International Consultant: Develop Population Policy, Iraq, Erbil

The development of the population policy for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq has evolved through a period of profound transformation and resilience. While an initial strategic framework was established in 2016 to align regional dynamics with long-term development goals, the subsequent years brought unprecedented challenges that fundamentally altered the region's demographic landscape. The rise of the ISIS insurgency led to massive displacement and a humanitarian crisis, which was quickly followed by the global socio-economic disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. These events left previous data and projections outdated, highlighting a critical gap in evidence-based planning. With the successful completion of the 2024 General Population and Housing Census, the Ministry of Planning, supported by the UNFPA 2025–2029 Country Program, is now positioned to build upon newly generated, high-quality data. This amended policy aims to bridge the gap between historical challenges and future priorities, ensuring that regional planning is strategically aligned with the current realities of health, social, and economic dynamics in a post-crisis period.

The International consultant will work under the supervision of Deputy Representative and technical administrative support from Gender & PD Programme Analysts at Erbil office for UNFPA and under the technical supervision of the KR-MOP, and with close coordination with other team leaders of UNFPA to cover all work theme.
 

NFPA is the lead United Nations agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is intended, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The UNFPA Strategic Plan for 2026-2029 articulates the organization’s response to a complex global environment, providing a roadmap for resilience and renewal. It is designed to accelerate the implementation of the Programme of Action of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. This mandate is pursued through a focus on four interconnected outcomes: ending the unmet need for family planning; ending preventable maternal deaths; ending gender-based violence and harmful practices; and adapting to demographic change through evidence and rights-based policies. 

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.
 

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead the development of the final population policy for the Kurdistan Region by executing the following strategic tasks:
 

• Evidence Review & Stakeholder Engagement: Systematically analyze existing works regarding the population landscape in Iraq and the KRI, conducting targeted interviews with government officials, academics, and civil society leaders to fill any information gaps.
• Multisectoral Data Analysis: Execute a thorough evaluation of all available demographic, health, social, and economic datasets within the Region to establish a solid baseline for policy formation.
• Vulnerable Group Needs Assessment: Specifically examine the unique requirements and challenges faced by key demographic groups, including women, girls, youth, and persons with disabilities.
• Global Alignment & Compliance: Provide a comprehensive situational overview of the country’s progress in meeting international standards, specifically focusing on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ICPD commitments.
• Reliable Data Consolidation: Gather and synthesize population data from high-integrity sources, including official government databases and validated institutional reports.
• Historical Growth Mapping: Investigate historical population growth rates to identify long-term patterns and significant demographic fluctuations over time.
• Vital Statistics Evaluation: Assess regional trends in birth and death rates across various demographics while identifying the underlying factors that influence these shifts.
• GBV Prevention & Empowerment: Analyze the prevalence and root causes of gender-based violence (GBV) and evaluate the reach and impact of current interventions, with a focus on strengthening empowerment initiatives.
• Reproductive Health Barriers: Examine reproductive health indicators, maternal health outcomes, and family planning access to pinpoint specific barriers faced by vulnerable communities

• Employ a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. This includes data collection, analysis, stakeholder consultations, and a rights-based approach to ensure inclusivity.
• Provide a detailed understanding of Kurdistan population dynamics and related challenges.
• Identify priority areas as key outputs to highlight the structure of the population policy document at regional level.
• Equip UNFPA with essential insights to develop targeted and impactful interventions.

• The International consultant shall implement the work physically or remotely based on the country situation. UNFPA shall provide necessary support in terms of documents, literature, and references. The International consultants shall deliver a comprehensive methodology, action plan and detailed focus group discussions for the process of development.

• The International consultant will require to finalize the document in both languages English and Arabic.

   

• The duration of the contract expected to be over six months with 22 working days throughout these six months including deliver the final report/ document.
• The International Consultant might be needed in later stage so it is expected that his/her contract might be extended based on the requirements of the analysis methods.
• The consultant will be reporting to the deputy representative for UNFPA Iraq Country office.
• The payment will be paid through two instalments per the deliverables (50% per each phase) – first payment to be facilitates upon the derivable of the initial document, while the final one will be proceeded after the final submission of completed document.
• Expected travel: In discussion with UNFPA (over Kurdistan region if needed).

• Master’s degree or minimum of five years’ experience in the relevant thematic areas in population analysis, demographic, public health, medicine, health economics and financing, epidemiology, biostatistics, social sciences or a related field.

• 5-7 years of experience in developing public policies and programs, reviews, assessments, research studies or evaluation work in the field of population and development.
• Good knowledge of humanitarian strategies, policies, frameworks and international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, as well as the international humanitarian architecture and coordination mechanisms
• Ability to ensure ethics and integrity of the evaluation process, including confidentiality and the principle of do no harm.
• Ability to consistently integrate human rights and gender perspectives in all phases of the population policies development.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Experience working with a multidisciplinary team of experts.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills (written and spoken).
• Work experience in/good knowledge of the national development context of Iraq
• Familiarity with UNFPA or other United Nations organizations’ mandates and activities will be an advantage.

• Fluent in written and spoken English, with knowledge in Arabic.

• Exemplifying integrity, 
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 
• Embracing cultural diversity, 
• Embracing change

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

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.

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. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.