National Consultant for Gender-Based Violence Research

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) is the lead UN agency focused on delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a workforce of approximately 4,000 employees. The organization aims to achieve three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths, end unmet need for family planning, and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 emphasizes the importance of addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' access to sexual and reproductive health and rights, while also promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will lead the primary qualitative data collection for formative research on gender-based violence (GBV) in Bangladesh, specifically focusing on intimate partner violence (IPV). The role involves generating in-depth, context-specific understanding of the factors sustaining IPV, including social norms, gender-power relations, and service systems. The consultant will utilize qualitative methods such as in-depth interviews and focus group discussions to gather insights from various stakeholders, including married women, men, family members, and service providers. The findings will inform intervention design and implementation strategies aimed at addressing GBV effectively.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for several key tasks, including preparing documentation for ethical review, recruiting and supervising data collectors, designing and delivering training for data collectors, reviewing the implementation plan, translating research materials into Bangla, supervising data collection activities, ensuring ethical compliance, conducting quality control checks, and providing ongoing mentorship to enumerators. Additionally, the consultant will document field observations, ensure accurate transcription of interviews, and maintain regular communication with UNFPA to provide updates and address challenges during the research process.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess a PhD in Women and Gender Studies, Sociology, Anthropology, or a related social sciences discipline. A minimum of 5 years of relevant experience in GBV research, social norms, and behavioral change research is required. The consultant should have demonstrated experience in conducting GBV formative research, a strong understanding of gender-power relations, and familiarity with ethical standards in research. Excellent analytical, written, and verbal communication skills in English are essential, along with the ability to develop training materials for qualitative research.

Educational Background:
The position requires a PhD in a relevant field such as Women and Gender Studies, Sociology, or Anthropology. This advanced degree should provide a strong foundation in social sciences, particularly in understanding gender dynamics and societal norms related to violence against women.

Experience:
The consultant should have at least 5 years of experience in GBV research, including formative research and service mapping. Experience in conducting qualitative research and familiarity with the complexities of gender-based violence, including its intersections with mental health and substance abuse, is crucial for this role.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, with additional language skills in Bangla and local dialects of the selected districts being highly desirable. This linguistic capability is essential for effective communication during data collection and engagement with diverse respondents.

Additional Notes:
This consultancy is expected to last for 25 working days, commencing in April 202

• The consultant will primarily work remotely but will need to travel to the UNFPA Country Office in Dhaka and the three program districts for data collection. The consultant is responsible for their own equipment and must have reliable internet access while working remotely. UNFPA promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment, encouraging applications from underrepresented groups, including women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and persons with disabilities. The payment will be made in three installments based on the completion of specific deliverables.