Individual Consultant for Baseline Study Terms of Reference at United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)

Specifically, the baseline study will:

Survivor-centered approach.. All data collection must prioritize the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of survivors of violence. This includes ensuring confidentiality at every stage, obtaining informed consent, and applying trauma-informed practices so that participation in the study does not cause re-traumatization or distress.

• Baseline data must include all required disaggregation, in line with the indicator's methodological notes.
• Baseline data must be calculated using the measurement and calculation method defined in the indicator's methodological notes.
• Based on the baseline findings and the nature of the data, the consultant will adapt and align the methodological notes for selected indicators that require separate guidance beyond the global methodology.
• Based on the baseline findings, the consultant will adapt existing global methodological notes to the regional context and develop methodological guidance for indicators that are not covered at the global level.
• Based on baseline data, provide recommendations to the programme team on annual milestones and overall targets for each indicator.
• Where data gaps exist (or there are significant measurement challenges), provide recommendations to the programme team on whether the indicator should be adapted, replaced, or removed. In such cases, consultants may also propose indicators (ideally from the Spotlight Initiative-wide Results Framework) for which baseline values can be reliably established, and/or recommend capturing progress through qualitative or narrative reporting.
• Institutions' capacity, preparedness and ability to uphold and deliver on laws and policies that address violence against women and girls and or harmful practices as well as their ability to deliver services for victims and survivors of violence against women and girls.
• The availability and usage of high-quality, globally comparable data related to gender-based violence, harmful practices,
• Gender equitable social norms, attitudes and behaviors at community and individual levels, as well as the root causes of violence against women and girls and negative social norms.
• Availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of essential services for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and harmful practices, including long-term recovery services and women's empowerment initiatives.
• The current state of the justice system and legal and social infrastructure for holding perpetrators accountable.
• Capacity of women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and civil society organizations, including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization, to influence and advance progress on gender equity and women's empowerment and ending violence against women and girls at regional level.
• Specifically, the baseline study will:
• Provide baseline values and qualitative benchmarks for each indicator in the programme results framework (linked above), as well as the means of verification (data sources used to calculate the baseline) and approach to measurement used to calculate the baseline. and regional baseline analysis aligned to the Spotlight Phase II Theory of Change,
• Baseline data must include all required disaggregation, in line with the indicator's methodological notes.
• Baseline data must be calculated using the measurement and calculation method defined in the indicator's methodological notes.
• Based on the baseline findings and the nature of the data, the consultant will adapt and align the methodological notes for selected indicators that require separate guidance beyond the global methodology.
• Based on the baseline findings, the consultant will adapt existing global methodological notes to the regional context and develop methodological guidance for indicators that are not covered at the global level.
• Based on baseline data, provide recommendations to the programme team on annual milestones and overall targets for each indicator.
• Where data gaps exist (or there are significant measurement challenges), provide recommendations to the programme team on whether the indicator should be adapted, replaced, or removed. In such cases, consultants may also propose indicators (ideally from the Spotlight Initiative-wide Results Framework) for which baseline values can be reliably established, and/or recommend capturing progress through qualitative or narrative report

The following principles should guide the design and implementation of the baseline study:

•  Intersectionality. The study must recognize that women and girls experience violence and marginalization differently depending on overlapping identities, including based on age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and / or other identities. The methodology - including sampling, tools, and analysis - should be designed to capture this complexity rather than treat women and girls as a homogenous group.
•  Participatory and inclusive design. A range of stakeholders should be meaningfully engaged in the design and implementation of the baseline study, including survivors, community members, service providers, cultural leaders, civil society organizations (including particularly women's rights organizations), RUNO regional offices, the AUC, REC, and national governments.
•  Rigor and triangulation. Data must be of high quality, collected through transparent and reproducible processes, and triangulated across multiple sources and methods to strengthen reliability. The consultants should clearly document all methodological choices, limitations, and assumptions.
•  Mixed methods. The baseline study must use both quantitative and qualitative data to establish measurable baseline values against indicators in the results framework and provide the contextual depth needed to understand why conditions exist and how change may unfold.
•  Representative sampling The sampling strategy must be adequate in scope and purposively designed to reflect the diversity of stakeholders and the target population, including gender diversity and the range of experiences among vulnerable and marginalized groups. Sampling choices should be transparent and clearly justified in the baseline study's inception report.
•  Do no harm. The study must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the context. Data collection activities should not create or exacerbate tensions, reinforce inequalities, or increase risks to individuals or communities. Consultants are required to engage with the ethical considerations outlined in the following section and to demonstrate how their proposed approach upholds this principle throughout.
•  Ethical Considerations: In addition to what is outlined in this section, please refer to the Ethical and safety recommendations for intervention research on violence against women and UN Women and WHO Respect Framework (pages 5-7) and UNEG Ethical Principles for Harnessing AI in UN Evaluations. 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: in line with a survivor centered approach, provide safety measures for participants, especially survivors of GBV, to ensure they are not further harmed during the study. Consider psychological support services for participants during and after participation in the study.

Minimum qualifications and experience:

Achieving results,

• At least 5 years (required) of strong expertise in result based monitoring and evaluation of survivor centered, human rights, gender-based violence programmes or projects.
• At least 10 years of experience in conducting baseline studies for comprehensive programmes to end gender based violence in Africa, using mixed-methods and participatory and inclusive methods of data collection.
• Strong knowledge of African regional and continental institutions and frameworks as they relate to VAWG and HP, including the African Union and RECs, with understanding of institutional reform, capacity building, and organizational strengthening processes as they relate to EVAWG and harmful practices, as well.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender responsive and human-rights based approaches to addressing violence against women and girls and harmful practices, particularly experience engaging with survivors through gender-sensitive and trauma informed approaches aligned with the WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for intervention research on violence against women and UN Women and WHO Respect Framework(pages 5-7), UNEG Ethical Principles for Harnessing AI in UN Evaluations.pdf while conducting data collection and research related to ending violence against women and girls.
• Experience conducting intersectional needs / situational analysis.
• The candidate/s must be fluent in spoken and written English and French.

Apply Before 04/28/2026, 03:59 AM