Local Consultant - ZDHS Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Extended Analysis

Job Posting Organization:
The Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) Program is a globally recognized initiative established in 1984 under the sponsorship of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program is dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and disseminating representative data on various demographic and health indicators, including population, fertility, maternal and child health, nutrition, and family planning. The DHS Program has a rich history in Zimbabwe, having completed multiple rounds of surveys since 1988, with the most recent being the 2023/24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS). The organization operates in numerous countries, supporting them in tracking progress toward strategic developmental targets and informing evidence-based policy and program planning.

Job Overview:
The primary purpose of this consultancy is to conduct a rigorous secondary analysis of the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) module and related variables in the 2023/24 Zimbabwe Demographic and Health Survey (ZDHS) dataset. The consultant will produce a publication-quality thematic report by applying advanced demographic and statistical methods, including multivariable regression and other appropriate modeling techniques. This analysis aims to identify GBV prevalence, determinants, inequalities, and service utilization patterns, ultimately generating policy-relevant evidence to strengthen national planning, multisectoral programming, service integration, and evidence-based resource allocation for GBV prevention and response. The consultant will work closely with UNFPA, ZIMSTAT, and other stakeholders to ensure the analysis is comprehensive and actionable.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for conducting in-depth sub-national modeling of GBV forms (physical, sexual, and emotional) and prevalence across Zimbabwe’s provinces, disaggregating data by key socio-economic variables to isolate high-risk groups. They will analyze variables linked to help-seeking behavior, assessing service uptake and highlighting systemic barriers that survivors face when accessing healthcare, legal, and psychosocial services. The consultant will execute multivariate regressions to analyze the cross-linkages between GBV and broader reproductive health outcomes, specifically examining associations with maternal health-seeking behaviors, high-risk sexual behavior, and HIV transmission risk. They will identify missed opportunities for service integration within Antenatal Care (ANC), Postnatal Care (PNC), and HIV testing platforms. Additionally, the consultant will undertake analyses of any relevant ZDHS 2023/24 modules and indicators that contribute to the GBV thematic area, ensuring that all analyses account for the complex DHS survey design by applying sampling weights, clustering, and stratification. Statistical methods may include descriptive statistics, logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, Poisson regression, Cox proportional hazards models, and multilevel models.

Required Qualifications:
The ideal consultant must possess a track record in complex demographic modeling, survey data analysis, and the translation of quantitative evidence into strategic policy outputs. A minimum of 7 to 10 years of professional experience conducting complex secondary data analysis and statistical modeling is required, with a proven focus on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS). The consultant must have mastery of hierarchical dataset structures and standard DHS recode file formats, along with expert-level programming skills in Stata or R. They should demonstrate the ability to write clean, fully documented syntax files that incorporate complex survey design parameters. Experience in data visualization, including spatial mapping using GIS, and the generation of structured, high-impact graphs and matrices is essential. The consultant should also have demonstrated professional experience in Gender-Based Violence (GBV), violence against women and girls (VAWG), gender equality, women's empowerment, protection, or sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) programming, research, policy development, or evaluation.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or a PhD in Demography, Social Statistics, Public Health, Sociology, Epidemiology, or a related field is required for this position. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of demographic data and health indicators, as well as for applying advanced statistical methods in the analysis of the ZDHS dataset.

Experience:
The consultant is expected to have a significant level of experience, specifically a minimum of 7 to 10 years in conducting complex secondary data analysis and statistical modeling. This experience should include a proven focus on Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) or Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys (MICS), demonstrating a deep understanding of the methodologies and analytical techniques required for this consultancy.

Languages:
Excellent communication skills in English are mandatory for this position. The ability to communicate complex statistical findings clearly and effectively is essential, particularly in the context of producing policy briefs tailored for high-level planners and lawmakers.

Additional Notes:
The UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity, and a healthy work-life balance. They are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and encourage women and underrepresented groups to apply. Reasonable accommodations may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation, and selection for all, regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. The organization does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing, or other fees in connection with the application or recruitment process.