NATIONAL CONSULTANT: Provincial Youth Policy Review and Development, Nepal

The Position:

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), committed to delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA's Strategic Plan focuses on youth as a key accelerator to achieve three transformative results: zero preventable maternal deaths, zero unmet need for family planning, and zero gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices. In Nepal, youth are defined by the National Youth Policy as individuals aged 18 to 35. UNFPA recognizes that young people are essential assets for achieving peace and sustainable development.

The agency's mandate involves empowering adolescents and youth through inclusive access to life-oriented education, integrated health systems, and meaningful participation in governance. Adolescents and youth are a central focus of UNFPA, not only as a priority population but as key agents of change. Their leadership, participation, and access to services are mainstreamed across all outcomes and outputs, recognizing their role in shaping inclusive, rights-based development. UNFPA works closely with the Government of Nepal at federal, provincial, and local levels to institutionalize gender equality and youth priorities. In Sudurpashchim Province, youth continue to face challenges such as high maternal mortality, unmet need for family planning, high gender-based violence and persistent harmful practices like child marriage and tech-facilitated GBV (TFGBV).

UNFPA is partnering with the Government of Nepal and providing technical support for policy formulation, legislative oversight, and budget allocation and to ensure youth voice is influential to the policy plan, budget and programme of Nepal. In Sudurpashchim, UNFPA serves as one of the leading agencies on the youth agenda. It is actively collaborating with the Ministry of Social Development (MoSD) and the Provincial Youth Council (PYC), local governments, and Provincial Youth Think. The Ministry of Social Development, in close consultation with the Provincial Youth Council, is currently in the process of finalizing the Provincial Youth Policy.

The primary purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialized technical support to MoSD to review the initial draft Provincial Youth Policy, facilitate broad stakeholder consultations, and finalize the document to ensure it reflects the voice and needs of the young population, National Youth Policy, second Periodic Plan of the Provincial Government and aligns it with the ICPD30+ agenda.

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 purpose of this consultancy is to provide specialized technical support to MoSD to review the initial draft Provincial Youth Policy, facilitate broad stakeholder consultations, and finalize the document to ensure it reflects the voice and needs of the young population, National Youth Policy, second Periodic Plan of the Provincial Government and aligns it with the ICPD30+ agenda.

You would be responsible for:

Policy Review and Alignment

- Conduct a desk review of the initial draft of the Provincial Youth Policy in reference to the National Youth Policy 2082, Second Periodic Plan of Sudurpaschim Province, Recommendations of Youth Mock Parliament’s participants, and the federal and provincial government’s policy priorities related to youth.

- Apply LNOB (Leaving No One Behind) principles throughout the policy review process.

- Prepare a list of policy gaps at the provincial level in relation to youth empowerment and engagement.

- Prepare a detailed presentation including proposed policy measures to include in the proposed provincial youth policy.

Stakeholder Consultation and Facilitation

- Design the methodology and tools for the consultation workshops.

- Facilitate two comprehensive consultation workshops with key provincial stakeholders.

- Close engagement with the MoSD officials in the policy drafting and the policy dialogue.

- Coordinate with the Provincial Youth Council (PYC) to capture youth-led insights.

- Gather substantive inputs from young leaders and civil society organizations working on the youth agenda.

- Engage with the Sudurpashchim Youth Think Tank to ensure active participation of young leaders.

- Ensure horizontal coordination among different sectoral ministries during the consultation process.

Feedback Integration and Evidence-based Reporting

- Systematically capture and document all feedback, comments, and suggestions from the stakeholder’s consultation.

- Incorporate key recommendations and suggestions received from youth and other stakeholders into the revised draft.

- Align the policy feedback with the ICPD30+ agenda and national commitments.

- Share progress updates and interim findings with the MoSD and the UNFPA Provincial Office, Dhangadhi.

Finalization and Strategic Reporting

- Prepare a final draft of youth policy in close consultation and collaboration with Youth Focal Point and Legal Section of MoSD Ensure the final document is technically sound, cohesive, and ready for official submission.

- Develop a final knowledge transfer note at the end of the contract period.

Qualifications and Experience:

Education:

- Master’s degree in public policy, law, social science, gender, or related discipline.

Knowledge and Experience:

- Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in supporting governments at federal or provincial levels in formulating policies and laws.

- Demonstrated expertise in youth empowerment, SRHR, and gender equality frameworks within the context of Nepal.

- Proven track record of facilitating high-level policy dialogues and stakeholder workshops.

- Good understanding of the Nepal Government’s gender equality-related policies, laws, and policy-making processes, and the ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with the relevant Government partners and other stakeholders.

- Strong understanding of UNFPA's mandate and the UN human-rights-based approach to programming.

- Strong analytical skills and the ability to synthesize complex stakeholder feedback into cohesive policy language.

- High level of integrity and commitment to UN values.

- Proficient in application of computer/office software packages (MS Word, Excel, and Power Point etc).

- Experience in office management and documentation.

- Willingness to travel in remote areas and function in a multicultural environment.

Languages:

- Proficiency in English and Nepali is required. Working knowledge of another.

- UN language or a local language is an asset.

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.

Functional Competencies:

- Advocacy/ Advancing a policy-oriented agenda,

- Leveraging the resources of provincial and local governments and partners/building strategic alliances and partnerships,

- Delivering results-based programs,

- Internal and external communication and advocacy for results mobilization.

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, medical clearance, visa issuance 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.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.