National Consultant to Lead and Conduct Implementation Research

Job Advertisement

Position Title: National Consultant to Lead and Conduct Implementation Research
Location: Dhaka
Country: Bangladesh
Deadline Date: December 25, 2025

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency focused on sexual and reproductive health and rights. Established in 1969, UNFPA operates in over 150 countries and has a mission to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. The organization emphasizes the importance of gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, aiming to end preventable maternal deaths, unmet needs for family planning, and gender-based violence. UNFPA's strategic plan for 2022-2025 outlines its commitment to achieving transformative results and addressing the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women's and girls' health and rights.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will lead and conduct implementation research to assess the effectiveness of the Norm-Shift Accelerator Programme, which aims to change social behaviors and indirect norms that perpetuate child marriage in Bangladesh. This role is crucial in understanding how interventions can lead to tangible changes in behaviors and norms related to child marriage. The consultant will develop a comprehensive research protocol, conduct data collection and analysis, and prepare reports that provide evidence and recommendations for improving the program's impact. The research will focus on real-world settings and will involve collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Department of Women Affairs.

Duties and Responsibilities:
The consultant will be responsible for developing a detailed research protocol, including research questions, methodology, and data collection tools. They will lead data collection in multiple districts, supervise data collectors, and ensure data quality. The consultant will analyze both quantitative and qualitative data, interpret findings, and prepare a comprehensive implementation research report. They will also conduct a validation workshop, prepare policy briefs, and develop recommendations for adaptive design" style="border-bottom: 1px dotted #007bff !important;">program design. The consultant will be expected to deliver an inception report, cleaned datasets, analysis reports, and final research reports, all while maintaining regular communication with UNFPA staff.

Required Qualifications:
Candidates must possess an advanced university degree in social science, gender studies, development studies, or a related field. They should have at least two years of experience in conducting implementation research, particularly in areas related to child marriage or social norms change. Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills, excellent data analysis and report writing abilities, and effective communication skills are essential. The consultant should demonstrate flexibility and responsiveness to feedback and changes during the research process.

Educational Background:
An advanced university degree in social science, gender studies, development studies, or a relevant field is required for this position. This educational background should provide a solid foundation for understanding the complexities of social norms and behaviors, particularly in relation to child marriage and gender equality.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of two years of experience in conducting implementation research. This experience should ideally be in contexts related to child marriage or social norms change, demonstrating a strong understanding of the issues at hand and the ability to apply research methodologies effectively.

Languages:
Proficiency in English is mandatory, as the consultant will need to communicate findings and prepare reports in English. Knowledge of Bengali would be advantageous, as it may facilitate communication with local stakeholders and participants in the research.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy will commence in the third week of March 2025 and will conclude on December 25, 2025, with a total of 60 working days. The consultant will be expected to travel to various program areas across four districts, with travel and accommodation costs covered by UNFPA. The position offers a competitive net salary, health insurance, and other benefits. UNFPA promotes a diverse and inclusive work environment and encourages applications from underrepresented groups.