National Consultant - Baseline Study for the Project: “Ending violence against women and girls and advancing women’s leadership in the public sector in Zanzibar & Tanzania Mainland”

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, peace, and security. Placing women's rights at the centre of all its efforts, UN Women leads and coordinates United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality translate into action globally. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States' priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors.

UN Women, in collaboration with the European Union Delegation and the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar (RGoZ), is implementing a seven-year project titled “Ending violence against women & girls and advancing women’s leadership in the public sector in Zanzibar & Tanzania Mainland” (2022 – 2028) in three regions, namely: Zanzibar, Pemba and Mainland. Within the regions of Zanzibar and Pemba, the districts of South Unguja in Unguja and Mkoani in Pemba have been selected for the project interventions due to the high prevalence of violence against women and girls. The programme makes the environment and services more equitable for women to live free from violence and enhances equality in participation, leadership and decision-making, including in actions related to justice. In addition, the project creates a supportive learning environment through policies, legal frameworks, services, and resources, enabling adolescent girls and young women in Zanzibar to complete advanced secondary and tertiary education via alternative, accelerated, and complementary learning modalities.To realize its objectives, the project strengthens “the capacity of the RGoZ to implement the current National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women and Children (NAP-VAWC) (2017-22), and will promote leadership and participation of women. 

The project is aligned with the UN Women’s Global Strategic Plan (2026-2029) that has defined ending violence against women and girls, effective leadership and participation of women in decision-making and women’s economic rights among its key pillars to enhance the empowerment of women. The project is also aligned with the UN Women Country Office Strategic Note and the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF). Moreover, the project builds on and aligns with various national development strategies, policies, and legal frameworks such as the Zanzibar Gender Policy (2016), Zanzibar Development Vision 2050; the Blue Economy Policy (2020); the five-year Zanzibar Development Plan (ZADEP) 2022-2026. A further key governmental commitment to EVAW is represented by the Five-Year National Plan of Action to End Violence against Women and Children II (2024/25–2028/29) in Zanzibar, a framework on prevention and response that aims at focusing on primary prevention and early intervention efforts to prevent violence before it occurs and address the root causes as well as the risks and protective factors associated with violence against women and children.

Despite efforts and advancements, the UNSDCF, the Country Gender Equality Profile (CGEP), the Tanzania Demographic and Health Survey and Malaria Indicator Survey 2022 (TDHSMIS 2022) together with other comprehensive and in-depth studies show that many gaps are present between international and regional commitments and national level policies, operational development plans and allocation of corresponding resources—especially in relation to EVAW. Major issues of concern identified during the implementation of the NPA-VAWC I and consultations with stakeholders during the development of the project document include: i) inconsistent legal and policy framework to address prevention and response to Violence against Women and Children in Zanzibar; ii) lack of strong coordination mechanisms, institutional systems and structures for EVAWC, iii) insufficient holistic and transversal integration of all services addressing GBV; iv) inadequate research and data on violence against women and girls; and, v) lack of male engagement strategies to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls. Vi) lack of supportive learning environment through policies, legal frameworks, services, and resources, enabling adolescent girls and young women in Zanzibar to complete advanced secondary and tertiary education via alternative, accelerated, and complementary learning modalities.

Objectives of the assignment 
The baseline study will focus on the collection and analysis of data (quantitative and qualitative) for a set of performance indicators and the setting of targets for the “Ending violence against women & girls and advancing women’s leadership in the public sector in Zanzibar & Tanzania Mainland” project. The baseline study will also guide the design and refinement of evidence-based project strategies and approaches to be applied in the Project.
The baseline study‘s specific  objectives are: 
a.To collect information to complete the baseline data for the set of performance indicators included in the results framework (Outcome 1 of the annexed results framework) of the “Ending Violence against Women & Girls and Advancing Women’s Leadership in the Public Sector in Zanzibar & Tanzania Mainland” project. 
b.To assess the existing legal and policy framework related to violence against women and children (VAWC) in Zanzibar, identifying strengths, weaknesses, and gaps, with a focus on promoting an enhanced enabling environment for prevention and response (Output 1.1).
c.To examine the current multisectoral coordination mechanisms in place for preventing and responding to VAWC in Zanzibar, evaluating their effectiveness and identifying opportunities for improvement to enhance coordination capacity (Output 1.2).
d.To analyze the government institutional system and structures for gender equality and women's empowerment (GEWE) in Zanzibar, identifying areas for strengthening to ensure a more robust and sustainable approach to addressing VAWC (Output 1.3).
e.To assess the status and capacity of routine data collection systems for Gender Based Violence (GBV) in Zanzibar, identifying areas for strengthening with a particular emphasis on digitization to produce high-quality and globally comparable data on different forms of violence (Output 1.4).
f.To assess the status and capacity of national and local authorities in Zanzibar to develop comprehensive interventions for the prevention of sexual violence against women and girls (SVAWG) in both private and public spaces, focusing on knowledge, skills, and resources required for effective intervention strategies (Output 1.5).
g.To assess the availability, accessibility, and capacity of services provided to women and girls who have experienced violence at the national and local levels in Zanzibar, identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement to ensure that survivors have access to comprehensive and effective support services (Output 1.6).
h.To generate evidence-based recommendations for policymakers, government agencies, actors and stakeholders in Zanzibar, aimed at strengthening the legal and policy framework, improving multisectoral coordination, enhancing institutional systems, promoting data collection and digitization, improving service provision for survivors of VAWC, and contributing to the global knowledge base on VAWC, with a specific focus on Zanzibar.

Education Component:
The project also includes a significant focus on tertiary education, aiming to support adolescent girls and young women in completing advanced secondary and tertiary education. The specific objectives related to this component include:
1.Assess the current state of girls' participation in tertiary education: Evaluate enrollment rates, completion rates, and barriers to access for girls in tertiary education institutions.
2.Identify existing support mechanisms: Examine the availability and effectiveness of scholarships, mentorship programs, and other support systems for girls in tertiary education.
3.Evaluate the impact of social norms and cultural practices: Analyze how social norms and cultural practices affect girls' participation, performance and success in tertiary education.
4.Examine the integration of gender-responsive policies: Assess the extent to which tertiary education institutions have adopted and implemented gender-responsive policies, laws and practices.

Scope of work 
The implementation of the project starts with undertaking a baseline study in the project sites (16 Shehias of the South Unguja in Unguja and Mkoani districts) in Zanzibar and Pemba. This study aims to further analyze gathered information about VAWG, including its causes, factors that contribute to it, and the perspectives of both women and men. It will also focus on aspects such as women's and girls' safety in tertiary education institutions, public transportation, and cyber/online violence. The purpose of this study is to gain a better understanding of these issues and accelerate efforts to end violence against women and girls while empowering women's leadership and enabling adolescent girls and young women in Zanzibar to complete advanced secondary and tertiary education via alternative, accelerated, and complementary learning modalities.

The baseline study will document barriers and strategic interventions in different project regions, based on discussions with and suggestions from various right-holders and duty-bearers to enhance the enabling environment, prevention, and response mechanisms to VAWC, women’s leadership, and participation in decision-making in the public sphere. Emphasis should be placed on the needs of the most marginalized, including women with disabilities to understand their specific needs and solutions to their problems. The analysis of the data collected through the baseline study will be used to a) firstly study the current situation of VAWC & women’s leadership and participation in decision-making in the project Shehias; and b) secondly, document potential opportunities and solutions to promote women’s leadership and participation in decision making at the local level, in both public spheres.

Against this background, UN Women calls for a consultant to collect and analyze the necessary baseline data.

1.Geographical area 
The study will cover the two project sites, namely the districts of South Unguja in Unguja and Mkoani in Pemba. The study will be conducted to estimate violence against women and girls from 15 years and over, irrespective of their marital status, in the project sites. The content of the study will focus on the different forms of violence in the last year and lifetime (incidence and prevalence); the services accessed by the service providers: legal, psycho-social, health, cost of services, information to perpetrators, attitude toward violence against women, etc.; perceptions on positive and negative social norms; violence on women’s and girls’ prevention and risk factors; community-based practices in preventing and responding to violence against women and children.

Interviews will also be conducted with selected key institutions and potential target beneficiaries that the UN Women has identified and will engage with during the project designing and implementing stages. Relevant Government Authorities at regional, district councils, and community levels including the Ministry of Community Development Gender Elderly and Children (MCDGEC), PORALG, Zanzibar Presidents Office, Finance and Planning, police gender and children desks, one-stop center, social welfare officers, women, and children coordinators;  various leadership and socio-economic committees, Shehas, existing women socio-economic groups, selected influential/religious leaders, selected CSOs, and women with disabilities CSOs and networks. A preliminary list of specific stakeholders and beneficiary groups will be shared by the UN Women Project Team to inform further development and finalization of the field visit plan by the consultant.

2.Methodology 
The consultant is expected to propose appropriate mixed methods based on the stated objectives, including quantitative and qualitative, which will be used to collect and analyze data/information to triangulate the information and promote the participation of different groups of stakeholders, and this has to be done in line with internally accepted ethical standards. However, the consultant will elaborate on the methodologies and scientific sampling techniques for the study as well as for the other qualitative methods to be used in the baseline study.

3.Description of required services/results

The baseline study will consist of three key phases of work: inception, data collection and analysis, and drafting, validation, and finalizing of the study report.

Phase I: Inception Phase
Kickoff Meeting: The consultant will have a kickoff meeting with the UN Women Team to understand the program after reviewing the key documents.
Inception Report: The consultant shall submit an electronic copy of the draft Inception Report to the UN Women project team. This report will outline the methodology, work plan, and timeline for the baseline study.
Given the multi-dimensional nature of the assignment, the inception report shall clearly outline the sequencing, integration, and interlinkages of the different components of the study, including EVAW, governance/institutional systems, and the education component.
The report shall demonstrate how these thematic areas will be analysed in a coherent and mutually reinforcing manner, including how data from different sources and components will be triangulated and synthesized into a single baseline assessment.

Phase II: Data Collection and Analysis Phase
The study will adopt a mixed-methods approach, primarily focused on the analysis of existing data and desk review, complemented by targeted qualitative data collection.
Specifically, the consultant will analyse available household survey data and other existing datasets, alongside relevant literature and administrative data sources. This will be complemented by key informant interviews (KIIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) to validate findings, fill critical data gaps, and provide contextual insights.
Quantitative data will be analysed using appropriate statistical tools (e.g. SPSS, STATA, or Excel), while qualitative data will be analysed using thematic analysis approaches.

Phase III: Finalizing the Baseline Report
Zero-Draft Baseline Report: The zero-draft report with the preliminary results of the baseline assessment will be shared for review and comments by the UN Women Team after the completion of data analysis by the consultant. The report format and outline are to be agreed upon during the inception phase and included in the inception report.
First Draft Baseline Report and Presentation: This report will be submitted and presented to UN Women, MCDGEC, Ministry of Legal and Constitutional Affairs, Zanzibar (Legal Aid Department, Law Reform Department, and Prosecution Department), MOEVT, and other identified representatives of project responsible parties for review and validation of results.
Final Baseline Report: The final report may be prepared through multiple iterations if the quality standards are not met within the first rounds. The final report should include the completed analytical framework for baseline assessment. The review and revision process from the draft report to the final report should not exceed four weeks.

Duties and Responsibilities 
Supervisory and Administrative Arrangements:  
The consultant will report directly to the Project Manager, who will be responsible for overall coordination and administrative oversight of the assignment. Technical supervision and guidance will be provided by the Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting (PMER) Specialist. Overall strategic guidance and oversight will be provided by UN Women Management, in close collaboration with the technical team comprising focal persons from responsible parties, including MoCDGEC and MOEVT.
UN Women shall provide the overall oversight and facilitate coordination with MoCDGEC and other actors to the extent possible throughout the baseline study process to ensure the effective and timely completion of the assignment.

Deliverables:

The consultant is expected to upload all relevant resource documents, raw data, clean data sets, and draft reports collected or prepared for this assignment on a shared drive to be created by the UN Women project team. Any documents and information provided by UN Women, as well as the entire research/baseline information, shall remain the property of UN Women, and the consultant cannot produce/reproduce the information without the approval of UN Women.  

All deliverables are to be submitted in English language versions.  

Payment schedule
a.20% upon submission of and acceptance of the inception report.
b.30% upon submission of the draft baseline study report.
c.20% upon submission of revised baseline study report after taking into account the inputs from UN Women, MCDGEC & MOEVT.
d.30% upon submission of the final consultancy report.  

Timeframe:  Start date and end date for completion of required services/results
The number of consultancy days is 31 working days, spread over a period of two and a half months to allow for time for study planning, ethical clearance, UN Women report review, and comments and revisions by the consultant. The study is expected to commence on 25 February 2026. The proposed working schedule is outlined in the table below:

Table 1: Inductive work plan 

Core Values
Integrity, professionalism, and respect for diversity, including sensitivity to gender, disability, and social inclusion, and adherence to ethical standards in GBV/EVAW research.

Core Competencies
Results-based management and accountability, with the ability to deliver high-quality outputs within agreed timelines.
Strong communication and analytical writing skills, with the ability to present complex findings clearly.
Effective stakeholder engagement and collaboration with government, UN, civil society, and community actors.

Functional Competencies
Research and EVAW Expertise: Strong knowledge of gender equality, women’s empowerment, and violence against women and girls, with proven experience in mixed-methods research and baseline assessments.
Data Management, Analysis, and AI Application: Proficiency in quantitative and qualitative analysis (SPSS, STATA, Excel), including the responsible use of digital and AI tools to support data processing, analysis, visualization, and synthesis, ensuring data quality, confidentiality, and adherence to ethical and “do no harm” principles.
Evaluation and RBM Approaches: Ability to apply theory of change, indicator measurement, and evidence-based analysis to inform programme design and recommendations.
Adaptive Thinking and Facilitation: Ability to identify data gaps, apply critical thinking, and facilitate validation workshops and stakeholder consultations.

Technical Knowledge (Desirable)
Familiarity with UN Women programming and tools.
Knowledge of Tanzania/Zanzibar gender and GBV policy frameworks.
Experience integrating disability inclusion and intersectionality into research.

Required Skills and Experience:

Education:    

Master’s degree or higher in a relevant field,  gender studies, gender, and sustainable development, demography, public health, sociology, or related social science field.

Experience:    

Minimum 7 years of hands-on experience in conducting baseline studies or research for development programs. Previous experience in conducting such activities in the Tanzania context will be considered an asset.
Proven track record in conducting baseline assessments in VAW or VAW in Education sector, preferably on violence against women and girls.
Experience in leading research and studyies and producing high-quality reports at the international level.
Proven track record and experience in designing and conducting quantitative and qualitative data collection tools, conducting data collection and analysis and using participatory approaches both in the field and through digital platforms (phone, online) in the sectors relevant to the study (gender, development, social science, etc.)
Experience in using the theory of change, outcome mapping, and Results-Based Management approaches to development programmes.
Experience in designing and applying effective research approaches to assess the causes and drivers, knowledge, attitudes and behaviors, decision–making processes, social norms, and services, that affect women’s leadership, livelihood, and their domestic and care work. 
Experience working with UN and International agencies etc., in the delivery of conducting research and/or baseline studies.

Language Requirements:    

Excellent skills in both written and oral English are required, and knowledge of the Kiswahili language is desirable.