Qualitative Researcher

Background

OBJECTIVE

To contract an individual to undertake qualitative research on the potential for livelihoods programming to prevent GBV for refugee and displaced women and girls in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.  The researcher will undertake qualitative research with key stakeholders in these settings under the supervision of UNDP and a lead researcher. The final research report will contain design recommendations for a UNDP “GBV responsive” livelihoods pilot project to be implemented under the global project on Ending Gender-Based Violence and Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (GBV and SDGs project).

BACKGROUND

UNDP has launched a new initiative to support the achievement of the SDGs by helping countries make progress on the specific gender-based violence and related targets. UNDP’s GBV and SDGs project will test the integration of GBV prevention and response components into sectorial programmes and measure the results. It will use the findings of what works and what did not to advocate for better policies and programmes to address and prevent GBV across sectors such as livelihoods, health, environmental programming and good governance.  The initiative is also focused on improving specific strategies to address GBV in locales with high prevalence of violence against women and low levels of resources dedicated to prevention and response in adherence to the SDG principle to leave no one behind.  Some of the proposed pilots will be costed to estimate the cost of possible scale up to reach a greater number of people.

Significant interventions have occurred in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq to support the enhancement of economic livelihoods for refugees, internally displaced people and returnees.  But while livelihoods programming has increased, livelihood programming in humanitarian contexts tends to be hindered by several challenges.  Programmes developed in crisis and post crisis settings are often launched without a thorough mapping of the local political, economic, and social landscape, and therefore are not designed with context-specific barriers or opportunities in mind. Also, livelihood initiatives are often not subject to sufficient evaluation. To date, monitoring efforts have focused on how well programmes meet targets (such as the number of beneficiaries served) rather than their impact on the quality of the lives of refugees.  These shortcomings apply particularly to any programming designed to support displaced and refugee women; little analysis has been done on the social impact of such programming and whether it can help reduce levels of GBV and/or mitigate risks of GBV as well as whether it can provide a platform for both behavioural and institutional transformation.  We know that evidence is mixed in terms of livelihoods/economic autonomy interventions for women as a GBV prevention approach.  Research shows that increased access to credits and assets can either increase or decrease the woman’s risk of intimate partner violence depending on the context in which women live.  But the evidence that exists is from “stable” development settings and premised on household dynamics in these settings.  The dynamics may be very different in humanitarian settings where options for economic autonomy for women and men are limited and the dynamic for broader attitudinal transformations will be very different.

UNDP is seeking to analyse available data on GBV in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq amongst refugee and displaced women and to carry out a review of existing livelihoods programming to seek to establish what impact such programming is having in the lives of women as well as what might be done to improve such programming to mitigate violence in future. The findings will help inform the development of future livelihood programmes aimed at enhancing capacities of vulnerable populations to secure sustainable livelihoods whilst influencing change which can address drivers of GBV.  Specifically, the findings of the study will help define a design for a pilot project to test GBV responsive livelihoods programming.  Types of violence will include, among others, intimate partner violence, non-partner rape, child marriage and trafficking. Based on these assessments the researchers will recommend designs for livelihoods programming, responding to the needs of women and helping to prevent GBV.  In Iraq, the study will include livelihoods programming approaches for returnee. 

Duties and Responsibilities

A report, synthesizing qualitative inputs, and containing recommendations for a pilot GBV responsive livelihoods project

The main task of this assignment is to collect and analyse qualitative data from key stakeholders in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.  The tasks related to the qualitative research include:

• With lead researcher, draft and finalise a research plan and protocol
• Draft and finalise key research questions and interview guides
• Undertake data collection in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq
• Oversee the translation of summaries of the raw data into English
• Undertake data analysis in partnership with lead researcher
• Contribute to the draft report and its revisions

Potential research questions for this assignment include:

• What types of violence do women and girls experience in these settings?  What does it look like and how often does it occur?
• What services exist for women who experience violence in these settings? How often are they used, why or why not?
• What can be improved to reduce the levels of violence in these settings? What changes are needed most?
• What are the benefits of participation in livelihoods activities?  What are the potential drawbacks?
• What changes have occurred as a result of participation in livelihoods activities? What works well with these activities? What can be improved?
• How could these programmes help reduce risk of (different types) of violence?
• What are the perceptions of men linked to existing livelihoods programming for women?

TRAVEL PLAN

Part of this assignment will require the expert to travel to Jordan, Lebanon, and Iraq for up to 15 days in each country.

Travel plan to be included in the methodology

Any change to the preliminary travel plan/schedule hereunder, in such cases, UNDP will cover travel costs in accordance with corporate regulations and rules. In the case of unforeseeable travel, payment of travel costs including tickets, lodging and terminal expenses should be agreed upon, between the respective business unit and Individual Consultant, prior to travel and will be reimbursed

All envisaged travel costs must be included in the financial proposal.

In general, UNDP should not accept travel costs exceeding those of an economy class ticket. Should the IC wish to travel on a higher class he/she should do so using their own resources.

Duty Station

The consultancy will be home-based, with travel expected to the countries concerned ie Jordan, Lebanon and central Iraq.

Duration of assignment

The consultancy will take up to 55 working days over a period of four months. The consultancy will be completed between December 2017 and March 2018.  

Competencies

Corporate competencies

• Demonstrates integrity by modelling the UN’s values and ethical standards
• Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of the United Nations
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability
• Treats all people fairly without favoritism

Functional Competencies

• In-depth knowledge on development and humanitarian issues;
• Ability to advocate and provide policy advice;
• Ability to handle confidential and politically sensitive issues in a responsible and mature manner;
• High level logical and methodical organizational skills;

DOCUMENTS TO BE INCLUDED WHEN SUBMITTING THE PROPOSALS.

Interested individual consultants must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications. Candidates that fail to submit the required information will not be considered.

1. Duly accomplished Letter of Confirmation of Interest and Availability using the template provided by UNDP;
2. Personal CV or P11, indicating all past experience from similar projects, as well as the contact details (email and telephone number) of the Candidate and at least three (3) professional references;
3. Financial Proposal that indicates the all-inclusive fixed total contract price, supported by a breakdown of costs, as per the table given in section D. template provided. 
4. Technical Proposal Methodology (a maximum of 2 pages technical proposal/Methodology detailing how consultant will approach the assignment, prioritizing activities to meet the deliverables as set above in the most efficient and effective manner
5. Writing sample of previous research assignment. 

All necessary information including: Complete Procurement Notice, The Selection Criteria, and Annexes are found on the following link under Procurement http://procurement-notices.undp.org/

Interested candidate shall apply the CV/P11 to Job advertisement website, hence consultant should submit to email:  Proc.contract.rscjo@undp.org : not later than Saturday 25 November  the following documents:

• CV/P11
• Confirm availability and financial proposal
• Brief description of why you consider yourself as the most suitable for the assignment
• Two page methodology and technical proposal
• Writing sample of research

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Interested candidates should provide lump sum fees for requested services with detailed breakdown (consultancy fees, round travel tickets, travel cost, living allowances during the missions., etc.) as per travel plan above

EVALUATION

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodologies:

Step I: Screening and desk review:

Individual consultants will be evaluated based on the following methodology.

Applications will be first screened and only candidates meeting the following minimum criteria will progress to the pool for shortlisting:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Refugee studies, or related field.

• Three Years experience at national or international level working on qualitative research.
• Excellent written and oral Arabic and English.

Shortlisted Candidates will be then assessed and scored against the following evaluation criteria.

Evaluation of Candidates (max 100 points):

• Previous Experience Research on GBV and/or with livelihoods programming in humanitarian settings 15%
• Experience managing data collection and data analysis  20%
• Experience drafting recommendations in language accessible to local partners.10%
• Experience writing and editing research findings. Weight: 10%
• Two page methodology and technical proposal; weight 30%
• Writing sample of research weight 15% 

Step II: Final evaluation

The final evaluation will combine the scores of desk review and financial proposal with the following weights assigned to each:

• Technical evaluation: 70%;
• Financial proposal: 30%

Required Skills and Experience

EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENTS

Education:

• Master’s Degree or equivalent in Economics, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Refugee studies, or related field.

Experience: 

• At least 3 years of experience at national or international level working on qualitative research.
• Research on GBV and/or with livelihoods programming in humanitarian settings, an asset
• Experience managing data collection and data analysis  
• Experience drafting recommendations in language accessible to local partners.
• Experience writing and editing research findings

Language:

Excellent written and oral Arabic and English.