The consultancy offered by United Nations Population Fund focuses on improving how advocacy and policy engagement (APE) efforts are measured and understood across country programmes in the Asia-Pacific region. It is designed for an experienced monitoring and evaluation expert with strong policy analysis skills and a background in development effectiveness.
Why This Consultancy Matters
Measuring advocacy and policy influence is one of the most complex areas in development work. Unlike service delivery indicators, policy change is:
- Non-linear and influenced by multiple actors
- Difficult to attribute directly to one organization
- Long-term in nature
- Often poorly captured by traditional M&E systems
This consultancy responds to a clear gap: UNFPA country offices need better tools to understand whether and how their advocacy efforts contribute to real policy outcomes.
Background and Context
In 2025, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO) developed initial methodological guidance for M&E of advocacy and policy engagement. The guidance was piloted in three country offices, generating valuable lessons.
However, country offices requested:
- More contextualization of the tools
- Additional technical support for implementation
- Refinements to improve usability and clarity
This consultancy builds on that pilot phase and aims to strengthen the system further.
Core Purpose of the Assignment
The consultant will refine and expand methodological guidance for M&E of advocacy and policy engagement. The assignment focuses on:
- Improving measurement frameworks for policy influence
- Supporting country offices in applying the tools
- Capturing lessons learned from pilot countries
- Enhancing learning and adaptation across the region
Key Responsibilities
The consultant will work closely with UNFPA regional and country teams to deliver a mix of technical, analytical, and facilitation tasks.
1. Engagement and Data Collection
- Conduct structured consultations with country offices
- Interview key stakeholders, including government and partners
- Run an online survey to gather feedback on existing tools
- Follow up with pilot country offices from 2025
2. Technical Support and Tool Application
- Support additional country offices in adapting M&E tools
- Assist in developing or refining country-specific frameworks
- Provide guidance on measuring advocacy outcomes
3. Guidance Revision and Reporting
- Update and improve the methodological guidance
- Document lessons learned from implementation
- Produce a synthesis report on findings and recommendations
4. Learning and Knowledge Sharing
- Facilitate two regional learning sessions
- Promote exchange of experiences between country offices
- Strengthen institutional learning within UNFPA
Optional Activities
The consultancy also includes optional components:
- Field visit (if funded by a country office):
In-person engagement for deeper analysis and workshops - Publication:
Development of a journal article on M&E of advocacy and policy engagement in the Asia-Pacific context (subject to approval)
Scope of Work and Timeline
- Duration: 30 working days
- Period: 1 May – 30 November 2026
- Work arrangement: Fully home-based
The work is divided into two phases:
Phase 1 (May–September 2026)
- Consultations with country offices
- Surveys and interviews
- Tool support and early refinements
- Learning session 1
Phase 2 (October–November 2026)
- Finalization of revised guidance
- Documentation of experience
- Second learning session
- Completion of reporting outputs
Required Qualifications
This is a senior-level consultancy requiring strong expertise in policy and evaluation. Key requirements include:
- Master’s degree in public health, social sciences, gender studies, or related field
- At least 10 years of experience in policy influencing and M&E
- Strong background in advocacy evaluation or policy analysis
- Experience working in the Asia-Pacific region
Key Skills and Competencies
The ideal consultant will demonstrate:
- Ability to analyze complex policy processes
- Strong methodological and analytical writing skills
- Experience designing M&E frameworks for non-linear change processes
- Facilitation skills for regional learning sessions
- Ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks
Reporting and Collaboration
The consultant will report to the Regional Planning and Monitoring & Evaluation Adviser at UNFPA APRO and collaborate closely with:
- Country office programme teams
- Technical and policy staff across the region
Regular virtual check-ins and feedback loops are expected throughout the assignment.
Why This Role Is Important
This consultancy supports a major challenge in development programming: understanding how advocacy leads to policy change. By improving M&E systems, the consultant will help UNFPA:
- Strengthen accountability for advocacy investments
- Improve evidence-based decision-making
- Better capture the impact of policy engagement work
- Enhance learning across multiple country contexts
Final Reflection
This role sits at the intersection of evaluation science and policy influence. It is less about measuring outputs and more about understanding systems, relationships, and long-term change processes.
For experienced M&E professionals, it offers an opportunity to shape how a major UN agency evaluates one of its most complex and strategically important areas of work.
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