Window 3 Advisor, Women's Integrated Sexual Health (WISH) Dividend, Policy & Systems at Palladium International

Position Details:

•  The TA Advisor will provide technical leadership and delivery oversight for the programme’s emerging Window 3 mechanism first and foremost, and likewise contribute to quality oversight of specific TA activities across the programme's 7 countries. In both cases, the role is intended to specialise in the provision of support on demographic transition (DT)-focused TA, including developing decision-ready tools that transform demographic data and insights for planning and budgeting, building government capacity on demographic evidence uptake, and strengthening institutional ownership of the population agenda.
• Specifically, the Advisor under Window 3 will work with FCDO and government counterparts to define TA needs, design high-quality scopes of work, and ensure delivery of practical, high-impact support. Depending on the nature of each assignment, the Advisor may directly deliver technical inputs (either remotely or in-person), identify and manage local or regional consultants, or coordinate inputs from consortium partners and other technical experts. Across all TA assignments, the Advisor will be accountable for ensuring that TA is delivered to a high standard, responds to the needs of FCDO and government partners, and achieves the agreed measures of success. The Advisor is also expected to support the programme’s most strategic DT-focused TAs across its current 7 countries of operation, working closely with each Country Lead to quality assure delivery.
• The Advisor will report to the Team Leader and work closely with the TA Coordinator, Country Leads, and MEL Lead to ensure that Window 3 operates as a responsive, technically credible, and well-managed mechanism within the wider programme.

Window 3 Primary Roles and Responsibilities

• Serve as the main point for technical review of FCDO Post requests via Window 3, including applying agreed prioritisation criteria to shortlist and agree TAs with FCDO centrally.
• Lead the drafting and quality assurance of DT-specific TA terms of reference for Window 3 with FCDO Post colleagues, including the articulation of clear policy and system level problems, initial solutions design, outputs and outcomes, consultant requirements, and approaches to institutionalisation and sustainability.
• Oversee end-to-end delivery of Window 3 TAs, ensuring progress against agreed deliverables, timelines, quality standards, and results.
• Where required, directly deliver technical inputs related to DT, including analysis, facilitation, technical writing, stakeholder engagement, and other strategic advisory support. In other cases, work with the TA Coordinator to identify, brief, and manage local consultants as needed, ensuring that consultant inputs are technically strong, appropriately contextualised, and delivered in line with programme standards.
• Identify risks early, adapting delivery approaches where needed, and escalating issues to the Team Leader or Programme Director as appropriate.
• Maintain strong working relationships with FCDO Posts, supporting clear communication on assignment progress, risks, decisions required, and emerging opportunities for follow-on support.
• Work closely with MEL and knowledge management colleagues to review progress of any Window 3 “small bets”, capture learning, success stories, and any other insights that can inform wider programme adaptation as part of the programme’s problem-driven iterative adaptation approach.
• Contribute to forecasting, resource planning, and spend monitoring for Window 3 assignments, supporting value for money and timely delivery.

Other Programme Roles and Responsibilities

• Provide technical leadership on DT across the programme’s 7 countries of implementation, acting as the programme’s principal technical resource on demographics. As part of this:
• Support Country Leads to design DT-focused activities in response to key policy and system problems for annual workplans, including initial brainstorming as well as review of TA terms of reference.
• Work with Country Leads and the MEL Lead to track progress across DT-related TA activities, identifying implementation bottlenecks, risks, and opportunities for adaptation.
  Provide technical review and strategic guidance on the programme’s portfolio of DT-focused “small bets”
• Work closely with the MEL Lead and Country Leads to synthesise evidence, lessons learned, and emerging good practice from DT-focused activities
• Support the development of tools, guidance, thought leadership, and technical resources that strengthen programme-wide understanding of demographic transition
• Contribute to external engagement and representation as required, including providing technical inputs to donor discussions, workshops, learning events, knowledge products, and programme reporting related to DT.

Required Skills and Experience

• Advanced training in demography/population studies or closely related area; strong preference for candidates with formal demographic training.
• Significant technical expertise and advisory experience supporting governments on DT, including a proven track record of translating complex demographic data, projections, and concepts into practical policy, planning, budgeting, financing, and systems recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience supporting government to strengthen its stewardship of the population.
• Demonstrated experience designing and delivering TA for governments, donors, or multilateral partners, preferably in health, population, demography, human development, or systems strengthening.
• Proven ability to develop high-quality terms of reference, scopes of work, technical concepts, workplans, and consultant briefs.
• Strong track record in stakeholder engagement, including working with donors, government counterparts, and technical partners at senior levels. Strong preference for those with priority experience working with FCDO centrally and/or FCDO Posts.
• Experience successfully managing short-term consultants and multidisciplinary technical teams, including quality assuring consultant deliverables.
• Strong understanding of SRHR policy and programming highly desired.
• Excellent analytical, writing, facilitation, and communication skills, including the ability to communicate technical demographic concepts clearly to non-specialist audiences.
• Ability to manage multiple assignments across countries, work under time pressure, and maintain quality while responding to evolving client needs.