National Consultant to lead the Evaluation of the WCPUs Service Delivery Models

Hiring Office:

United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Philippines

Consultancy Period

The consultancy will involve 45-person days spread over a duration of 5 months

Purpose of consultancy:

Background and Rationale

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is committed to advancing evidence-based, multi-sectoral interventions in the areas of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in the Philippines. Under its 9th Country Programme, UNFPA works closely with government institutions to strengthen policies, systems, and programs that uphold a human rights-based and survivor-centered approach, ensuring dignity, safety, and holistic recovery for GBV survivors.

In particular, UNFPA supports the capacity strengthening of national and local institutions to provide integrated, survivor-centered services for women and children affected by violence. As part of its broader support to the Philippine government, UNFPA prioritizes the development and enhancement of health sector interventions that respond to GBV, especially through the provision of accessible and quality medical and psychosocial care.

In line with this commitment, UNFPA has maintained a long-standing partnership with the Department of Health (DOH) in advancing sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the country. A key component of this collaboration is the support to Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs), which are hospital-based facilities that provide timely, survivor-centered medical and psychosocial services to women and children who have experienced violence.

Through initiatives such as Project BRAVE (Building COVID-safe Responses And Voices for Equity), funded by the Government of Australia through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), UNFPA Philippines has supported the DOH in expanding and strengthening the capacity of WCPUs. This includes the provision of essential equipment, support in establishing new units, and training multidisciplinary teams composed of health professionals, social workers, and police officers. These efforts are grounded in national standards and have contributed to improving the quality, coordination, and accessibility of services for GBV and VAWC survivors.

Despite previous investments and progress, there remains a need to systematically assess the current implementation of Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs). Critical gaps persist in understanding the effectiveness of their service delivery models, the degree of their integration within local health systems, and the barriers that survivors, particularly those from marginalized or underserved communities, face in accessing services. The evolving nature of gender-based violence, the increasing demand for survivor-centered care, and broader health system challenges further highlight the importance of generating robust, context-specific evidence to inform future programming and policy directions.

In recognition of these needs, the Department of Health, in partnership with UNFPA, is initiating the development of a strategic plan for the Women and Children Protection Program (WCPP) for 2026 to 2030. A comprehensive assessment of existing WCPUs will serve as a key evidence base to guide this process, ensuring that the future direction of the program is grounded in real-world service delivery experiences, responsive to the needs of survivors, and aligned with efforts to strengthen the role of the health system in GBV response.

To advance this initiative, UNFPA seeks to engage an international consultant with demonstrated expertise in health systems evaluation and strengthening, with applied experience in GBV-related service delivery models and survivor-centered approaches. The consultant will provide technical leadership in the design and implementation of a comprehensive assessment of Women and Children Protection Units (WCPUs). This will include evaluating service quality, system integration, coordination mechanisms, resource utilization, and barriers to access and continuity of care within the health and protection sectors.

The consultant is expected to apply a systems-thinking lens, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to examine the functionality of WCPUs within the broader health system, while ensuring that survivor experiences and frontline perspectives are reflected in the analysis. In close coordination with the Department of Health and relevant stakeholders, the consultant will generate evidence-based findings and recommendations that will inform the development of the Women and Children Protection Program (WCPP) strategic plan for 2026 to 2030, contributing to a more resilient, responsive, and survivor-centered health system.

General Objectives

To provide technical expertise, consultancy and support in the evaluation of WCPU service delivery models and in the identification of access barriers experienced by VAWC and GBV victim-survivors. All this, with the end goal of not only strengthening WCPU implementation and victim-survivor reach, but also institutionalizing it through the development of a multi-year strategic plan.

Specific Objectives:

• To assess the effectiveness, functionality, and models of care implemented in selected WCPUs across different levels of care (e.g., primary care facilities, government tertiary hospitals, regional centers, GOCC hospitals).
• To identify strengths, best practices and gaps in quality of service delivery, availability of multidisciplinary teams, and adherence to DOH standards and protocols.
• To determine the institutional, systemic, geographic, sociocultural, and economic barriers that hinder victim-survivors, especially those from marginalized groups, from accessing WCPU services.
• To recommend context-sensitive, scalable, and survivor-centered improvements to the WCPU service delivery models and referral mechanisms. 

Scope of work:

Please note that if the consultant determines that additional experts or personnel are needed to complete all deliverables in this project, all associated expenses, including travel costs, professional fees, and any other related expenses, will be covered by the consultant.

The exact location and number of WCPUs to be evaluated will be determined in consultation with the consultant. 

Key Working Arrangements Between UNFPA Consultant and DOH:

1. Regular check-in meetings - (weekly or as needed and face-to-face or online) will be scheduled to monitor progress, clarify expectations, and address bottlenecks. The consultant will be expected to participate in IAC meetings and stakeholder consultations when necessary. 
2. Coordination Mechanism - The DPCB-CAMHD team will serve as the primary coordinating body and counterpart for the consultant in the DOH
3. Stakeholder Engagement – The DOH DPCB-CAMHD will be in-charge in coordinating with the Centers for Health Development (CHDs), WCPUs, and other relevant offices and partners to arrange the data collection, consultations, workshops and other national and field activities including necessary logistical requirements. The DPCB-CAMHD team will link the consultant to collaborate with various DOH offices such as the Health Promotion Bureau, Health Facility Development Bureau, Health Facilities and Services Regulatory Bureau and other external stakeholders, as needed, to ensure a holistic and inclusive analysis
4. Approval of Outputs- All outputs shall undergo review and formal acceptance by the DOH. Any revisions identified and agreed during the review process must be completed before approval. 
5. Reporting obligations, notices, communications and approval process including minimum or essential reports should be addressed to:  

                      ANNA MARIE CELINA G. GARFIN, MD, MM 

Director IV, Disease Prevention and Control Bureau 

Bldg. 14, San Lazaro Compound, Sta. Cruz, Manila 1003

Work Schedule Arrangements:

The consultancy entails a commitment of  45 person-days spanning a 5-month timeframe, commencing promptly upon contract approval. This includes on-site visits in the Philippines during in person consultations, capacity-building/ workshops. The exact number of days of missions and timeline of activities will be finalized with the DOH upon planning. The rest of the processes/activities can be carried out via virtual means, facilitating a flexible home-based work environment.

UNFPA will cover travel expenses, including airfares, land transportation costs, daily subsistence allowances (DSAs), incidentals, etc., of the consultant in addition to the consultancy fee.

Duration and Delivery dates, Proposed Payment Schedule and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The consultant will involve 45 person- days spread over a calendar period of 5 months, commencing immediately upon awarding of contract.

The consultant will be paid on a per deliverable basis following the schedule below:

1. The first payment of 20% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the first deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically);
2. The second payment of 20% will be made upon acceptance of the second deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically);
3. The third payment of 20% will be made upon acceptance of the second deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically);
4. The fourth payment of 20% will be made upon acceptance of the second deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically);
5. The remaining 20% will be made upon approval by the representative and acceptance of the third deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically).

A detailed project timeline, including specific deliverables and their associated deadlines, will be mutually agreed upon by the consultant and UNFPA. This timeline will be outlined in an inception report to be submitted by the consultant at the commencement of the engagement.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Please note that locations including its corresponding activities and schedules may change depending on the availability and preference of partners

Target locations for the activities:

Please note that the travel costs for the consultant (1 pax), including airfares, land transportation expenses, daily subsistence allowances, and incidentals for fieldwork such as consultations, validations, and data gathering, will be covered by UNFPA in addition to the professional fee.

The consultant will primarily work remotely from home and deliver outputs to UNFPA Philippines CO. Travel for in-country missions will be conditional upon agreements and will align with country regulations and the mutually decided timeline.

Monitoring, Supervisory, and quality check arrangements: 

Supervisory Arrangements:

The UNFPA Country Representative will oversee the project's overall management, with day-to-day technical support provided by the Assistant Representative and the National Programme Officer on Gender/GBV. The consultant is expected to collaborate closely with the UNFPA Country Office for coordination purposes.

The Management and Programme Team will engage with the consultant regularly at different stages to:

1. Provide a comprehensive briefing on the assignment, its process, and expected deliverables;
2. Furnish key documents pertinent to the deliverables;
3. Introduce and facilitate the consultant's collaboration with key stakeholders and counterparts as necessary; and
4. Offer feedback and reach agreement on the subsequent steps of the assignment.

Required expertise, qualifications, and competencies, including language requirements:

The following experience and qualifications are required for the IC:

Education

• Essential: Master’s degree in public health, medicine, health systems development, health policy, social sciences, or a related field.
• Desirable: Postgraduate degree or advanced training in public health, gender studies, international development, or other relevant disciplines from a recognized institution.

Work Experience

• Minimum of five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in the design and implementation of evaluations related to public health programs, with demonstrated expertise in assessing health systems performance, service delivery models, and program effectiveness.
• Relevant experience in conducting comprehensive health program evaluations using both quantitative and qualitative methods, including the development of evaluation frameworks, tools, and methodologies.
• Strong background in analyzing service integration, access barriers, and coordination mechanisms within public health and protection systems.
• Prior experience working with ministries of health or public health agencies in low- and middle-income country (LMIC) settings; familiarity with the Philippine Department of Health (DOH) is a distinct advantage.
• Experience evaluating programs related to gender-based violence (GBV), survivor-centered care, or multisectoral response mechanisms is highly desirable.

Technical Skills and Knowledge:

• Demonstrated expertise in health systems evaluation, public health programming, and GBV-responsive service delivery.
• Proven ability to apply systems-thinking approaches to assess integration, coordination, and resource utilization within health and protection sectors.
• Strong experience in conducting comprehensive program assessments or evaluations, using both quantitative and qualitative methodologies.
• Skilled in facilitating stakeholder consultations, including engaging government counterparts, service providers, and community actors in participatory processes.
• Familiarity with the Philippine health and protection systems, as well as the national GBV/VAWC policy environment, is a strong asset.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and communication skills in English; experience producing evidence-based reports and actionable recommendations for policy and program planning.

Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office, equipment), if applicable:

UNFPA in partnership with DOH and CHDs will manage the logistical aspects required for activities including arranging the venue and accommodations (if necessary), and meals.

UNFPA and DOH will provide essential reports, databases, research, and other relevant documents to support the desk review of the IC.