Deadline: 21-Jun-2026
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is seeking qualified organizations to implement in-person training programs on reproductive planning and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs), particularly subdermal implants, in the Brazilian states of Bahia and/or Pará. The initiative aims to strengthen healthcare provider capacity, improve access to quality reproductive health services, and promote rights-based, person-centered reproductive healthcare within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
Program Overview
The UNFPA Call for Expression of Interest seeks organizations capable of delivering high-quality training and capacity-building initiatives focused on reproductive planning and long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs).
The program supports Brazil’s efforts to expand equitable access to modern contraceptive methods while strengthening the technical capacity of healthcare professionals and health systems. Particular emphasis is placed on subdermal contraceptive implants as part of comprehensive sexual and reproductive health services.
The initiative will be implemented in the Brazilian states of Bahia and/or Pará and aligns with national reproductive health priorities and Ministry of Health guidelines.
Program Objectives
The initiative aims to:
- Expand access to reproductive planning services.
- Strengthen healthcare provider knowledge and competencies.
- Improve availability and quality of LARC services.
- Support evidence-based reproductive health practices.
- Promote informed decision-making and reproductive autonomy.
- Strengthen public health systems and service delivery.
- Enhance access to contraceptive options within SUS.
- Promote sustainable capacity-building models.
- Support sexual and reproductive health and rights.
The program seeks to improve both healthcare provider capacity and patient access to high-quality reproductive health services.
Key Focus Areas
The initiative supports activities related to:
- Reproductive planning
- Sexual and reproductive health
- Long-acting reversible contraceptives (LARCs)
- Subdermal contraceptive implants
- Health workforce development
- Capacity building
- Health systems strengthening
- Gender equality
- Women’s empowerment
- Human rights-based healthcare
- Evidence-based clinical practices
- Non-discrimination
- Confidentiality
- Person-centered care
- Public health service improvement
Projects should contribute to long-term improvements in reproductive healthcare delivery.
Understanding Long-Acting Reversible Contraceptives (LARCs)
Long-acting reversible contraceptives are highly effective contraceptive methods that provide extended pregnancy prevention without requiring daily action by the user.
Examples include:
- Subdermal implants
- Intrauterine devices (IUDs)
LARCs are recognized globally as effective tools for expanding contraceptive choice and reducing unintended pregnancies while supporting reproductive autonomy and informed decision-making.
The current initiative places particular emphasis on subdermal implant services and provider training.
Expected Activities
Selected organizations will be responsible for implementing a range of technical and training activities.
Key responsibilities include:
- Designing in-person training programs.
- Conducting training sessions for healthcare professionals.
- Training physicians and nurses.
- Training managers and administrators within SUS.
- Supporting reproductive planning service delivery.
- Strengthening LARC and implant-related competencies.
- Delivering technical education aligned with national guidelines.
- Facilitating knowledge transfer and professional development.
Activities should be designed to strengthen sustainable institutional capacity.
Development of Training Materials
Organizations will also be expected to develop and adapt training resources.
Required materials may include:
- Technical training content.
- Clinical guidance materials.
- Operational protocols.
- Educational resources.
- Decision-support tools.
- Program implementation guides.
- Knowledge transfer materials.
All materials must align with current regulations and guidelines issued by Brazil’s Ministry of Health.
Human Rights and Gender Equality Approach
A core requirement of the initiative is the integration of human rights principles throughout all activities.
Training and service delivery approaches should promote:
- Gender equality
- Women’s empowerment
- Reproductive rights
- Informed choice
- Confidentiality
- Non-discrimination
- Respectful healthcare
- Person-centered care
- Equity in service access
Organizations should demonstrate experience implementing rights-based and inclusive health programs.
Strengthening Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS)
The initiative contributes to strengthening the Brazilian Unified Health System (SUS) through workforce development and service quality improvement.
Expected benefits include:
- Improved provider competencies.
- Enhanced reproductive health service quality.
- Increased access to contraceptive options.
- Better integration of evidence-based practices.
- Stronger institutional capacity.
- Sustainable health system improvements.
The project supports both national and subnational healthcare priorities.
Knowledge Generation and Sustainability
An important component of the initiative involves documenting implementation experiences and lessons learned.
Organizations will support:
- Documentation of best practices.
- Identification of implementation challenges.
- Development of policy recommendations.
- Knowledge-sharing activities.
- Scalability assessments.
- Sustainability planning.
These outputs will help inform future reproductive health policies and programs.
Who Is Eligible?
UNFPA is seeking qualified organizations with relevant expertise and implementation capacity.
Organizations should demonstrate experience in:
- Reproductive health programming
- Sexual and reproductive health services
- Health workforce training
- Capacity-building initiatives
- Public health systems strengthening
- Healthcare provider education
- Gender equality programming
- Human rights-based service delivery
- Development of training materials
- Monitoring and evaluation
Applicants should possess the technical capacity to operate effectively within Brazil’s healthcare context.
Why This Opportunity Matters
Access to high-quality reproductive health services is essential for improving health outcomes, advancing gender equality, and supporting informed reproductive decision-making.
This initiative is important because it:
- Expands contraceptive choice.
- Improves healthcare quality.
- Strengthens public health systems.
- Supports reproductive rights.
- Builds healthcare workforce capacity.
- Promotes evidence-based practice.
- Enhances women’s health outcomes.
- Supports equitable healthcare access.
- Contributes to sustainable health system improvements.
The project directly supports national and global reproductive health goals.
How the Project Works
The implementation process generally includes:
- Selection of a qualified partner organization.
- Development of implementation plans and training strategies.
- Adaptation of technical and educational materials.
- Delivery of in-person training sessions.
- Capacity building for healthcare providers and managers.
- Documentation of lessons learned.
- Development of recommendations for future scale-up.
- Contribution to sustainable health system strengthening efforts.
The emphasis is on practical training and long-term institutional impact.
How to Apply
Interested organizations should:
- Review the Expression of Interest requirements.
- Assess organizational eligibility and experience.
- Demonstrate expertise in reproductive health and training.
- Prepare organizational qualifications and technical documentation.
- Present relevant experience working with healthcare systems.
- Describe approaches to rights-based and gender-responsive programming.
- Submit the required application materials according to UNFPA guidelines.
Applicants should clearly demonstrate their ability to deliver high-quality training and sustainable capacity-building initiatives.
Tips for a Strong Application
- Highlight experience in reproductive health programs.
- Demonstrate successful healthcare training initiatives.
- Showcase expertise in LARCs and contraceptive services.
- Emphasize human rights and gender equality approaches.
- Present strong institutional capacity.
- Include experience working with public health systems.
- Demonstrate sustainability planning.
- Show ability to develop technical training materials.
Applications with strong evidence of implementation success and technical expertise are likely to be more competitive.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Failing to demonstrate reproductive health expertise.
- Providing insufficient evidence of training experience.
- Weak alignment with Ministry of Health guidelines.
- Limited focus on human rights principles.
- Inadequate capacity-building methodologies.
- Poor documentation of previous project results.
- Lack of sustainability planning.
- Incomplete organizational information.
Careful preparation can significantly strengthen an application.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the main purpose of this initiative?
The initiative aims to strengthen reproductive planning services and expand access to long-acting reversible contraceptives through healthcare provider training and capacity development.
Which geographic areas are covered?
The project focuses on the Brazilian states of Bahia and/or Pará.
What are LARCs?
Long-acting reversible contraceptives are highly effective contraceptive methods that provide long-term pregnancy prevention, including subdermal implants and intrauterine devices.
Who will receive the training?
Training activities will target healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, and managers working within Brazil’s Unified Health System (SUS).
What principles guide the initiative?
The program is based on gender equality, human rights, informed choice, confidentiality, non-discrimination, evidence-based practice, and person-centered care.
What types of organizations are being sought?
UNFPA is seeking qualified organizations with expertise in reproductive health, healthcare training, capacity building, and health systems strengthening.
Will the project contribute to future policy development?
Yes. The initiative includes documentation of lessons learned and development of recommendations to support future policy, scaling, and sustainability efforts.
Conclusion
The UNFPA Call for Expression of Interest represents an important opportunity for qualified organizations to support reproductive health capacity building in Brazil. By strengthening healthcare provider competencies, expanding access to long-acting reversible contraceptives, and promoting rights-based reproductive healthcare, the initiative aims to improve health outcomes, enhance service quality, and contribute to sustainable reproductive health system development across Bahia and Pará.
For more information, visit UN Partner Portal.