Background.
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has been implementing the Safeguard Young People Programme (SYP) since November 2013. Supported through a co-financing agreement between the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), the Embassy of Switzerland in Tanzania, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN) and UNFPA, this regional programme aims to empower adolescents and young people aged 10 to 24 to protect themselves from STIs including HIV, early and unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, early marriages, gender-based violence and harmful cultural practices while promoting gender equitable norms and protective behaviours.
Since 2013 the SYP programme has gone through three phases and is currently being implemented in 11 Southern African Countries (Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). The programme continues its focus on service delivery, implementation and knowledge management, including using strategic information - building on the previous phases. Emerging issues have also been integrated and these include climate change, menstrual health, drug and alcohol abuse, and innovation – to mention a few. The programme has established a good track record over the past 10 years for supporting laws and policy reforms in favour of ASRHR, promoting the development of evidence-based policies, improving integrated delivery of youth friendly HIV and other sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, increasing access and improving quality of comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) in and out of schools, and enhancing youth participation and empowerment. SYP is the sole programme that operationalizes in full the East and Southern Africa (ESA) Ministerial Commitment on health and education for the wellbeing of adolescents and young people. The programme is now in its final phase of implementation in eight countries
(Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe).

The SYP programme has key activities to be implemented as part of this assignment thus aim to contribute to the following key outcomes;
Outcome 1: Strengthened enabling environment: Improved inclusive policies, legislations and accountability mechanisms for the promotion and protection of adolescents and young people’s rights at regional (SADC), national and sub-national levels with a focus on sexual and reproductive health rights.
Outcome 2: Strengthened demand through empowerment: Adolescents and young people have increased knowledge, skills and agency to make informed decisions and positive actions about their body, their life and their world.
Outcome 3: Strengthened delivery: Increased equitable access to quality SRHR, GBV and HIV integrated services, which are adolescents and youth friendly.
In alignment with the Leave No One Behind (LNOB) principle, the service provider is required to ensure inclusivity across all activities to be implemented. To this end, inclusion of young people with disabilities, young people living with HIV, young people in urban and rural areas, key populations, participation of youth serving organizations, civil society organizations, especially women led organizations is of utmost importance.

Objective
The purpose of this assignment is to support the implementation of key activities that form part of the Safeguard Young People programme, under the UNFPA Country Programme. Resources from this assignment will be used for advocacy and knowledge management to advance the safeguarding young people agenda in the country.
Scope of work, Methodology, Deliverables, Timeframe:
The assignment requires an organisation with extensive experience in the development and implementation of programmes for young people, with a particular focus on Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health (ASRH), young people with disabilities, young people living with HIV, key populations as well as experience working with local communities to address harmful social norms that perpetuate gender based violence. Another key consideration is experience working with civil society networks, especially women led organizations. The organization will work with the UNFPA Botswana Country office.The specific work will entail;
a) Facilitating engagement of young people in the development of the population policy, demographic dividend advocacy, climate change advocacy and the operationalisation of the 2030 ESA Ministerial Commitment on Education, Health and Well-being of Adolescents and Young People, ensuring inclusion of young people with disabilities, young people in rural areas and key populations.
b) Strengthening condom promotion and use, targeting young people in 5 high prevalence districts through Condomize Campaigns.
c) Providing technical support on Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE), use of service packages & SOPs for quality delivery of HIV prevention interventions to young people & supporting youth leadership and engagement.
d) Supporting the convening of advocacy platforms on SRH/HIV/GBV prevention and empowerment of adolescents and young people including young people with disabilities to ensure resilience.
e) Support the implementation of activities towards and including commemoration of Menstrual Health Day, International Youth Day, International Day of the Girl Child.

The assignment is expected to be completed within 125 working days spread across five months from June 2025 up to October 2025.

Qualifications and Experience:
The organization is expected to have the following qualifications:
●At least 10 years’ experience of programme management, including implementation of gender, youth targeted programmes, with a focus on ASRH.
●Experience working with government ministries, civil society organizations, especially youth serving and women led organizations.
●Experience in producing advocacy materials, policy briefs and an ability to write clear and comprehensive reports.
●Experience working with the UN will be an added advantage.

NB: The organization is expected to assemble a requisite team to undertake this assignment and the team leader must possess a master's degree or equivalent in Development studies, Public Health, Social Science, Gender Studies, or other related fields.

To apply, please summit the following:
● Cover letter
● Detailed technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology to achieve the objectives of the assignment, and workplan with clear timelines for each activity.
● Brief CV(s) of the team
● Detailed budget
*Indicate dates of availability to commence the assignment
Please refer to the attached Terms of Reference for more details.

How to apply: Interested organizations should send a cover letter with a detailed proposal, detailed budget and CVs of lead team members, with the subject clearly stated "Service Provider to support the implementation of the Safeguard Young People (SYP) programme activities" to recruitment.bw@unfpa.org

Closing date - 30 May, 2025