Individual Consultancy to Conduct an In-depth analysis of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya

The Position:

The Individual Consultancy to Conduct an In-depth analysis of Female Genital Mutilation in Kenya will work under the direct supervision of the Population Data Specialist UNFPA Kenya in consultation with the UNFPA Gender Advisor. Technical officers from UNFPA, the Anti FGM Board and the State Department for Gender and Affirmative Action will review and provide inputs to the reports and the policy briefs. 

Deliverables will be assessed for quality to the extent they fulfill the requirements of the TOR. 

How you can make a difference:

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.

Consultancy Background Information:

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.

Female Genital mutilation (FGM) is one of the harmful practices that was identified in the International Conference of on Population and Development Programme of Action (ICPD PoA). Various reports have linked FGM with detrimental cultures that negate achievements made in women’s social, cultural and economic development. In particular, FGM is associated with low education attainment among girls, child marriage, maternal mortality and low economic empowerment among FGM survivors. 

The FGM prevalence rate has slowly declined in the last two decades from 32 per cent in 2003 to 15 per cent in 2022 (KDHS 2003 and KDHS 2022 respectively). The prevalence and the decline varies by counties from Wajir County that has the highest prevalence of 97 per cent to Busia County with the lowest prevalence rate of 0.1 per cent. The prevalence also varies by ethnic groups. The practice is performed at different age groups depending on the culture of a specific community.

Kenya established Anti FGM Board to spearhead the national campaign eradicateFGM. Through this Board and collaborations with the Ministry of Gender, Culture, the Arts, and Heritage partners have developed and implemented various policies, strategies, laws and plans to eliminate the practice in Kenya. These include: the Prohibition of Female Genital Mutilation Act. No. 32 of 2011; Presidential Plan of Action to End FGM by 2022, and ICPD25 commitment to end FGM by 2022.

Despite the commitment by the government and partners to eradicate the practice, through implementation of various instruments, the FGM prevalence still remains at an average high of 15 per cent with differentials in various ethnic groups and regions. Therefore, policy makers and programmers are looking for new evidence from the data collected through KDHS and other reports to facilitate coming up with policies and interventions that will accelerate eradication of FGM in Kenya.

In 2019, during the Nairobi Summit on ICPD25, Kenya made a commitment to eradicate female genital mutilation by the year 2022. Various strategies and plans were implemented to achieve this target. While the target was not achieved, the 2022 KDHS data shows a decline from 21 per cent to 15 per cent. The observed decline in the FGM prevalence rate is not uniform within the ethic communities and also within various regions in the country. There are also regions that have started to experience the FGM practices where previously the practice had been eradicated. Such regions are counties within central Kenya predominated by the Kikuyu community. To enhance the eradication of the FGM, policy makers and programmers need to understand the factors that are contributing to the low decline in FGM and those that promote the increase in FGM, and the challenges and gaps in implementation of policies and laws governing the fight against FGM. A review of programme documents, published research articles and reports, as well as conducting in depth analysis of the 2022 KDHS and other KDHS reports, will assist in understanding these factors.

Job Purpose:

UNFPA is seeking services of an individual consultant to conduct an in-depth analysis of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Kenya that will provide evidence on the factors associated with the rise or decline of the FGM practice in the country. Additionally, the consultant will develop a brief on the key finding of the analysis for policy advocacy.

You would be responsible for:

1. Desk review: Conduct desk review of published and grey literature and data on FGM. This will provide the background and factors that have been found to contribute to the increase or decrease in FGM at national level, sub-national level and within different communities.
2. Data analysis: Examine and analyze data from all KDHS reports 1989-2022) and all available administrative and project data on FGM. The data will be synthesized and triangulated to provide accurate inference that will be used to inform policy review.
3. Develop high-quality knowledge products:
4. A comprehensive analytical report: Deliver a detailed report with findings, data visualizations, and actionable recommendations on FGM in Kenya.
5. A policy brief on key findings with recommendations for policy and programme interventions.

The outline of the two documents will be agreed with UNFPA to ensure comprehensive coverage of the areas of focus and content as well as ensuring that the content aligns with the intended audience.

The scope of work and expected deliverables include: 

The consultant will deliver the following products during the consultancy period:

1. Inception report: The report will detail the consultant’s understanding of the proposed assignment; provide detailed methodology of undertaking the review of literature and data collection and analysis; and a proposed outline of both the report and the policy brief.
2. A Draft analytical report: A detailed report with findings, data visualizations, and actionable recommendations on FGM in Kenya.
3. A presentation to the UNFPA technical team on the draft report.
4. A final analytical report: Final report incorporating inputs and comments from UNFPA review and other technical reviews.
5. A policy brief on key findings with recommendations for policy and programme interventions.

Consultancy duration: 24 days to be accomplished on or before 16 December, 2024

Qualifications and Experience: 

Education: 

Masters degree in any of the following areas: Gender and Development, Demography/population studies, Sociology, social sciences, Public Health.

Knowledge and Experience: 

• 10 years of experience in gender programming with a strong emphasis on FGM and/or other harmful practices.
• Demonstrated expertise in quantitative data analysis, particularly in gender related data.
• Excellent analytical, report writing and communication skills.
• Experience working with UNFPA or other UN agencies is an asset.

Languages: 

Fluent in written and spoken English and Kiswahili

Interested consultants are requested to submit to UNFPA: 

1. Up‐to‐date curriculum vitae
2. A recent sample of an assignment of similar nature that has been developed by the consultant – attached in place of motivational letter

Other requirement 

The consultant will be expected to undertake some mandatory courses (if not done previously) such as Security (BESAFE), Fraud and Corruption Awareness and Prevention-Anti-Fraud, the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Required Competencies: 

Values:

• Exemplifying integrity,
• Demonstrating commitment to UNFPA and the UN system,
• Embracing cultural diversity,
• Embracing change

Core Competencies: 

• Achieving results,
• Being accountable,
• Developing and applying professional expertise/business acumen,
• Thinking analytically and strategically,
• Working in teams/managing ourselves and our relationships,

UNFPA Work Environment:

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. 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 to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks 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. 

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