Job Description

Senior Consultant – Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights Strategy Lead

We are seeking a Senior SRHR Consultant to support the development of a practical, evidence-informed and government-owned Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) Strategic Framework and prioritized implementation roadmap for South Africa.

The assignment will support the South African National Department of Health (NDoH) to consolidate existing and emerging SRHR initiatives, identify priorities and implementation constraints, and establish a clearer framework for coordinated action across national and provincial stakeholders and partners.

About Palladium:

Palladium is a global company working to design, develop and deliver positive impact on the lives and livelihoods of people around the globe; broaden access to health, water, power, and infrastructure; build enduring, sustainable, and transformative institutions and market systems to address global challenges; and conserve the natural world. We operate in over 90 countries and have a workforce of 4,000 talented, motivated, and diverse staff of all religions, races, languages, and gender identities.

Location: South Africa (consultant must be locally based and demonstrate a strong understanding of South Africa's operating environment, institutions, and development context).

Engagement type: Individual consultant assignments only. Applications from consulting firms, consortiums, consortium members, or other organizations will not be considered.

The goal of the Technical Assistance:

The overall goal of this TA is to develop a practical, evidence-informed, and government-owned SRHR Strategic Framework and implementation roadmap that:

• Consolidates existing and emerging SRHR initiatives, investments, and access models across the SRHR continuum;
• Establishes a clear and prioritised set of SRHR objectives and interventions based on an assessment of current gaps, opportunities, and implementation constraints;
• Provides a practical roadmap for coordinated implementation, including clear institutional roles and responsibilities, implementation arrangements, and indicative resource requirements; and
• Supports the NDoH to steward, coordinate, and monitor SRHR priorities across national and provincial actors, regulators, delivery partners, civil society, and the private sector.

Key outputs of the TA:

• A structured inventory of existing and planned SRHR initiatives, investments, and alternative access models across the SRHR continuum
• Consultation report, including insights on: gaps, overlaps/duplication, and opportunities to align existing initiatives; institutional, regulatory, operational, financial, and other barriers affecting the SRHR policy environment; perspectives on future SRHR priorities and opportunities; insights into optimal implementation arrangements for the Framework and roadmap.
• Final government-owned Strategic Framework and prioritised roadmap

Key Responsibilities:

• Lead inception discussions and stakeholder engagement.
• Oversee the desk review and SRHR initiative mapping.
• Lead health systems analysis.
• Design and facilitate consultations, including the national-provincial workshop.
• Lead development of the Framework and roadmap.
• Facilitate validation discussions.
• Support handover of final products to NDoH.

Desired Qualifications and Experience:

• Advanced technical expertise in SRHR, including contraception, emergency contraception, abortion/termination of pregnancy services, and cervical cancer prevention.
• Demonstrated experience working with the NDoH and/or provincial departments of health.
• Strong understanding of South Africa's health system governance, intergovernmental arrangements, and broader political economy.
• Proven experience developing national or provincial health strategies, frameworks, implementation plans, or health sector roadmaps.
• Demonstrated ability to facilitate high-level stakeholder consultations and build consensus across government and non-government stakeholders.
• Excellent analytical, writing, and stakeholder management skills.

How to Apply:

Interested candidates should submit:

• A CV (maximum four pages);
• A short cover letter outlining their suitability for the role;
• A proposed daily rate; and
• One example of relevant analytical, research, or policy work.

Our company provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics.