National Consultant for Communications Innovations Technical Assistance

   Hiring Office:

UNFPA Philippine Country Office

  Purpose of consultancy:

Development of Innovative Approaches to Reach Marginalized Populations affordable Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Services  

Background and rationale 

Universal Health Care (Kalusugan Pangkalahatan) is a Philippine initiative aimed at providing affordable, quality health services to all Filipinos. This includes access to health resources, facilities, and financing, with automatic eligibility for health benefits under the National Health Insurance Policy (NHIP), regardless of PhilHealth status, and no copayments for members in basic or ward accommodations.

According to the 2022 NDHS, 47% of respondents were aware of the no copayment/no balance billing policy, and 36% knew about immediate eligibility for health benefit packages under the NHIP. Awareness of these policies is slightly higher in rural areas for no copayment, but slightly higher in urban areas for immediate eligibility. These results suggest that many households are still unaware of their full PhilHealth benefits.

PhilHealth and other government agencies have implemented various measures to inform households of their benefits, including through the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) program’s Family Development Sessions. Despite these efforts, surveys show a gap between self-reported health insurance coverage and the coverage rates in official databases, indicating that many people, especially the poor, are unaware of their entitlements.

A 2017 World Bank study highlighted barangay officials and DSWD staff as key sources of information about government-subsidized health insurance. However, while awareness of hospital care coverage is high, many are still unaware of other benefits, like free primary care consultations. Most people learn about their coverage through social networks, with limited impact from outreach programs by PhilHealth or DSWD.

The Universal Health Care Act also ensures that women have access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services without worrying about costs, which is essential for improving women’s health outcomes. The UNFPA’s 9th Country Programme stresses the importance of including SRH and gender-based violence (GBV) services in the NHIP, ensuring that all women, particularly the vulnerable, are aware of and can access these services.

Socio-economic factors like education, residence, and family wealth influence access to SRH services, so it’s important to develop innovative approaches to ensure marginalized populations are covered and are aware of this. Understanding health-seeking preferences is crucial for providing effective and comprehensive services.

Ultimately, the goal is to empower marginalized populations to access comprehensive health coverage, reduce out-of-pocket expenses, and ensure better compensation for healthcare providers, all driven by greater awareness of social protection mechanisms and the services available under the Universal Health Care Act. 

  Scope of work:

( Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Objectives and Scope of the assignment

The consultant will collaborate with different stakeholders in Region 8 to identify barriers to accessing essential SRHR services by  marginalized communities and co-create innovative solutions that overcome these barriers, ensuring all individuals have the opportunity to exercise their sexual and reproductive rights

Under the supervision of the UNFPA Maternal Health and Family Planning Analyst, the consultant will:

1. Identify gaps in SRHR service coverage for marginalized populations: Specifically, identify groups within selected Provincial Local Government Units (PLGUs) who currently lack access to essential sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) services and are not covered by existing social protection programs or safety nets (e.g., the poor not covered by 4Ps, women with disabilities, women deprived of liberty, etc.). These safety nets include the Department of Social Welfare and Development’s (DSWD) Conditional Cash Transfer Program/4Ps and Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation and Ayuda sa Kapos ang Kita Program (AKAP); and the DOH’s Medical Assistance for Indigent Patients Program (MAIP).  
2. Develop innovative approaches to expand SRHR coverage: Design and propose innovative interventions tailored to the specific needs of marginalized populations identified in the gap analysis, with the goal of ensuring equitable access to essential SRHR services.

 Duties and Responsibilities 

A consultant is being sought in co-developing innovative approaches to expand reach of essential SRHR services to marginalized populations (e.g. poor who are not covered by 4Ps, WWDs, WDLs, etc.) and work with identified marginalized populations in selected provincial local government units. 

The approach must be aligned to national, specifically the DOH Health Promotion Framework Strategy 2030 which places focus on equity, and addresses the needs of those of poor socioeconomic status, disabilities, LGBTQIA, indigenous people and those with low education.  This work is also aligned with the HPFS’ guidance on (healthy) communities, where more of these marginalised populations are located.  Other policies include:  

• The National Health Objectives 2023 – 2028 and the 8-point action agenda, 
• The DOH Omnibus Health Guidelines (OHG) through DOH AO 2022-0018
• The Universal Health Care Implementing Rules and Regulations
• The Philippine Sustainable Development Goals 2030 (CSDGs 2030)
• The Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescent’s Health 2016-2030
• Philhealth Benefit Packages related to sexual and reproductive health (e.g. Maternal Health and Family Planning Benefit Packages)
• Other key available documents.

 Detailed tasks and duties are set out below:

1. Identify and map marginalized populations and SRHR Key messages. 
   1. Work with the local community in identification and mapping unreached marginalized populations in selected PLGU in Region 8 and understand the  barriers in the uptake of SRH services.  The following are expected to be reviewed:
      1. Local demographic data and local knowledge
      2. Coverage for social protection programmes and/or other safety nets 
      3. Data from local organizations such as faith organisations, local LBGT groups, peer-support groups, advocacy organisations, temporary shelters (e.g. Haven for Women), disability centers (e.g. SPED centers), housing associations etc.
   2. Work with local community in mapping marginalized populations in selected PLGU in Region 8 to estimate the relative size of the marginalised group (from small to large) and its geographic distribution (from localised to evenly dispersed)
   3. Map out available SRHR key messages in selected PLGU in Region 8
2. Develop concept of innovative approach/es to reach select target marginalized populations with information on free Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Services 
   1. Assist the UNFPA, and PLGU together with the local community in analyzing the results of the mapping and to understand the SRHR concerns of the marginalized groups 
   2. Based on the reviewed results, co-design innovative and specific approaches to each identified marginalized group to cover essential SRHR services.
   3. Support the presentation of the findings and proposed concept to supplement the DOH Health Promotions Framework Strategy through meetings and workshops, and support local ownership, including subnational level consultation (in UNFPA priority region/s).

Work schedule and arrangements

The consultancy will be a mix of desk review and face to face consultations. S/he will work closely with the DOH Center for Health and Development of Region VIII (CHD-8) and Provincial Health Office, and with the UNFPA Philippine Country Office and Asia Pacific Regional Office. S/he is expected to meet with other DOH officers and other relevant DOH bureaus (e.g. Health Promotion Bureau), health development partners, professional societies, and NGOs. 

Expected Outputs and Timeframe 

 Duration and working schedule:

The consultant shall complete the assignment within a nine-month timeframe, which is expected to commence in May 2025 and to finish in November 2025, with the number of working days not exceeding 45 working days.

 Place where services are to be delivered:

Manila-based with travel to Region 8.  This consultancy is open for national experts. Working time and hours: Manila time zone. 8am to 5pm 

 Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The consultant is expected to commence the work in May 2025 and finish by November  2025. 

The suggested payment schedule is detailed below:

1. The first payment of 40% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the “Mapping of marginalized populations who are unable to access essential SRHR services and are currently not covered by social protection programmes and/or safety nets in selected PLGUs in Region 8” by May 2025 (electronically); 
2. The second payment of 30% will be made upon the receipt of the “Mapping of existing social protection programmes and messages among government agencies in selected PLGU in Region 8”, by June 2025;
3. The remaining 30% will be made upon acceptance by the Director of the Health Promotions Bureau and UNFPA of the developed “Concept for innovative approaches to cover marginalized populations (e.g. poor who are not covered by 4Ps, WWDs, WDLs, etc.) with essential SRHR services developed with the participation of marginalized groups and government partners and submitted for inclusion into the DOH Communication Strategy”, by November 2025 (electronically).

Below is the table for ease of reference:

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

The Maternal Health/Family Planning Programme Analyst of UNFPA and the Regional Director of the CHD8 will monitor the progress of the consultancy.

  Supervisory arrangements: 

The consultant will report to the UNFPA Assistant Representative. The consultant is expected to work closely with the Director of Health Promotions Bureau or his/her representative, Regional Director of DOH CHD-8 and other programme colleagues in Region 8 and other for matters related to their respective programmes and portfolios.

The Cluster Head and CHD 8 programme managers and officers will have frequent interactions with the consultant at various stages in order to:

• Brief the consultant and provide clarity on the assignment, the process and the deliverables;
• Provide key documents relevant to the deliverables;
• Introduce and facilitate the consultant to work with key stakeholders and counterparts if necessary; and
• Provide feedback and get agreement on the next steps of the assignment.

Upon completion of contract assignment, the supervisor will certify relevant documents, evaluate the consultant’s work and process/follow-up on the payments.

 Expected travel:

The consultant is expected to travel within Metro Manila for the face to face consultation with stakeholders.   

 Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced degree in public health, sexual reproductive health, and/or strategic planning; Degree in public policy, economics, social work, and development studies is an advantage
• At least two (2) years  of experience in working with communications, health promotion, community engagement, policy and strategy development, sexual reproductive health, maternal and newborn health or equivalent experience
• National experience in development of sexual reproductive health plans, reports, or strategies;  
• Experience working in or familiarity with the Philippine health system and health partners in the Philippines is an advantage; and
• Very good oral and written English language skills

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

Interested candidates should prepare a Curriculum Vitae, P11 Form, and cover letter. The P-11 form is available for download at http://www.unfpa.org/resources/p11-un-personal-history-form

This post is open to nationals only.