NATIONAL CONSULTANT: To Conduct a Study on Lessons Learned, Best Practices, and Evidence Generation for the Economic Empowerment Pilot Initiative in Koshi Province, Nepal

Koshi Province, Nepal specifically selected Palikas in Morang and Udayapur Districts (Biratnagar Metropolitan City of Morang, Triyuga and Katari Municipality of Udayapur).
Gender-based violence (GBV) remains a pervasive and deeply rooted issue in Koshi Province, with over 27% of women having experienced physical, sexual, or psychosocial violence exceeding the national average of 23%. Survivors of GBV often face formidable barriers to economic independence, including psychosocial trauma, limited skills, restricted access to formal employment, and dependence on extended family networks linked to perpetrators.

UNFPA, in partnership with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Royal Norwegian Embassy (RNE), is implementing the GBV Prevention and Response Phase II (GBVPR II) project (2020–2026). As part of this initiative, a 10-month Economic Empowerment Pilot Initiative is being implemented in selected Palikas of Koshi Province. The pilot is structured around three outputs:

This consultancy is required to undertake a specialized study that captures the essential learnings and evidence from the pilot phase (formally identified as Activity 2.4.2 – Mapping Phase). The findings will be crucial for informing policy advocacy, strengthening institutional sustainability, and guiding future, more extensive programming.
 

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.

The primary objective of this consultancy is to conduct a specialized study encompassing:

The scope of work will include, but not be limited to, the following key activities:

A. Desk Review and Data Collection Strategy:

B. Stakeholder Consultations and Data Collection:

C. Analysis and Report Writing:

D. Dissemination and Advocacy:

This study requires a qualified individual consultant with a strong understanding of gender equality, GBV, economic empowerment, and research/evidence generation, particularly within the context of Nepal.
 

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 [link removed] to learn more.

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.