Local Consultancy: Monitoring, Regulatory Alignment, and Roadmap Development for the Roll-Out of Wellness Vending Machines under the Digital Self-Care for SRHR and HIV Prevention Initiative in South Africa

Local Consultancy: Monitoring, Regulatory Alignment, and Roadmap Development for the RollOut of Wellness Vending Machines under the Digital Self-Care for SRHR and HIV Prevention Initiative in South Africa

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.

Background:

The National Department of Health (NDoH) has launched a pilot of the Digital SelfCare for Sexual and Reproductive Health (DSCSS) initiative. This included the procurement and initial deployment of wellness vending machines in selected provinces, supported by staff training and a foundational monitoring system. While the pilot demonstrated strong potential, the next phase requires addressing strategic challenges to enable scale-up and long-term sustainability. These challenges include:

• Regulatory Barriers: Securing approval from the South African Pharmacy Council (SAPC) to dispense scheduled commodities.
• Operational Gaps: Ensuring reliable connectivity, power, and data monitoring integration.
• Sustainability: Transitioning from donor-dependency towards public– private partnerships and alternative financing models.
• Ethical Data Management: Strengthening frameworks for confidentiality and ethical handling of sensitive client data. 

The NDoH, in collaboration with UNFPA Country Office, seek to engage a consultant to provide high-level technical support, with a primary focus on producing a regulatory and operational roadmap for national roll-out of wellness vending machines.

Scope of work:

The consultant will provide targeted technical assistance in three priority areas:

1. Monitoring and Data Systems

•  Finalize the centralized monitoring framework for vending machine performance tracking.
•  Strengthen integration with facility and NGO reporting systems. 

2. Regulatory Engagement and Commodity Expansion

• Liaise with SAPC, SAHPRA, and relevant NDoH clusters to align vending machine operations with regulatory requirements. 
• Develop and submit a regulatory dossier to support inclusion of oral contraceptives and other SRHR commodities. 

3. Roadmap for Roll-Out and Scale-Up

• Develop a phased national roadmap for vending machine expansion, addressing: 

1. Regulatory milestones and timelines.
2. Operational requirements (infrastructure, connectivity, maintenance). 
3. Financing models and sustainability strategies
4. Stakeholder engagement plan (government, private sector, community).

Duration and working schedule:

The duration of the services is 3 months, from 15 September to 14 December 2025

Place where services are to be delivered:
The duty station for the consultant is Gauteng province, with remote flexibility provided. However, the consultant may be expected to travel to meet with stakeholders.

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

The contract starts from 15 September to 14 December 2025. The following deliverables are expected for submission in a formatted electronic copy.

1. The Finalized Central Monitoring Framework for vending machine performance and utilization.
2. Consolidated Regulatory Engagement Report detailing consultations with SAPC, SAHPRA, and NDoH clusters.
3. Complete Regulatory Submission Dossier for inclusion of oral contraceptives and SRHR commodities.
4. Regulatory Roadmap with clear steps, timelines, and responsibilities for commodity inclusion.
5. Comprehensive National Roll-Out Roadmap (primary deliverable) covering regulatory, operational, financial, and stakeholder engagement dimensions.
6. Final Submission Package with proof of regulatory submission to relevant authorities.

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

This will entail engagements and collaboration with country office programme team, government stakeholders, UN agencies and other stakeholders (e.g. SAPC, NDOH, NGOs, SAHPRA, etc. ). A project plan outlining project milestones and approach to be discussed and agreed on in the inception meeting and report.

Supervisory arrangements:

The consultant will work within the overall guidance of the Assistant Representative and specifically under the direct supervision of the Programme Officer responsible for Adolescent and Youth Programme.

Expected travel:

As required within South Africa.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• At least 5 – 8 years of relevant progressively responsible experience in public health, gender, demography, international development, project management and other related fields;
• Experience working in collaboration with government, development partners, civil society organizations and private sector;
• Excellent technical drafting and report/proposal writing and presentation and interpersonal communication skills;
• Education: Advanced degree in Medicine, Pharmacy, or Public Health. Certification in Regulatory Affairs an advantage.
• Experience: At least 5 years in health system strengthening, SRHR programme implementation, and/or regulatory affairs. Proven track record engaging with South African health institutions and policy stakeholders.
• Expertise:

1. Familiarity with NDoH, SAPC, CCMDD frameworks.
2. Knowledge of SRMNCAH, contraceptive security, and WHO selfcare guidelines.
3. Experience preparing and submitting regulatory dossiers.

• Skills: Technical writing, stakeholder consultation, adult training, M&E systems design, and strong facilitation skills.
   

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.