Background

UN Women was established by GA resolution 64/289 of 2 July 2010 on system-wide coherence, with a mandate to assist Member States and the UN system to progress more effectively and efficiently towards the goal of achieving gender equality and the empowerment of women. Since 2001 UN Women (previously as UNIFEM) in Kyrgyzstan has implemented catalytic initiatives on promoting women’s economic, political and social rights. In 2012 a full Country Office was established.

The consultancy is in support of the UN Women Kyrgyzstan Country Office’s Women, Peace and Security Cluster which coordinates a joint project by UN Women, IOM and UNFPA that is funded by the Peacebuilding Support Office (PBSO). The project is aligned with the Peacebuilding Priority Plan confirmed by Government of the Kyrgyz Republic which resulted in funding in 2013 under the United Nations Peace and Recovery Facility, PRF, and has now resulted in funding under the PBSO’s Immediate Response Facility, IRF for the Gender in Society Perceptions Study (GSPS) / KAP study that the incumbent will support with high-quality technical advice.

GSPS will engage a broad range of local actors, including governmental, academic, and civil society actors to carry out a nationwide study encompassing both quantitative and qualitative methods to gather information on gender equality. Through the research process, the capacity of state institutions, students, and civil society researchers will be enhanced by means of specialized training on gender-sensitive research methods, Do-No-Harm principles, and research ethics and the subsequent application of these skills in field research. The final outcomes of the GSPS will be widely distributed among a broad range of actors and findings will be integrated into national and regional policy and programming through a series of workshops designed to link the gender-relevant data to practicable interventions.

GSPS will identify critical threats to gender equality and potential conflict triggers in order to establish a credible, reliable evidence base for informed, targeted policymaking and programming for equitable gender outcomes. The project will be led by UN Women which will coordinate closely with partners UNFPA and IOM. The project partners with the National Statistics Committee (NSC) for quantitative study (under UNFPA supervision), and with analysts from state research institutions, professors and students from universities, researchers and experts for qualitative study (under UN Women supervision).

Rationale for the GSPS

Economic instability and disenfranchisement among youth, along with related migration trends, represent some of the greatest threats to gender equality and inclusive peacebuilding in the Kyrgyz Republic today. As substantial portions of the country’s young population, particularly women and men from rural areas, leave their communities to work abroad, family and neighbourhood support structures decay, allowing root causes of conflict to fester, including frustration with limited economic and social opportunities. This further exacerbates the symptoms of gender inequality, such as discrimination, violence, and exploitation of women and girls.

In the absence of effective mechanisms for countering disenchantment and feelings of insecurity, many youth are turning to alternative routes of economic and social activity including criminal enterprises and radical religious groups. Women, in particular, suffer from the lack of community support and assistance mechanisms as well as the risk of exploitation. National fear of the exploitation of women and girls resulted in growing support for the restriction of women’s liberties and freedom of movement, their right to access basic services and full participation in public life.

In addition, actors engaged in promoting gender equality in Kyrgyzstan lack a credible evidence base for policy formulation. There is a need to provide an evidence-based reliable source of information on risk factors for gender inequality and threats to inclusive peacebuilding in order to effectively respond to acute issues of women and girls through gender-sensitive policies and programming. This project addresses the urgent gendered aspects of peacebuilding expressed in Peace Building Fund objectives, the 7-Point Action Plan on Gender-Responsive Peacebuilding, and the National Action Plan on Security Council Resolution 1325. The GSPS would explore and clarify the fundamental problems of faltering trust and human security at the community level that were identified by the conflict analysis in the Kyrgyz Republic 2013 Peacebuilding Priorities Plan.

Primary Project Outcome

Policy making and programming pursued by state institutions, the United Nations Country Team, development partners and civil society ensures gender equality promotion and inclusive peacebuilding. By generating a substantial, reliable evidence base on the forms of gender discrimination and community-level trends that pose risks to women’s empowerment and prevent women’s full and meaningful participation in conflict resolution, the GSPS will create the conditions for significantly more effective and targeted interventions by government, UN agencies and other international organizations participating in ongoing peacebuilding efforts, NGOs, and other civil society representatives. This study will provide concrete quantitative data on a range of gender equality indicators, inter alia, proportion of women who have experienced gender discrimination in specific government and non-governmental institutions, and the number of women who exercise decision-making power at home, as well as qualitative information that will contribute to a better understanding of the data.

Through creating a clear and highly public understanding of where the most compelling threats to progression towards gender equality lie, the findings of the GSPS will simultaneously explain the modalities of these potential conflict triggers, exert pressure on government and civil society to effectively address these problem areas, and allow for informed, evidence-based policymaking. They will also enable the UNCT, including the implementing Recipient United Nations Organisations, to assess the effectiveness of their ongoing peacebuilding projects and make adjustments in future strategic planning and project design in order to directly address the threats and risks identified by the GSPS for lasting peace and gender equality. The results of this study will inform the development of the upcoming United Nations Development Assistance Framework for the Kyrgyz Republic, as well as the country programmes for UN Women, UNFPA, IOM, UNDP, and others.

The programme’s goal formed the ground for the GSPS, designed around the following three outputs:

• Threats to gender equality and peace are identified through KAP study for more gender responsive policy and programming;
• National institutional capacity in gender-sensitive data collection and analysis is strengthened;
• Gender-sensitive research capacity is strengthened among universities, state researcher institutions and researchers.

The project result will be a fuller understanding of what underpins the populations’ and disaggregated sub-groups’ (male/female; age; urban/rural; ethnicity; province of residence; etc.) Knowledge, Attitude and Practices about gender relations and the role of women and girls in areas such as political participation, economic participation, a life free from violence (access to justice); and access to social services; and the status of women vis-à-vis men at the family and community level in the perceptions, attitudes and practices of respondents. It will provide policy-makers with intelligence on how to design policy and interventions to bridge any gap between public attitudes towards gender equality and the Constitutional guarantee of gender equality and human rights.

Duties and Responsibilities

Division of responsibilities

In implementing the GSPS, each of the three partner agencies will contribute to the overall project. UN Women, as the lead agency, will implement the qualitative research component, particularly the identification, training, and supervision of the qualitative research design team; the training and supervision of qualitative research teams across the country as they collect data; and the supervision of the qualitative data analysis. UNFPA will manage and monitor the quantitative research component, implemented by NSC, and the quantitative data collection, input, cleaning, and analysis. UN Women is also responsible for the integration of the qualitative analysis with the analysis of quantitative data received from UNFPA into the final study results to be presented to the public. IOM will provide substantive expertise for the training of research teams on sensitive interviewing techniques, confidentiality, and secure data storage and management.

Scope of work

The overall objective of the GSPS is to establish household, community and public level data and information on key risk factors for gender inequality and threats for violence affecting women and girls (what is known, believed and practiced).

Specific objectives of the GSPS are to:

• SO1: Understand pressing interpersonal and structural issues leading to gender discrimination, violence and exploitation;
• SO2: Understand community-level trends and shifting societal perception of gender stereotypes and relations;
• SO3: Understand the relationship between gender inequality and potential conflict triggers, including women’s role in peacebuilding;

GSPS thematic pillars preliminary will attend to:

• Women's Political Participation;
• Women's Economic Empowerment and Career Trajectories;
• Violence Against Women and Girls: Under-Age Marriage and Bride Kidnapping;
• Religion;
• Migration.

The design phase of the study was led by the study team, comprised of the International Research Consultant and a number of National Research Consultants as part of the Research Working Group (RWG).

The study team has worked on developing the following study materials for GSPS:

• Desk review report;
• Study protocol, including the methodology;
• Research tools (questionnaire for quantitative component and interview/Focus Group Discussion (FGD) guides for qualitative component);
• Quality control and monitoring plan;
• Study analysis plan.

The purpose of the consultancy is to implement the qualitative component of GSPS. A qualitative Field Research Team (FRT), responsible for implementing the qualitative component of the study, i.e. data collection and processing, will be formed and comprised of the Principal Investigator, approximately 20 Field Researchers and up to 5 Quality Control Supervisors (please note that the quantitative component of the study will be implemented by the NSC). The Principal Investigator will be responsible for overseeing and guiding the process of the field research, and coordinating Quality Control Supervisors, Field Researchers and Team Leaders and subsequent data analysis phase. Quality Control Supervisors will be responsible for closely monitoring the data collection process by the Field Researchers and making quality control checks of the data being collected. Finally, Field Researchers will be collecting qualitative data through interview and FGD guides (developed by the Research Working Group, as described above) and processing that data for subsequent analysis.

The current thinking is that approximately 20 Qualitative Field Researchers (with Russian, Kyrgyz, or Uzbek language knowledge) with a track record of high-level qualitative research will be recruited and divided into 5 sub-groups, with 4 Field Researchers per each sub-group. Each sub-group will have a Team Leader, selected from the team of 4 Field Researchers in the group. However, essentially the data collection will be made by 2 Field Researchers – where one is a moderator and the other is a note-taker and vice versa.

Geographical locations, where research will be conducted, includes the following nine administrative units:

• Bishkek city;
• Batken oblast;
• Chui oblast;
• Jalal-Abad oblast;
• Issyk-Kul oblast;
• Naryn oblast;
• Osh city;
• Osh oblast;
• Talas oblast.

Field Researchers will visit multiple study sites across the country. Every study site will involve interviews/FGDs with residents across district, AO and village levels. Exact number of locations to be visited are yet to be discussed with the Field Researchers.

Tasks

Under the overall guidance of the Representative of UN Women Kyrgyz Republic Country Office and regular coordination and day-to-day work with the Project Coordinator, the Principal Investigator will oversee the qualitative data collection, processing and analysis phases of the study.

Specifically the Principal Investigator will:

• Review the final versions of study materials and integrate the corresponding changes/amendments;
• Coordinate a training on study implementation for Field Researchers;
• Pilot the study;
• Oversee the data collection phase and coordinate the Field Study Team;
• Oversee the data processing and analysis phases and produce a final report.

The Consultant will participate in the below mentioned Activities:

Activity 1. Review the final versions of study materials

The Principle Investigator will review the final version of study materials – desk review report, study protocol, research tools (questionnaire for quantitative component and interview/group discussion guides for qualitative component), quality control and monitoring plan, study analysis plan.

Activity 2. Coordinate a training on study implementation for Field Researchers

The Principal Investigator will coordinate a five-day training on study implementation for Field Researchers, which will be delivered by Quality Control Supervisors, who will conduct thematic sessions relevant to pillars methodology, content and use of interview and FGDs guides, quality control procedures and other topics to familiarise Field Researchers with the study. The Principal Investigator will coordinate the distribution of training sessions between the Quality Control Supervisors. During this training the Field Researchers will be briefed on background and aims of the study, and provided with general guidelines on data collection and data processing. In addition, within the framework of this training, an IOM expert will provide training sessions on interviewing techniques for sensitive topics, gender-sensitive interviewing, confidentiality and Do-No-Harm principles for the researchers.

Upon the completion of the training and prior to starting the actual field study, each Field Researcher will need to pass a written test and an actual practical field interview/FGD exercise, possibly during piloting (see Activity 3 below). A Quality Control Supervisor will develop a written theoretical test and a guideline for the actual practical field interview/FGD exercise as per the relevant thematic pillar. With all the contributions from other Quality Control Supervisors there will be one common theoretical and practical test developed for Field Researchers, guided by the Principal Investigator. IOM will also contribute to this test by integrating relevant themes from their part of the training. As a result of the testing, the Quality Control Supervisor together with the Principal Investigator will confirm the suitability and recommend the field researchers for data collection to UN Women. As a result of the testing, those who pass the test will proceed to actual data collection and data processing. Please note that not all potential Field Researchers who participate in the training will be selected for inclusion in the final field research team. Selection for inclusion in the final field research team will be merit-based.

Activity 3. Pilot the study and finalise the interview/FGD guides

Principal Investigator and Quality Control Supervisors will be responsible for leading the study pilot. The Field Researcher in close coordination with Quality Control Supervisor and under general guidance by the Principal Investigator will pilot a research on a small number of individuals in order to determine whether the data collected is relevant and if there are questions that need to be revised before the actual field work. The piloting will identify not only which questions both the interviewers or interviewees did not comprehend or which caused confusion; which questions are too sensitive to ask; how to improve the ways questions are formulated; and other aspects of study implementation such as logistics, finance matters, data processing and data analysis. The Field Researcher together with the Quality Control Supervisor will be responsible to identify all shortcomings during the piloting and provide a detailed feedback to the Principal Investigator. Based on the results of the piloting the shortcomings will be addressed and integrated into the finalised versions of interview/FGD guides or other study materials if needed by the Quality Control Supervisors and the Principal Investigator.

Activity 4. Oversee data collection phase and coordinate Field Study Team

Data collection will start from identifying potential participants of the research as per the study protocol. The Field Researcher will outreach to local community members to recruit potential participants for each field site. Field Researchers will first explain the goal of the study as per pre-developed field mission guidelines that are designed to be sensitive to the social and cultural contexts. Prior to starting interviews/FGDs, individual consent to participate in the interview/FGD should be obtained by the Field Researchers. Once consent is confirmed, the Field Researchers may proceed with the interview and/or FGDs. The in-depth interview takes the form of a conversation in which the researcher probes deeply to uncover new clues, to open up new dimensions of a problem, or to secure vivid, accurate and detailed accounts that are based on the personal experience of the subject. The focus group allows for a specific type of group in terms of its purpose, size and composition, to identify group norms, elicit opinions about group norms, discover variety within a population, etc.

Upon completing interviews/FGDs the data usually consist of:

• Copies of interview/FGD guides;
• Audio recordings from interviews/FGDs (where appropriate, if the topic is too sensitive or the respondent requests no recording then replace recording with a note-taking);
• Transcripts of the audio recordings from interview/FGDs;
• Field notes - narrated and expanded from raw notes on content of interview/FGD and/or additional observation about the content, the participant, the context.

Pre-analytical notes - transforming the collected data (i.e. data from audio recordings and/or the field notes), summarising, cataloguing, ordering and reducing data in the analytical form as per the analytical plan and structure of the study).

For the purpose of this research, exact requirements on data provision from interviews/FGDs will be advised by the Principal Investigator with confirmation from UN Women.

Debriefing is an essential part of the data collection process. It should be organised by the team of 4 researchers at the end of each day and based on the results of the interviews/FGDs during that day. The Team Leader will lead the debriefing and collecting critical self-analysis and general impressions of the Field Researchers (including himself/herself) about the interviews/FGDs conducted. This will allow for the review of the discussion guide and any adjustment necessary to make it more responsive to the objectives and the flow of the discussion and ensure that the relevant information is being collected. Debriefing notes shall be produced by the Team Leader on the results of debriefings.

The Quality Control Supervisor will closely monitor and ensure quality control during the data collection phase as per Monitoring and Quality Control Plan and document the progress on a regular basis by producing monthly monitoring and quality control reports and weekly updates, which will be submitted to the Principal Investigator. Specifically, the Quality Control Supervisor will randomly review inter alia audio recordings, transcripts, field, pre-analytical and debriefing notes from Field Researchers/Team Leaders as per his/her thematic pillar and provide necessary feedback whether good mix of participants was ensured during the recruitment, any major questions have not been asked, any perspective that was not addressed during discussions. Quality Control Supervisors will also randomly participate in interviews/FGDs as observers, during debriefing sessions or other. The Quality Control Supervisors will adjust interview/FGD guides if needed to better address study objectives and ensure that the relevant information is being collected in agreement with team leaders and the Principal Investigator.

The Principal Investigator will oversee the conduct of qualitative research in accordance with the design of the study and coordinate the Field Research Team ensuring timely submission of data and relevant reports from Quality Control Supervisors and Field Researchers. The Consultant will be responsible to report and obtain prior approval from UN Women for any modification or deviation from previously approved study materials (desk review report, study protocol and qualitative research tools). The Principal Investigator will also provide prompt resolution of any issues arising during the data collection. The data collection phase needs to be documented by the Consultant with records retained, helping also to ensure data confidentiality. Generally, the Principal Investigator will safeguard the rights and protect the privacy of the research subjects and promote ethical conduct in all aspects of the research process.

Activity 5. Oversee analysis phase and produce final report

The Principal Investigator together with other analysts of the study will lead the analysis phase of the study. During the process of data interpretation, researchers will make reference to the study objectives, the key study questions and an analysis plan and produce the final GSPS report based on review of the findings, but also integrating analysis of quantitative (from NCS) and qualitative components of the study. The report will be then presented at the conference to a wider audience. There will be nine administrative units where research will be conducted. Preliminary, analytical reports will be drafted for each of the confirmed pillars for each of the administrative units. An overall report will be also drafted to present the research across all pillars and administrative unit. For each pillar and administrative unit there will be a sufficient number of gender disaggregated interactions with respondents, including with all ethnicities significantly present in such an administrative unit.

Deliverables

Reviewed and finalised study materials:

•  The Principal Investigator will review all study materials and provide finalised versions.

Training for Field Researchers on study implementation is coordinated:

• The Principal Investigator will coordinate a training on study implementation for Field Researchers;
• The Consultant will ensure that the relevant training session modules from Quality Control Supervisors will be integrated into the overall training module.

Theoretical and practical test for Field Researchers:

• The Principal Investigator together with Quality Control Supervisors will confirm the suitability and recommend the Field Researchers for data collection phase based on the developed written theoretical test and a guideline for the actual practical field interview exercise.

Finalised interview/FGDs guides based on pilot:

• The Quality Control Supervisor in close coordination with the Principal Investigator will revise and finalise relevant to his/her thematic pillar research tools based on the results of the pilot study in the field.

Documented and filed study submissions during data collection:

• The Principal Investigator will document the data collection process and file all study related materials and submissions, received from the Quality Control Supervisors, such as inter alia copies of interview/FGD guides, audio recordings, field notes, pre-analytical notes, debriefing notes, weekly monitoring and quality control reports;
• Revised study materials (if applicable): the Principal Investigator will confirm any suggestions made by the Quality Control Supervisors on adjusting or revising study materials if needed during the data collection phase, such as study protocol and interview/FGD guides.

Monthly study progress reports:

• The Principal Investigator will compile monthly study progress reports and submit them regularly to the Project Coordinator.

Final GSPS report and analytical reports:

• The Principal Investigator will coordinate and produce thematic analytical reports with close collaboration with other analysts of the study and develop final GSPS report.

Final narrative report:

• A detailed final narrative report on activities carried out will be submitted by the Principal Investigator upon completion of his/her tasks as per the above, each of which will need to be accepted by UN Women.

Timeline and Duration

The duration of the consultancy will be for up to 150 days. The Principal Investigator might be required to travel across Kyrgyzstan. Below is set out the approximate timing and apportioning of fee days:

• Activity 1. Review the final version of study materials [September 2015, up to 5 days];
• Activity 2. Coordinate a training on study implementation for Field Researchers [September 2015, 5 days];
• Activity 3. Pilot the study [October 2015, 3 days];
• Activity 4. Oversee data collection phase and coordinate Field Study Team [October 2015 - January 2016, up to 32 days];
• Activity 5. Oversee data analysis phase and produce final report [February 2016 – September 2016, up to 55 days].

Exact number of days per Activities will be discussed between the Consultant and the UN Women.

Competencies

• Proven analytical skills and qualitative focus and strong knowledge and understanding of qualitative research and data;
• Good analytical, drafting and report-writing skills;
• Ability to work quickly and produce concise and quality reports;
• Cultural and political awareness and sensitivity, particularly in relation to the subject matter of the interviews and FGDs;
• Strong interpersonal skills to establish relationships for generating and coordinating field research;
• Ability to perform a broad range of specialized activities aimed at effective and efficient implementation and management of a qualitative research and data collection specifically;
• Skills on key qualitative analysis software (such as inter alia Nudist Vivo and others) is a must;
• Ability to create, edit and present information in clear and presentable formats, using appropriate IT functionality;
• Ability to establish, build and sustain effective relationships with project stakeholders and the research team;
• Excellent in human relations, coordination and planning; team player;
• A commitment to quality product and deadlines;
• Judgement and the ability to operate systematically.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• A post graduate degree in the social sciences or another relevant field, such as sociology, anthropology or other discipline with a focus on qualitative research.

Experience:

• Minimum three years of work experience on qualitative research and/or analysis;
• Knowledge and understanding of thematic gender related issues (i.e. inter alia political participation, economic empowerment, bride kidnapping and early marriages, religion, and migration) or related subjects, direct field experience with these issues is an asset;
• Demonstrated knowledge and/or experience in overseeing and implementing field research and coordinating field researchers, at least two research projects;
• Proven experience in making analysis of qualitative data;
• Verifiable field research experience, at least two research projects;
• Knowledge of the KAP (Knowledge Attitudes and Practices) tool is an asset;
• Current or prior work experience in Central Asia, and specifically Kyrgyzstan, is an asset.

Language:

• Fluency (written and spoken) in English;
• Knowledge of Russian or Kyrgyz is an asset.

The Consultant shall promote a client-oriented approach consistent with UN Women rules and regulations and commits to high standards of quality, productivity and timeliness in the delivery of tasks. The Consultant will meet and apply the highest standards of integrity and impartiality.

The Consultant must be fully dedicated to the mandate and the values of UN Women, particularly to promoting Gender Equality as a strategy to reduce conflict, improve livelihoods and ensure fairness and justice; to Women Empowerment underpinning Gender Equality promotion efforts; to inter-ethnic tolerance and concord; and to respect for diversity.

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted! Candidates can only be shortlisted if they profess to meet all the mandatory requirements in the Job Description. All online applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women, UNDP or UN Personal History form (P11) in English which can easily be found via web search http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc.

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment which must be the P11. Please carefully respond to the requirements of the Job Description in the P11 that you submit.

Applications without the completed P-11 form are incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment!