Tenders are invited for Recruitment of a Consultant Responsible for Carrying out an Analysis of the Mauritanian Context in Terms of Reproductive Health. Closing Date: 30 Jun 2025 Type: Consultancy Themes: Health/Protection and Human Rights INTRODUCTION: Medicos del Mundo - España (MdM) is an organization committed to defending human rights, based on the universal right to health and a gender-sensitive approach. Present in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania since 1991, MdM collaborates with public institutions and civil society to improve access to and the quality of health services. Since 2000, MdM has focused its efforts on sexual and reproductive health through various projects. Since 2012, its interventions have expanded to include the prevention of gender-based violence (GBV), as well as the protection and support of survivors. Since 2017, MdM has supported the establishment of six Specialized Care Units (USPEC) for GBV survivors throughout Mauritania. MdM works in partnership with local, national, and international stakeholders, both nonprofit and institutional, to strengthen a system of prevention, response, and protection for women and child survivors of GBV in Mauritania. CONTEXT Mauritania faces considerable challenges in terms of maternal and reproductive health. According to data from the Mauritania Demographic and Health Survey (EDSM 20192021), the maternal mortality ratio (MMR) stood at 424 deaths per 100,000 live births over the seven years preceding the survey. Given current fertility and mortality conditions, approximately one in forty women is exposed to the risk of death from maternal causes during their reproductive life. This high rate reflects several systemic failures, including insufficient access to quality emergency obstetric care, a lack of medical equipment in some health facilities, and frequent delays in the management of complications related to pregnancy or childbirth. Added to this are unsafe medical practices, often performed outside of institutional settings, which expose women to serious complications such as infections, hemorrhages, or gynecological trauma, sometimes irreversible. Poor access to sexual and reproductive health services, combined with a lack of information about family planning methods, contributes to a significant number of unplanned pregnancies. These pregnancies further expose women to the risks associated with late or inadequate prenatal and postnatal care. In response to this situation, efforts are underway to improve the provision of maternal and reproductive health care. The government, supported by its partners, has initiated discussions on strengthening the health system, adapting national policies, and training medical personnel. However, these initiatives still face sociocultural and religious obstacles, which are slowing the implementation of certain reforms deemed sensitive. The main challenge remains to reconcile public health imperatives with respect for the countrys social and cultural norms. DESCRIPTION OF THE INTERVENTION Intervention Logic The reproductive health and unsafe medical practices diagnostic project is implemented by Médicos del Mundo - Spain (MdM-E) in partnership with the Mauritanian Association for the Promotion of the Family (AMPF), and receives financial support from MdM - France. It is a continuation of the efforts led by MdM-E in Mauritania since 2016 to improve access to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) and strengthen the response to gender-based violence (GBV). Since 2017, MdM-E has developed and supported six Specialized Care Units (USPEC) located in several regions of the country. These units provide medical, psychosocial, and legal support to survivors of gender-based violence, particularly underage girls who become pregnant as a result of rape. In 2024, of the 1,034 people admitted to these facilities, 27.18% were pregnant minors, highlighting the importance of specialized systems for preventing and reducing maternal and infant mortality. In a context where maternal mortality remains a concern, this diagnostic project aims to analyze the structural, institutional, and community factors that hinder access to quality care. The goal will be to identify obstacles to the effective management of complications related to pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, and spontaneous abortions, as well as unsafe medical practices that could increase the vulnerability of women and girls, such as illegal abortions. This assessment represents a strategic step to guide future actions to strengthen the capacity of healthcare workers, improve the provision of sexual and reproductive healthcare, and promote rights-based prevention strategies, particularly in combating gender-based violence, reducing unwanted pregnancies, and preventing preventable maternal complications. In this regard, the AMPF plays a key role as a local technical partner. It offers an integrated range of primary healthcare services, including family planning, prenatal and postnatal consultations, STI management, and vaccination. At the same time, it facilitates dynamic community networks, conducts awareness-raising activities among youth and adolescents, and develops prevention tools adapted to the Mauritanian socio-cultural context. This project aims to produce an in-depth analysis of the current situation in order to formulate operational recommendations for expanded, equitable, and secure access to sexual and reproductive healthcare for all women and girls in Mauritania. Geographical coverage of the intervention The assessment will be carried out in the three regions shared by MdM and the AMPF: Gorgol, Dakhlet-Nouadhibou, and Nouakchott. [Disclaimer: The above text is machine translated. For accurate information kindly refer the original document.] Tender Link : https://reliefweb.int/job/4157466/termes-de-reference-pour-le-recrutement-dune-consultante-chargee-de-realiser-une-analyse-du-contexte-mauritanien-en-matiere-de-sante-de-la-reprodu
