Individual Consultancy to Assess Drivers of Teenage Pregnancies in High Burden Counties in Kenya

The Position Background

Adolescence is the period in which young people transition from childhood to adulthood and provides an opportunity to invest in sexual and reproductive health (SRH). Adolescence is divided into three stages namely: early adolescence (10–13 years), middle adolescence (14–16 years), and late adolescence (over 17-19 years), with each stage having its different unique characteristics. Globally, an estimated 21 million girls aged 15–19 years in developing regions become pregnant every year, and approximately 12 million of them give birth.

The Kenya Demographic and Health Survey (KDHS) 2022 indicates that although Kenya has made progress in reducing the national prevalence of teenage pregnancy, wide disparities still exist and these variations are informed by wealth, geographic location and education. The survey shows that teenage pregnancy rates in Kenya declined to 15% in 2022 from 18% in 2014, with the adolescent birth rate among girls between the ages of 15-19 years also declining from 96/1000 in 2014 to 73/1000 in 2022. Poverty and lack of education were associated with higher rates, while regional disparities were also evident with counties such as Samburu reporting the highest prevalence at 50%, West Pokot 36%, Marsabit 29%, Narok 28% and Meru at 24%. These counties are followed closely by Homabay (23%), Migori (22%), Kajiado (22%), Siaya (21%), Baringo (20%), Bungoma (19%), Turkana (19%), and Transnzoia, Busia and Taita Taveta each at 18%. Nyeri and Nyandarua counties reported the lowest rates of teenage pregnancy at 5% each.

Teenage pregnancy is attributed to a number of factors including but not limited to low education; limited knowledge of SRH coupled with inadequate parental and societal involvement in the guidance and protection of adolescents; poverty and associated vulnerabilities; early sexual debut; child marriage; FGM, Gender Based Violence (GBV), and inadequate access to friendly and responsive SRH services by adolescents. Teenage pregnancy often leads to school dropout thus curtailing educational and economic opportunities of young girls and elevates maternal morbidity and mortality, which arise from pregnancy and childbirth complications. Similarly, children of teenage mothers are likely to have adverse health outcomes and teenage mothers are vulnerable to repeat pregnancies if the right interventions are not administered.

To effectively respond to the challenge of teenage pregnancy, it is essential that the key drivers of the problem are clearly mapped out in the different contexts where the problem is endemic. There is a need to explore how context specific drivers interplay to drive teenage pregnancies. Understanding these drivers and strategic policy options from various stakeholders in the local ecosystem will help illuminate what sustains the trend observed and what sort of evidence-based actions would be ideal in the local setting.

The consultant will work under direct supervision of UNFPA through the Technical lead on Sexual and Reproductive Health and The Division of Reproductive Maternal Health (DRMH) through the Head of Division.

How You Can Make a Difference

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose

The ministry of health with support from UNFPA intends to engage a consultant to undertake a rapid assessment to identify key drivers of teenage pregnancies in six high burden counties namely Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, Homabay, Bungoma County (Mount Elgon), and Taita Taveta counties. Illustrative questions might include:

• What drives high teenage pregnancy in the selected County?
• What strategies (locally, regionally and global) can help address the problem?
• What multi sectoral policy options would be suitable to address the menace at all levels of governance?
• The main objectives may include but not limited to:
• To identify key driver’s teenage pregnancies and how they intersect with each other to drive and sustain teenage pregnancies
• To document context specific strategies and high impact evidence-based interventions that can be implemented to address the problem. 
• To identify multi-sectoral policy options that would be suitable to address teenage pregnancies holistically.

The Tasks To Be Performed And Expected Deliverables Include

• Prepare an inception report with a detailed methodology, a literature review of teenage pregnancy including driving factors and key interventions that have been tested, a work plan with timelines and a budget for the task
• Develop primary data collection tools and validate them with stakeholders
• Collect quantitative and qualitative data in the proposed sites
• Analyze the data and interpret findings
• Prepare a draft report of the study and share it with relevant stakeholders
• Facilitate / lead discussions of the draft report in stakeholders’ forums as may be organized by MoH and UNFPA.
• Prepare and submit a final report of the study with a power point presentation that captures the main findings and recommendations.
• Deliverables
• Inception Report with a detailed methodology, a literature review of teenage pregnancy including driving factors and key interventions that have been tested, a work plan with timelines and a budget for the task
• Draft report of key findings for Bungoma County (Phase 1)
• Draft report of key findings for Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, Homabay and Taita Taveta counties that also incorporates Bungoma County (Phase 2)
• Final report for the entire study with a PowerPoint Presentation of the main findings and recommendations

Duration and working schedule: 50 days

Place where services are to be delivered: The consultancy entails data collection in six study counties comprising Bungoma (Mt. Elgon), Samburu, Marsabit, Meru, Homabay and Taita Taveta counties; hence, the consultant will be expected to travel to these sites. Travel and accommodation costs will be covered by UNFPA. The consultant shall use own equipment and work-space as may be necessary.

Education Qualifications And Experience

• Advanced degree in relevant academic areas e.g. public health, social sciences, public policy, epidemiology, international development, economics and demography.
• At least 7-10 years’ experience in the field of sexual and reproductive health
• Extensive experience working in monitoring and evaluation or research, including as lead investigator of an evaluation or research
• Strong data management skills with a strong experience in use of quantitative and qualitative data collection methods including data analysis and software knowledge will be an added advantage.
• Experience in working with relevant government agencies, UN, communities and the youth
• Excellent analytical and report writing skills

Desirable Skills, Knowledge And Experience

• Knowledge/ familiarity with the adolescent health and particularly teenage pregnancies and child marriage research and its link to programming and advocacy.
• Ability to present complex information in a succinct and compelling manner
• Experience in publications of research, policy and other academic literature

Languages

English Language is required

Other Relevant Information Or Special Conditions

Conflict of Interest

The Consultant will be required to declare any potential conflict of interest before undertaking the work. The Consultant will discharge his/her functions exclusively as an adviser to UNFPA and the Division for Reproductive and Maternal Health Services within the MOH.

Values

Required Competencies:

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,

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. 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.