UN WOMEN Jobs - 70871- To contract a Consultant to serve as Team Leader w

To contract a Consultant to serve as Team Leader with subcontracted Research Team to coordinate the conducting of the qualitative component of the Women’s Health Survey

Advertised on behalf of

UN WOMEN

Location :

Georgetown, GUYANA

Type of Contract :

Individual Contract

Starting Date :

01-May-2017

Application Deadline :

24-Mar-17 (Midnight New York, USA)

Post Level :

International Consultant

Duration of Initial Contract :

50 working days within the period

Languages Required :

English

Expected Duration of Assignment :

50 working days within the period

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, 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. And the most prevalent form of gender-based violence is violence against women. Despite the prevalence of GBV in Guyana 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 “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.

Government and Non-Government organisations in the Caribbean have expressed concern about the lack of both types of data, and UN Women, the Caribbean Development Bank, Inter-American Development Bank, UNDP and others will work to support nationally-owned processes to address these gaps throughout the CARICOM region.

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 once every ten years in a country as a minimum.

Subsequently, commencing in 2017, a National Prevalence Survey on Gender Based Violence will be conducted to address the abovementioned data gaps. A consortium of partners, comprising the USAID, UNDP and UN Women will be providing support for the conduct of the survey.

The objectives of the Prevalence Survey are as follows:

To obtain reliable estimates of the prevalence and incidence of different forms of violence against women;
To assess the extent to which intimate partner violence against women is associated with a range of health and other outcomes;
To identify factors that may either protect or put women at risk of intimate partner violence against women;
To identify how men’s role in gender-based violence is manifested;
To document and compare the strategies and services used to deal with intimate partner violence.

Ensure that the data and results of the study are put to good use and utilized in the different departments and institutions for formulating policies and legislature and other programmes of intervention against gender based violence, in parallel with the Government Of Guyana’s National Strategic Action Plan on Gender Based Violence, and as part of the broader Citizen Security priorities of Guyana.

To guide the Piloting and implementation of the Prevalence Survey in Guyana, a National Steering Committee will be formed. It is to be chaired by the Government, under the joint leadership of the Ministry of Social Protection and the Bureau of Statistics. The Bureau of Statistics is the main implementing partner. A Research Sub-Committee will also be formed to guide the research management process.

UN Women has contracted the Global Women’s Institute (GWI) of George Washington University to provide technical advice and support to the implementation of the Prevalence Survey model, where required.

Duties and Responsibilities

Objectives of the Assignment

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 Prevalence Survey on Gender Based Violence in Guyana.

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 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, emergency response and 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.

Scope of Work and Deliverables

Specific activities and deliverables:

The Team Leader will be responsible for leading her/his team and coordinating the qualitative component of the Prevalence Survey on Gender Based Violence in Guyana. This component includes conducting qualitative research in five (5) locations in Guyana.

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 Guyana;
Draft and submit all documentation required for approval of the qualitative component by the Research Ethics Review Board or equivalent body in Guyana;
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 Guyana throughout the duration of the project by:
- Obtaining access to key informants, in cooperation with Bureau of Statistics (BoS) or the Steering Committee;
- Coordinating with BoS, and the research subcommittee to recruit participants for interviews;
- Negotiating community access, in cooperation with BoS, UN Women, 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.

Reporting Requirements

Under the overall responsibility of the UN Women MCO-Caribbean Representative and the Bureau of Statistics in Guyana, day to day supervision will be under the Director of Surveys of the Bureau of Statistics. 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.

Competencies

Core Values / Guiding Principles:

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:

Work in teams:

Demonstrate ability to work in a multicultural, multi ethnic environment and to maintain effective working relations with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.

Communicating 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 behaviour towards others.

Conflict management:

Surface conflicts and address them proactively acknowledging different feelings and views and directing energy towards a mutually acceptable solution.

Appropriate and Transparent Decision Making:

Demonstrate informed and transparent decision making.

Required Skills and Experience

Minimum Requirements

The consultant should meet the following minimum criteria:

Education:

Team Leader

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

Research Assistants

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.

Experience:

Team Leader:

At least 10 years demonstrable experience in gender analysis of both qualitative data and quantitative data
Significant experience conducting research on violence against women and girls;
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;
Working experience in Caribbean social research.

Research Assistants:

At least 3 years demonstrable experience in gender analysis of both qualitative data and quantitative data;
Working experience in Caribbean social research;
Experience conducting research on violence against women and girls;
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.

Desired 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;
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;
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, shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend a competency-based interview.

Language:

Fluency in English is required.

References:

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

Remuneration:

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

Hardware, Software and Communication:

The consultant must be equipped with a laptop, which must be portable and must run at least Windows 7. The consultant must be reasonably accessible by email and telephone (preferably mobile). The use of reliable, internet-based (Skype or equivalent) is required.

Location and Duration:

The contract will run from 1 May 2017 until 30 April 2018. The consultancy will be based in Guyana.

Application for Consultancy

Applications must include:

A cover letter highlighting the specific post for which you are applying;
The completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment;
Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of main achievements of the Team Leader and both Research Assistants;
Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information for the Team Leader;
Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information for each Research Assistant;
Submission of a writing sample of a report of previous qualitative research conducted;
A detailed financial proposal quoted in United States dollars (US$) indicating:
- 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;
- Any costs to be incurred related to the consultancy. For example, venue rental and logistical arrangements when coordinating the focus groups, interviews etc.

The consultant contracted will be required to sign a statement of confidentiality and freedom from any conflict of interest with potential future contractors with respect to the TORs and work that they will be delivering.

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