National Consultants - Researchers,“Supporting Sustainable Peace in Blue Nile State Through Gender-Responsive Natural Resources Governance, Inclusive Conflict Resolution Mechanisms and Climate Resilient Livelihoods- Endline Survey

Background

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) strives to promote gender equality and women’s human rights, strengthen the implementation of gender-sensitive policy and legislation, and eliminate all forms of violence against women. UN Women is strategically positioned at both the national and locality levels in moving towards the realization of gender equality and women’s empowerment. UN Women provides support to innovative initiatives that promote women’s human rights, with a special focus on their economic security, governance/ political participation, freedom from violence, as well as access to justice. 

The joint UN project implemented by UN Women, UNEP and UNDP “Supporting Sustainable Peace in Blue Nile State through Gender-Responsive Natural Resource Governance, Inclusive Conflict Resolution Mechanisms, and Climate Resilient Livelihoods,” supported by the UN Peace Building Fund (PBF) was established in 2021 to address the compound risks associated with climate change, environmental degradation, and protracted armed conflict and aims to promote sustainable peace in Blue Nile Region by (1) strengthening the socio-economic stability of conflict-affected communities to cope with linked climate-conflict challenges; and (2) supporting gender-responsive, participatory, and inclusive governance and conflict resolution mechanisms to prevent and peacefully resolve natural resource-related disputes. To achieve its objectives, the project activities focused on interventions in three key areas: I. Climate-resilient livelihoods and socio-economic infrastructure: To promote sustainable economic recovery, the interventions in this area was support viable and climate-smart livelihood options for women and men (60 percent target beneficiaries will be women) as well as targeted investments in socio-economic infrastructure development prioritized by communities. II. Protection and access to justice: Recognizing the importance of safe and reliable access to natural resources to sustain livelihood opportunities, the project aimed at establishing and enhancing mechanisms to prevent and combat resource-related gender-based violence (GBV), to provide wholistic support to GBV survivors and ensure their access to justice. The Interventions included the establishment of “women centres” designed to address the comprehensive needs of GBV survivors as well as training of service providers to prevent and manage cases of gender-based violence. III. Inclusive governance and conflict resolution: To strengthen inclusive natural resource governance at the community level and enhance capacity to prevent or resolve natural resource-related conflicts, the project supported the establishment of community-based governance structures  for natural resource management, with women representing at 50 percent of leadership roles. Also, Interventions were included a facilitated community-led process to identify common environmental challenges and jointly identify actions for addressing these challenges. The project, also, attempted to link community level peacebuilding efforts to state initiatives through women-led dialogue forums and local peace centres. The project is being implemented in six communities across three localities in Blue Nile state, including Alkaili and Gambrda in Al Kurmuk locality,  Samsur and Derang in Baw locality, and Deim Saad and Yara in Geissan locality.

It is against this backdrop that, UN Women seeks to recruit a qualified consultant to undertake an endline survey to support and generate endline value for the project intervention and to facilitate the measurement of the achievement against the target. Additionally, the consultant will also investigate the role of displaced and returnee women, and women from the host communities in humanitarian and peacebuilding process after project interventions are completed and April 2025.

The consultant will be reporting to the joint project focal persons as the primary responsible persons, with support from UN women program Specialist, and UN PBF project coordinator; who will be the primary contact for contractual and payment matters

Duties and Responsibilities

Overall Objective

To assess the overall achievements made in fulfilling the project ultimate goals, and measure progress made, and the results

 Achieved against the target set during the baseline stage, and beyond that.

The researcher under supervision of the lead consultant will conduct endline survey using triangulation method to conduct the survey. a UN Women is facilitating the conduct of this endline survey, to assess the progress made against the above outcome and output indicators. The main purposes of the endline survey are as follows:

Specific objectives

1. Assess whether the project has contributed to enhancing sustainable economic recovery through climate-resilient livelihoods and socio-economic infrastructure. Use the project log framework, targets, and indicators as references to measure achievements. 

2. Reflect on how the project has improved women’s access to justice, supported women’s participation in local committees of resources and conflict management, and enhanced the adoption of measures to mitigate the risk GBV related natural resources (Use the project log framework, targets, and indicators as references to measure achievements. 

3. Identify the factors and mechanisms established to ensure women’s safe access to natural resources related to their livelihoods. 

4. Investigate any unintended outcomes the project has produced and examine the overall changes within the targeted communities in terms of socio-economic, political, and cultural aspects. 

5. Identify lessons learned, best practices, and key recommendations for improving and informing future interventions.

Methodology

This endline survey is specifically designed to measure the achievements against the established targets, as well as any additional outcomes. The methodology will utilize appropriate tools to assess unanticipated changes and unexpected results stemming from the project intervention. 

Survey Design: This survey is cross-sectional and targets all project beneficiaries. The consultant may employ suitable sampling techniques to ensure that the sample accurately represents all beneficiaries. 

Data Collection Tools: This endline survey will primarily be quantitative, though it will also include some qualitative information to provide context for the quantitative data and indicators. Additionally, it will capture the perceptions of beneficiaries and other key stakeholders regarding the changes that resulted from the project intervention. A primary fieldwork phase will be conducted to collect data. Questionnaires, focus group discussions (FGDs), and interviews will be designed to gather information. The sample size will be representative of all beneficiaries and key stakeholders to ensure that the survey results can be generalized to the target project areas.

Duties and responsibilities of the researcher: 

The researcher is expected to perform the following tasks:

Deliverables Deliverable Expected completion time (due day)  Payment Schedule (optional)  Inception report submitted by the consultant with inputs from the researchers.

2 days

18th – 22nd March 2025 30% upon the submission and approval of the Inception Report and approval of the tested and adjusted data collection tools by UN Women  Data collection

9 days

25th March – 2nd April 2025   Compiled the qualitative data collected (interviews, FGD) in one consolidated report, and quantitative data collection report. Submit a report to the lead consultant in the areas under responsibility including a compiled narrative of the qualitative data collected.

4 days

3rd -6th April 2025 70 % upon submission and the final approval of the satisfaction of data collection report.   15 days 100%

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy. Any trips to other cities will be confirmed accordingly.

CompetenciesCore Values: 

Required Skills and Experience

Education and Certification:

Experience:

Languages:

Fluency in English and Arabic is required.>

Equal opportunity

As an equal opportunity employer, UNDP values diversity as an expression of the multiplicity of nations and cultures where we operate and, as such, we encourage qualified applicants from all backgrounds to apply for roles in the organization. Our employment decisions are based on merit and suitability for the role, without discrimination. 

UNDP is also committed to creating an inclusive workplace where all personnel are empowered to contribute to our mission, are valued, can thrive, and benefit from career opportunities that are open to all.

Sexual harassment, exploitation, and abuse of authority

UNDP does not tolerate harassment, sexual harassment, exploitation, discrimination and abuse of authority. All selected candidates, therefore, undergo relevant checks and are expected to adhere to the respective standards and principles. 

Right to select multiple candidates

UNDP reserves the right to select one or more candidates from this vacancy announcement.  We may also retain applications and consider candidates applying to this post for other similar positions with UNDP at the same grade level and with similar job description, experience and educational requirements.

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