National Consultant to Lead Primary Data Collection for Formative Research to Inform Design of a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Programme, UNFPA Bangladesh

The Position: Gender-based violence (GBV) remains one of the most widespread human rights violations globally and in Bangladesh. The latest nationally representative Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey finds that intimate partner violence (IPV)—violence perpetrated by husbands—is the most prevalent form of GBV, affecting approximately three in four women (76%) in their lifetime and one in two (49%) in the past 12 months. Non-partner violence also takes place within marital households, frequently involving in-laws and extended family members, highlighting the broader household and relational dynamics that compound and overlap with IPV. Qualitative research highlights the central role of harmful social and gender norms in sustaining violence. A pervasive culture of silence and stigma surrounds GBV, with nearly two in three survivors of IPV (64%) never disclosing their experiences and most survivors forgoing formal health, legal, and other protection services. Deeply entrenched norms that legitimize male authority within households and sexual entitlement in marriage, normalize marital violence as discipline, restrict women’s autonomy and decision-making, and enable in-law control within patrilocal family systems continue to reinforce unequal power relations. Risk analysis further identifies dowry practices, young age, partners’ limited education, infidelity and substance abuse, and women’s residence in slums or city corporations as factors that significantly increase the likelihood of IPV. The availability of updated nationally representative data, growing recognition of the magnitude of IPV, and a robust global evidence base on effective prevention strategies together create a timely opportunity to adopt an evidence-informed GBV prevention agenda in Bangladesh. In this context, UNFPA is expanding its efforts on GBV prevention as the most sustainable and upstream approach to addressing this public health and human rights crisis, by developing a multi-component, gender-transformative programme with a primary focus on IPV. The programme is designed to be integrated into government systems, interlinked with GBV response services, and to address the multiple drivers and risk factors of violence across individual, interpersonal, community, and societal levels. UNFPA Bangladesh is accordingly commissioning formative research to generate qualitative evidence that can directly inform intervention design and implementation. 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: The rationale for this formative research is to generate in-depth, context-specific understanding of the normative, relational, community, and structural factors that sustain IPV, alongside insights into operational and implementation factors critical for programme effectiveness. It primarily examines the prevailing social norms, gender–power relations across households and communities, and service systems that shape IPV dynamics for women, men, and families, with particular emphasis on heightened vulnerabilities associated with early marriage, pregnancy, income earning, patrilocal residence, dowry payments, poor mental health, and substance abuse. Finally, the study aims to generate practical implementation-related insights, including participation motivations or constraints, culturally appropriate messaging, perceived participation risks and mitigation measures, and considerations for engaging national systems. The research will rely primarily on qualitative methods, including in-depth and key informant interviews and focus group discussions, using vignette-based approaches to support ethical engagement on sensitive topics. It will also examine the availability, accessibility, quality and coordination of GBV-related services in selected areas through facility and service ecosystem assessments. Respondents will include married women (including adolescents, pregnant women, women with disabilities, and migrants), married men, family members, GBV service providers, social protection programme implementers, local government officials, women’s rights organizations and NGO actors, as well as community influencers such as faith leaders and identified positive deviants. Indicative sample sizes include approximately 14–16 focus group discussions, 30–40 key informant interviews, 20–25 in-depth interviews, and 10–15 facility and service ecosystem assessments across three districts. Final sample sizes may be adjusted during implementation based on feasibility, ethical considerations, and saturation. The findings of the research will be used to inform decisions on intervention design, engagement modality, delivery platforms, appropriate messaging and messengers, diffusion pathways, protection service integration and other relevant safeguarding measures, and the overall theory of change guiding the prevention programme. In this context, UNFPA Bangladesh seeks a National Consultant to lead the primary qualitative data collection for this formative research, ensuring quality implementation and generating programmatically relevant findings. You would be responsible for: ● Support the preparation and submission of required documentation for ethical review and approval, in accordance with the study protocol and the requirements of the relevant ethical review board. ● Support the recruitment and supervision of data collectors, ensuring appropriate gender and age balance, relevant experience in GBV qualitative research, and language proficiency in English, Bangla, and local dialects of the selected districts. ● Design and deliver comprehensive training with practical exercises for data collectors on the study protocol, data collection tools and guides, facilitation skills, and safeguarding procedures, ensuring alignment with the Do No Harm principle and WHO guidance on violence against women research. ● Review and provide feedback on the implementation plan, including logistics, schedule, team roles and responsibilities, contingency plans (e.g., respondent no-shows, onlooker interruptions etc.), sampling strategy, data collection tools, and ensuring representation of target groups, in line with the approved research protocol. ● Translate all guides, tools and consent materials into Bangla, ensuring both cultural and linguistic appropriateness. ● Supervise all interviews, group discussions, and facility assessments, ensuring adherence to data collection procedures such as note-taking, adequate probing, participatory exercises, and interventions on behalf of enumerators when necessary. ● Provide guidance on when data saturation has been reached across respondent types and study sites, ensuring sufficient coverage of perspectives for robust findings. ● Ensure daily documentation of field notes, along with observations, challenges, risks, recommendations, and lessons learned. ● Ensure accurate and verbatim transcription of interviews and discussions into English, noting emphasis, repetition, group disagreements, and tone where relevant. ● Use insights emerging from early stages of data collection to refine vignette scenarios, discussion guides, and thematic priorities, as needed. ● Ensure ethical compliance with informed consent procedures, confidentiality, privacy of respondents, data anonymization and referral guidance in case of distress, as outlined with the study protocol. ● Conduct consistent quality control and spot-checks of enumerator work. ● Provide ongoing mentorship and support to enumerators throughout data collection, including troubleshooting field challenges, reinforcing ethical practices, and managing enumerators’ safety and psychosocial wellbeing. ● Ensure secure storage, backup, and timely submission of all data and materials in organized formats, including audio recordings, transcripts, and notes, in line with data management protocol. ● Maintain regular coordination with the designated team from UNFPA Country Office, providing updates, discussing challenges, sharing early drafts and incorporating feedback. ● Submit a summary report of primary data collection based on field observations, highlighting notable insights, observed differences across study sites, and programme-relevant recommendations. ● Maintain close collaboration with UNFPA Bangladesh and international consultants throughout data collection and processing stages to ensure adherence to the study methodology, as well as data accuracy and quality, including: - Participation in regular check-ins and debriefings; - Timely response to queries related to data clarification, gaps, or inconsistencies; - Contextual insights to support interpretation of findings when requested; - Addressing all feedback and data quality issues within agreed turnaround time and - Improvement of transcripts and summary reports based on feedback. Key results and deliverables: ● All documents necessary for obtaining ethical approval of the formative research. ● Training of data collectors and relevant modules and materials delivered. ● All guides, tools, and consent materials translated into Bangla, ensuring appropriate cultural and linguistic contextualization. ● Field notes documenting observations, challenges, risks, referrals made, and recommendations. ● Accurate and verbatim English transcriptions of interviews and discussions, including respondents’ demographic information, in consistent formats. ● All FGDs, IDIs, KIIs and service assessments are conducted across three districts. ● Adjustments to vignettes, discussion guides, or thematic priorities based on early data collection insights. ● Collection of informed consent and assent papers. ● All collected data (audio recordings, transcripts, notes) securely stored, backed up, and submitted in organized formats. ● Summary report of primary data collection, along with respondents’ demographic information. ● Active participation in all scheduled check-ins and debriefings, including responses to data-related queries. Qualifications and Experience: ● PhD in Women and Gender Studies, Sociology, Anthropology or any other related discipline of social sciences; ● Minimum 5 years of relevant experience in GBV research/social norms and behavioral change research/GBSS research/impact evaluations; ● Demonstrated experience in undertaking GBV formative research and/or service mapping; ● In-depth knowledge of gender-power relations, social and gender norms, as well as GBV/IPV prevention approaches and strategies; ● Strong understanding of mental health challenges, substance abuse, and harmful practices such as dowry, and their intersections with GBV/IPV. ● Demonstrated skills in developing training curricula, modules and materials on qualitative research; ● Familiarity with ethical standards and values of the UN system and prior research work experience with any UN agency; ● Excellent analytical, written and verbal communications skills in English; ● Ability to leverage multi-disciplinary, institutional knowledge and experience of other countries and regions to promote UNFPA’s development agenda. Duration: This consultancy will be for 25 working days, effective from signing the contract in April 2026. Place where services are to be delivered: The services are to be delivered to the UNFPA Country Office in Dhaka. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The consultant will operate under the overall supervision of UNFPA Bangladesh and will be responsible for adhering to agreed timelines and ensuring consistent quality assurance across all stages of the assignment. All documents, datasets, and materials produced under this assignment will remain the property of UNFPA Bangladesh and may not be used, reproduced, or shared, in whole or in part, without prior written authorization. The consultant will establish and implement internal quality assurance mechanisms to ensure the accuracy, quality and consistency of all data and outputs. This includes routine data checks, validation of transcripts and summaries, close collaboration with UNFPA’s relevant international experts and/or consultants, and systematic incorporation of feedback. The consultant is responsible for ensuring the integrity and authenticity of all data and materials, and for full compliance with agreed methodologies and ethical, confidentiality, and safeguarding protocols. Any fabrication, falsification, or misrepresentation of data will constitute a serious breach of contract and may result in termination and other contractual remedies. The consultant will provide weekly progress updates in an agreed format, including status of data collection and processing, key risks or challenges, actions taken to address feedback and data quality issues, and planned next steps. Additional updates may be requested as needed to support data quality. Timelines, reporting formats, and submission deadlines for all deliverables will be agreed upon at the outset and may be adjusted in consultation with UNFPA Bangladesh, subject to prior approval. UNFPA Bangladesh reserves the right to review, validate, and request revisions to outputs at any stage of the assignment. Supervisory arrangements: The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Deputy Representative of UNFPA Bangladesh and the direct supervision of the Chief of the Gender Unit to carry out the activities mentioned above. Day-to-day work will be coordinated by the focal person for the Prevention Programme in the Gender Unit at UNFPA. Key Deliverables Deliverables (Subject to the acceptance by UNFPA) Payment (%) 30% payment on: ● Submission of documents for ethical approval of the formative research. ● Support recruitment of qualified enumerators. ● Training of enumerators and submission of relevant modules and materials delivered. 40% payment on: ● All guides, tools, and consent materials translated into Bangla. ● Accurate and verbatim English transcriptions of interviews and discussions. ● All FGDs, IDIs, KIIs and service assessments are conducted across three districts. ● Adjustments to vignettes, discussion guides, or thematic priorities based on early data collection insights. 30% payment on: ● All collected data (audio recordings, transcripts, notes, consent and asset papers) securely stored, backed up, and submitted in organized formats. ● Field notes documenting observations, challenges, risks, referrals made, and recommendations. ● Summary report of primary data collection. ● Participation in all scheduled check-ins and debriefings, including responses to data-related queries. Other relevant information Payment Instructions: UNFPA will process the payment in three installments through Bank transfer as per the deliverables. Inputs/services to be provided by UNFPA or Implementing partner (e.g. support service, office space, equipment) The Consultant will be responsible for arranging his/her own computer and other working equipment. While working remotely, s/he should have access to the internet and communications. Expected travel The consultancy will primarily be remote but may require visits to the UNFPA Country Office. Extensive travel to the three programme districts, including Dhaka, is expected for data collection. 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.