National Consultancy-UNFPA Egypt CO – End line Research Study for Humanitarian Programme (SDC)

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Egypt Country Office

Purpose of consultancy:

The “Comprehensive Response to Gender Based Violence Against Women and Girls (GBVAWG)” program is a joint UNFPA-SDC program of four years initiated in September 2021 and finalizing in December 2025, which is also jointly funded by other donors supporting the humanitarian program. It builds on existing good practices and national initiatives led by UNFPA and its national partners to combat forms of gender-based discrimination and violence towards the most vulnerable groups such as refugees, and migrants in host communities. Adopting the UN global principles of “Leaving No One Behind” and a “survivor-centered approach”, this program puts at its forefront the specific needs of women and girls affected by forms of Gender-based Violence (GBV). The program has a two-fold focus: one is to enhance the quality and efficiency of multi-sectoral specialized GBVAWG services in the medical, legal and social sectors and the second fold is to invest in raising public awareness, especially among vulnerable communities on the existing services and their accessibility. To ensure a holistic approach, the focus is also on male engagement both as active decision-makers in the household and as partners in combating GBV at the community level.

The interventions under this program build on UNFPA’s tested and successful initiatives in the field of combating GBV against women and girls, such as the “Safe Women Clinics”, currently adopted by the National Council for Women and the Ministry of Health and Population as a national approach to enhance medical response addressing violence against women; and the “Women and Girls Safe Spaces” model, offering a comprehensive humanitarian response that includes social inclusion, livelihood opportunities and GBVAWG case management services.

In Egypt, UNFPA supports 13 Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) across Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia, Sharqeya, Alexandria, Damietta, and Aswan governorates, established in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the local NGO “Etijah”. These spaces are physical locations that act as crucial hubs for refugee women and girls and also their family members to access comprehensive services to prevent and respond to GBVAWG in a safe and non-stigmatizing environment. Through GBVAWG case management , WGSS offer tailored action plans to link survivors to services, including cash assistance, group and individual psychosocial support, reproductive health support, safe relocation, legal counselling and vocational training. Within the support process, GBVAWG case workers are trained to provide timely referrals to partner organizations in order to meet the different needs of survivors. Additionally, WGSS serve as a space for empowerment and healing by hosting group activities such as group therapy, sports activities, community engagement events and awareness sessions. In this sense, WGSS contribute to the well-being of survivors by cultivating social and safety networks, as well as nurturing a sense of community built through empowering group activities. In 2024, WGSS reached nearly 15,500 individuals with services provided within the GBVAWG case management process.

This program also builds on an inter-agency coordinated response to GBVAWG survivors in collaboration with UNHCR as co-chairs of the GBV Sub-Working Group in Egypt. The interventions under this program allow for expanded partnership between both agencies through direct UN-UN agreement to upscale joint interventions for Cash assistance for GBVAWG victims under the case management services, joint community sensitization, policy advocacy and also to strengthen the role of the GBV Sub-working Group (SWG), co-chaired in Egypt by both agencies.

Lastly, the program integrates an element of complementarity with the Safe Women Clinics program led by UNFPA at national level with 20 clinics present in university hospitals implemented in partnership with the National Council of Women, and 28 clinics established within Primary Heath Care Units in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Population. The current humanitarian program integrates capacity building to medical service providers of existing Safe Women Clinics to ensure their ability to address the needs of refugees and women affected by conflict and to support the expansion of Safe Women clinics model in target governorates identified by UNFPA. It actively integrates existing clinics into the referral pathways for medical response to GBVAWG in Egypt in order to facilitate referral of cases based on the needs of the survivor.

The overall objective of this program is to maintain, strengthen and expand prevention, protection and response of GBVAWG services to the most vulnerable women and girls from refugees, migrants and asylum seekers as well as host communities. Accordingly the program has three expected outcomes;

Outcome 1: Prevention, protection and comprehensive support services provided for women and girls subjected to GBV through UNFPA operated Safe Spaces are strengthened and more inclusive of male engagement

Outcome 2: Comprehensive medical protection and referral system is in place and operational for women and girls subjected to violence, as per the international Essential Services Package guidelines

Outcome 3: Institutional capacities are enhanced to offer multi-sectoral and coordinated response to women and girls subjected to forms of gender-based violence

In light of project’s finalization in December 2025, UNFPA seeks to conduct an endline research through an external consultant under UNFPA direct supervision and in close coordination with the national stakeholders, via a sample from Safe Spaces beneficiaries representing the targeted beneficiaries.

The endline study will be conducted to generate quality evidence on the impact of the project on GBV services to women and girls from vulnerable communities including refugees, asylum-seekers and host communities provided by UNFPA and its partners in Safe Spaces and Safe Women Clinics. Building on the baseline study conducted during the first year of the project in 2022, this research is an analysis to identify the status of the GBV services delivered; aiming for an assessment of the project’s overall impact by comparing endline data on key outcomes against the baseline. By conducting this assessment, the study will aim to analyze how the project has impacted service quality, and how the expansion of the service scope and geographical coverage throughout the implementation meet the needs of the targeted beneficiaries. Lastly, the study will serve in identifying significant successes and challenges as well as synthesize lessons learned to provide evidence-based recommendations for improving future programming.

Accordingly, UNFPA Egypt Country Office will recruit a consultant to conduct the endline study for the project.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

Objective of the Endline Study

1. To assess the overall impact of the project over its four-year duration by measuring the changes and improvements in key outcomes and indicators for the target population, compared directly against the baseline data collected at the project’s start.

2. To assess the overall impact on the quality and accessibility of GBV services over the duration of the project; assess whether the expansion of the service scope, geographical coverage throughout the implementation meet the needs of the targeted beneficiaries,

3. To identify and document the significant successes, achievements, and effective practices implemented during the project’s duration, as well as synthesize comprehensive lessons learned by analyzing both its successes and challenges

4. To provide clear, evidence-based, and actionable recommendations for improving the design, implementation, and potential scaling of interventions in future programming.

Methodology of the Endline Study

In order to effectively assess the impact of the project, the consultant will utilize the methodology and data of the baseline study, integrating both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis. The consultant is expected to use the methodology and tools developed for the baseline study in order to ensure data comparison and consistency. The methodologies used are the following ones:

• Desk review on the situation of GBV both in humanitarian and development context
• Desk review on the Project’s Baseline Report, and related Project Documents (AWP, Annual Reports, and other knowledge products)
• Semi-structured Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), stakeholder consultations and other participatory methods with project staff, beneficiaries, and direct and indirect service providers at the Safe Spaces.
• KIIs with Safe Women Clinics project staff to explore its reach to the targeted beneficiaries.
• On-line surveys for Safe Spaces beneficiaries.
• On-line survey for Safe Spaces direct service providers.
• On-line survey with male promoters accessing the Safe Spaces.
• Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with direct and indirect service providers for the Safe Spaces.

The hired consultant is expected to conduct data analysis in line with the research methods used in the Baseline Study, including descriptive statistics analysis on survey data and content and theme analysis for qualitative data from interviews, FGDs and project documents.

Sampling

In order for the study to be representative, and given the core objective of assessing the status of GBV services, UNFPA recommends for the online survey for Safe Spaces beneficiaries to target a minimum of 375 respondents.

Regarding the remaining target groups, UNFPA expects the consultant to propose a sample size per each, considering the following average figures per year:

• 2,600 men and boys reached through awareness efforts at Safe Spaces
• Over 60 direct and indirect service providers working at the Safe Spaces.

Geographical coverage

The study is expected to cover the whole geographical scope of the project (Alexandria, Aswan, Cairo, Giza, Sharqeya, Qalyubia and Damietta). While the study will cover the totality of governorates through desk review, and online data collection, the consultant is expected to conduct in-person FGDs and KIIs to WGSS in Aswan, Alexandria and one WGSS to be selected in Greater Cairo (Cairo, Giza, Qalyubia or Sharkiya).

Outcome Indicators for Endline Study

1. % of beneficiaries reporting that prevention, protection and comprehensive support services are delivered in a safe, accessible and accountable manner

2. % of GBV cases receiving adequate support fulfilling their needs

3. % of GBV survivors from Safe Spaces beneficiaries who have reported improvement in their well-being

4. % of male community promoters who attended the activities who have reported changes in perception towards GBV

Roles and Responsibilities

• Research design, methodology, planning and quality control procedures;
• Developing specific ToR, including the budget/cost requirements for the process, and how they will be met; along with developed time schedule and set key dates;
• Leveraging existing internal and external knowledge products, innovative interventions, case studies, and ongoing processes and events,
• Desk review and analysis of studies/surveys reports, AWP reports, other monitoring reports and completed evaluations,
• Thorough review of baseline report, including the use of baseline data in the elaboration of the final endline report;
• Reviewing existing information and baseline data collection tools (existing questionnaires, and interview guides), preparing outlines, including study objectives, research questions, and development of sampling methodologies;
• Finalizing workplan and checklists
• Organizing meetings internally with technical staff,
• Organizing meetings with IPs (Etijah, and the Ministry of Youth and Sports for Safe Spaces and National Council for Women and MOHP for Safe Women Clinics),
• Consulting with key stakeholders,
• Visiting IPs’ project sites, where applicable,
• Recruiting and/or training field staff in participatory evaluation techniques and on the methods/subjects relevant to the baseline survey
• The consultant will guide and provide required technical support to the field teams for carrying out interviews and gathering information from different stakeholders.
• Conducting briefing and debriefing on the completed mission’s phases,
• Preparing the endline study report. The report should provide documentation of project’s impact, achievements, lessons learned, and recommendations for priority actions to ensure continued results based management of the CPD, based on quality analysis and baseline comparison;
• Facilitating meeting, for discussion and validation, to present the main findings of the study and recommendations for the project
• The consultant will remain responsible for the entire study maintaining the highest level standards and quality and for producing the final survey reports.

Expected Outputs and Deliverables

1. Detailed and professional report that addresses both the overall and specific objectives of the study, and which includes specific recommendations on issues related to GBV services. The report must be in English, clearly and concisely addressing the information outlined above. Documentation and necessary steps for this deliverable will include the following:

• Work plan and Inception Report (with key parameters and indicators to be considered for the endline survey including the methodologies for data collection and dissemination).
• Data collection based on the outcome indicators of the program and baseline methodology.
• Presentation of results of the study and preparation a draft report for stakeholder review – clearly identifying information relevant to the outcome indicators and objectives of the study; as well as data gaps and areas that may require further assessment
• Finalization of the draft report with inputs from all stakeholders, including UNFPA and SDC.
• Arrangement of a presentation to the SDC and UNFPA with findings.

2. Reporting will include:

• A comprehensive and well organized Final Report complete with standard reporting formats.
• An Abridged Report synthesizing the main findings and indicators of the survey (not to exceed 7‐ 10 pages in length).
• Case studies with testimony from beneficiaries of GBV services.
• A set of recommendations on enhancing the quality of services and project impact addressing the needs of specific stakeholder groups especially in the humanitarian context.

General Terms and Conditions

All reports and documents prepared during the assignment shall be treated as property of UNFPA Egypt CO. The reports/documents or any part, therefore, cannot be sold, used and/or reproduced in any manner without prior written approval of UNFPA Egypt CO. In the event of the consultant requiring additional time to complete the contract, over and above the time previously agreed to, but without UNFPA Egypt CO changing the scope of work, UNFPA’s prior written approval for the same shall be necessary.

After completion of the assignment and submission of the final output/deliverables, the concerned project/unit on the basis of which final payment shall be made shall do evaluation. The consultant will submit the draft presentation before the debriefing session for taking inputs from concerned project authority.

Duration and working schedule:

58 working days throughout 13 weeks (excluding UN official holiday)

Start Date: August 1st, 2025

End Date : October 23rd, 2025

Place where services are to be delivered:

• Document review and report drafting: Home-Based.
• UNFPA Egypt CO for internal meetings.
• IPs / Stakeholders offices for external meetings.
• IPs project sites in selected governorates, where applicable.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

All work will be delivered in electronic copy in English.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

• Design Phase: ToR, Inception Report and workplan.
• Desk review report.
• Field Phase: Briefing and debriefing notes on the implementation progress.
• Draft Report.
• Final Report and presentation.
• End of mission meeting.

Payment Schedule

25% upon submission of research plan and desk review – (3 weeks after initiation of the contract)

25% upon completion of training of data collectors, conducting focus group discussions and in-depth interviews with pre-approved beneficiaries and service providers (6 weeks after contract signature)

25% upon submission of initial draft report (8 weeks after signature)

25% upon submission of final report, presentation to UNFPA and stakeholders and submission of all field reports (11 weeks after signature)

Supervisory arrangements:

Under the overall guidance of Gender Programme Specialist and direct supervision of the Humanitarian Analyst of UNFPA Egypt Country Office.

Expected travel:

Yes. A required number of 3 field visits are anticipated to Aswan, Alexandria and Greater Cairo. The field visits will cover on-site data collection in three Safe Spaces, to be selected in agreement with UNFPA.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

Advanced university degree in gender, humanitarian, health, M&E, international development, and/or other related social science fields.

Knowledge and Experience:

• The consultant should have proven record of a minimum of five years’ experience in conducting evaluations and review of gender and development programmes,
• Recognized experience in monitoring and evaluation, including knowledge of results-based management techniques, in the context of GBV and humanitarian support,
• Strong qualitative and quantitative research skills, and proven ability to analyze results,
• Field experience is an asset,
• Familiarity with UN development programmes and working procedures, especially UNFPA ones and
• Strong presentation, communication and writing skills in English and Arabic required.

Applicants are required to submit at least 2 samples of relevant evaluative work or studies.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Arabic is essential.

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,

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