International Consultant on early (child) marriages within Roma communities research

Organizational Context

This role is for an International Consultant within the UN Secretariat, specifically the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The consultant will lead research on early and child marriage within Roma communities in Moldova, developing methodology and providing technical expertise. The work involves applying a human rights-based, gender-responsive, and culturally sensitive approach, under the supervision of a Human Rights Officer.

Job Purpose

The primary purpose of this International Consultant role is to conduct comprehensive research into the prevalence, causes, perceptions, and consequences of early and child marriage within Roma communities in Moldova. This involves developing a robust research methodology and appropriate tools, ensuring a human rights-based, gender-responsive, and culturally sensitive approach with safeguards for vulnerable participants. The consultant will provide critical technical expertise throughout the data analysis, interpretation, and presentation of findings. The ultimate contribution is to generate a deeper, nuanced understanding of this complex issue, informing evidence-based interventions and policies to protect children and uphold human rights within these communities. This research will be instrumental in guiding programmatic responses and advocacy efforts, thereby strengthening the protection framework for vulnerable populations and advancing the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights' mandate in this critical area, ultimately contributing to the reduction of early child marriages.

Responsibilities

The consultant will primarily be responsible for the comprehensive development of the research methodology, adhering to international human rights standards. This includes outlining clear research objectives and questions, establishing a robust conceptual framework, identifying diverse data sources, defining precise sampling strategies, and specifying target groups and geographical scope. The role also involves detailing appropriate data collection methods, ensuring robust data protection, confidentiality, safeguarding measures, and ethical procedures, alongside identifying study limitations, assumptions, risks, and mitigation strategies. Furthermore, the consultant will develop all necessary research tools, such as detailed questionnaires for individual interviews, focus group discussions, and key-informant interviews, as well as comprehensive interview guides and consent forms. A critical duty is the validation and finalization of both the methodology and tools, which requires presenting them to the project team and relevant stakeholders, incorporating feedback, and submitting a complete, revised package. Finally, the consultant will contribute significantly to the analysis, presentation, and dissemination of research findings by reviewing and providing inputs on the analysis and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data, refining draft analytical products, and presenting key methodological considerations during public dissemination events.

Work Experience

A minimum of 7 years of professional experience in sociology, social research, research methodology, or human rights is required. For candidates with a Bachelor's degree, 9 years of relevant experience is needed. Proven experience in developing methodologies and data collection tools, conducting research into early child marriage, and working with Roma communities is essential.

Skills

Research methodology and tool development; expertise in conducting research on early child marriage; proficiency in qualitative research methods; experience in working with Roma communities; strong analytical and data interpretation skills; ability to formulate evidence-based recommendations; fluency in English.

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