Consultancy Opportunity: Peer Reviewer
Consultancy, Research Jobs
- Expires 15 Sep 2025
- Harare
- Full Time
Job Description
1. General Information
The Women and Law in Southern Africa Research and Education Trust (WLSA) is a registered Private Voluntary Organization (PVO 16/2016) established in 1989 to enhance the sustained well-being of women and girls in Southern Africa. Operating in Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana, Malawi, Lesotho, Swaziland (Eswatini), and Mozambique, WLSA integrates research with action by challenging laws, campaigning for changes in policies, educating women and girls about their rights, providing legal advice, and gender sensitising communities and leadership. WLSA aims to promote the effective participation of women and girls in decisions that affect their lives.
2. Background
The Government of Zimbabwe will develop the National Health Strategy (NHS) 2025-2029 after the expiration of NHS 2021-2025. The strategy is meant to guide the country's health sector priorities and interventions over the next five years. The strategy aims to improve health outcomes, enhance healthcare access, strengthen health systems, and promote universal health coverage. Recognizing the critical role of inclusive health policies, the strategy emphasizes integrating gender considerations and ensuring equitable access to health services for all populations.
Despite the strategic focus, there remains a need to critically review and strengthen the existing policy framework to fully embed gender-sensitive approaches within the strategy. This includes assessing the extent to which gender disparities are addressed, identifying gaps in policy formulation, and recommending actionable steps to mainstream gender equality across health programs and initiatives.
The upcoming review of the National Health Strategy 2025-2029 presents an opportunity to enhance its relevance, coherence, and effectiveness in promoting gender equality and health equity. This process aims to ensure that health policies are not only responsive to the diverse needs of the population but also aligned with international standards and best practices in gender mainstreaming and health equity.
WLSA has developed a position paper on the National Health Strategy, highlighting critical gaps in maternal health service delivery, Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), and other issues disproportionately affecting women and girls. Recognizing the importance of these gender-specific concerns, WLSA now seeks to strengthen and refine this position paper to ensure it effectively advocates for gender-responsive health policies. The goal is to enhance its evidentiary basis and strategic framing, enabling it to be compellingly presented to the Ministry of Health and Child Care and other key stakeholders to influence policy adjustments and promote gender equality within the national health agenda.
Duties and Responsibilities
3. Scope of the work of the consultant
Under the supervision of the WLSA Programme Coordinator, the consultant will be expected to:
i. Conduct a comprehensive review of the current position paper on the National Health Strategy 2021-2025, with particular attention to the recommendations on gender inclusion.
ii. Assess the clarity, coherence, and alignment of the position paper with national health goals and gender equality principles.
iii. Develop actionable recommendations to reinforce gender inclusion and ensure that the advocacy aligns with national priorities and international best practices.
4. Deliverables
A strengthened and gendered position paper on the National Health Strategy which can be submitted to the Minister of Health and Child Care.
Qualifications and Experience
5. Qualifications and Experience
The consultant should have:
1. A bachelor’s degree in Law, Public Policy, Public Health or Gender Studies,
2. A master’s degree or a Doctorate in a related field.
3. At least 15 years of proven experience in law, or public health and policy.
4. Experience in research and production of policy and practice analysis papers.
5. Familiarity with gender-sensitive language.
How to Apply
6. Application Process
Interested candidates/organisations are invited to submit:
1. A technical proposal outlining their approach, including methodology and timeline.
2. Portfolio of previous work (links, etc).
3. CV which includes 3 traceable references.
7. Submission Deadline
Proposals must be submitted by 15 September 2025 to procurement315@gmail.com
