Background
It is the “RIGHT” of every individual to access and utilize quality reproductive health and rights services including the right to space and time the number of children desired.    Reproductive health is a core UNFPA mandate with a vision that “every pregnancy is wanted; every childbirth is safe, every young person is able to achieve their full potential. As the lead United Nations Agency for SRHR supporting the government of Liberia to implement quality family planning services to the population.

Family planning services in Liberia are available in private and public health facilities. The 2020 Liberia Demographic Health Survey (LDHS) reported that nearly 40% of family planning users sourced their family planning commodities from private health facilities and pharmacies. This is an indication that private pharmacies play an important role in the provision of primary health services through the sale of over-the-counter medications and medical supplies including contraceptives.

 About 75% of the total private Pharmacies in Liberia are in Monrovia. Majority of these retail Pharmacies in Monrovia offer short-acting methods, including condoms, oral contraceptive, and emergency contraceptives (ECs) to reproductive women, girls, and young men. According to Liberia Demographic and Health Survey 2019-20 report, private Pharmacies are major source of modern contraceptive methods for clients aged 15-49. The LDHS indicate that 22.5% of injectable contraceptives, 36.1% of oral contraceptives and 67.7% of condoms sourced through private pharmacies.

For many community dwellers, theses pharmacies have become their first point of contact for rapid access to care due to their proximity.

However, there is limited data on range and type of FP commodities available in private pharmacies accessed by clients. Available information is either anecdotal information and insufficiently documented to understand the potential contribution and role of private pharmacies in the family planning landscape in Monrovia.

UNFPA is conducting this mapping exercise of private pharmacies to provide more evidence on the role of private pharmacies in Family Planning uptake in Liberia. Beyond the proportional contribution of some methods, it will be useful to the availability of products provided by the market, determine what age groups are accessing commodities, what skill set is available among sales agents and how this is affecting choice and uptake among other key indicators. 

Objective of the consultancy

The main purpose of this consultancy is to assess the level of available FP commodities in private pharmacies and its impact on uptake among users in Monrovia.
 

The specific objectives are:

• Determine the proportion of private pharmacies that have a range of FP commodities for sale. 
• Identify the range of products available in private pharmacies available at the time of the survey and three months prior as well as determine price range per product.
• Assess for basic knowledge and skills of sales agents in the provision of choices to determine gaps and needs.
• Determine the clientele disaggregated by age, sex, location, and other demographic indicators as much as possible.

Scope of work
The Consultant will develop the study design for approval by the Ministry of health, Pharmacy Board of Liberia and Liberia Medicine and Health Products Regulatory Authority and UNFPA and conduct a comprehensive assessment of the availability of FP commodities and services within the private sector specifically private pharmacies. Key activities for consideration are as follow:
Activity 1: Design the study methodology and conduct inception meetings for inputs.
Activity 2: Identify a representative sample of approximately 413 private Pharmacies that offer Family Planning Services and conduct a comprehensive assessment of available services.
Activity 3: Analyzed and develop a technical report on findings and recommendations for advocacy, partnership and improve quality of care offered. 
Activity 4: Design Monitoring and supervision tool for consideration
Activity 5: Share the final report to management.

Required expertise, qualifications and competence, including language

• Minimum advanced university degree in public health, sociology and demography, pharmacy, and related field
• At least 5 years of professional experience in surveys, assessments and technical report writing.
• Proven experience in stakeholder engagement and management is required.
• Excellent facilitation, presentation, verbal communication skills required and ability to conduct consultative meetings.
• Fluency in spoken English and excellent writing skills in English required.
• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both autonomously and in small teams.
   

 For more information, please download the attached complete Terms of Reference

Please note that this post is a National Post and applicants of either sex are encouraged to apply. Preference will be given to equally qualified women candidates. UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Please submit all fraudulent notices, letters or offers to the UNFPA fraud hotline at http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm

HOW TO APPLY
Candidates should submit their applications indicating post, attach an updated CV, OR a completed United Nations Personnel History Form (From P.11) obtainable from the UNFPA website at  www.unfpa.org.
ALL APPLICATIONS, WITH RELEVANT ATTACHMENTS, SHOULD BE EMAILED TO: ewatkins@unfpa.org, with a copy to: gaye@unfpa.org,  gobeh@unfpa.org   
Deadline for submission of application is 09 May 2023. UNFPA will only respond to applicants who will meet the stated job requirements.