Local Consultancy: Perinatal Mental Health

Job Description

The Position:

Local Consultancy - Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) in, Pretoria, South Africa

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 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 who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact and sustained results and ensure effective external relations, communications, and 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:

To assess and strengthen the awareness, response, and service readiness for Perinatal Mental Health (PMH) in South Africa, with emphasis on policy alignment, data systems, and stakeholder engagement to inform programming and national dialogue.

Background

Perinatal mental health disorders are an under-recognized but pressing public health challenge in South Africa. Evidence suggests that depression affects up to 30-40% of women during pregnancy and postpartum, particularly in underserved provinces (KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Limpopo). Factors such as high rates of HIV, teenage pregnancy, intimate partner violence (IPV), and poverty exacerbate vulnerability.

South Africa's National Mental Health Policy Framework and Strategic Plan acknowledges maternal mental health as a priority but faces implementation gaps, particularly at primary health care level. Current data systems (District Health Information System - DHIS2) capture limited information on PMH, and there is no routine screening nationwide. Strengthening awareness, integrated service delivery, and data systems is essential to align with the Presidential Health Compact, the GBVF National Strategic Plan, and the UNSDCF commitments.

Objectives

The consultancy will:

1. Assess South Africa's health system readiness to respond to PMH (policies, guidelines, investments, and service delivery).
2. Map PMH stakeholders and initiatives, including government, academia, civil society, and private sector.
3. Review data availability, gaps, and opportunities for integrating PMH into DHIS2 and maternal health reporting.
4. Assess awareness, acceptance, and demand for PMH services among health workers, communities, and mothers.
5. Provide evidence-based recommendations and a roadmap for scaling up PMH interventions within SRHR and primary health care platforms.

Scope of Work & Key Activities

The consultant will:

1. Desk Review & Protocol Development.

• Review national and provincial policies (Mental Health Policy Framework , Maternal & Neonatal Health Guidelines, GBVF NSP).
• Develop a concise study protocol, including methods and tools (checklists, interview guides, survey tools).

2. Stakeholder Consultations & Ethical Compliance

• Conduct key informant interviews with NDoH, DSD, DBE, provincial health departments, Statistics South Africa, SAMRC, and civil society partners.
• Ensure ethical compliance in line with South Africa's National Health Research Ethics Council (NHREC).

3. Data Collection

• Gather quantitative data from routine health information systems and selected health facilities (e.g., screening, referrals, service use).
• Conduct qualitative interviews/focus groups with health providers, women, and community structures in 2-3 high-burden provinces.

4. Data Analysis

• Analyze quantitative data (SPSS/STATA/R) and qualitative data (NVivo/thematic coding).
• Triangulate findings with national surveys (SADHS, HSRC, SAMRC).

5. Report Writing & Dissemination

• Draft analytical report with findings and recommendations.
• Conduct a validation workshop with stakeholders (government, academia, NGOs).
• Produce final report, executive summary, and a short policy brief aligned with national priorities.

Deliverables & Timeline

This consultancy about 45 person-days from October to December 2025.

Deliverable

Inception Report & Workplan Approved Study Protocol & Ethical Clearance Data Collection (quantitative & qualitative) Draft Report & Stakeholder Validation Workshop Final Report + Policy Brief

Duration and working schedule

The assignment shall be carried over a period of about 3 months. The contract duration is scheduled to start from 06 October until 15 December 2025, with all the listed deliverables completed, including reviews by UNFPA and the Department of Health, Maternal, Child & Women's Health Cluster

Place where services are to be delivered

Consultancy will be virtual, with travel as and when required to UNFPA office in Pretoria.

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

The consultant will submit both an electronic version and a hard copy of the final report. The consultant will bi-weekly written progress updates to UNFPA South Africa

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Assistant Representative/Head of Programmes at UNFPA and the MNH Specialist at the Regional Office.

Expected travel

As required within South Africa

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• Advanced degree in Public Health, Global Health, Reproductive Health, Health Policy, Health Systems or any relevant field.
• 6-8 years professional work experience in the field of maternal health and health systems strengthening, including SRHR and mental health, preferably in South Africa.
• Strong background in qualitative and quantitative research.
• Experience engaging government, civil society stakeholders and research institutions.
• Experience working with government departments and other relevant stakeholders on maternal, child, HIV, and women's health.
• Experience in producing technical guidelines, documents, reports, or frameworks.
• Strong communication skills with proven ability to simplify complex technical information into clear, actionable steps tailored for diverse audiences

Compensation and Benefits:

This position offers an attractive remuneration package including a competitive net salary plus health insurance and other benefits as applicable.

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:

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.

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