Application requirement: 

To be registered for future assignments kindly attach your CV and cover letter, as  well as three relevant examples of your previous work.

Background of consultancy:

Aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Spotlight Initiative applies a human rights-based approach and upholds the principle of “leaving no one behind,” with particular attention to women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. It builds on established global normative frameworks and decades of experience, while continuing to strengthen the evidence base on what works to end violence against women and girls.

The Initiative works in a manner that deeply engages rights holders and survivors, local partners, governments, women’s rights organizations, and progressive movements. Ultimately, all interventions seek to contribute to the overall impact vision of the Initiative: All women and girls, particularly those most vulnerable, live a life free of violence. 

The Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0 (SIARP 2.0) is a flagship, multi-year regional programme, designed to accelerate progress toward ending all forms  of violence against women  and  girls (VAWG) in Africa,  including harmful practices, while strengthening the sexual and  reproductive health and  rights (SRHR). It builds on the achievements of phase one (2020–2023) and responds to persistent systemic barriers through strengthening regional frameworks, enhancing prevention, expanding services  for survivors, and empowering movements and civil society. For more information, please read the SIARP 2.0 Brief.

 SIARP 2.0 is supported by the European Union  and  will be implemented over four years 2026 - 2029. The    programme   will   be    implemented   through   a    coordinated   governance arrangement involving the recipient UN  organizations UNDP,  UNFPA,  UNICEF,  and UN

SIARP 2.0 works across a theory of change comprised of comprehensive, mutually reinforcing outcome areas (as captured in Spotlight Initiative's SIARP 2.0 Result framework):

 

Outcome A. Legal, policy, institutional frameworks, and data systems to end all forms of VAWG in Africa are enforced through improved accountability mechanisms, investments, and civil society engagement.

Outcome B. Regional institutions proactively drive more effective and coherent prevention of VAWG and promote respect for the SRHR of women and girls across contexts.

Outcome C. Regional and continental actors are equipped to guide Member States to ensure that women and girls who experience violence and harmful practices can access and use available, accessible, acceptable, and quality essential services, including for long-term recovery from violence.

Outcome D. Regional and sub-regional women's rights organizations, youth-led organizations and networks, civil society organizations, and groups facing multiple forms of discrimination, more effectively influence and advance progress on ending all forms of violence against women and girls, including harmful practices, and promoting SRHR.

As the Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0 begins implementation, key foundational steps will include refining the existing results framework - including the baselines and targets to establish a clear starting point for monitoring progress and measuring results. The corresponding indicator methodological notes will also be reviewed. Essential to these foundational steps is a technically sound baseline study, which captures the current state of VAWG, harmful practices and SRHR, by providing quality baseline data for all indicators in the programme’s results framework.

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.

Call for Consultants

It is in this context that Spotlight Initiative Africa regional Programme 2.0 will recruit a team of two consultants with proven expertise conducting baseline studies for EVAWG programmes working to end violence against women and girls and harmful practices and / or advance women’s rights and gender equality. Consultants should also have general experience in the field of monitoring and evaluation of gender-based violence, human rights, and women’s empowerment projects, and engaging directly with ranges of stakeholders including victims and survivors ethically, aligned with the principle of do no harm and a survivor centered approach.

Key objectives of the baseline study

The baseline study will focus collect and analyze quantitative and qualitative data to set out the current state of and trends in the comprehensive and intersecting outcomes defined by the programme’s theory of change, and as captured in the programme’s results framework, including on: 

• Regional laws, policies, and protocols that explicitly address violence against women and girls and harmful practices and/or the underlying or causal factors that perpetuate violence and harmful practices
• Institutions’ capacity, preparedness and ability to uphold and deliver on laws and policies that address violence against women and girls and or harmful practices as well as their ability to deliver services for victims and survivors of violence against women and girls. 
• The availability and usage of high-quality, globally comparable data related to gender-based violence, harmful practices, 
• Gender equitable social norms, attitudes and behaviors at community and individual levels, as well as the root causes of violence against women and girls and negative social norms. 
• Availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of essential services for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and harmful practices, including long-term recovery services and women’s empowerment initiatives. 
• The current state of the justice system and legal and social infrastructure for holding perpetrators accountable.

Capacity of women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and civil society organizations, including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization, to influence and advance progress on gender equity and women’s empowerment and ending violence against women and girls at regional level.

Specifically, the baseline study will:

• Provide baseline values and qualitative benchmarks for each indicator in the programme results framework (linked above), as well as the means of verification (data sources used to calculate the baseline) and approach to measurement used to calculate the baseline.   and regional baseline analysis aligned to the Spotlight Phase II Theory of Change,
• Baseline data must include all required disaggregation, in line with the indicator’s methodological notes. 
• Baseline data must be calculated using the measurement and calculation method defined in the indicator’s methodological notes.
• Based on the baseline findings and the nature of the data, the consultant will adapt and align   the methodological notes for selected indicators that require separate guidance beyond the global methodology.
• Based on the baseline findings, the consultant will adapt existing global methodological notes to the regional context and develop methodological guidance for indicators that are not covered at the global level.
• Based on baseline data, provide recommendations to the programme team on annual milestones and overall targets for each indicator. 
• Where data gaps exist (or there are significant measurement challenges), provide recommendations to the programme team on whether the indicator should be adapted, replaced, or removed. In such cases, consultants may also propose indicators (ideally from the Spotlight Initiative-wide Results Framework) for which baseline values can be reliably established, and/or recommend capturing progress through qualitative or narrative reporting.
• Institutions’ capacity, preparedness and ability to uphold and deliver on laws and policies that address violence against women and girls and or harmful practices as well as their ability to deliver services for victims and survivors of violence against women and girls. 
• The availability and usage of high-quality, globally comparable data related to gender-based violence, harmful practices, 
• Gender equitable social norms, attitudes and behaviors at community and individual levels, as well as the root causes of violence against women and girls and negative social norms. 
• Availability, accessibility, acceptability and quality of essential services for victims and survivors of gender-based violence and harmful practices, including long-term recovery services and women’s empowerment initiatives. 
• The current state of the justice system and legal and social infrastructure for holding perpetrators accountable.
• Capacity of women's rights groups, autonomous social movements and civil society organizations, including those representing youth and groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization, to influence and advance progress on gender equity and women’s empowerment and ending violence against women and girls at regional level.
• Specifically, the baseline study will:
• Provide baseline values and qualitative benchmarks for each indicator in the programme results framework (linked above), as well as the means of verification (data sources used to calculate the baseline) and approach to measurement used to calculate the baseline.   and regional baseline analysis aligned to the Spotlight Phase II Theory of Change,
• Baseline data must include all required disaggregation, in line with the indicator’s methodological notes. 
• Baseline data must be calculated using the measurement and calculation method defined in the indicator’s methodological notes.
• Based on the baseline findings and the nature of the data, the consultant will adapt and align   the methodological notes for selected indicators that require separate guidance beyond the global methodology.
• Based on the baseline findings, the consultant will adapt existing global methodological notes to the regional context and develop methodological guidance for indicators that are not covered at the global level.
• Based on baseline data, provide recommendations to the programme team on annual milestones and overall targets for each indicator. 

• Where data gaps exist (or there are significant measurement challenges), provide recommendations to the programme team on whether the indicator should be adapted, replaced, or removed. In such cases, consultants may also propose indicators (ideally from the Spotlight Initiative-wide Results Framework) for which baseline values can be reliably established, and/or recommend capturing progress through qualitative or narrative reporting

  Methodology

• The baseline study should align with Spotlight Initiative Africa Regional Programme 2.0’s grounding principles.  These include a human rights based approach, a survivor centered focus, meaningful participation of civil society, intersectional analysis, and a commitment to leaving no one behind.

• The study should also promote strong collaboration with national governments, regional institutions and organizations, including Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and regional civil society networks, as well as other relevant stakeholders. This collaboration should ensure a robust and intersectional analysis of the baseline situation across all indicators.

  The following principles should guide the design and implementation of the baseline study:

• Survivor-centered approach.. All data collection must prioritize the safety, dignity, and wellbeing of survivors of violence. This includes ensuring confidentiality at every stage, obtaining informed consent, and applying trauma-informed practices so that participation in the study does not cause re-traumatization or distress.
• Intersectionality. The study must recognize that women and girls experience violence and marginalization differently depending on overlapping identities, including based on age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, disability and / or other identities. The methodology – including sampling, tools, and analysis – should be designed to capture this complexity rather than treat women and girls as a homogenous group.
• Participatory and inclusive design. A range of stakeholders should be meaningfully engaged in the design and implementation of the baseline study, including survivors, community members, service providers, cultural leaders, civil society organizations (including particularly women's rights organizations), RUNO regional offices, the AUC, REC, and national governments.
• Rigor and triangulation. Data must be of high quality, collected through transparent and reproducible processes, and triangulated across multiple sources and methods to strengthen reliability. The consultants should clearly document all methodological choices, limitations, and assumptions.
• Mixed methods. The baseline study must use both quantitative and qualitative data to  establish measurable baseline values against indicators in the results framework and provide the contextual depth needed to understand why conditions exist and how change may unfold.
• Representative sampling The sampling strategy must be adequate in scope and purposively designed to reflect the diversity of stakeholders and the target population, including gender diversity and the range of experiences among vulnerable and marginalized groups. Sampling choices should be transparent and clearly justified in the baseline study’s inception report.
• Do no harm. The study must be grounded in a thorough understanding of the context. Data collection activities should not create or exacerbate tensions, reinforce inequalities, or increase risks to individuals or communities. Consultants are required to engage with the ethical considerations outlined in the following section and to demonstrate how their proposed approach upholds this principle throughout.
• Ethical Considerations: In addition to what is outlined in this section, please refer to the Ethical and safety recommendations for intervention research on violence against women and  UN Women and WHO Respect Framework (pages 5-7) and UNEG Ethical Principles for Harnessing AI in UN Evaluations. for additional guidance on ethical standards. 
• Confidentiality and Consent: Ensure that all participants give informed consent, and that their privacy is respected at all stages of the study.
• Gender Sensitivity: Apply gender-sensitive language and approaches to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and biases. Acknowledge and address any power dynamics in participant interactions.
• Safety and Protection: in line with a survivor centered approach, provide safety measures for participants, especially survivors of GBV, to ensure they are not further harmed during the study. Consider psychological support services for participants during and after participation in the study.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) use: Ensure that any use of AI is human-centred, transparent and ethically governed, upholding the data protection and safety with full human oversight at all stages. All outputs should be critically reviewed and validated agains contextual knowledge by the consultants to avoid bias, misinterpretation, or harm - particularly for women, adolescents, and vulnerable populations.

Key deliverables

1. Inception report:  As per the template, clearly defines the stakeholder analysis, the approach and methodology to the baseline study, data collection instruments, scope and limitations of the study, work plan and timeline with specified deadlines for each deliverable. The inception report should also clearly explain the sampling methodology for data collection. 
2. Data Analysis and Interpretation: Clear analysis of data using both quantitative and qualitative methods.
3. Baseline Report: A comprehensive report as per the template, outlining the findings, including current context, attitudes, perceptions, and barriers related to achieving the outcomes. 

Note: The baseline study must include the results framework as a table in an annex, with columns for the baseline values established for each indicator , milestones, and  targets, along with columns for data sources used to calculate the baseline, means of verification and the methodological note/approach to measurement using  the existing global methodological note. 

1. A presentation (editable PPT) clearly outlining the key findings and recommendations derived from the baseline study.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

The consultants are expected to be based within the African continent to facilitate smooth coordination of consultations and virtual data collection activities. Data collection will combine field-based and virtual approaches, depending on the method and target population.

Limited travel is expected to accompany this consultancy to field locations that further qualify and validate the programme baseline. Locations must consider minimal travel time and cost. Specific field visits / travel and locations will be determined collaboratively with the SIARP team. 

Working Days for Each Consultant” refers to the number of days that both the Lead Consultant and the Consultant are each expected to contribute to the technical work of the assignment.

** Additional Working Days for Lead Consultant” refers to the extra days allocated only to the Lead Consultant for team coordination, communication with the PCU, quality assurance, consolidation of inputs, submission of deliverables, and leading presentations and validation processes.

Selection Criteria and team composition 
 The assignment will be undertaken by a team of two consultants composed of:

• One Lead Consultant
• One Consultant

Both consultants are expected to meet the minimum requirements listed for their respective role individually. The criteria are not intended to be met collectively across the team. 

3.1. Lead Consultant

The Lead Consultant will serve as the team leader and principal focal point for communication with the SIARP 2.0 Programme Coordination Unit (PCU). The Lead Consultant will be responsible for overall coordination of the assignment, quality assurance and submission of all deliverables. 

Minimum qualifications and experience:

• Master’s degree in gender studies, social sciences, development studies, public health, international development, monitoring and evaluation, human rights, sociology, political science, or another closely related field.
• At least 5 years (required) of strong expertise in result based monitoring and evaluation of survivor centered, human rights, gender-based violence programmes or projects.
• At least 10 years of experience in conducting baseline studies for comprehensive programmes to end gender based violence in Africa, using mixed-methods and participatory and inclusive methods of data collection.
• Strong knowledge of African regional and continental institutions and frameworks as they relate to VAWG and HP, including the African Union and RECs, with understanding of institutional reform, capacity building, and organizational strengthening processes as they relate to EVAWG and harmful practices, as well.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender responsive and human-rights based approaches to addressing violence against women and girls and harmful practices, particularly experience engaging with survivors through gender-sensitive and trauma informed approaches aligned with the WHO Ethical and safety recommendations for intervention research on violence against women and  UN Women and WHO Respect Framework(pages 5-7), UNEG Ethical Principles for Harnessing AI in UN Evaluations.pdf while conducting data collection and research related to ending violence against women and girls. 
• Experience conducting intersectional needs / situational analysis.
• The candidate/s must be fluent in spoken and written English and French.

How to apply:

Interested candidates must provide the following:

• Technical proposal 
• CVs of consultant(s)

The technical proposal should cover the following: 

1. Understanding of the objectives of the baseline study; 
2. A proposed methodology, including how the baseline study will be gender and human rights responsive(including limitations); 
3. How the study will ensure the ethical participation of survivors; including "Do no harm" gender sensitivity and AI use; 
4. A proposed work plan and timeline for completing the assignment
5. Provide at least one sample of a previously conducted baseline study and a comparable research or evaluation report demonstrating relevant experience.

Submissions should include a technical  proposal, with a maximum length of 10 pages, excluding the consultants' CVs. 

Proposals must be submitted by April 22 2026 via UNFPA Application website.

For any questions related to this study, please send them to begna@unfpa.org and to@samare@unfpa.org  . Please DO NOT send applications via these emails. Only for queries.

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.