Introduction/Background:

Ipas is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) which works to assist the Government of Pakistan in achieving the country’s commitment towards Sustainable Development Goal 3 (good health and well-being). It seeks to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity associated with complications due to unsafe practices. Improving reproductive healthcare is vital to preserve women’s reproductive capacity (fertility). We collaborate with provincial governments (in Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) and the ICT region to provide technical assistance and support for strengthening the public and private healthcare system.

 Over the years, Ipas Pakistan has provided technical assistance to the Government in its ongoing commitment to strengthen the policy environment around postabortion family planning (PACFP). As a result, in 2020, Sindh Government endorsed the first-ever policy on PAFP and endorsed standards and guidelines in 2023.

Post-pregnancy family planning (post-partum and postabortion family planning –PPFP and PAFP) is one of the most effective ways of addressing family planning needs. Integrating family planning services into maternal and child health services is an effective strategy for taking advantage of women’s increased contact with the healthcare system in the period around childbirth. More importantly, increasing the uptake of PPFP/PAFP has the potential to protect and empower women at a crucial time in their lives, establish healthy birth spacing practices, and reduce maternal and child morbidity and mortality

I. Period of Performance:    5 J 2024 – 15th December 2024

II. Place of Performance: Islamabad- Office Based and Remote

III. Scope of Work:

Ipas expects to provide technical assistance to the federal government Department of Health in its goal to draft a Post Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for the federating areas of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) to improve both postpartum and postabortion family planning indicators so that the overall FP indicators can be improved in these regions where provision and access to postpartum and postabortion family planning services is already a challenge. Furthermore, introducing such a policy would enable healthcare providers to confidently provide the required services to patients and guide investment in their capacity building to do so. For this purpose, Ipas seeks to engage the services of a reproductive health expert who, with the support of the Ipas team and in close collaboration with the government departments, will develop a Post-Pregnancy Family Planning Strategy for the federating areas of GB and AJK through a consultative process.

IV. Reporting: Policy and Communications Advisor

V. Deliverables/Milestones and Due Dates:

Ipas is strongly committed to providing a work environment that is free from all forms of harassment, discrimination, and inequity.  We recruit, employ, train, promote, and compensate our personnel without regard to race, age, sex, religion, national origin, color, creed, ancestry, citizenship, caste, ethnicity, regional identity, tribal identity, marital status, veteran status, disability, genetic information, gender identity, transgender status, sexual orientation, or any other personal characteristic protected by law or outlined by Ipas policy. Ipas acknowledges that these personal characteristics may differ in different contexts.