National Individual Consultant: Conduct an Etnographic Research on Perspective, Attitude and Practices of Midwives on FGM/C, Jakarta-Indonesia

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS VACANCY IS ONLY FOR NATIONALS OF INDONESIA

The Purpose of Consultancy:

Under the supervision of Gender Programme Specialist, National Consultant to conduct an ethnographic research on perspective, attitude, and practices of midwives on FGM/C. The consultant will be responsible for:

• Developing a research framework and methodology, including instruments, and ensuring ethical considerations.
• Conducting qualitative in-depth interviews and FGDs with midwives and other relevant stakeholders.
• Analyzing the findings within the broader framework of FGM/C medicalization trends, with a particular focus on their intersection with prevailing social norms.
• Providing evidence-based recommendations for policy and program interventions, including the integration of FGM/C prevention into midwifery education, as well as initiatives to challenge social norms at the community level.

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.

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.

Background:

The medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) remains a challenge in Indonesia, with midwives playing a significant role in the continued practice. Despite growing awareness of the harmful consequences of FGM/C—both in private practice and within the broader healthcare system—midwives continue to perform the procedure. Additionally, this persists despite an official ban under Government Regulation No. 28 of 2024 and a circular issued by the Indonesian Midwives Association (IBI) prohibiting midwives from performing FGM/C.

According to the 2021 National Women’s Life Experience Survey (SPHPN) on Violence Against Women, midwives, nurses, and health assistants are the most common practitioners of FGM/C, accounting for 45.8% of cases. Understanding the underlying motivations, values, and attitudes of midwives towards FGM/C is essential to developing effective strategies for ending the medicalization of the practice.

To address this issue, UNFPA Indonesia, supported by DFAT through Towards Universal SRHR in the Indo Pacific (TUSIP) Programme, will conduct an ethnographic study to explore why midwives continue to perform FGM/C and how their perspectives shape decision-making processes. This research will involve qualitative methods, including in-depth interviews and FGDs with midwives, to gain insights into their beliefs, motivations, and the broader socio-cultural and professional factors influencing their practices. The study will also involve interviews with midwifery lecturers to gain insights into how lessons are delivered in classroom settings.

Given the sensitive nature of the topic, it is crucial to engage an experienced consultant with expertise in ethnographic research, medical anthropology, and gender-based violence (GBV) to design and conduct the study.

The study will complement ongoing research initiatives, including the 2024 SPHPN, private practice study, and other FGM/C-related assessments, with findings contributing to a comprehensive body of evidence on FGM/C in Indonesia. Additionally, there is an opportunity to leverage funding from DFAT and align efforts with regional initiatives under TUSIP and the UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO)-led study on the harms of FGM/C in Southeast Asia.

By engaging a consultant with the relevant expertise, UNFPA seeks to generate evidence-based insights that will drive advocacy, inform policy reforms, and support the development of pre-service training curricula for midwives—ultimately reinforcing Indonesia’s commitment to ending the medicalization of FGM/C. In parallel, UNFPA is partnering with the Burnet Institute to examine the practices of private midwives in general, from a medical standpoint. This consultancy will complement Burnet’s study by deepening the understanding of the social norms that influence midwives’s practices, thereby offering a more comprehensive view of the drivers behind medicalized FGM/C.

Scope of Work:

Objective:

To conduct an ethnographic study on midwives’ role in the medicalization of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting (FGM/C) in Indonesia, to generate evidence-based insights to inform advocacy, policy reforms, and program interventions that support the country’s commitment to ending FGM/C.

Specific Objectives:

• Understand the motivations and attitudes of midwives toward performing FGM/C, including cultural, social, and professional influences that sustain the practice despite legal prohibitions.
• Analyze the role of midwives within the broader framework of FGM/C medicalization trends, particularly in relation to prevailing social norms and healthcare system dynamics.
• Understand, from midwives observations, how the practice, motivations and attitudes change, when the girl has a disability.
• Develop a robust research methodology, including qualitative in-depth interviews and FGDs, ensuring ethical considerations and sensitivity to the topic.
• Provide policy and program recommendations to integrate FGM/C prevention into midwifery education and training, as well as strategies to challenge social norms at the community level by leveraging the role of midwives.
• Contribute to a comprehensive evidence base on FGM/C in Indonesia by aligning the study findings with existing research, including the 2024 SPHPN, private practice studies, and regional initiatives.

The study will combine desk research with in-depth field investigations in carefully selected locations. Close collaboration between UNFPA Country Office and Asia-Pacific Regional Office and Burnet Institute will guide the research design and ensure its relevance to the needs of affected communities. The findings from this study, alongside those from the Burnet Institute, are expected to be complementary and will contribute to the development of a module on addressing social norms—particularly FGM/C—within midwifery education.

The activities of this consultancy include:

• Kick-off Meeting: with UNFPA, MOH, and Burnet Institute to agree on the timeline and develop the inception report.
• Inception Report: This document outlines the research’s objectives, research questions, methodology, data collection tools, sampling strategy, ethical considerations, and work plan. Specifically the Inception Report may include, but not limited to:
  • Literature Review and Conceptual Framework: A comprehensive examination of existing literature, informed by inputs from UNFPA and Burnet Institute, to establish a strong theoretical foundation.
  • Data Collection Instruments: Developed in consultation with UNFPA and Burnet Institute, to ensure alignment and avoid redundancy.
• First Draft Research Report: A detailed and comprehensive analysis of the research, including findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
• Validation Meeting: The meeting will be conducted to validate research results, involving multistakeholders, such as MOH, MOWECP, IBI etc.
• Final Research Report: A comprehensive document developed in consultation with UNFPA, MOH, and Burnet Institute, incorporating their insights and recommendations.
• Regular coordination/progress update meeting with UNFPA and relevant stakeholders, as needed.

Under the supervision of Gender Programme Specialist, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

Scope of Work:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Establish strong working relationships with UNFPA, Burnet Institute, MOH, and other key stakeholders, to ensure alignment throughout the research process.
• Literature Review: Conduct a comprehensive literature review, including existing regulations related to FGM/C, to inform research design and methodology.
• Research Design and Methodology: Develop a research design to ensure the study addresses the objectives of the research.
• Data Collection: Conduct fieldwork in collaboration with UNFPA, Burnet Institute, and MOH, leveraging their networks and expertise to access key informants and communities.

Sample area: conduct field work tentatively in Jakarta, Bandung, Jember, and East Lombok for the study. The informants breakdown approximately as follows:

Informants and Number (approx per area)

3 Midwives in private clinics

3 Midwives in public health clinics (Puskesmas, Posyandu, etc)

3 Midwifery lecturers

2 Midwifery students

Total 11 informants for each area (44 informants in four areas)

Duration and Working Schedule:

The consultancy will be carried out in 40 working days spread out from June to the September 2025.

Place where services are to be delivered:

This consultancy will be home-based, affording the consultant flexibility in their work arrangements.

To ensure alignment with UNFPA’s strategic objectives and to harness the expertise of key stakeholders, the consultant will engage with UNFPA Indonesia Reproductive Health and Gender Teams, UNFPA Asia-Pacific Regional Office, MOH, and Burnet Institute. These collaborative efforts will focus on refining the research scope, methodology, and data analysis to produce deliverables that are relevant, actionable, and impactful. UNFPA will facilitate regular consultations, including virtual and in-person meetings to support knowledge sharing and decision-making.

Delivery Dates:

The consultancy will last for 4 months, with the activities detailed below. Payments will be made upon the successful completion of each deliverable.

1. Coordination meeting with UNFPA, MOH and Burnet Institute
2. Submission of Inception Report
3. Field work in four areas
4. Writing the first draft of research report
5. Submission the first draft of research report
6. Feedback and review view from UNFPA CO and APRO and MOH
7. Submsission the final draft of research report

Deliverables:

1st Deliverable (June 2025): Inception Report

2nd Deliverable (August 2025) : The first draft of the reserach report

3rd Deliverable (September 2025) : Final draft of the research report

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

Every two weeks, the Gender Programme Specialist will organize a discussion with the consultant to monitor the progress and discuss any challenges faced.

Supervisory Arrangerment:

Under the overall guidance of the UNFPA Assistant Representative, the consultant will report and be supervised directly by the UNFPA Gender Programme Specialist, in consultation with Sexual & Reproductive Health Specialist and the Asia-Pacific Regional Office (APRO) Technical Specialist, Gender-based Violence, MOH, and Burnet Institute.

Expetected Travel:

The consultant may be required to undertake field assignments, as needed, with tentative areas are Jakarta, Bandung, Jember, and East Lombok, contingent upon the approval of the Assistant Representative.

Required expertise, qualifications and comptencies, including language requirements:

Education:

Master’s Degree in human rights/ gender studies/ social studies/ development studies/ anthropology/ public health or other related fields

Knowledge and Experience:

Competencies:

• Strong knowledge of national contexts particularly related to harmful practices specifically FGM/C issue in Indonesia and affinity with the development of FGM/C discourse overtimes in Indonesia.
• Strong advocacy skill in the issue of gender-based violence and harmful practices (FGM/C and child marriage in Indonesia) and strong capacity on political scanning of the issues in Indonesia.
• Strong understanding in the discourse of harmful practice in Indonesia including FGM/C including ability to navigate the sensitive narrative discourse surrounding the FGM/C in Indonesia.
• Good written communication skills in English and experience in research writing. Candidate will be asked to provide example of relevant previous research related to FGM/C.
• Excellent presentation, oral and written communication, and interpersonal skills – ability to build close communication to both UNFPA and partners.

Skill and Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in research and policy advocacy, particularly in gender based violence issues and/or FGM/C, gender equality, gender mainstreaming, , demonstrated by involvement in recent study on the subject, publications and articles on the field of gender equality & human rights including internationally and nationally acknowledged media.
• Excellent writing skills including in the development of comprehensive qualitative research reports. Candidate will be asked to provide example of relevant writing products relevant to harmful practices and/or FGM/C.

Languages:

Fluency in English and Bahasa Indonesia is required

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, medical clearance, visa issuance 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.

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.

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