International Consultant on Demographic Resilience in the Pacific-[Remote]

The Position:

UNFPA’s 2026–2029 Strategic Plan introduces a fourth outcome focused on supporting countries to adapt to demographic change, strengthen the resilience of societies for current and future generations, and uphold individual rights and choices. Demographic resilience is the capacity of a society to anticipate, respond and adapt to demographic change, and ultimately to thrive amid it. Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs) face complex demographic dynamics, including small and dispersed populations, internal and international migration, urbanization, changing age structures, uneven data availability and acute climate vulnerability. These dynamics interact with gender inequality, labour markets, health and education systems, social protection, infrastructure and territorial development.

The Consultant will work under the joint supervision of the Technical Adviser, Population Dynamics, UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (APRO), and the Technical Adviser for Population and Development, UNFPA Pacific Sub-Regional Office (PSRO). The supervisors will provide strategic and technical guidance, consolidate UNFPA feedback, confirm stakeholder engagement priorities and approve deliverables.

The consultancy is up to 60 working days from the contract start date. The detailed calendar and allocation of days will be confirmed in the inception report.

This consultancy will be primarily home-based, with remote consultations across Pacific time zones. 

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA 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 will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates who transform, inspire, and deliver high-impact sustained results, ensuring effective external relations, communications, partnership-building and resource mobilization in a rapidly changing development and funding landscape. We need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them, and who commit to delivering excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead a structured analysis of demographic shifts in 14 PICTs with a focus on how these demographic trends intersect with broader socio-economic and environmental megatrends shaping the region, and to produce the evidence, assessment framework and strategic recommendations needed to inform UNFPA’s demographic resilience strategy and programming in the Pacific.

Objectives

• Synthesize demographic trends, projections, data gaps, relevant policies and regional commitments through multi-dimensional disaggregation; encompassing age sub-cohorts, gender, geographic distribution, disability, socio-economic status, education, labour/NEET status and migration patterns. 
• Identify vulnerabilities, inequalities, opportunities and policy priorities arising from demographic change. 
• Validate findings through consultations with UNFPA and selected national and regional stakeholders. 
• Provide practical strategic and operational recommendations for regional and country-level policy dialogue, programming, partnerships and future analytical work.

You would be responsible for:

• Inception and study analytical design

Review relevant UNFPA global, regional and country documents; confirm the 14 PICTs, analytical questions, data sources, consultation plan, assessment dimensions, workplan and quality-assurance process. Prepare a data and document request list and identify material limitations.

• Demographic data review and synthesis

Compile and synthesize evidence from censuses, surveys, civil registration and vital statistics systems, administrative records, regional and international datasets and relevant studies. Document trends in fertility, mortality, migration, urbanization, age structure and geographic distribution, and summarize available projections to 2050. Assess quality, comparability, timeliness and gaps, with disaggregation by sex, age, disability, geography and other relevant characteristics where data permit.

• Policy and institutional mapping

Map relevant national population and development policies, National Youth Policies, national and regional Gender policies and frameworks (e.g. PIFS Gender Equality MERL), sector plans, institutional arrangements and regional commitments. Examine how demographic evidence is reflected in planning, budgeting and policy processes and identify entry points for anticipatory governance and cross-sector coordination.

• Pacific demographic resilience assessment framework 

Develop a practical framework reflecting small-island geography, population dispersion, mobility and migration, climate exposure, service-delivery constraints and cultural and religious diversity. Define dimensions, criteria and feasible quantitative and qualitative indicators, with interpretation guidance, data sources and limitations, and explicit attention to rights, gender equality and leaving no one behind. 

• Vulnerability and opportunity assessment

 Identify groups, places and sectors where demographic change may deepen inequalities—including for women and girls, young people, SOGIESC communities, older persons, persons with disabilities, migrants and remote or low-lying communities. Identify opportunities related to human-capital development, demographic-dividend prospects, healthy ageing, urban planning, labour mobility and diaspora contributions. 

• Stakeholder consultations and validation 

In collaboration with UNFPA, conduct targeted virtual consultations with relevant government representatives, regional organizations, civil society, academia, youth and women’s organizations and networks, organizations and networks of people with disabilities and development partners. Prepare consultation materials, maintain a consultation log, synthesize feedback and revise the analysis and framework. 

• Strategic recommendations and communication 

Translate findings into prioritized, feasible and time-bound recommendations for UNFPA and partners at regional and country levels. Prepare a policy-oriented executive summary and concise briefing materials for senior decision-makers

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Advanced university degree (master’s degree or equivalent) in demography, population studies, economics, sociology, public policy, development studies, statistics, geography or another closely related field. A doctoral degree is an asset.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• At least 10 years of progressively responsible professional experience in demographic analysis, population and development, public policy or a closely related area. Demonstrated experience analysing fertility, mortality, migration, urbanization, population ageing, age structure and population projections, including uncertainty and data limitations. 
• Strong quantitative and mixed-methods skills and experience with census, survey, civil-registration, administrative and international demographic datasets. 
• Proven record of producing high-quality analytical reports, assessment frameworks, indicator systems or policy products for governments, United Nations entities, regional organizations or comparable institutions. 
• Substantive knowledge of rights-based approaches to population and development and gender analysis skills, including attention to marginalized groups. 
• Experience designing and facilitating stakeholder consultations and translating complex evidence into practical policy recommendations.
• Knowledge of Pacific demographic, development and climate-resilience issues. Direct professional experience in PICTs is strongly preferred. 
• Experience with UNFPA or another United Nations entity is an asset.

Languages: 

•  Excellent written and spoken English and demonstrated ability to communicate technical findings to specialist and non-specialist audiences. 
• Proficiency in statistical, demographic and data-visualization software relevant to the proposed methodology and strong command of office and virtual collaboration tools. 
• Knowledge of French or a Pacific language is an asset.

Required Competencies: 

Values:

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

Core Competencies: 

• Integrity, respect for diversity, commitment to UNFPA’s mandate and ethical use of population data. 
• Accountability, results orientation, clear communication, inclusive collaboration and effective self-management. 
•  Analytical rigour, strategic thinking, sound judgement, facilitation, cultural sensitivity and ability to deliver high-quality work across multiple time zones under tight deadlines

Compensation and Benefits:

Payment will be made upon satisfactory completion and written acceptance of the corresponding deliverable. The allocation of days and percentages may be adjusted at inception without changing the total level of effort or total contract value.

UNFPA Work Environment:

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.

Disclaimer:

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.