Terms of Reference
Background
The International Planned Parenthood Federation operates through a global network of Member Associations and Collaborative Partners working across more than 150 countries to deliver sexual and reproductive health services, advance rights, and advocate for policy change.
The global landscape for sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) is becoming increasingly complex and challenging. Recent years have seen the uptake of more restrictive global health and development policies, as well as growing political opposition to gender equality, bodily autonomy, and sexual and reproductive rights. These trends have significant implications for civil society organizations, health providers, and advocates working to advance SRHR.
In particular, recent United States foreign and global health policy approaches, including the America First Global Health Strategy (AFGHS) and the signing of bilateral health agreements between the US and developing countries - particularly across Africa with expansion to Asia and Latin America – as well as the reinstatement and expansion of the Mexico City Policy (Global Gag Rule) are reshaping the development and health financing landscape. Alongside these developments, reductions in development assistance and a contracting policy environment have created new operational, legal, and strategic challenges for SRHR organizations.
As this policy and financing landscape continues to evolve, IPPF seeks to develop a practical guide for Member Associations that provides a clear and accessible explanation of AFGHS health compacts and the bilateral Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), with particular attention to their SRHR-related implications. The guide should support staff and Member Associations to understand what these agreements are, assess their potential impact on SRHRJ programmes, service delivery, partnerships and advocacy, and apply the guidance in practice within their national and regional contexts.
Goal
IPPF is seeking external consultancy support that can provide the technical, policy, and legal expertise required to analyse these agreements and translate them into practical guidance for a non-specialist audience. The resulting guide is expected to strengthen Member Associations' understanding of the changing global health policy environment and support informed, consistent, and rights-based responses across the Federation.
Scope of work
- Review current resources, policies, and supporting documentation related to the implementation of the MoU, including the scope of exemptions in the MoUs.
- Identify key areas where additional clarification, interpretation, or practical guidance
is required. - Consult with relevant stakeholders across the Secretariat and Regional Offices.
- Develop a practical guide for Member Associations and staff that includes:
- An overview of the key trends in the bilateral MoU and its purpose, particularly:
- An analysis of the objectives of the AFGHS and the MoUs (e.g. reducing/restricting civic space, restricting engagement with government through funding reductions, funding, exporting and promoting right-wing ideology in relation to key SRHR issues).
- An assessment of the extent to which the MoUs may contribute to these outcomes including use of MoUs templates; signed MoUs; implementation plans that are starting to emerge).
- An analysis of external factors that could affect how the MoUs are implemented (international and national legal frameworks, positions of government, GCD, EGGR, influence of anti-rights groups, etc;)
- An assessment of how the MoUs affect MAs in the areas of:
a. Service delivery
b. Advocacy
c. Partnerships, including with government, and partners receiving US funding (e.g. UNFPA)
d. Resource mobilisation.
- An overview of the key trends in the bilateral MoU and its purpose, particularly:
- Facilitate review and validation processes with relevant internal stakeholders.
- Finalize the guidance document following feedback.
Deliverables and tentative timelines
- Commencement date: September 2026
- Anticipated completion date: November 2026
See PDF Terms of Reference for full details
Qualifications and experience
The suitable candidate will have:
- Advanced degree in public health, public policy, international development, international relations, law, political science, global health, or a related field.
- Demonstrated expertise in global health policy, health financing, development cooperation, and/or SRHR.
- Strong understanding of U.S. foreign assistance and global health policies, including the Global Gag Rule (Mexico City Policy), bilateral health agreements, and their implications for civil society and SRHR on a political as well as legal level.
- At least 8–10 years of relevant professional experience.
- Experience analysing complex policy and legal documents and translating them into practical guidance for non-specialist audiences.
- Demonstrated experience producing policy briefs, guidance documents, toolkits, or technical resources.
- Excellent stakeholder consultation, facilitation, and interviewing skills.
- Strong analytical, writing, and editing skills.
- Experience working with NGOs, international organizations, federations, networks, advocacy organisations, or policy institutions.
- Experience working in Africa and/or with African regional health and development policy processes is highly desirable.
- An intersectional feminist dedicated to sexual reproductive health care rights and justice, including safe abortion and sex workers’ rights. Supportive of people’s rights regardless of sexuality or gender identity/expression.
How to apply
Interested candidates should submit:
- CV of proposed consultant(s)
- Technical proposal outlining approach and methodology
- Relevant experience and examples of similar assignments
- Fees / daily rate
Please send the application to Federica Signoriello – fsignoriello@ippf.org by 31st August 2026 with subject line: Consultancy to Support Development of Practical Advocacy Guide.
