PAHO Consultant - Regional mapping of legal frameworks and accountability mechanisms impacting LGBTQI+ health in Latin America

OBJECTIVE OF THE OFFICE/DEPARTMENT
This is a requisition for employment at the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)/Regional Office of the World Health Organization (WHO)
Contractual Agreement:
Non-Staff - International PAHO Consultant
Job Posting:
October 15, 2026
Closing Date:
October 24, 2026, 11:59 PM Eastern Time
Primary Location:
Off Site
Organization:
DHE Social and Environmental Determinants for Health Equity
Schedule:
Part time
PURPOSE OF CONSULTANCY
Carry out a regional mapping and comparative analysis of the legal frameworks, public policies, and enforcement mechanisms affecting the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ people in Latin America, from a comprehensive health, gender and human rights perspective. The consultancy will produce (a) a regional overview of legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and their impact on LGBTQI+ health and well-being across Latin America, and (b) deep-dive case studies in a set of selected countries (to be determined) offering more detailed, country-level analysis.
Specifically, the consultancy seeks to:
• Legal and Policy Mapping: Catalog current constitutional provisions, statutes, administrative regulations, and public health policies that explicitly protect or restrict the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ populations, covering the full spectrum of comprehensive health (promotion, prevention, care, rehabilitation and palliative care), including mental health, sexual and reproductive health, and gender-affirming care.
• Comprehensive Health, Gender and Human Rights Analysis: Assess the extent to which legal and policy frameworks incorporate a comprehensive health approach, a gender perspective and human rights standards, including the social determinants of health, the availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of services, and the differentiated needs of diverse LGBTQI+ groups from an intersectional perspective.
• Analysis of Enforcement Mechanisms: Evaluate the functionality, accessibility, and effectiveness of existing accountability and law enforcement mechanisms, including their gender responsiveness and their capacity to provide effective remedies and reparations.
• Identification of Barriers: Identify the systemic, cultural, operational, and institutional bottlenecks, including those rooted in gender norms, stigma and discrimination, that prevent legal protections from translating into equitable access to health care and social well-being.
• Analysis of the Impact of Legal Gaps: Assess how gaps, ambiguities, or contradictions in existing legal and policy frameworks affect the health outcomes and well-being of LGBTQI+ populations, including their access to healthcare services, exposure to discrimination, and overall quality of life.
• Strategic Recommendations: Formulate evidence-based, action-oriented recommendations for civil society advocacy, state accountability, and the strengthening of institutional capacities.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES:
The consultant's responsibilities will include, but are not limited to, the following:
Methodological design: Develop a methodology for legal mapping and analysis that explicitly integrates a comprehensive health approach, gender perspective, human rights-based approach, and intersectionality lens. This should include clear criteria for assessing the "functionality" of enforcement mechanisms, indicators to assess the integration of comprehensive health, gender and human rights standards in legal and policy frameworks, and instruments for collecting information. The methodology should follow ethical principles of participation, confidentiality, informed consent and “do no harm”, and ensure the meaningful participation of LGBTQI+ persons and organizations. Prepare an Inception Report detailing the finalized methodology, justification for country selection, the analytical matrix, the work plan, and the risk mitigation strategy.
Desk review and legal mapping: Map statutory and constitutional laws relating to non-discrimination in healthcare, access to gender-affirming care, legal gender recognition without pathologization, protection of intersex children, the right to health of LGBTQI+ people, among others. Map secondary regulatory frameworks, such as national healthcare protocols, clinical guidelines, medical school curriculum mandates, and hospital non-discrimination codes, as well as intersectoral policies that act on the social determinants of health (education, employment, housing, social protection and prevention of violence). Analyze landmark regional case law (e.g., rulings of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights) and relevant national jurisprudence defining obligations in healthcare.
Accountability and Enforcement Mechanisms Assessment: Investigate the structural pathways available for LGBTQI+ people to report discrimination, denial of care, or medical negligence within health systems. Assess the operational capacity, independence, and track record of enforcement bodies (e.g., Ministries of Health, human rights ombudsman offices, judicial courts) in processing and sanctioning violations. Conduct key informant interviews (KIIs) or focus group discussions (FGDs) with legal experts, human rights defenders, health providers, and LGBTQI+ civil society leaders to capture the on-the-ground realities of regulatory compliance.
Synthesis and report: Conduct a comparative analysis across countries using a structured framework of legal indicators. Identify key implementation gaps, funding deficits, political economy dynamics that drive or hinder law enforcement, as well as the impact of legal gaps in health and wellbeing of LGBTQI+ populations, disaggregated as far as possible by population group. Draft a comprehensive, high-quality final report structured in two parts: (a) a regional overview synthesizing legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and their impact on the health and well-being of LGBTQI+ populations across Latin America; and (b) case studies of selected countries (countries to be determined, per the Inception Report) providing a more granular analysis of legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and health and wellbeing impacts within each context. The final report should include visual synthesis tools (e.g., comparative tables, maps by level of legal protection).
Deliverables
Inception Report: finalized methodology for the legal mapping and analysis, including a comprehensive health, gender and human rights framework, criteria for assessing the functionality of enforcement mechanisms, justification for selected case-study countries, the analytical matrix, and detailed work plan.
$6,000 - 6 weeks from start of contract
Draft Report: a draft version of the full report, comprising the regional overview of legal frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and impact on LGBTQI+ health and well-being, and the deep-dive case studies of selected countries, submitted for review and feedback from PAHO.
$6,500 - 16 weeks after product 1
Final Report: a comprehensive, high-quality final report incorporating feedback received, including an executive summary, the regional overview, country case studies, comparative tables and maps by level of legal protection, and evidence-based strategic recommendations.
$4,500 - 10 weeks after product 2
Dissemination Summary: a concise presentation or brief summarizing key findings and recommendations, suitable for sharing with PAHO, government counterparts, and civil society stakeholders
$3,000 - 3 weeks after product 3
Technical supervision
The consultant will work under the supervision of the Regional Gender and Health Advisor. The Cultural Diversity Advisor will review all deliverables, applying her human rights expertise.
Qualifications requirements
Advanced degree (Master's or higher) in law, human rights, public health, gender studies, social sciences, or a related field.
At least 7 years of professional experience conducting legal and policy analysis, human rights research, or public health policy work, with a demonstrated focus on LGBTQI+ rights and/or health equity.
Strong knowledge of international and regional human rights frameworks relevant to health and non-discrimination, including the Inter-American human rights system and relevant United Nations mechanisms.
Demonstrated experience conducting comparative legal and policy mapping across multiple countries, ideally within Latin America and the Caribbean.
Proven track record producing high-quality analytical reports for international organizations, government agencies, or civil society, including experience with visual synthesis tools such as comparative tables and maps.
Excellent research, analytical, and