Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. UN Women is dedicated to achieving gender equality and empowering women. They are seeking a Senior Research Consultant to support a regional mapping of narratives that contribute to discriminatory social norms impacting gender equality in East and Southern Africa.
Responsibilities
- Inception Report, including co-design a mixed method regional research methodology for mapping discriminatory narratives and their contribution to discriminatory norms
- Review background documentation provided by UN Women, prepare a workplan and proposed research methodology (considering decolonial research principles, participatory approaches, adherence to ethical and digital safety research practices), including composition of a Research Reference Group
- The methodology shall include protocols for informed consent, confidentiality, data protection and safeguarding of participants, particularly women human rights defenders and groups experiencing heightened risks and intersecting forms of discrimination
- This should be informed by UN Women’s framework on social norms change and related research, such as regional evidence on narrative shifts related to gender equality and social justice
- The report should indicate potential stakeholders to be engaged and propose 3-5 case studies from the ESA region, considering attention to diverse contexts and population groups
- The methodology should include collaboration with UN Women Country Offices to pilot and refine data collection tools (e.g. surveys, focus group discussion and key informant interview guide, etc.) and analyze how discriminatory narratives affect women and girls’ experiences of violence, shape women’s access to leadership positions, women’s participation in the labour-market, entrepreneurship, decision-making processes, and influence within formal and informal institutions, including in political, civic, economic and peace and security spaces, processes and humanitarian settings
- The inception report should also include a proposed approach for developing baseline evidence and qualitative benchmarks for selected Strategic Note indicators, including preliminary considerations for periodic measurement and tracking during the Strategic Note period
- Desk Review. Review existing programme documentation provided by UN Women, published and grey literature on discriminatory norms, the narratives and counter-narratives in support of gender equality and social justice, with a focus on East and Southern Africa, covering the institutions in which they are embedded and the means through which they are perpetuated or constrained
- The desk review should also examine evidence on how discriminatory social norms affect women’s leadership, political participation, representation, women’s economic empowerment, humanitarian settings and decision-making power, including backlash and resistance to women’s authority in public and other institutional spaces
- Prepare summary report (10-15 pages) on findings from the desk review
- Data collection and analysis. In collaboration with UN Women personnel in the ESA Region, plan, provide guidance and coordinate data collection via virtual surveys, and virtual or in-person interviews and focus group discussions with women’s rights organizations and institutional partners
- Data collection should include a pilot exercise to allow for adjustments as needed and explore how women leaders, women’s rights organizations, and institutional actors experience and respond to narratives that constrain women’s voice, legitimacy, safety and influence in across institutions and decision-making spaces
- Facilitate sessions to co-analyze data, consolidate findings and lessons learned, with UN Women and Reference Group members
- Report and Presentation of Findings and Recommendations: Present initial findings and recommendations to the Reference Group and prepare a draft report on the same
- Recommendations should identify entry points for shifting narratives and strengthening counter-narratives for advancing gender equality including recommendations on indicators, methodologies, data sources and approaches for periodically monitoring changes in discriminatory narratives and related institutional responses during the implementation of the ESARO Strategic Note (2026–2029)
- The draft report should be no more than 35 pages, excluding annexes and submitted for Reference Group and UN Women review
- Finalize the report and related annexes based on inputs from UN Women and the Reference Group: A presentation should accompany the report and in coordination with UN Women, virtually present the final findings and recommendations with key stakeholders
Skills
- A master's degree in international relations, sociology, social work, community development, human rights, gender and development, or similar field is required
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree
- At least 10 years of experience in diverse contexts related to the design, planning, implementation, monitoring or evaluation of research on EVAWG or gender equality programmes or policies, with attention to narratives and social norms change, particularly in middle and low-income countries
- Demonstrated technical experience working with civil society strengthening, women's rights and feminist movements and cross-issue coalition-building
- Proven experience developing and conducting research related to gender equality and/or social justice using participatory approaches and engaging with formal and informal institutions
- Proven expertise in coordinating virtual data collection methods
- Fluency in English is required
- Work experience within the East and Southern Africa region is an asset
- Familiarity with the UN system and the UN system development reform is an asset
- Knowledge of French or Portuguese or any other UN official language is an asset
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