Job Description

Purpose of consultancy:

In Eastern Europe, including the Western Balkans, persistent gender inequalities and discrimination continue to affect family dynamics and society as a whole. These harmful norms and practices discriminate against women and girls, resulting in low female employment rates across the region. The Western Balkans, in particular, witness significant gender disparities in labor force participation, pay, and the burden of unpaid care work.

To address these policy gaps, the United Nations Population Funds (UNFPA) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia intends to implement the second phase of the Expanding Choices project in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, North Macedonia, and Serbia. This project aims to have a substantial impact by enabling women to fully participate in the labour market and make informed decisions on their family and work life, leading to more gender-responsive and sustainable development. The desired outcome of the project is to promote GRFP in the private sector through legislative and normative frameworks, creating inclusive labor conditions and opportunities. This objective aligns with the priorities outlined in the Austrian Development Cooperation's Regional Strategy for the Western Balkans Region, which emphasises sustainable economic development and improved conditions in the labor market for the most vulnerable populations. By addressing challenges such as unpaid care work and maternalistic policies, the project aims to establish family-friendly policies that support caregivers, redistribute unpaid care work, and promote work-life balance.

Furthermore, the project supports governance and the rule of law by engaging with duty bearers and advocating for business-friendly public services and equal opportunities. The intervention will pursue three key outputs: 1) enhancing the capacity of governments to design and monitor GRFP, 2) encouraging private sector actors to implement such policies, 3) fostering regional collaboration and knowledge sharing on GRFP and their connection to gender equality and economic development.
For this purpose, UNFPA BiH intends to engage data analysis expert to support conducting a survey on “Workplaces tailored to the needs of future families’  in Bosnia and Herzegovina''. The survey includes analysis of Gender Responsive Family Policies (GRFP),  regulations and HR practices, respectively in Federation of BiH and Republika Srpska. This survey aims to provide a comprehensive overview  of the existing environment in the labour market for women and young people, to uncover challenges,obstacles  and possibilities, and ultimately contribute to the development of workplaces that effectively support the needs of Gen Z and future families in the country. Furthermore, survey will support the development of policy scenario with particular focus  on the linkage between GRFP and Youth Migration from BiH, considering how young people could benefit from GRFP to ensure demographic resilience and encourage their decision to remain in the country. The consultant will be a part of a working group that consists of three members and will work under overall supervision of the lead researcher.

Scope of work:

Under the coordination of the lead researcher, consultant is expected to contribute to support the lead researcher in data collection and analysis to extract meaningful insights from collected data, as well as delivery of  the following tasks/activities:

TASK 1: Data processing and analysis 

The consultant will conduct analysis of the data collected through qualitative research, according to the agreed methodology. Consultant will work under supervision of the lead researcher. This analysis will be the basis for the preparation of the final report on “Workplaces tailored to future families’ needs in Bosnia and Herzegovina”. 
Duration and working schedule:

The consultant will perform planned tasks during the period from August, 1st 2024 until 15th October, 2024. The payment will be based on and made upon completion of deliverable as described below:

TASK 1: Data processing and analysis (data expert 15 days)

A detailed working schedule will be agreed upon at the start of the assignment in consultation with UNFPA CO. The plan will be developed with exact dates and preparatory steps necessary for delivering steps as defined in the work plan. Total: 15 working days in the period from 1. September to 20. October 2024. 

For more information and to APPLY HERE.