National Consultant - Gender analysis of Social and Behavior Change programming for ending child marriage in Ghana (ONLY Ghanaian Nationals are eligible to apply

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, protection.

UNICEF works with the Government of Ghana, civil society organizations, academia and private sector partners in advancing the social and economic development of children in the most disadvantaged communities and advocating for national policies and actions that enable the most disadvantaged to be engaged and protected. Violence against children compromises a child’s survival, protection and participation in activities critical to his/her development and achievement of full potential. It has adverse implications in the welfare and development of entire communities, and the country as a whole.

While the practice of child marriage has declined from about 40 per cent in 1980s to 19.3 per cent in 2017/2018, one in five girls is still married or in informal union (cohabitation) before the age of 18. Child marriage in Ghana often takes the form of an informal union (54 per cent). The prevalence of marriage by the age 15 has stalled at 5 per cent over the last ten years, without any visible improvement. Recent estimates suggest that child marriage in Ghana is more common among those who reside in rural areas, live in poor households and have little or no education. The key drivers of child marriage are multiple and multi-faceted, including gender inequality, poverty, lack of educational opportunities, social and gender discriminatory norms, harmful cultural and traditional practices as well as adolescent pregnancy. Poor enforcement of legal frameworks along with inaccessible or ineffective social service delivery across education, sexual and reproductive health, social protection, child protection and justice sectors can further exacerbate the vulnerabilities of children and adolescents, especially adolescent girls, at risk of child marriage, thereby contributing to their social isolation, inequality, exclusion, denial of fulfilment of their capability and negative impacts on physical and psychological well-being.

Reinforcing its commitment towards eliminating child marriage, Ghana has developed the “National Strategic Framework on Ending Child Marriage 2017 -2026” to ensure effective coordination and increased collaboration and learning among key stakeholders, including the Government of Ghana’s Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), NGOs, CSOs, development partners, the media, the private sector and academia. The Framework identifies clear national goals, objectives, strategies and key interventions across sectors, including child and social protection, education, health and Gender-based Violence (GBV), towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) target 5.3. Eliminating harmful practices by 2030. The implementation is being coordinated by the Domestic Violence Secretariat under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection through the National Coordination Function for Ending Child Marriage. The Operational M&E Plan is updated every two years to support the implementation of the Framework.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the gender analysis is to fill in the current knowledge and data gaps and generate practical and actionable recommendations to further integrate a gender-transformative approach into existing SBC interventions for ending child marriage and help strengthen the implementation for promoting a supportive and gender-equal environment towards ending child marriage in Ghana.

The objectives of the gender analysis include: Attached has details of the assignment ToR_Gender analysis .pdf

• Assess selected SBC interventions for ending child marriage for gender-transformative pathways based on but not limited to the gender-integrated spectrum (Gender harmful, gender neutral, gender sensitive, gender responsive and gender transformative)
• Identify gaps in programming and opportunities to make interventions more gender-transformative
• Examine how messaging impacts on gender and how to avoid backlash from community members, especially men and boys
• Identify key messages that can be used in media campaigns (mass media and social media) and community dialogues to influence knowledge, attitudes, norms, and practices around gender equality, harmful practices, and violence by population and participant

The scope of the gender analysis will include collection and analysis of primary and secondary data. Based on desk review and available evidence, the consultant will be required to propose the scope of the gender analysis and relevant sampling methodology across the districts where selected SBC interventions are being implemented. It is expected that the sample would include the districts in Northern Ghana bordering Burkina Faso and considered at risk in the event of any Sahel crisis spillover, in order to strengthen programming towards addressing child marriage in the humanitarian context.

The methodology and technical approach will include:

1. Literature and Desk Review: An initial review of existing program documentation for the existing SBC interventions for ending child marriage, including the ones listed above in the background section, including concept notes and outputs to examine how gender-transformative these interventions are, its effectiveness from a gender lens, and where these interventions have a high potential in addressing root causes of gender inequality and redistributing power and resources towards achieving gender equality. Complement this with a brief review of the recent literature (2017-2022) on promising strategies for implementing media campaigns (mass media and social media) and community dialogues, especially with resistant populations and those where backlash has been observed.

2. Secondary Data Analysis: Conduct a review and secondary analysis of the existing KAP survey (ref to the background section) to identify additional learnings and to inform the primary data collection methodology, scope and subsequent steps.

3. Primary Data Collection: Upon acceptance of the first two stages, research questions will be collaboratively designed with UNFPA and UNICEF Ghana and the STAR Initiative to support the hypotheses about the gender transformative nature of programming. Strategies may include Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) or Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with adolescent girls and boys, parents and caregivers, traditional and religious leaders, community groups and other influencers as well as service providers (Government and NGO/CSOs). A proposed strategy should be outlined in the technical proposal to be submitted by applicants for this consultancy, but is subject to change.

4. Testing of Messages: Using lessons learned from the first three stages, identify potential messages to employ in media campaigns and community dialogues via systematic testing and investigation. Potential messages will be developed based on evidence generated during the first three stages as well as existing messages used for the selected SBC interventions. The consultant will field-test these messages with various target audiences through existing platforms and communication channels. Field-testing will help identify more nuanced and contexualized messaging for each type of target audience, such as adolescent girls and boys, parents and caregivers, communities, traditional and religious leaders and sub-national government authorities.

5. Testing of Messages: Using lessons learned from the first three stages, identify potential messages to employ in media campaigns and community dialogues via systematic testing and investigation. Potential messages will be developed based on evidence generated during the first three stages as well as existing messages used for the selected SBC interventions. The consultant will field-test these messages with various target audiences through existing platforms and communication channels. Field-testing will help identify more nuanced and contexualized messaging for each type of target audience, such as adolescent girls and boys, parents and caregivers, communities, traditional and religious leaders and sub-national government authorities.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, gender, international development or another relevant field
• A minimum of eight years of relevant professional experience in conducting and leading studies, research and evaluations in relevant fields, such as gender, child marriage, child protection, GBV, SBC and adolescent programming
• Professional experience in conducting and leading a gender analysis
• In-depth knowledge of gender-transformative approach, including a gender-integrated spectrum
• Good understanding of social behaviour change
• Professional experience in Ghana and/or familiarity with the national context is considered an asset
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of local languages spoken in Ghana is an asset

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.