UN WOMEN Jobs - 65537- Team Leader, Prevalence Survey

Team Leader, Prevalence Survey

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Bridgetown, BARBADOS

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

02-May-2016

Application Deadline :

15-Apr-16 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

maximum of 50 working days

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

maximum of 50 working days

UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence. UNDP does not tolerate sexual exploitation and abuse, any kind of harassment, including sexual harassment, and discrimination. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks.

Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

For the Caribbean in general and for Jamaica, specifically, gender-based violence (GBV) is one of the most prevalent forms of violence and it directly impacts citizen security, including the stability and health of a family and community. The most prevalent form of gender-based violence is violence against women. Despite the prevalence of GBV in the Jamaica and other CARICOM territories, citizen security approaches too often fail to give consideration to GBV – including sexual violence - as “serious” citizen security issues. Rather, GBV cases are often seen as a “soft” issues or “private” family issues and separate from the state security concerns related to the more public manifestations of insecurity such as crime, including drug interdiction and small arms control.

Despite the overwhelming indicative statistics, no CARICOM member state, including Jamaica, generates regular and comprehensive national data on the prevalence, nature and response to GBV, including sexual violence. While there have been notable efforts by police and key Ministries in the collection of administrative data on GBV, lack of comprehensive, systematic data remains a serious bottleneck in determining the scope of the problem.

To this end, with the support of the UN, CARICOM statistical experts and governments reviewed the various models of assessing prevalence of gender-based violence, and agreed to CARICOM piloting and adopting a CARICOM Model on National Prevalence Surveys on Gender-Based Violence. The CARICOM Model being piloted is based on the original WHO global model for assessing prevalence of intimate partner violence (with specific focus on women as the most affected group). Once adopted, the CARICOM Model should be implemented at a minimum of once every ten years in a country.

Subsequently, a partnership was developed among the Government of Jamaica, UN Women, and the Inter-American Development Bank, to pilot the model in Jamaica as the first nationally-led Prevalence Study on GBV in CARICOM. Results of the pilot will inform the use of the Prevalence Survey throughout CARICOM. Technical and financial support will be provided by UN Women; and also by the IDB through Phase II of the Government of Jamaica’s Citizens Security and Justice Programme (CSJP II). The Prevalence Survey is to be implemented by the Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN).

The survey will have both quantitative and qualitative components. STATIN is responsible for the overall survey, however it is understood that the qualitative component of the study requires a qualified Research Team led by a Team Leader. This Research Team will conduct, analyse and write up the findings of the qualitative component.

The Survey in Jamaica is guided by a National Steering Committee formed in December 2014 and a Research Subcommittee founded in November 2015. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica is the main implementing partner.

Other members include:

Planning Institute of Jamaica;
Ministry of National Security;
Office of the Prime Minister & the Bureau of Women’s Affairs;
National Family Planning Board;
Gender & Development consultant/research methodologist (individual);
Inter-American Development Bank;
UN Women (Secretariat of Steering Committee).

The Qualitative component

The overall purpose of the proposed qualitative component will be complementary to the quantitative by explaining how particular factors interact and why. Also, the qualitative methodology allows for the exploration of details about emotions, preferences, motivations and gender dynamics. The use of both methods allows for increased understanding of the complexity of violence against women and girls (VAWG).

In addition to speaking with survivors and their family members (where safe and appropriate), the qualitative component will include the perspectives and insights of both male and female community members. To obtain a complete understanding of VAWG and conflict we will also include the perspectives of state agents, health care providers, police and magistrates, local authorities, community leaders, women’s rights activists and other key stakeholders.

The qualitative component will include three components:

Approximately 15 semi-structured in-depth interviews with survivors of violence with a range of experiences in terms of types of violence and characteristics of the survivors (age, ethnicity, education, etc.);
Between 20 to 25 key informant semi-structured interviews with service providers, humanitarian personnel, police/judges, community leaders, representatives of women’s organisations, perpetrators, etc.;
Between 15 to 20 participatory focus group discussions (FGDs) will be conducted with groups of individuals representing key sectors of the population. It includes techniques such as free-listing, timelines, and incomplete/open-ended stories with Venn diagrams. Focus group discussions will have a maximum of 12 participants.

Duties and Responsibilities

We require an individual consultant with a proven track record and experience in high-level research work in the field, to serve as Team Leader with responsibility for conducting the qualitative component of the Women’s Health Survey in Jamaica.

The Team Leader is responsible for subcontracting two (2) research assistants and must demonstrate that the Research Team exhibits strong qualitative methodological and analytical skills with considerable knowledge of the field of violence against women and girls (VAWG) and the use of participatory research methods. The members of the Research Team must possess substantive knowledge and experience in the field of research and programming related to violence against women.

The Team Leader will be responsible for leading his team and coordinating the qualitative component of the Women’s Health Survey in Jamaica. This component includes conducting qualitative research in five (5) locations in Jamaica.

The Research Team for this assignment will:

Attend on-site and off-site (via Skype) meetings with the Global Women’s Institute, local stakeholders, members of the Research subcommittee and other partners, as requested;
Review documentation related to the Prevalence Study on gender-based violence (GBV) in CARICOM, particularly the elements related to the pilot in Jamaica;
Coordinate activities for the qualitative component, including the design and creation of research tools, including a guide for in-depth interviews and consent forms.

Implement the qualitative research activities in Jamaica throughout the duration of the project by:

Obtaining access to key informants, in cooperation with STATIN or the Steering Committee;
Coordinating with STATIN, and the research subcommittees to recruit participants for interviews;
Negotiating community access, in cooperation with STATIN, UN Women, the IDB and other project partners, as needed, including acquiring site permission letters from community leaders; and
Overseeing the completion of focus group discussions and in-depth interviews in all sites;
Transcribing and recording all the interviews and focus group discussions;
Writing the report of the findings of the qualitative component.

Competencies

Core values / Guiding Principles (Team Leader and Research Assistants):

Integrity and Fairness:

Demonstrate consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.

Professionalism:

Demonstrate professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work. Conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results.

Cultural sensitivity and valuing diversity:

Demonstrate an appreciation of the multicultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff;
Demonstrate an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Core Competencies (Team Leader and Research Assistants):

Excellent planning and facilitation skills;
Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and flexibly;
Strong analytical and presentation skills;
Cultural awareness and sensitivity;
Ability to research, analyse and present complex information as demonstrated by past work experience and references;
Ability to establish and maintain strong and effective working relationships;
Strong interpersonal, teamwork and communication skills;
Strong analytical and presentation skills as demonstrated by past work experience and references.

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

Master’s Degree (Ph.D. preferred but not required) in Sociology, Social Research, Gender & Development Studies, Demography or a related field (10 points).

Experience:

At least 10 years demonstrable experience in gender analysis of both qualitative data and quantitative data (5 points);
Experience working on Violence against Women and Girls(5 points);
Working experience in Caribbean social research (5 points).

Language:

Fluency in English (5 points).

Other:

Submission of a writing sample of a report of previous qualitative research conducted (5 points).

Education (Research Assistant):

Bachelor’s Degree (Master’s Degree preferred but not required) in Sociology, Social Work, Social Research, Gender & Development Studies, Demography or a related field for each team member (15 points).

Experience (Research Assistant):

At least 3 years demonstrable experience in gender analysis of both qualitative data and quantitative data (10 points);
Working experience in Caribbean social research (5 points).

Language:

Fluency in English (5 points).

References

Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information for the team leader.

Additional Skills and Experience

Experience and Competencies Desired (Team Leader):

Significant experience conducting research on violence against women;
Strong qualitative methodological and analytical skills with considerable knowledge of the field of gender and the use of participatory research methods;
Significant experience in surveys and use of mixed methods of research;
Proven expertise in the area of conducting qualitative research, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews;
Proven capacity to work with a broad range of partners, including statistical experts, government bodies, non-government organisations and academia in the Caribbean;
Ability to work independently and as part of a small team, manage competing priorities and perform well under pressure;
Experience in supporting or contributing to national policy development;
Excellent command of written and spoken English including the ability to convey complex concepts and recommendations, in a clear and persuasive style tailored to match different audiences.

Experience and Competencies Desired (Research Assistants):

Experience conducting research on violence against women;
Strong qualitative methodological and analytical skills exposure to the field of gender and the use of participatory research methods;
Some experience in surveys and use of mixed methods of research;
Proven experience in the area of conducting qualitative research, including focus group discussions and in-depth interviews;
Ability to work independently and as part of a small team, manage competing priorities and perform well under pressure.

To assess the experience and competencies of the Team Leader, all applicants for the post of Team Leader are required to submit a sample of previous qualitative research undertaken. Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a competency-based interview. While the research assistants may not be required to attend the interview, the Team Leader is required to submit their CVs with the application.

Minimum Requirements:

Bids from Individuals that do not meet the following Minimum Requirements will be disqualified. The minimum criteria for the Team Leader and Research Assistants are outlined below:

Bids will be assessed by awarding a total of 100 points as follows:

70 points for Technical Expertise of the Research Team:

35 points for the expertise of the Team Leader;
35 points for the expertise of the two Research Assistants.
The scoring for technical expertise is detailed overleaf, and will be confirmed through a competency-based interview for the Team Leader;
30 points for the Financial Proposal. NB: Bids are required to include a Financial Proposal.

The Financial Proposal must outline:

Overall fees for fifty (50) working of days for the entire team comprising the Team Leader and two (2) Research Assistants;
A breakdown with daily rate of team leader and daily rate of research team and financial components.

Applicants are required to include the Curriculum Vitae of both Research Assistants in their application packages for assessment.

Deliverables and Specific Activities:

Carry out the fieldwork for the in-depth interviews with stakeholders, with survivors, focus groups and others as required;
Record, transcribe and analyze the qualitative data gathered;
Develop a report of the findings.

Reporting Requirements:

Under the overall responsibility of the UN Women MCO-Caribbean Representative and the Statistical Institute of Jamaica, day to day supervision will be under the Project Director of Special Projects of the Statistical Institute of Jamaica. The Team Leader is also expected to be an ex-officio member of the Research Sub-committee and may be required to attend these meetings, when necessary;
The two research assistants who will be subcontracted by the Team Leader will report directly to the Team Leader.

Official Travel and Other Requisites:

The Team Leader and subcontracted Research Assistants engaged for this assignment will be required to travel within Jamaica.

Remuneration:

The consultancy fee will be negotiated before contracting. Each payment will be based on a predefined and formal agreement between UN Women and will be disbursed based on satisfactory completion of agreed deliverables.

Hardware, Software and Communication:

The Research Team must be equipped with portable computers (laptops) and must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based communication (Skype or equivalent) is required.

Location and Duration:

The consultant will be engaged for a maximum of fifty (50) working days from 2 May 2016 -30 July 2016. The consultancy will be based in Jamaica.