The Position:

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is one of the priority issues addressed by the Ministry of Health and Population, Government of Nepal. The existing programs aim to promote equitable access to support services and prevention measures for GBV throughout the country. Nepal has shown some progress in addressing GBV, but prevalence still remains high. According to the Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) 2022, 27% of ever-partnered women aged 15-49 have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetime, with 23% reporting physical violence, 13% emotional violence, and 7% sexual violence. Compared to NDHS 2016, where lifetime IPV was 26%, the rate has remained largely stagnant, with a slight increase in past-12-month IPV from 14% to 17%. GBV is highest among women with no education (28% physical violence) and in the lowest wealth quintile (26% physical violence), and rural areas show slightly higher rates than urban (23% vs. 21% for physical violence). Help-seeking remains low, with only 37% of women who experienced physical or sexual violence in the past year seeking help, primarily from family (64%) rather than formal sources like police (8%).
 

Furthermore, economic empowerment of women is closely linked to reducing GBV, as it enhances autonomy and reduces vulnerability. NDHS 2022 indicates that 69% of women aged 15-49 are employed, but much of this is vulnerable employment (91% for women vs. 72% for men). Asset ownership is low, with only 21% of women owning a house or land (alone or jointly). Bank account ownership has improved to 63% (up from 42% in 2016), and mobile phone ownership stands at 79%. Participation in household decision-making is relatively high at 78%, but 25% of women justify wife-beating for at least one reason, indicating persistent gender norms that hinder empowerment. Empowerment is lowest among women with no education (only 12% highly empowered) and in the poorest quintile, where decision-making and asset control are limited. Adolescent girls (15-19) face compounded risks, with 27% of Nepal's population in this age group, high early marriage rates (median age at first marriage 17.5 years), and low demand satisfaction for empowerment needs.

How you can make a difference:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for delivering a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe and every young person's potential is fulfilled.  UNFPA’s strategic plan (2022-2025), reaffirms the relevance of the current strategic direction of UNFPA and focuses on three transformative results: to end preventable maternal deaths; end unmet need for family planning; and end gender-based violence and harmful practices. These results capture our strategic commitments on accelerating progress towards realizing the ICPD and SDGs in the Decade of Action leading up to 2030. Our strategic plan calls upon UN Member States, organizations and individuals to “build forward better”, while addressing the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic on women’s and girls’ access to sexual and reproductive health and reproductive rights, recover lost gains and realize our goals.

In a world where fundamental human rights are at risk, we need principled and ethical staff, who embody these international norms and standards, and who will defend them courageously and with full conviction.

UNFPA is seeking candidates that transform, inspire and deliver high impact and sustained results; we need staff who are transparent, exceptional in how they manage the resources entrusted to them and who commit to deliver excellence in programme results.

Job Purpose:

This study will analyze women’s lived experiences with gender-based violence (GBV) support mechanisms and economic empowerment opportunities, with the objective of identifying systemic gaps and areas for improvement. Using process mapping, it will capture women’s pathways from their own perspectives, including help-seeking behaviors, access to and navigation of services, economic barriers, and enabling or limiting factors that influence autonomy and resilience. The study will also assess the constraints women encounter in relation to GBV, economic participation, service accessibility, and the quality of post-experience support available to them. 

You would be responsible for:

1. Analysis of Help-Seeking and Service Use
   To generate insights into help-seeking behaviors, GBV service referral patterns, and economic empowerment preferences of unmarried adolescent girls (15–19), young married women (20–24), and married women (25–49) in Karnali and Madhesh Provinces.
2. Determinants of Access and Influencing Factors
   To examine determinants that shape access to GBV services and economic opportunities for women and girls, with particular attention to the roles of adolescent boys, fathers, community opinion leaders, CPSWs, and service providers (e.g., OCMCs and safe houses), by analyzing motivators, experiences, and barriers to promote gender equality and empowerment.
3. Mapping the Women’s Journey
   To document and map women’s pathways to GBV services and economic resources, capturing perspectives from individual experiences, and highlighting critical intersections between user expectations, service availability, economic opportunities, and post-engagement outcomes.
4. Data Collection Management
   To Lead qualitative data collection (FGDs, in-depth interviews) with primary and secondary respondents.
5. Reporting and Knowledge Products
   To lead synthesis of findings and preparation of the study report with actionable recommendations. To Ensure development of presentations and dissemination materials tailored to diverse stakeholders.
6. Leadership and Oversight
   To lead the overall evidence generation study, ensuring robust methodology, quality assurance, and coherence across data collection, analysis, and reporting.
7. Coordination and Stakeholder Engagement
   To engage with key stakeholders, including government counterparts, service providers, front line workers, GBV survivors and community representatives and ensuring alignment of findings with national and provincial priorities, and fostering ownership of recommendations.
    

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education:  

• Master’s degree in social sciences, development studies, gender studies, sociology, anthropology or a closely related field from a recognized university

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 5 years demonstrated track record of conducting social norm analysis using social norm analysis tools, with a strong preference for demonstrated expertise in gender-based violence (GBV) and economic engagements.
• Demonstrable recent track record of providing high-quality analysis of qualitative data of gender-based violence using internationally approved tools.
• Successful track record of having conducted qualitative analysis by using NVivo or other qualitative analysis into themes.
• Experience of working with the United Nations or international organizations conducting assessments of implementing partners.
• Excellent report writing and qualitative analysis skills with prevention and response components of GBV and market analysis and surveys.

Languages: 

Fluency in English and Nepali required. 

Required Competencies: 

Values:

  Exemplifying integrity, 

  Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system, 

  Embracing cultural diversity, 

  Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

  Achieving results,

  Being accountable,

  Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,

  Thinking analytically and strategically,

  Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.
 

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.