Terms of Reference (ToR) - Social Audit of Adolescent Maternal and Newborn Health Services

Social Audit of Adolescent Maternal and Newborn Health Services in selected municipalities of Karnali Province, Nepal

Village Development and Save the Environment Forum (VDSEF) Nepal is a non-profit organization working in Kalikot district for more than 31 years in the fields of child rights, health and nutrition, climate change, poverty reduction, and the protection and promotion of the economic, social, and cultural rights of marginalized and disadvantaged communities. VDSEF Nepal aims to promote peace, stability, and sustainable development in Kalikot district. VDSEF Nepal has previous working experience collaborating with different civil society organizations (CSOs) and government authorities to improve child rights, MNH, health and nutrition, climate change, livelihoods, and human rights in marginalized and vulnerable communities, such as women, including single mothers, youths, children, friendly and elderly persons, Dalits, and ethnic minorities.

In Nepal, adolescents (aged 10 to 19 years) constitute approximately six million (19.7%) (Census 2021). These population groups continue to experience health risks resulting from teenage pregnancy, unplanned pregnancy, and unmet needs for family planning. Though the legal age of marriage in Nepal is 20 for both sexes, the average age of marriage for girls is 18.3 years and for boys is 20.7 years. About 27% of adolescent girls aged 15-19 years are already married, and 14% of them have been pregnant, with Karnali province having the highest prevalence of teenage pregnancy at 21% (NDHS 2022).

Village Development and Save the Environment Forum (VDSEF Nepal) is implementing the Action for Adolescent Maternal and Neonatal Health (Action aMNH) project in Subhakalika Rural Municipality and Tilagupha Municipality with support from Save the Children. Action aMNH builds on "SAHAYATRA-III" to include additional content for pregnant and parenting adolescents, and to address the factors that drive (dis)respectful care at the facility level.

This is a 3-year (Jan 2025-Dec 2027) project which aims to strengthen adolescent-responsive MNH services to enable pregnant and parenting adolescents and their babies to survive the critical period of pregnancy, childbirth, and the first 28 days of life, and to thrive in a more gender-equitable community that values the voices and contributions of adolescent girls. It will achieve the aim through three interrelated outcomes:

Outcome 1

Improve pregnant and parenting adolescents’ MNH knowledge, skills, and behaviors.

Outcome 2: Improve the quality and respectfulness of antenatal care, delivery, postnatal care, and postpartum family planning services for pregnant and parenting adolescents.

Outcome 3: Increase the meaningful engagement of adolescents in the mechanisms by which communities hold health services accountable for meeting their needs and rights.

Despite policy commitments such as the National Adolescent Health and Development Strategy and Nepal’s commitments to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3 & 5), gaps remain in service accessibility, quality, and accountability. Despite many ongoing efforts to strengthen maternal and newborn health services, pregnant and parenting adolescents (PPAs) often remain underserved. A social audit is therefore proposed to generate robust evidence on the responsiveness of health services to adolescents’ needs, amplify community voices, and strengthen accountability mechanisms at local and provincial levels.

Interested in and mentioned the criteria meets candidates/Firms are welcome to submit their proposals within the deadline.

The applicant should submit the following documents

Qualified candidates are encouraged to submit their updated CV and application, along with two references, via email to [email protected] or in person at the VDSEF-Nepal Head Office, Khadachakra-1, Manma, Kalikot. The deadline for submission is 5:00 PM, 4 August 2026.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further assessment, and telephone inquiries will not be entertained

https://www.jobsnepal.com/terms-of-reference-tor-social-audit-of-adolescent-maternal-and-newborn-health-services-143433