Local consultant, Integration of Healthy Lifestyle

Hiring Office:

UNFPA CO in Uzbekistan

Purpose of consultancy:

Uzbekistan is one of the youngest countries in the region, with adolescents representing a significant share of the population and the country's future human capital. Supporting adolescents to adopt healthy lifestyles, develop life skills, and make informed decisions regarding their health and wellbeing is essential for achieving sustainable social and economic development. Schools provide the only nationwide platform capable of reaching nearly all children and adolescents with structured, age-appropriate health education during the formative years when knowledge, attitudes and behaviours are established. 

The Government of Uzbekistan has made significant progress in modernizing the education sector and strengthening policies aimed at improving the health and wellbeing of children and adolescents. At the same time, emerging public health challenges—including unhealthy lifestyles, increasing mental health concerns, early risk behaviours, gender stereotypes, misinformation, and limited access to reliable information on sexual and reproductive health (SRH)—highlight the need for a more comprehensive, competency-based approach to health education within the school system. Existing curricula include selected elements related to healthy lifestyles and reproductive health; however, these topics remain fragmented across different subjects and grades, with variations in their depth, sequencing, and practical implementation. 

Over the past several years, UNFPA, in partnership with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Ministry of Health, the National Center for Psychological and Pedagogical Support (Tashkhis), and other national partners, has supported the integration of sexual and reproductive health, healthy lifestyle and HIV prevention topics into school and pre-service education programmes. This support included curriculum review, development of methodological and educational materials, teacher capacity building, peer education initiatives, and development of age-appropriate thematic content for different grades. Thousands of teachers, peer educators and adolescents have benefited from these interventions, generating valuable experience and practical lessons for future curriculum reform. 

Building on these achievements, UNFPA intends to support the development of a Conceptual Framework for Integration of Healthy Lifestyle and Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education into the National School Curriculum. The framework will consolidate previous work, review the current representation and practical implementation of healthy lifestyle and SRH topics within school curricula, identify institutional, implementation and social norms-related barriers, and provide a structured roadmap for their progressive integration into the national education system.

The Conceptual Framework will define what topics should be introduced, at which grade and age level, and through which educational modality, including integration into existing school subjects, dedicated classroom lessons, class hours, extracurricular activities, or a combination of these approaches. The Framework will also provide practical recommendations to support future curriculum revision, development of teaching and learning materials, teacher capacity building, and phased implementation within the national education system. 

The Conceptual Framework will provide a structured roadmap for curriculum developers and policymakers by defining the recommended topics, grade and age of introduction, learning progression, and appropriate delivery modalities, including integration into existing subjects, dedicated lessons or class hours, extracurricular activities, or a combination of these approaches.

Purpose of the consultancy: 

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical expertise to support the Ministry of Preschool and School Education through development of a Conceptual Framework for the Integration of Healthy Lifestyle and Age-Appropriate Reproductive Health Education into the National School Curriculum.

The consultant will build on previous work undertaken by UNFPA and national partners by reviewing existing curricula and educational resources, assessing the current representation and practical implementation of healthy lifestyle and reproductive health topics, identifying institutional, implementation and social norms-related barriers, and developing a practical framework that recommends the most appropriate modalities for introducing these topics into the national education system.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Under the overall supervision of UNFPA and in close collaboration with the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the National Center for Psychological and Pedagogical Support (Tashkhis), the Ministry of Health and other relevant stakeholders, the consultant will:

• Review existing national legislation, education policies, standards, school curricula, methodological materials, and previous work supported by UNFPA and national partners related to healthy lifestyles, adolescent health and age-appropriate reproductive health education. 
• Review the current representation and practical implementation of healthy lifestyle and age-appropriate reproductive health topics across different grades and subjects, taking into consideration previous curriculum review exercises and educational materials developed under UNFPA-supported initiatives. 
• Review relevant international practices, evidence-based approaches and good samples of school health education and assess their applicability to the national education context. 
• Conduct consultations with representatives of the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the National Center for Psychological and Pedagogical Support (Tashkhis), the Ministry of Health, curriculum developers, teacher training institutions, teachers and other relevant stakeholders to validate findings, collect recommendations and build consensus on the proposed approach if needed. 
• Identify institutional, implementation and social norms-related barriers and opportunities affecting the effective integration and delivery of healthy lifestyle and age-appropriate reproductive health education within the national school system. 
• Develop a conceptual approach for the integration of healthy lifestyle and age-appropriate reproductive health education into the national school curriculum, including recommendations on guiding principles, competency-based learning, age-appropriate progression and priority thematic areas. 
• Propose practical options for the integration of healthy lifestyle and age-appropriate reproductive health topics into the national education system through existing school subjects, dedicated lessons, class hours, extracurricular activities, school-based initiatives, or other appropriate educational formats, taking into consideration the feasibility and effectiveness of each approach. 
• Develop recommendations on the Curriculum Integration Matrix, including proposed topic titles, grade and age of introduction, learning progression, expected competencies and learning outcomes, recommended delivery modalities, proposed educational subjects or areas for integration, and indicative instructional hours or sessions, where appropriate. 
• Develop recommendations on the implementation support framework, including the educational, methodological and capacity-building resources required to support future implementation, such as the indicative structure and outline of teachers' manuals, student educational resources, age-specific thematic packages, methodological guidance, digital learning resources, and capacity development programmes for teachers, school psychologists and other relevant education professionals. 
• Present draft documents during technical consultations, facilitate discussion of the proposed recommendations, and finalize all outputs based on comments received from UNFPA and national stakeholders.

Duration and working schedule:

The consultant is expected to work 20  days within 4 months period from September up to December 2026. 

Place where services are to be delivered:

The consultant will work independently under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Programme Specialist. Day-to-day work will be self-managed, with periodic technical consultations and progress reviews with UNFPA and relevant stakeholders to ensure the quality and timely delivery of the agreed outputs.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Deliverables:

1. Consultancy work plan including methodology and approach to implementation, workplan and timeline, list of key stakeholders, consultations and validation meetings, proposed structure of the Conceptual Framework and Curriculum Integration Matrix – 4 days
2. Draft Conceptual Framework, including draft Curriculum Integration Matrix and implementation support framework – 11 days
3. Final Conceptual Framework including finalized Curriculum Integration Matrix and implementation support framework – 5 days

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

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of the UNFPA National Programme Specialist SRH and HIV.
• Progress will be monitored on a rolling basis through virtual check-ins.
• Final report on processes involved must be submitted no later than three days after completion of the assignment.
• All deliverables should be in Russian or Uzbek

Supervisory arrangements: 

• The consultant will work under the direct supervision of UNFPA NPO on SRH

Expected travel:

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Consultant should have the following expertise and qualification:

• Advanced university degree in Education, Curriculum Development, Pedagogy, Public Health, Psychology, Social Sciences, or another relevant field. 
• At least 7 years of progressively responsible professional experience in curriculum development, education policy, education planning, school health education, teacher professional development, or other relevant areas. 
• Demonstrated experience in the development, review or modernization of school curricula, competency-based educational programmes, teaching and learning materials, or educational standards. 
• Proven knowledge of the education system of Uzbekistan, including curriculum development processes and institutional arrangements within the education sector. 
• Demonstrated understanding of adolescent development, healthy lifestyles, sexual and reproductive health education, life skills education, or other relevant thematic areas. 
• Familiarity with international evidence, standards and guidance related to school health education, including competency-based and age-appropriate approaches. 
• Experience in facilitating multi-stakeholder consultations and working with government institutions, education professionals and technical experts. 
• Excellent analytical, drafting, communication and facilitation skills, with demonstrated ability to prepare high-quality technical documents. 
• Previous experience working with UN agencies, the Ministry of Preschool and School Education, the Ministry of Health, or other government institutions will be considered an asset. 
• Excellent command of Uzbek and Russian is required. Knowledge of English is an advantage.

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

UNFPA will facilitate access to relevant background documents, coordination with national counterparts and partners, and provide translation support during meetings, if required

Payment will be done as a one-time lump sum upon completion of the work and submission of the final report.