated MISP Plan with incorporated the latest global guidelines and recommendations, addressing gaps identified during the readiness assessment, and tailoring the plan to the specific context of Turkmenistan - 2 working days
- Development and submission of final version of the MISP plan - 2 working days
- Conduct 3 days workshop on updated MISP with national partners, to gather feedback and ensure national ownership - 3 working days
Stage 3: Finalization and report - 5 days
- Finalization of the national MISP plan, including a clear implementation and monitoring framework - 3 working days
- Prepare a final consultancy report - 2 working days Duration and working schedule: The duration of this consultancy is 22 working daysย from October 31, 2025 till December 10th, 2025 including operational closure of the contract. Outcomes and deliverables:
Deliverable 1.ย MISP Readiness Assessment is conducted by November 12, 2025
Deliverable 2.ย MISP is updated by November 21, 2025
Deliverable 3.ย A 3-day workshop for national partners is conducted on incorporation of the updated MISP by November 27, 2025.ย
Deliverable 4. Final consultancy report by December 3, 2025. Place where services are to be delivered: The consultancy services will need to be deliveredย on the duty station of the National Consultant and in a distant mode. Delivery dates and how work will be delivered: Dates for deliverables as indicated in the outcomes and deliverables section. All deliverables should be submitted in an electronic format.ย Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:
The UNFPA Programme Analyst on Reproductive Health will monitor the National Consultantโs work through reviewing submitted materials. The consultant will weekly provide an update on progress by email or ad-hoc, on challenges encountered and support needed. ย
Ethical Considerations
UNFPA requires its consultants to adhere to ethical principles and standards when doing research. The selected consultant should clearly identify any potential ethical issues and approaches, as well as the processes for ethical review in the inception report.
National Ownership
The involvement of appropriate national partners will be a critical condition for the development of all the mission outcome materials in ensuring stakeholder ownership and its subsequent utilisation. Supervisory arrangements: The National Consultants will work in collaboration with National Consultant andย ย under the supervision of and report to the UNFPA Programme Analyst on reproductive health, along with the overall guidance from the UNFPA Head of Office. Expected travel:ย
One in-country travel is expected under this consultancy.ย
Travel in November 2025 for approximately 5 days is expected for conducting workshop. During presence in the country, consultant will meet with UNFPA staff and deliver actual training outlined above. Exact number of days in the country and travel dates to be communicated to the selected consultant. Logistic arrangements such as visa, tickets, stay in Turkmenistan to be arranged by the UNFPA country office. Travel costs will be covered according to the UNFPAโs Duty Travel Policy.ย Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies including language requirements:
ย A Master's degree in Public Health, Medicine, Social Sciences, Humanitarian Affairs, International Development, or a related field Minimum 5 years of experience in SRH programming, particularly in humanitarian or emergency contexts.ย Experience working with Government organisations and/or international organizationsย Comprehensive knowledge of the MISP guidelines and their practical implementation, including all six objectives. ย Ability to conduct needs assessments, readiness assessments, and program evaluations effectively. Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience with the MISP guidelines and their application in diverse crisis situations. Fluency in English. Knowledge of Russian is an advantage. Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner, if applicable: UNFPA will provide the consultant with all the necessary materials, data, information, and available reports. The UNFPA Country Office will put together a list of core sources and readings before the start of the consultancy. Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the P-3 level of the of the UN Salary Scale for Professional and higher categories effective 1 January 2025 and will be paid in a lump sum upon successful completion of deliverables. 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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. Persons with disabilities, and individuals of 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.