1. Introduction

Action Health Incorporated (AHI) is a non-profit organization committed to creating opportunities for young people’s successful transition to productive adulthood. Since its establishment in 1989, AHI has served as an advocate and catalyst for creating better life options for young people in Nigeria.

Under the UNFPA-supported Global Out-of-School Youth Programme, UNFPA  developed and validated a Parents’ Guide to support parents and caregivers to provide accurate, age-appropriate information and guidance on sexuality to their children, and engaged Parent CSE Champions to promote parent–child communication and support for Comprehensive Sexuality Education (CSE) in their communities.

AHI is issuing these Terms of Reference to engage a qualified consultant to support the publication of two (2) manuscripts in high-impact, international peer-reviewed journals documenting insights from the validation of the Parents’ Guide and the engagement with Parent CSE Champions. The assignment covers journal identification, manuscript development, submission, and management of the peer-review process through to acceptance.

2. Background and Rationale

Parents and caregivers are often the first and most constant source of values and guidance for young people, and for out-of-school adolescents they may be among the few trusted adults available. Yet many parents feel ill-equipped or uncomfortable discussing sexuality, and published evidence on parent-focused CSE interventions in Nigeria and West Africa remains limited.

The international technical and programmatic guidance on out-of-school CSE recognizes the engagement of families and communities as central to effective programmes. Publishing the manuscript in recognized peer-reviewed journals will contribute to regional and global learning, inform policy and programme design, and strengthen the evidence base for out-of-school CSE. The activity contributes to the programme output on implementation research conducted at the national level, with a target of two (2) reports or publications.

3. Objective of the Assignment

To translate the evidence generated from the validation of the Parents’ Guide and engagement with Parent CSE Champions into two (2) high-quality manuscripts, and to secure their acceptance for publication in high-impact international peer-reviewed journals.

Indicative manuscript themes (to be finalized at inception):

• Manuscript 1: Development and validation of the Parents’ Guide – content validity, cultural appropriateness, acceptability and lessons for adaptation in other settings.
• Manuscript 2: The Parent CSE Champions model – experiences of champions and parents, perceived changes in parent–child communication about sexuality, enablers and barriers, and implications for out-of-school CSE programming.

4. Scope of Work

The consultant will:

1. Inception and desk review: Review programme reports, validation data, tools, consent and ethics documentation, and hold a meeting with AHI and UNFPA to agree on the focus, analysis plan, authorship plan, and timeline for each manuscript.
2. Data review and analysis: Assess the adequacy of available data for publication, carry out any additional qualitative or quantitative analysis required, and advise on and address any gaps.
3. Journal identification: Shortlist at least three (3) suitable journals per manuscript, using criteria including indexing in Scopus, Web of Science and/or PubMed, Journal Impact Factor or quartile ranking (Q1/Q2 preferred), fit with the journal’s scope, open-access options, article processing charges within the available budget, review turnaround times, and exclusion of predatory journals.
4. Manuscript development: Lead the writing of the two manuscripts, following the target journal’s author guidelines and relevant reporting standards (e.g., COREQ or SRQR for qualitative studies, STROBE for observational studies), and prepare cover letters, declarations, and supplementary files.
5. Submission: Submit the manuscripts through the journals’ online systems in collaboration with AHI/UNFPA, and track their progress.
6. Peer-review management and clarifications: Draft point-by-point responses to reviewers and editors, revise and resubmit manuscripts, and respond to clarifications until acceptance. Where a manuscript is rejected, reformat and submit it to the next shortlisted journal.

5. Deliverables and Timeline

The assignment is estimated at about 25 working days, spread over the writing, submission, and peer review period. Because peer-review timelines depend on the journals, the contract period will allow for revisions and resubmission up to acceptance.

6. Article Processing Charges

Article processing or publication charges will be paid by the consultant directly to the journals.

7. Authorship, Data and Ethics

• Authorship will follow the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria. All contributors who meet the criteria will be named as co-authors, and the consultant may be a co-author where the criteria are met. The authorship plan will be agreed at inception.
• All data, tools, and reports remain the property of UNFPA. The consultant must keep all data confidential and must not use it for any purpose other than this assignment.
• The consultant will confirm that the data are covered by appropriate ethical approval and participant consent for publication, and advise AHI on any steps required where this is not the case.
• All manuscripts must acknowledge UNFPA funding and include the required disclaimers. Duplicate submission and submission to predatory journals are not permitted.

8. Required Qualifications and Experience

• An advanced degree (PhD preferred; Master’s degree at minimum) in public health, demography, sociology, education, health promotion, or a related field.
• At least seven (7) years of research experience in sexual and reproductive health, adolescent and youth health, CSE, or related fields.
• A strong publication record: at least three (3) peer-reviewed articles in indexed journals in the last seven years, including at least two (2) as first or corresponding author.
• Proven expertise in qualitative and mixed-methods research, and experience with implementation research.
• Demonstrated experience in managing journal submissions and responding to peer reviewers.
• Familiarity with the Nigerian policy and programme context for CSE and Family Life and HIV Education, and with parent and community engagement, is an advantage.
• Excellent scientific writing skills in English.

9. Proposal Requirements

Technical proposal

• A cover letter expressing interest and availability.
• An up-to-date CV.
• A list of peer-reviewed publications with DOIs or links, indicating first or corresponding authorship.
• A brief methodology and work plan (maximum 3 pages) describing the approach to the assignment, including the types of journals to be considered.
• Two (2) professional references.

10. Evaluation Criteria

11. Payment Schedule

12. Submission Instructions

Proposals must be submitted electronically via https://forms.gle/jhNLgZaDWvDBZ5Rx8  on or before 5:00 pm (WAT), October 16, 2026.

13. Questions and Clarifications

Interested consultants may submit questions regarding this RFP to procurements@actionhealthinc.org. Responses to all questions will be shared with all applicants.

14. Disclaimer

Action Health Incorporated (AHI) reserves the right to accept or reject any proposal, in whole or in part, and to cancel this RFP at any time without prior notice. The issuance of this RFP does not constitute a commitment to award a contract. Applicants must declare any actual or potential conflict of interest. AHI does not charge any fee at any stage of the procurement process.