National Consultant - Baseline Study of the Spotlight Initiative

Job Posting Organization:
UNFPA (United Nations Population Fund) 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 women's empowerment, particularly in the context of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD). UNFPA Zambia has developed the Ninth Country Programme for the period 2023-2027, which aims to enhance sexual and reproductive health services and address gender-based violence through collaboration with various stakeholders including government, civil society, and international organizations.

Job Overview:
The National Consultant will conduct a baseline study for the Spotlight Initiative, which aims to eliminate violence against women and girls in Zambia. This consultancy is crucial for establishing the current status of key indicators related to the Joint Programme’s goals. The baseline study will serve as a benchmark for assessing the impact of project interventions and will inform future monitoring and evaluation efforts. The consultant will be responsible for generating comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data, which will be analyzed to determine the value of each outcome and output indicator at the project's start. This data will help refine targets and inform management decisions regarding the Joint Programme's interventions.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a methodological plan for the baseline study, including data collection instruments and a detailed work plan.
• Conduct qualitative and quantitative data collection through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and surveys.
• Analyze data to establish baseline values for outcome and output indicators.
• Map existing gender equality and gender-based violence activities by various actors to optimize resources.
• Facilitate workshops to present preliminary findings to the Technical Reference Group and incorporate feedback.
• Prepare a final baseline scoping report that includes technical inputs from all relevant agencies.
• Ensure data is disaggregated by key variables such as sex, age, and location to understand variations in experiences and needs.
• Maintain ethical standards throughout the study, ensuring confidentiality and informed consent from participants.

Required Qualifications:

• A Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, gender, conflict prevention, peace building, law, human rights, or a related field.
• Demonstrated skills and experience in quantitative and qualitative field research and report writing.
• Understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation, including Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Approach.
• Proficiency in statistical software packages such as SPSS, STATA, or SAS Enterprise.
• Familiarity with gender-based violence issues in the Southern Africa region, particularly Zambia.
• Strong conceptual and analytical abilities, with experience in conducting multi-agency research.

Educational Background:
A Master’s degree or equivalent in relevant fields such as development studies, gender studies, social sciences, or public policy is required. The educational background should provide a strong foundation in both qualitative and quantitative research methodologies, as well as an understanding of gender issues and human rights.

Experience:
The consultant should have a minimum of five years of experience in gender studies, social sciences, or related fields. Experience in conducting research in the Southern Africa region, particularly in Zambia, is highly desirable. The consultant should also have a proven track record of working with multi-agency research projects and familiarity with monitoring and evaluation frameworks.

Languages:
Full working proficiency in English is required. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Zambia would be an advantage but is not mandatory.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last for 45 working days, with the assignment scheduled to take place between April and May 202

• The consultant will be required to travel to various districts for data collection and stakeholder consultations. All reports and deliverables will be submitted in soft copy, and the consultant will work closely with UNFPA's Spotlight project staff throughout the study design and implementation process. UNFPA promotes a work environment that values gender equality, diversity, and integrity, and encourages applications from women and underrepresented groups.