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 labour 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 labour 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 labour 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 a lead researcher to conduct 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, the survey will support the development of policy scenario with particular focus  on the linkage between GRFP and Youth outmigration from BiH, considering how young people could benefit from GRFP to ensure demographic resilience and encourage their decision to remain in the country. 
 

Scope of work:
Lead Researcher  for Survey on Gender Responsive Family Policies with Focus on Youth Perspective 

TASK 1: Development  of methodology

The Consultant is expected to lead a working group to develop a detailed methodology.

This should include:

• A detailed work plan for data collection and analysis, including time frame, clear division of tasks, and expected outcomes.
• A survey methodology for quantitative data collection
• Guideline  for semi-structured interview  for focus group discussions
• A protocol for recruitment of participants (6-8 participants), including sampling methodology, selection criteria for participants, criteria to determine qualitative sample size, and related tools and documents, recruitment questionnaire invitations, consent forms, etc).

TASK 2:  Conducting Desk review of existing data, materials and documents related to gender-responsive family policies and work-life balance with focus on the perspective and needs of  young people 

The consultant will lead a desk review of all available data on GRPF and HR practices and regulations. The review should provide insight into workplace conditions for Gen Z and families in the country and should contribute to creating recommendations for the development of workplaces that effectively support the needs of Gen Z and future families in the country.

 UNFPA consultant rates and UNFPA available budget. Payment for contractor will not exceed average UNFPA rates for national consultants.

Where the contractor fails to deliver the required quality of products, the rate payable will be reduced. UNFPA reserves the right to assess the quality of products. Contractor has an obligation to finalise products/documents to the full UNFPA satisfaction.

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