Deadline: 27 December 2025
The Commission on Population and Development (CPD) is held every year to assess, review and monitor the implementation of the Programme of Action (PoA) of the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD).
The 59th session of the CPD (CPD59) will be held on April 13 – April 17, 2026 at the United Nations (UN) Headquarters in New York, bringing together governments, UN agencies and civil society organisations. The theme of the session is, ‘Population, technology and research in the context of sustainable development’.
In this context, regional advocacy briefs will serve as critical tools to influence global policy dialogue by showcasing region-specific challenges, solutions, and policy recommendations in the intersections of population dynamics, SRHR, technology, and research in the context of sustainable development. The briefs will be used to support International Sexual and Reproductive Rights Coalition (ISRRC) members with government advocacy in the lead-up to and during CPD59, including through direct engagement with delegations, events and consultations.
As ISRRC regional co-convener of Asia and the Pacific, the Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) is looking for a consultant with thematic expertise to produce the regional briefs in the Asia-Pacific region in consultation with the regional members.
Objectives of the Consultancy
The consultant will develop a 3–6 page regional advocacy brief for Asia and the Pacific that:
- Analyses intersections of population dynamics, sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), technology, and research in the context of sustainable development.
- Highlights good practices, innovative programs, and lessons learned from the region.
- Collects regional voices and provides actionable policy recommendations to inform CPD59 deliberations.
Scope of work
- Conduct a desk review of relevant regional literature, data, and policy documents to inform the regional brief.
- Engage and support regional consultations and engage regional stakeholders to inform and validate the process and brief in January
- Identify region-specific trends, examples of good practices and challenges in the intersection of population dynamics, technology, and research.
- Develop actionable recommendations targeted to relevant stakeholder groups based on the consultations and desk review
- Prepare the regional advocacy brief (3–6 pages) that include infographics, case studies, or data snapshots where appropriate.
- Provide a detailed presentation summarising key insights and share all the literature review and background documents.
Expected Deliverables
- Draft and finalised regional advocacy brief
- Presentation slides summarising key insights and findings from the regional briefs.
Expected Outline of the regional brief
- Introduction
- Methodology/process for developing the brief
- Regional challenges related to the CPD59 theme
- Regional opportunities and best practises related to the CPD59 theme (also including policy and legal frameworks)
- Key priorities and recommendations to be included in the CPD59 resolution
We also acknowledge the fact that the region is diverse, and hence we shall have sub-regional and country specific variations, and we encourage the consultant to devise methodologies of consultation that best highlight these throughout the brief.
Timeline and Duration
The final deliverables of the advocacy brief and presentation is expected by January 30, 2025.
Timeline in accordance to the deliverables are:
- Submission of first draft of the brief outline by January 15, 2026
- Engage and support regional consultation on January 19, 2026
- Submission of draft brief with inputs from the consultation by January 20, 2026
This product will be utilised for CPD59 in April, and until then we are expecting minor modifications in the brief post January 23, 2026.
Deadline and How to Apply
The deadline for submission of expression of interest for the development of briefs by the consultant is December 27, 2025. Please submit a letter expressing interest, a sample of your writing, a brief outline of your plan and your CV to riju@arrow.org.my copying sai@arrow.org.my with the subject line Expression of Interest for Asia-Pacific Regional Brief Development_Your Name.
Qualifications and Competencies
The expected profile of the consultants/research organisations/think tanks/ women’s rights organisations engaged in research could be as following:
- Applicants can be individuals or groups. We welcome a group of consultants/research organisations/think tanks/women’s organisations with thematic expertise to express their interest.
- Expertise in sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) in the nexus of technology and research (Link to CPD59 and the theme)
- Proven experience in drafting advocacy or policy briefs.
- Excellent writing, communication and analytical skills.
- Familiarity with regional contexts and UN language.
Budget and Payment Schedule
The total available budget for this assignment is 1000 USD which includes all kinds of costs and taxes.
The payment will be made in two tranches and the triggers will be based on deliverables.
- Signing ToR – 30% of the amount.
- Submission of final deliverables – 70% of the amount.
For further information or inquiries, please contact riju@arrow.org.my
