Antecedentes

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. UN Women has a universal mandate that encompasses a normative, an operational/programmatic as well as a coordination role, all of which are closely linked with its unique structure. At the core of its mandate, UN women plays a leading role in supporting governments in delivering on their gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE) commitments in the SDGs.

The project "The Empowerment of Women and Girls with Disabilities Towards Full and Effective Participation and Gender Equality in Adamawa State" aims to promote the rights and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities works to ensure a more systematic approach to strengthen the inclusion of the rights of women and girls with disabilities in UN Women’s efforts to achieve gender equality, empowerment of all women and girls, and the realization of their rights. This aligns with UN Women’s Strategic Plan 2018–2021 and commitments made in the common chapter to the Strategic Plans of UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF and UN Women, and further builds upon UN Women’s work in the area of empowerment of women and girls with disabilities.

In Northeast Nigeria, women and girls with disabilities face significant levels of violence and abuse, exacerbated by both their gender and disability status. Studies indicate that these women and girls are at an increased risk of various forms of violence, including physical, sexual, and emotional abuse. The Boko Haram insurgency has further heightened the vulnerability of women and girls with disabilities in this region. Many have been subjected to abduction, forced marriage, and sexual slavery. For instance, survivors of Boko Haram violence, including those with disabilities, face ongoing stigmatization and are often referred to derogatorily, such as being called "Boko Haram wives" even after their release from captivity??. Women and girls with disabilities face particular barriers to their rights, as gender and disability intersect. Far too often, they experience discrimination, exclusion, isolation and denial of their dignity and autonomy, both in public and within their own families. They are also denied access to public spaces at community, national and international levels. Estimates indicate that there are 700 million women and girls with disabilities in the world today. According to UN Women, the average prevalence rate of disability in the female population is 19.2 per cent, compared to 12 per cent for males, representing about one in five women. Despite this high number, women and girls with disabilities remain largely invisible and excluded from participation in decisions that affect their lives. This leads to the increased risk of gender-based violence against them. Global data on gender-based violence against women with disabilities is limited, which in itself speaks to this invisible crisis and suggests higher risks for women with impairments. 

Deberes y responsabilidades

Duties and Responsibilities

The purpose of this short-term consultancy is to support UN Women Nigeria Country Office to Conduct Research on the Prevalence and Specific Forms of Violence against Women and Girls with Disabilities in Adamawa State

The consultant will be expected to:

1. Conduct a comprehensive literature review on violence against women and girls with disabilities, with a focus on the Nigerian context and Adamawa State.
2. Access CFM mechanism in the community for reporting and handling GBV.
3. Design a research methodology that integrates quantitative and qualitative data collection methods, such as surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions.
4. Develop culturally sensitive and disability-inclusive data collection tools, including survey questionnaires and interview guides.
5. Collect data from women and girls with disabilities, as well as key stakeholders such as service providers, government agencies, and civil society organizations.
6. Analyze the collected data using appropriate qualitative and quantitative methods, paying attention to the intersectionality of gender, disability, and other identities.
7. Prepare a comprehensive research report highlighting key findings, including prevalence rates, types of violence, contributing factors, and actionable recommendations.

The selected Consultant will be expected to complete the following key deliverables within the indicative timeframe:

Reporting

Under the supervision of the Deputy Country Representative, and day to day reporting to the programme Manager on Humanitarian and DRR, and other relevant UN Women Nigeria CO staff, the selected consultant will develop and deliver the above listed outputs in accordance with the above outlined timeframes and specifications. 

Competencias

Core Values

• Integrity: Demonstrates consistency in upholding and promoting the values of UN Women in actions and decisions, in line with the UN Code of Conduct.
• Professionalism: Demonstrates professional competence and expert knowledge of the pertinent substantive areas of work.
• Respect for Diversity: Demonstrates an appreciation of the multi-cultural nature of the organization and the diversity of its staff. Demonstrates an international outlook, appreciating difference in values and learning from cultural diversity.

Competencies:

• Ethics and Values: Demonstrate and safeguard ethics and integrity.
• Organizational Awareness: Demonstrate corporate knowledge and sound judgment.
• Development and Innovation: Take charge of self-development and take initiative.
• Teamwork: Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Communication and Information Sharing: Facilitate and encourage open communication and strive for effective communication.
• Self-management and Emotional Intelligence: Stay composed and positive even in difficult moments, handle tense situations with diplomacy and tact, and have a consistent behavior towards others.
• Conflict Management: Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.
• Continuous Learning and Knowledge Sharing: Encourage learning and sharing of knowledge.
• Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making: Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Functional Competencies

• Good programme formulation, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation skills
• Good budget and finance skills
• Good knowledge of Results Based Management
• Ability to gather and interpret data, reach logical conclusions, and present findings and recommendations
• Good analytical skills
• Knowledge of UN programme management systems

Habilidades y experiencia requeridas

Education:

• Advanced degree in social sciences, gender studies, disability studies, or a related field.

Experience:

• Extensive experience (7-10 years)  in conducting research on violence against women and girls, particularly in low-resource settings.
• Expertise in disability rights and inclusive research methodologies, with a focus on gender and intersectionality.
• Strong analytical and report-writing skills, with a track record of producing high-quality research outputs.
• Knowledge of the Nigerian context, including familiarity with relevant policies, institutions, and stakeholders.
• Experience of working with multi-stakeholder organizations is essential: governments, CSOs, and the UN/ multilateral/bilateral institutions.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Ability to speak and write in a clear and gender-sensitive language.

Note: Applicants are required to send the following documents in one application by email.

1. Application letter explaining interest in the consultancy and suitability of the candidate for the consultancy position
2. Updated CV
3. A short proposal (max 1,500 A4 pages) that details a proposed methodology and conceptualization of the consultancy.
4. Personal History Form (P11). The P11 Form can be downloaded from the following website:

Duration of the Assignment

The assignment is expected to take 30 working days from the date of signing the contract.

Language Requirements:

Fluency in written and spoken English is required.

Application

All applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from:

https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-P11-Personal-History-Form.doc. Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

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.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided based on qualifications, competence, integrity, and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority, and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)