How you can make a difference:
UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.
In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.
UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.
Summary of UNFPA Zambia
UNFPA and the Government of the Republic of Zambia have developed the Ninth (9th) Country Programme of support for the period 2023-2027. The programme was developed in consultation with a wide range of partners including government, civil society, development partners, United Nations organizations, academia, and the private sector among others.
The 9th Zambia Country Programme is premised on the outputs stated below:
Output 1: By 2027, enhanced integration of sexual and reproductive health and rights, including the prevention of and response to gender-based violence and harmful practices into policies and plans, relevant laws and accountability frameworks, which are effectively implemented, monitored and evaluated;
Output 2: By 2027, strengthened capacities of systems, institutions and communities to provide high-quality integrated sexual reproductive health and rights information and services to address HIV and gender-based violence, in development and humanitarian contexts;
Output 3: By 2027, strengthened data systems and evidence built on relevant and current population dynamics, socio-economic and environmental changes to inform development, humanitarian and recovery policies, plans and programmes on gender and SRHR; and
Output 4: By 2027, adolescents and young people have strengthened skills and opportunities to exercise their rights to sexual and reproductive health services and information, especially bodily autonomy, leadership and participation.
It is worth noting that UNFPA is the chair of the Gender Theme Group (GTG) within the UN System in Zambia.
The Position:
The purpose of the consultancy is to conduct a baseline study to contribute towards establishing the current status on key indicators of the Joint Programme’s desired medium, and long-term goals as set out in the Programme Project Results Framework.
The baseline will serve as a benchmark for assessing the changes, intended and unintended, brought about by the project interventions in relation to set targets on specific indicators. After the end of the programme, an endline study will be conducted and therefore, this baseline study is the first step towards a solid programme evaluation.
Background on the Spotlight 2.0 Initiative in Zambia
The Government of the Republic of Zambia and the United Nations in Zambia, in collaboration with the Spotlight Initiative - the world's largest partnership to end violence against women and girls - are launching a new comprehensive program aimed at ending violence against women and girls. With financial support from the Embassy of Ireland, this programme`s objective is to create an environment where all women and girls in Zambia, especially the most vulnerable, enjoy equal rights and opportunities as men and boys, and live free of violence through enhancing existing strategies for coordinating key actors in government, the UN, development partners, and CSOs. It focuses on a more integrated and strategic approach to enhancing gender inclusion and participation in all sectors informed by empirical data and emerging megatrends at the country level.
The programme has been developed in consultation with a wide range of partners including government, civil society, development partners, United Nations organizations, academia, and the private sector among others. Under one UN and the leadership of the RCO, the program will be implemented by UNFPA as technical leader with the collaboration of IOM, UNDP and UNESCO.
The programme will last 33 months and will have the following outcome objectives:
Outcome A: Legislative, policy, and data frameworks on GEWE and EVAWG are strengthened, operationalized through multi-sectoral plans, and implemented at national and sub-national levels.
Outcome B: Harmful gender norms, attitudes, and behaviors are transformed at individual and community levels to prevent VAWG and advance GEWE.
Outcome C: Women and girls who experience violence and harmful practices benefit from available, accessible, acceptable, and quality essential services.
Outcome D: Women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and civil society organisations (including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination) are empowered to influence and advance progress on GEWE and EVAWG.
The baseline study specifically seeks to:
- Generate comprehensive qualitative and quantitative data that will be analysed to determine the value of each outcome & output indicators at project start according to the project results matrix. These values will serve as a benchmark to inform the monitoring and evaluation of how much progress the Joint Programme is making towards set targets, and will also allow the Programme to further refine targets to be reached throughout the program duration and suggest annual milestones and overall targets.
- Inform management decisions on the overall interventions of the Joint Programme and its partners as the study will feed into the broader programme Monitoring and Evaluation Results Framework and will inform the broader M&E plan of the Joint Programme.
- Inform the updating/revision of the overall programme Results Framework and make recommendations for adjustment if necessary.
The baseline scoping will be undertaken in all the 5 intervention districts.
At community level: The specific baseline sites in targeted communities will be decided upon based on the pre-defined criteria agreed upon in coordination with the inter-agency teams comprising at least one representative of each implementing agencies namely UNFPA, UNDP, UNESCO, and IOM. The data collected at community level is expected to inform the baseline as follows:
- The data collected at this level among project beneficiaries will provide relevant information on the priority needs of health, well-being and protection of individuals and communities. The envisaged data to be collected includes different vulnerabilities to ill health, exploitation and abuses. The data is expected to be adequately disaggregated to inform targeted intervention and their benchmarking with particular focus on women and girls. Ensure data is disaggregated by key variables such as sex, age, ability, and location to understand variations in experiences and needs. Disaggregation should be as robust as possible, in line with the SDG disaggregation dimensions: “Sustainable Development Goal indicators should be disaggregated, where relevant, by income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability and geographic location, or other characteristics.
- Women rights groups and relevant CSOs are mapped and their capacities to influence the GEWE space at both community, province and national level are assessed, alongside community advocacy platforms that promote gender-equitable norms, attitudes, and behaviors.
At national level and province level: among governments, institutions and other regional stakeholders. The data collected at the national level is expected to produce relevant information on the following key areas:
- Mapping of existing GEWE and GBV activities by various actors (government, donors, CSOs, private sector) to prevent duplication and optimize resources
- Gaps in selected women’ rights organizations capacities in advocating for Ending Violence Against Women and Girls (EVAWG)
- Capacities of national and sub-national governments for gender budgeting and expenditure analysis on GBV/Gender, including implementation of recommendations contained in major declarations and policy frameworks.
Methodology
Given the complexity of the context and information required, the study will use mixed method approach, hence expected to use key informant interviews, focus group discussions, surveys with stakeholders and potentially intended project beneficiaries, secondary data review, observation methods especially at selected community level sites in identified spaces of vulnerabilities and any other techniques relevant for the collection of the required quality needs/baseline information. The consultant will present a methodological plan that will be presented in a data collection plan to be discussed and approved prior to initiating the study. The plan should include methods (for example literature review, use of government census or national level databases, surveys, interviews, focus groups, etc.) and the target population.
The below principles should be considered when developing the methodology for this study:
- Survivor-centered approach: Prioritizing the needs and perspectives of survivors of violence, ensuring confidentiality, safety, and respect throughout all interventions.
- Intersectionality: Recognizing how different forms of discrimination overlap and impact women and girls differently, such as based on race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability, etc.
- Participatory and Inclusive: the methodology should include a wide range of viewpoints, including actively partnering with survivors, communities, women's rights organizations and other civil society groups to lead and inform the baseline study design and implementation; and working closely with national governments during study planning and implementation.
- Rigor of evidence: Gathered data needs to be reliable, of high quality and transparent
- Leaving no one behind: Ensuring that baseline data appropriately includes and reflects the needs of marginalized women and girls, including those facing intersecting forms of discrimination.
- Mixed methods approach: Both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods need to be present in the methodology.
- Sampling strategy: The sample size should be adequate and representative of target groups, reflecting gender diversity and capturing a range of experiences and perspectives, including those of marginalized and vulnerable groups.
- Do no harm: The baseline should be rooted in a strong understanding of the context, and avoiding causing tension, exacerbating inequalities, or increasing risks against individuals or groups. See the next section on ethical considerations in order to ensure the proposed study aligns with the principle of Do No Harm.
Ethical Considerations: In addition to what is outlined in this section, please refer to the UN Women and WHO Respect Framework pages 5-7 for additional guidance on ethical standards.
- Confidentiality and Consent: Ensure that all participants give informed consent, and that their privacy is respected at all stages of the study.
- Gender Sensitivity: Apply gender-sensitive language and approaches to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and biases. Acknowledge and address any power dynamics in participant interactions.
- Safety and Protection: Provide safety measures for participants, especially survivors of GBV, to ensure they are not further harmed during the study.
- Trauma-Informed Approach: Consider psychological support services for participants during and after participation in the study.
Timelines and Deliverables:
- The assignment is expected to be completed within 45 days from the date of commencement (to be confirmed). It is scheduled to take place between April and May, 2025. Specific deliverables expected from the research service provider include the following:
- Inception report comprising the baseline study protocol including data collection instruments (data collection plan) and updated detailed work plan.
- Draft baseline assessment scoping report with baseline status or value on indicators in line with the programme result matrix.
- Mapping of GEWE and GBV interventions
- Facilitate the workshop to present the preliminary findings to the Technical Reference Group (TRG) and incorporate the feedback and outcomes of the TRG discussion. The TRG includes the Resident Coordinator’s Office, the RUNOs (UNFPA, IOM, UNDP, UNESCO) and the implementing partners (CSOs and Government). To make the study design participatory, the TRG will also include CSOs that the programme intends to work with, communities, women’s rights organizations and other civil society groups.
- Final baseline scoping report that incorporates technical and thematic inputs from each agency (expected length of document> 25 pages).
- Revised Result Framework with baseline and target values on all indicators based on baseline study result.
Conduct final validation workshop, to cross-check the data for accuracy and reliability by consulting with stakeholders, experts and communities and rights holders (women, girls, men and boys, and others) working with or otherwise impacted by Spotlight Initiative.
- A draft 4 pager brief focused on priority thematic areas and country-focused briefs based on the needs/baseline assessment findings.
Hand-in consolidated qualitative and quantitative data files and final edited and proofread version of the baseline study.
Place where services are to be delivered: Lusaka, Chinsali, Isoka, Chipangali and Katete Districts.
Duration and working schedule: 45 Working Days
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered: All reports, minutes of meetings, presentations will be submitted in soft copy unless otherwise advised. Dates of deliverables will be agreed with the supervisor as shall be required.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The consultant will be expected to work closely with Spotlight project staff, M&E team at UNFPA in all stages of the study design and implementation process who will review and approve all deliverables by UNFPA. Reporting can be done weekly detailing progress made.
Expected travel: Travel to the target districts; consultations with stakeholders.
Qualifications and Experience:
Education:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in development studies, gender, conflict prevention, peace building, law, human rights or any other related area is required.
Experience:
- Minimum of master’s degree in gender studies, social sciences, statistics/biostatistics and public policies related fields.
- Demonstrated skills and experience in quantitative and qualitative field research and related report writing.
- Demonstrated understanding of Monitoring and Evaluation, including Result-Based Monitoring and Evaluation Approach; Quantitative and qualitative data analysis skills, experience with recording tools and proficiency with at least one of the following statistical software packages (SPSS, STATA and SAS Enterprise);
- Experience and familiarity with GBV in the Southern Africa region and Zambia in particular; Strong background in research methods (including policy research), with relevant experience in conducting multi-agency research, specifically in the Southern Africa region.
- Strong conceptual and analytical abilities.
- Awareness of the political and social sensitivities surrounding sexual and reproductive health (SRH) services, mental health care and psycho-social support, protection mechanisms and legal frameworks, gender-based violence (GBV) in the Southern Africa region and Zambia in particular
- Full working proficiency in English is required.
Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner:
- Provision of documentation to the consultant, in collaboration with other implementing partners on national levels, to provide oversight to the whole process and coordinate with all agencies to ensure the necessary documentation reach the consultant in timely manner.
- Facilitation and support for the baseline assessment scoping process through timely procurement of necessary logistics for smooth implementation of the assignment in coordination with other implementing partners. This will include facilitating entry into communities and securing ethical approval where needed.
Required Competencies:
Values:
Exemplifying integrity,
Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, Embracing cultural diversity,
Embracing change
Core Competencies:
Achieving results,
Being accountable,
Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
Thinking analytically and strategically,
Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,
UNFPA Work Environment:
UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
Disclaimer:
Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements.
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts.
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