Baseline / Scoping Study Consultant at Grassroots Researchers Association

Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) is a nonprofit and non-political rights-based organization registered in 2016 with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria as a local content hub aimed at facilitating evidence- based grassroots initiatives and actions that promote development, justice and victims support in the communities. Our mission is to be an active grassroots mobilizer towards improving the total quality of human life and social justice in Nigeria. Our programmes are spread across Climate Change, Conflict, Security and Justice, Social Economic Development and Governance.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Baseline / Scoping Study Consultant

Locations: Maiduguri - Borno, Yola - Adamawa and Damaturu - Yobe
Employment Type: Contract
Project: Strengthening Social Mobilization and Accountability towards Ending SGBV and VAWG
Activity:Baseline / Scoping Study (BSS)
Type of Service: Short Term Consultancy
Number Required: 3 Local Consultants - (1 Consultant each in Adamawa, Borno, Yobe)
Duration: 10 Days

Introduction
Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA) is a non-profit rights-based organization committed to ending sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) in North-eastern Nigeria and assisting victims of SGBV in accessing services, maintaining a decent standard of living, acquiring appropriate knowledge and skills, enjoying the fullest possible extent of human rights, and leading a long and healthy life. GRA provides evidence-based grassroots interventions towards promoting social accountability, community-based prevention and response towards ending SGBV and violence against women and girls (VAWG).

GRA is partnering with UN Women in Nigeria to implement a 2-year project funded under the Women's Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) and EU-UN Spotlight Initiative on Ending Violence against Women and Girls (Spotlight Initiative) in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno State.

Background
In November 2020, UN Women Nigeria partnered with grassroots Researchers Association (GRA)to strengthening networks and groups on social accountability mechanisms and tools to more effectively mobilize to end SGBV and VAWG in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno State.

The project titled “Strengthening Social Mobilization and Accountability towards Ending SGBV and VAWG” aims at (1)Supporting women's rights groups and relevant civil society organizations to more effectively use social accountability mechanisms to support their advocacy and influence in preventing and responding to VAWG, including SGBV/Harmful Practices (HP), and Gender Equality and Women Empowerment (GEWE); (2) Strengthening and empowering women's rights groups and relevant civil society organizations representing groups facing intersecting forms of discrimination/marginalization to design, implement and monitor programmes and policies on VAWG, including SGBV/HP, and promote women’s and girls’ Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights(SRHR); and (3)To promote advocacy for GEWE and ending VAWG, including SGBV/HP.

The project will contribute to the elimination of SGBV/VAWG through the creation of a broad partnership with Civil Society, Government, Private Sector, Media, among others; and, build a social movement of women and girls as champions and agents of change at the national, subnational and community levels.

Study Purpose

• The overall purpose of the baseline study is to map social mobilisation networks/service providers (including women rights groups, CBOs, (I)NGOs, relevant MDAs and private sector organisations) and community-level social accountability mechanisms and tools used by the CSOs towards ending SGBV/VAWG in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe State.
• The data generated from this baseline study will be used toshape the design, structure, and methodology of the capacity building with the social mobilization groups and service providers during the course of the project.

Scope of Work
The consultant is expected to:

• Systematise key reference documents about social accountability initiatives on ending SGBV and VAWG in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, and propose a clear framework to interpret the effectiveness of the initiatives.

Conduct a literature review to:

• Identify different types of social accountability interventions by CSOs to end SGBV in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe;
• Analyse the relative effectiveness of the identified initiatives, using the agreed evidence- based analytical framework.
• Based on this analysis, identify effective or promising interventions that may warrant further exploration by the Spotlight Initiative;
• Compile a report with clear and practical recommendations on potential partnership opportunities and investments for social accountability work to end SGBV in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
• Document the process and outcomes achieved by each to the extent possible with available literature;
• Document implicit or explicit theories of change underpinning these initiatives.
• Conduct a limited number of key informant interviews with CSOs implementing social accountability initiatives to end SGBV in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe, to complement evidence gathered from the literature;

Study Objectives
The objective of the study is to:

• Identify women’s rights organizations, networks and service providersworking on ending SGBV/VAWG in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe State.
• Identify services (inclusive of referral pathways) in place to prevent and respond to VAWG across the different sectors including (health, security, social services, justice, education, gender/culture);
• Identify social accountability mechanisms and tools used by CSOs to monitor and engage in VAWG efforts;
• To inform strategic decisions, allowing for the refinement of programme and communication interventions through the identification of possible constraints and opportunities for programming for the main target groups.
• To provide recommendations on areas that need more attention and focus during implementation and ways to strengthen performance monitoring and maximise learning.

Methodology
The survey will be primarily:

• Desk-based review
• Key informant interviews with CSOs

Key Deliverables:

• Develop data collection tools to achieve the above consultancy task;
• Submit a one-page daily report of field activity in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe through the Team Lead.
• State Consultants analyse and produce a state-based report with clear evidence-based recommendations for programming onsocial accountability work carried out by CSOs towards ending SGBV/VAWG in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe.
• Team Lead compile the state-based report as a single technical report and submit to GRA;
• PowerPoint presentation by Team Lead, summarizing key findings, lessons learned and recommendations for validation of findings by the Spotlight Project team.

Role and Responsibilities

• Have the overall responsibility for organizing and conducting the baseline study in their assigned state;
• Support in the design and development of data collection tools and methodology in their assigned location;
• Supervise the enumerators, participants and study processes as per ethical considerations;
• Train the study team in data recording, entry and quality control measures; i.e. on-going supervision of these processes to ensure consistency and accuracy;
• Provide qualitative and quantitative data analysis and recommendations to GRA in agreed reporting format;
• Lead the writing of draft report in the assigned location and support in drafting final report and presentation;
• Amend report as needed to incorporate technical feedback and management responses and provide final report and output reports to the Team Lead as per the agreed timeline;
• Responsible for logistics management for their field work and data collection activities;
• Liaise with the Team Lead to ensure that the baseline study is carried out as per the work plan, as approved by the UN Women;
• Throughout the study process, s/he will also be responsible for ensuring the quality of the data collected and the data analyses, as well as ensuring that all data collection activities comply are in compliance with ethical and safety standards applicable to researching, documenting and national COVID-19 protocols;
• Report directly to the Team Lead.

Qualifications and Profile

• The State Consultant must have a minimum of a Master's Degree in Gender Studies, Social Sciences, Social Work, Anthropology, International development or a related discipline.

The State Consultant must:

• A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience leading and implementing projects/research in the social science field, preferably in the field of Gender studies;
• 2-3 years’ experience in quantitative or qualitative research and data analysis;
• Must have published research findings in the form of blogs, articles and/or reports;
• Experience with a UN organization/agency is preferable but not mandatory;
• Excellent command over the English language and understanding of local language;
• Experience in data mapping is an asset;
• Experience coordinating and liaising with government agencies and/or donors is an asset.
• Previous experience in the area of gender and development or gender equality;
• Understanding of the gender equality environment in the assigned State;
• Experience in gathering and systematizing large amounts of data, evaluation of public; policies, analysis of gender indicators and other related issues;

Reference Number: (Kindly quote as applicable)

• Adamawa-GRA - BSS/YLA/12/01/002
• Borno-GRA - BSS/MAG/12/01/003
• Yobe-GRA - BSS/DTR/12/01/004

Terms of Reference

• Consultant to conduct baseline/scoping study and mapping of women’s rights organisations and social accountability mechanisms and tools on ending SGBV/VAWG in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe State

How to Apply
Interested and qualified candidates should send their Expression of Interest (EoI) should be addressed to "The Executive Director, Grassroots Researchers Association (GRA)" and email to: [email protected] copying [email protected] using the Job Title and Location as the subject of the email.

Proposals should include:

• Applicant’s CV that demonstrates relevant experience (attach as appendix 1)
• Proposed questionnaire / data collection tool reflecting Do No Harm principle and consent (attach as appendix 2).
• Sample report from a similar engagement, as an example of written work of the consultant (attach as appendix 2).

Note: All inquiries should be forwarded to the Spotlight Project Manager, Samuel Orahii, via: [email protected] not later than 15th January, 2021

Application Deadline  20th January, 2021.