Health Economist Midwifery Investment Specialist (Remote) at the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the leading UN organization in Reproductive Health and Population and Development.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: National Individual Consultant: Health Economist Midwifery Investment Specialist

Location: Abuja (Remote)
Employment Type: Full-time
Contract type: Individual Consultancy (IC)
Duration: 40 days over a period of six months

Purpose of Consultancy

• Global attention and investment in midwifery are increasing as an effective strategy to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG3). To advance this agenda, the Midwifery Accelerator was launched in April 2025 by a global coalition including  UNFPA, WHO, UNICEF, and ICM to scale up the Midwifery Model of Care (MMoC). 
• The primary goal is to generate country-specific evidence on the costs and economic benefits of scaling up MmoC to inform policy, prioritize investments, and mobilize resources. By implementing investment case framework analysis in midwifery at country level, UNFPA together with key stakeholders would be able to provide economic arguments to persuade the government to expand investments in and coverage of MmoC.
• This investment  case will guide strategic investments, policy formulation, and resource mobilization, with the ultimate goal of improving maternal and neonatal health outcomes in the country.

Scope of Work

• The Health Economist Consultant will lead the economic and financial analysis required for development of the midwifery investment case. This involves conducting economic and financial analysis, quantifying the burden of maternal and newborn health challenges, workforce and labour market analysis, scenario modelling and forecasting, reviewing health financing policy and systems, modeling the overall return on investment (ROI) of scaling up midwifery care, including development of a compelling case to persuade government and partners to increase investments in MMoC in Nigeria.

Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Induction workshop: Work in collaboration with the Public Health Specialist, to co-facilitate a national induction workshop in coordination with a Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare (FMOH&SW), Federal Ministry of Budget & Economic Planning (FMBEP), Ministry of Finance, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, National Association of Nigerian Nurses and Midwives, and key stakeholders, to present and discuss the objectives of the investment case. The workshop will aim to establish a multi-sectoral Task Force and develop a roadmap for implementation.
• Stakeholder Workshops: Plan and co-facilitate 3–4 national and subnational workshops to support the investment case for midwifery. These will include an inception workshop, coordination meetings, validation of draft results, and a final dissemination event with FMBEP and relevant stakeholders.
• Situational Analysis: Lead a thorough analysis of the national and subnational funding landscape for RMNCAH+N and midwifery in Nigeria. Review government budgets, donor flows, and out-of-pocket expenditures. Identify financing gaps, opportunities for resource reallocation (e.g., from underspent budgets), and potential innovative financing mechanisms.
• Model Health Impacts and Costs: Utilizing tools such as the OneHealth Tool and Lives Saved Tool (LiST), model the health impacts and total costs for scaling up the defined midwifery intervention package under different scenarios. Estimate costs of workforce development of the defined strategy to meet the required midwifery workforce (e.g., by increasing pre-service training). Key outputs will include maternal and neonatal lives saved, stillbirths averted, and morbidity reductions.
• Return on Investment (ROI): Calculate the benefit-cost ratio and ROI for investing in midwifery care by comparing total estimated costs against total monetized benefits for the defined scale-up scenarios. Estimate the economic benefits from averting unintended pregnancies, such as increased educational attainment for adolescent girls and reduced time out of the workforce for women. Estimate the cost savings from a reduction in unnecessary medical interventions, such as cesarean sections.
• Fiscal Space Analysis: Analyze the current fiscal space for health and propose evidence-based, context-specific strategies to expand fiscal space for midwifery, SRMNCAH and the health sector.
• Reporting: Lead the drafting of the economic and financial sections of the reports and deliverables, ensuring a cohesive and integrated final investment case document.

The Key Deliverables

• Inception Report detailing the methodology, work plan, stakeholder engagement strategy, and data availability.
• Comprehensive Reports of the national induction and the Inception Workshops with FMOH&SW, FMBEP, and other stakeholder consultation meetings.
• Health Financing & Midwifery Workforce Market (Situational) Analysis Report including funding on the RMNCAH+N and midwifery landscape in Nigeria.
• Draft Investment Case Document, on the modeled scenarios and selected model health impact projections including the ROI analysis, financing and resource mobilization strategy, and policy recommendations.
• Final Investment Case Document, fully validated and ready for dissemination, including roadmap for implementation, the monitoring, evaluation and accountability framework.
• Policy Brief and contributions to  advocacy materials based on the investment case findings.
• Data Sets, Economic Models, and Analytical Tools
• Presentation Materials for the investment case.

Duration and working Schedule:

• The consultancy is for 40 days over a period of six months
• Month 1: inception workshop and planning. 
• Months 2–3: data collection, review, and analysis. 
• Months 3–4: report drafting and stakeholder validation. 
• Months 5–6: finalization and dissemination.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

• A clear milestone-based payment is outlined for this consultancy, each payment tranche released upon the successful submission and approval of specific deliverables. 

Supervisory arrangements:

• The Health Economist Consultant will be under the supervision of the Technical Specialist, Reproductive and Maternal Health at the country office.
• Technical guidance will be provided by designated UNFPA technical team members and regional experts.
• Regular review meetings will be held to assess progress and resolve challenges.

Requirements

• She/he must possess a postgraduate degree in Health Economics, Economics, Public Financing, or a related field.
• At least 5 years of experience in health financing, economic evaluation of health programs, cost-benefit analysis, and health systems strengthening.
• Demonstrated experience with health impact and economic modelling tools such as OneHealth and LiST is an asset.
• Strong understanding of innovative health financing mechanisms.
• Prior experience in developing investment cases in low-resource settings.
• Knowledge of Nigeria’s health system and services, and policies.
• Excellent analytical, facilitation, and communication skills.
• Strong drafting and writing skills with attention to detail. 
• Computer literacy and proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital collaboration tools.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g. support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

• UNFPA shall provide logistic support for field missions to designated states and workshop events in line with UNFPA Travel Policy.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

• The Consultant shall be paid in line with UNFPA human resource policy.

Languages: 

• English Language

Expected travel:

• Minimum travel expected.
• The consultant is required to attend any meetings specifically requested by the FMBEP, FMOH&SW, and the Ministry of Finance. However, domestic travel costs for activities outside Abuja will be covered by UNFPA, according to its established rules and guidelines.
• This includes transportation and per diem for missions related to data collection, stakeholder consultations, and co-facilitation of the national Inception workshops as outlined in the Terms of Reference (TORs).

Required Competencies: 
Values:

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

Core Competencies: 

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

Managerial Competencies (if applicable):

• Providing quality program support and technical assistance
• Empowering and building trust among both internal/external partners and stakeholders
• Managing resources
• Making decisions and exercising

Application Closing Date
21st June, 2026.

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should:
Click here to apply online