National Consultant for Baseline Assessment

Job Posting Organization:
UN Women, established in July 2010, is the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. It was created as part of the UN reform agenda to consolidate resources and mandates for greater impact on gender equality and women's empowerment. UN Women merges the work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system, focusing exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment. The organization operates globally, with a mission to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, advance women's empowerment, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">security. The UN Women Country Office in the Kyrgyz Republic was established in 2012 and has been actively involved in implementing international and national commitments related to gender equality and women's empowerment, including the CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration, and the Sustainable Development Goals. UN Women Kyrgyzstan implements various programs aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls, enhancing women's participation in decision-making, and promoting women's economic empowerment. The organization employs a diverse team and collaborates with numerous stakeholders to achieve its goals across the country.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant for Baseline Assessment will play a crucial role in the inception phase of the Zero VAWG Programme in the Kyrgyz Republic. This position involves conducting a comprehensive baseline study to establish evidence-based benchmarks against the results framework, indicators, and assumptions outlined in the monitoring and evaluation logframe. The consultant will be responsible for designing the methodology for the baseline study, which includes developing data collection tools, conducting field data collection across targeted provinces, and facilitating stakeholder consultations. The consultant will work closely with the UN Women project team and other stakeholders to ensure that the baseline study is contextually relevant and inclusive. The role requires strong analytical skills, the ability to engage with diverse stakeholders, and a commitment to gender-sensitive and ethical research practices. The consultant will also be expected to prepare key analytical and planning deliverables required for the inception phase, ensuring that the findings inform effective implementation, monitoring, learning, and adaptive management throughout the programme lifecycle.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will undertake several key responsibilities, including:

• Designing the methodology for the baseline study, including developing detailed protocols and instruments for data collection in both English and local languages.
• Conducting a comprehensive baseline survey to collect action-related baseline data, validate programme assumptions, and establish benchmarks for measuring progress.
• Supporting the development of a sampling strategy and ethical protocol to ensure inclusion, conflict sensitivity, and gender responsiveness in data collection.
• Engaging and coordinating with stakeholders at national, provincial, and community levels, including government counterparts, civil society organizations, and community representatives.
• Conducting fieldwork in 35 communities across seven target provinces, including Bishkek and Osh cities, implementing various data collection activities such as key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys.
• Preparing comprehensive field notes, consultation summaries, and documentation of stakeholder consultations.
• Analyzing and interpreting the data collected during the baseline assessment and presenting key findings to the National Steering Committee.
• Drafting the Baseline Assessment Report and incorporating feedback from UN Women and partners to finalize the report in both English and Russian.
• Supporting validation meetings and formal presentations of findings to stakeholders. 1
• Ensuring that all data collection is conducted in a safe, ethical, conflict-sensitive, and gender-responsive manner.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal candidate for this position should possess the following qualifications:

• A Master’s degree in social sciences, Gender Studies, Public Policy, Development Studies, Statistics, Sociology, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in research, baseline assessments, monitoring, or evaluations, particularly in the area of violence against women and girls, gender equality, and women's empowerment interventions.
• Proven expertise in supporting research and statistical processes, with a strong understanding of ethical and gender-sensitive data collection practices.
• Excellent report writing and communication skills, with the ability to present complex information clearly and effectively.
• Experience working with UN agencies, international donors, and development agencies is highly desirable.
• Strong analytical, facilitation, and community engagement skills, with the ability to work collaboratively with diverse stakeholders.

Educational Background:
Candidates must have a Master’s degree in relevant fields such as social sciences, Gender Studies, Public Policy, Development Studies, Statistics, Sociology, or equivalent qualifications. This educational background is essential to ensure that the consultant has the necessary theoretical knowledge and practical skills to conduct the baseline assessment effectively.

Experience:
The position requires a minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in research, baseline assessments, monitoring, or evaluations. Candidates should have a proven track record in conducting research related to violence against women and girls, gender equality, and women's empowerment interventions. Experience in working with UN agencies, international donors, and development organizations is also highly valued, as it demonstrates familiarity with the operational context and expectations of such entities.

Languages:
Fluency in English, Kyrgyz, and Russian is required for this position. The ability to communicate effectively in these languages is essential for conducting stakeholder consultations, data collection, and report writing. Collaboration within teams to ensure that the necessary language skills are met is encouraged, as it enhances the quality and inclusivity of the research process.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is home-based, with required travel to regions of the Kyrgyz Republic. All official travel will be self-arranged by the consultant, in accordance with UN Women rules and procedures, and subject to prior approval by UN Women. The consultancy is expected to last for 60 working days, and the payment schedule will be based on the completion of specific deliverables as outlined in the job description. The position requires adherence to UN Women’s core values and competencies, including integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity. Selected candidates will undergo rigorous reference and background checks to ensure compliance with UN Women’s policies and standards.