Position: Consultant – Development of Two Advocacy Briefs Based on the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia

Number of Position: 1

Duration of consultancy: One month

Location: Remote (Consultant to be based in-country; Malaysia preferred)

Application Deadline: 2 June 2026

The Asian-Pacific Resource & Research Centre for Women (ARROW) invites expressions of interest from experienced consultants based in Malaysia to develop two advocacy briefs grounded in the findings of the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia.

The assignment will be conducted remotely and will require regular coordination and progress reporting with the ARROW team.

Background

The Asian-Pacific Resource and Research Centre for Women (ARROW) is a regional non-profit women’s and young people’s organisation based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and has consultative status with the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations. Established in 1993, ARROW works across the region to advance sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and gender equality through research, evidence-based advocacy, capacity strengthening, and community mobilisation. Our vision is an equal, just and equitable world, where every woman and young person enjoys their full sexual and reproductive rights.

As part of the “Strengthening Capacities Towards Inclusive Development Pathways: A Crucial Pivot To Development in Malaysia” (Gender Equality Initiative– Phase 2), ARROW is seeking an independent consultant to develop two concise, evidence-based advocacy briefs based on the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia.

The briefs will summarise findings from the report focusing on an overview of Malaysia’s progress in advancing the SDGs, particularly SDGs 1, 3, 5, 10, and 16, and their intersections with SRHR, gender equality, and social inclusion. They will also focus on the experiences of marginalised groups, including women, older persons, refugees, and low-income communities, and analyse how intersecting factors such as gender, age, socio-economic status, and legal status shape access to SRHR and essential services.

These briefs will be crucial in shaping evidence-based advocacy messages for national-level engagement, as well as broader regional and international advocacy efforts. 

Scope of work

The consultant will develop two advocacy briefs grounded in the findings of the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia and will:

1. Review the SDG Monitoring Report.

2.Develop the following advocacy briefs based on the SDG Monitoring Report:

• Advocacy Brief 1: SDG Progress, Policy Landscape, and Structural Gaps: A five-page brief which will provide an overview of Malaysia’s progress in advancing the SDGs, particularly SDGs 1, 3, 5, 10, and 16, and their intersections with SRHR, gender equality, and social inclusion. It should examine the national policy, legal, and institutional landscape supporting SDG implementation, highlighting key achievements as well as persistent structural and systemic gaps. These include limitations in sex, age, and other disaggregated data, gaps in key indicators of gender and SRHR, and limitations in implementation and mechanisms. The brief should synthesise how these challenges affect overall SDG progress and integrate evidence-based advocacy messages and actionable recommendations aimed at strengthening policies, data systems, and inclusive governance frameworks.
• Advocacy Brief 2: Equity, Inclusion, and “Leaving No One Behind”: A five-page brief focusing on equity and the principle of “leaving no one behind.” The brief should examine how SDG progress and systemic gaps translate into unequal outcomes for different communities/populations. It should focus on the experiences of marginalised groups, including women, older persons, refugees, and low-income communities, and analyse how intersecting factors such as gender, age, socio-economic status, and legal status shape access to SRHR and essential services. The brief should highlight barriers to access, issues of exclusion and invisibility in data and policy, and broader socio-cultural and structural determinants influencing outcomes. These insights should be turned into evidence-based advocacy messages and actionable recommendations aimed at advancing equity, inclusion, and accountability in SDG implementation.

3. Submit the briefs in Word format for review and copyediting.

Key Deliverables

1. Two advocacy briefs (five pages each) based on the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia.
2. Draft versions for ARROW review.
3. Revised final versions incorporating ARROW feedback.
4. Final briefs submitted in Microsoft Word format for review and copyediting.

Consultant Profile

1. Demonstrated experience in advocacy writing, policy analysis, or research synthesis.
2. Experience producing policy briefs, advocacy briefs, reports, or similar publications.
3. Has understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), gender equality, SRHR, and social inclusion in Malaysia.
4. Strong writing and editing skills in English, with the ability to translate technical findings into clear advocacy messages.

Submission Requirements

Interested consultants are invited to submit:

1. A brief expression of interest outlining relevant experience and approach to the assignment.
2. CV/resume.
3. Writing sample(s) relevant to policy briefs, advocacy briefs, or similar publications.
4. Proposed consultancy fee.

Submit via email with the subject line: APPLICATION (GEI Project): Consultant – Development of Two Advocacy Briefs Based on the Monitoring Report for Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) in Malaysia to Sharmilah Rajendran (sharmilah@arrow.org.my), Programme Officer, and Shamala Chandrasekaran (shamala@arrow.org.my), Programme Manager by 2 June 2026.

ARROW is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion and encourages applications from qualified evaluators with lived or professional experience working on gender equality, SRHR, and marginalised communities.