INVITATION FOR EXPRESSION OF INTEREST

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Pacific Sub-Regional Office (PSRO) is in the process of identifying potential non-government partners to implement

1. its 6^th Sub-Regional Programme (SRP6) for Pacific Island countries and territories[1] (PICTs) covering the period 2018-2022, and
2. the ‘Transformative Agenda for Women, Adolescents and Youth’, an AUD$30 million strategic initiative focused on increasing demand for, and access to, family planning.

UNFPA PSRO calls for “expressions of interest for partnership” in strategic interventions at the sub-regional and country levels across both programmes that are integrated and synergistic.

Sub-Regional Programme for PICTs: The SRP6 transformative results are aligned with UNFPA’s global goals of a) zero unmet need for modern contraception; b) zero maternal death; and c) zero violence against women and call for evidence-based policy and programming to ensure that scarce resources will be invested efficiently to “reach the furthest behind first”.  Its overarching goal is to contribute to universal access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights (SRHR) and reduce maternal mortality and morbidity to accelerate progress towards the ICPD Programme of Action/Sustainable Development Goals by improving the lives of women, adolescents and youth in the PICTs.  Specifically, the SRP6 focuses on reducing the unmet need for family planning by

• increasing the percentage of women of reproductive age whose family planning needs have been met with modern contraceptive prevalence rate; 
• reducing the adolescent birth rate;  
• increasing coverage of fully qualified skilled birth attendants;
• integrating essential health services for women and girls subject to violence within sexual and reproductive health; and
• improving young people’s access to high quality sexual and reproductive health services and gender-transformative family life education in- and out-of-school.  

The SRP6 is guided by a set of principles that include protecting and promoting human rights; mainstreaming and integrating gender transformative outcomes; giving priority to those “furthest behind first”; reducing risks and vulnerabilities and building resilience; and strengthening cooperation and complementarity among development and humanitarian actions.  Fundamental drivers also include sustaining peace; fostering national ownership; and improving accountability, transparency and efficiency.  The SRP6 document that includes the expected results and resources, is available here

The “Transformative Agenda for Women, Adolescents and Youth in the Pacific”, supported by the Australian Government (DFAT), is a key initiative to be delivered over 2018-2022. It is the largest investment of its kind for family planning in the Pacific and is driven by a commitment to reduce unmet need for family planning in six countries[2], through

• increasing and improving supply of integrated sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information and services, particularly for family planning;
• increasing demand for integrated SRH information and services, particularly for family planning; and
• providing more conducive and supportive environment for people to access and benefit from quality SRH, especially contraceptive choice.

The Transformative Agenda Program Design Document (PDD) is available through this link: The Transformative Agenda. The scope of services on pages 40-63 and the results framework on pages 78-84 are central elements of the design.

Partnership to programme delivery:  It is necessary to develop a strong partnership base to ensure strategic, integrated and comprehensive technical expertise and support to all PICTs covered by those programmes.  To this end, the UNFPA PSRO in Suva, Fiji, invites national, regional and international non-profit, educational institutions and non-governmental organizations – including community-based ones - and professional associations with relevant competencies to express their interest to partner with UNFPA for the delivery of the above transformative results.

Those interested in this invitation are requested to fill in the template for “Expression of Interest for Partnership”, and submit it electronically to the following address: psro.proposals@unfpa.org by February 25, 2019.

Upon receipt of the information, UNFPA will review submissions and create a list of potential partners for programme implementation.  Selected partners may be invited to develop and submit formal proposals to become an implementing partner.  Technical capacity and demonstrated value for money will be critical considerations.

For futher clarification, refer to FAQs here