Background:

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security. Placing women’s rights at the centre of all its efforts, the UN Women leads and coordinates the United Nations system efforts to ensure that commitments on gender equality and gender mainstreaming translate into action throughout the world. It provides strong and coherent leadership in support of Member States’ priorities and efforts, building effective partnerships with civil society and other relevant actors. 

Women’s leadership and political participation is one of UN Women’s primary areas of work as mandated in its inception, recognizing the integral role of women in strong and stable democratic processes.  To promote the leadership and participation of women in all levels of decision-making processes, UN Women works with a range of stakeholders including women leaders and aspiring candidates,  women holding a particular elected office bound at local and national levels, national parliaments and parliamentarians, political parties, media, civil society organizations, and electoral management bodies, in coordination with UN partner Entities, through a wide range of interventions which include: i) support gender responsive legal reforms, and institutional processes to advance women’s participation and representation (including initiatives to address violence against women in politics); ii) build capacities of women leaders, office holders and aspiring candidates; iii) promote change of gender norms through advocacy and outreach initiatives targeting communities, political leaders and the media; iv) and support women leaders in gender responsive political institutions.

Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) undermines the integrity of electoral processes and the quality of democratic governance. It is a violation of political and human rights that seeks to exclude, silence, or discourage women from fully participating in public life.  VAWP affects voters, candidates, office holders, election officials, activists and security and political professionals worldwide, occurring both online and offline. This phenomenon seeks to “silence women’s voices in decision-making bodies by preventing them from exercising their political mandates, preventing them from seeking leadership positions in the legislature, forcing them to resign before the end of a full term of office, discouraging attendance in parliamentary sessions, enforcing exclusion and marginalization within parliament and committee and compelling them to not seek re-election.” Thus, VAWP not only affects women in politics but also negatively impacts the work of political institutions (e.g. political parties, parliaments, local government) and impedes gender-responsive inclusive governance.

Despite its wide-reaching consequences, data on the prevalence and forms of VAWP remain limited, hindering the development of effective institutional responses.  In Liberia, VAWP manifests in various forms, including psychological intimidation, physical and sexual violence, and online harassment. Ahead of the 2023 elections, women candidates participating in UN Women-led events reported incidents of harassment and threats. In some rural areas, traditional leaders reportedly invoked the “Poro devil,” threatened forced initiation, or accused women of witchcraft to deter them from seeking leadership roles. Online abuse is also rising, with women targeted by harassment, defamation, and digital threats, an emerging form of Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV). There have also been instances where violence against female candidates occurred in public settings, drawing national attention and underscoring the risks women face when engaging in electoral processes. A 2024 Public Perceptions of Elections & Women Political Participation in Liberia (2024, revealed that 48% of respondents were aware of such violence. Among them, 22% had heard of incidents, 12% had witnessed them, 8% knew someone affected, and 6% had experienced it themselves. The most reported forms included physical violence (50%), psychological violence (37%), and sexual violence (9%).

Ahead of 2023 election, UN Women Liberia, in collaboration with its partners, including National Elections Commission (NEC) - Liberia implemented various targeted interventions to address violence against women in politics and in elections. These efforts included supporting the institutionalization of Violence Against Women in Elections and Politics Protocol, organizing awareness-raising events, informational materials and media campaigns, and engaging relevant stakeholders to promote zero tolerance for VAWP. These efforts aimed to improve understanding of VAWP and enhance the protection of women in political life.

In this context, under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP), funded by European Union, Government of Sweden and Ireland, UN Women, is conducting an assessment on Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP), to document and assess the experiences of women in politics and public life. The assessment will focus on elected women leaders, former candidates, women in executive roles, and members of political parties at both national and local levels. The assessment’s findings will fill critical data gaps, providing an evidence base to inform institutional responses, policies, and programming in the next electoral cycle (2029). It aligns with the lessons learned from the 2023 elections and the mid-term evaluation of LESP, and will contribute to stronger prevention, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms. The results will support the work of UN agencies, electoral institutions, policymakers, and civil society in creating a safer and more inclusive political environment for women in Liberia.

The Assessment aims to address the following objectives:

• Map and assess interventions addressing VAWP implemented ahead of the 2023 elections to identify best practices and areas for improvement.
• Assess the adequacy of legal and policy frameworks, as well as institutional mechanisms, in addressing the prevention and response to VAWP.
• Collect qualitative data on the forms, contexts and impact of VAWP in Liberia before, during, and after the election.
• Identify entry points and provide recommendations for strengthening the monitoring, prevention and response to VAWP in Liberia

Under this TOR, UN Women Liberia Country Office is looking to recruit a National Consultant who will support implementation of the assessment and lead fieldwork activities across counties outside Montserrado Country, under the overall guidance of the International Consultant and UN Women Liberia Country Office.

Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work

The National Consultant will provide technical, coordination, and logistical support to the implementation of the national assessment on Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP) in Liberia. The consultant will coordinate and lead qualitative data collection across five counties outside Montserrado (Nimba, Lofa, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Sinoe), and will participate in data collection activities in Montserrado Country, which will be led by the International Consultant. The National Consultant will work under the overall technical guidance of the International Consultant and in close collaboration with UN Women Liberia Country Office.

Task 1: Support the overall coordination assessment 

• Support the development of a detailed workplan and timeline for the implementation of the assessment in close coordination with UN Women Liberia Country Office and UN Women HQ.
• Liaise regularly with the International Consultant to facilitate timely implementation of all assessment components.
• Participate in coordination meetings with the Technical Team (UN Women Liberia and HQ), and support documentation and follow-up as needed.

Task 2: Support the design and execution of the desk review and qualitative data collection 

Support Background research and review of legislative and policy framework on VAWP in Liberia 

• Collect and compile existing research, election observation mission reports, perception surveys, and other relevant sources on elections and women’s political participation in Liberia, to support the identification of trends, challenges, and data gaps related to Violence Against Women in Politics (VAWP).
• Gather legislative and policy documents related to women’s political participation and VAWP; and voluntary frameworks and initiatives, such as the VAWE/P Protocol adopted by political parties and the NEC, and identify relevant actors involved in implementation and monitoring.
• Assist in collecting and organizing content from online platforms, media reporting, and public discourse that reflects incidents and narratives related to technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), to contribute to the broader analysis.
• Support context-specific analysis by contributing insights and background on the political, institutional, and cultural environment related to women’s political participation and VAWP in Liberia.
• Organize all materials in line with the review template provided by the international consultant and share structured outputs for review and further analysis.

Support to qualitative data collection 

• Support the development of a qualitative data collection plan and methodology, including sampling strategy, interview targets, and a timeline for fieldwork.
• Assist in conducting in-depth interviews with elected women leaders, former candidates, women in executive positions at national and local level, and members of political parties to explore forms, drivers, and consequences of VAWP, as well as help-seeking behaviour and coping mechanisms.
• Support in-depth interviews with a minimum of 40–50 respondents, including former candidates, elected women in the legislature, appointed women in executive roles at national and local levels, and women active in political parties. These interviews will explore the forms, drivers, and consequences of VAWP, as well as help-seeking behavior and coping mechanisms. Interviews will be conducted across Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Gbarpolu, Bong, and Sinoe counties, selected for their geographic diversity and history or risk of VAWP. This selection will be validated during the inception phase.
• Support the organization and facilitation of at least 8–10 focus group discussions or key informant interviews with political, electoral, security, and civil society actors to contextualize findings and identify gaps in institutional responses.

Task 3: Support the preparation of a comprehensive report and advocacy materials

• Support qualitative data analysis, drawing on transcripts, notes, and recordings from interviews and focus group discussions.
• Contribute to the drafting of the comprehensive final report^[1] integrating evidence from qualitative and the review of legislative and policy framework, and highlighting short- and long-term entry points, opportunities, and priority actions for key state and non-state actors (legislature,      electoral management bodies, political parties, local administrations, traditional and religious leaders, elected women representatives, civil society and the women’s movement, and UN Women and other UN agencies), to better monitor, prevent and respond to VAWP.
• Support the preparation of advocacy materials, including one main advocacy brief (3–5 pages) and short briefs derived from key findings of the assessment. Communications materials, including human interest stories and/or articles on good practices, may be considered to support knowledge management of the project.
• Assist in documenting knowledge generated from the whole initiative, specifically on its progress, design, and management together with the UN Women team. 

Task 4: Support engagement with national and local stakeholders and experts to ensure their buy-in and participation in the implementation of the assessment and dissemination of its findings

Support the coordination of the Reference Group composed national stakeholders relevant to acting on violence against women in politics

• Provide substantive inputs to the TORs for a Reference Group, composed of  national stakeholders relevant to acting on violence against women in politics. 
• Support the establishment of the Reference Group at the outset of the assessment to promote national ownership and ensure that the findings and recommendations are relevant and actionable.
• Assist in the coordination and facilitation of at least two meetings of the Reference Group, one during the inception phase and one following the completion of the report.

Dissemination and Launching of the report 

• Support the organization of national workshop with relevant stakeholders and experts, including elected women representatives, former candidates, members of political parties and women in the executive at national and local level to launch the report and share its findings and recommendations. 
• Support the development of a dissemination plan for the final report and accompanying advocacy materials. 

Deliverables of the National Consultant under Task 1 & 2 

• Inputs to the detailed workplan and timeline for the assessment.
• Inputs to the inception report, including the proposed methodology and tools for preliminary qualitative research and a summary of the initial literature and policy review, and a draft outline of the comprehensive final report.
• Inputs to the mapping of existing qualitative approaches in collecting data VAWP in the context of Liberia. 
• Inputs to the review of Liberia’s current legislative and policy framework, it relates to women’s political participation and VAWP, and by comparison with standards set by international normative frameworks and global best practices.
• Draft transcripts or detailed notes of information gathered during preliminary consultations, focus group discussions, and interviews.
• Inputs to the interview guide for the main qualitative data collection.
• Inputs to the qualitative data collection plan, including the timeline of activities, target number of interviews, and principles for selecting participants—such as elected women leaders, former candidates, women in executive roles, members of political parties at both national and local levels, as well as representatives of local women’s rights organizations, election observers, and other key stakeholders. (6 counties).
• Draft transcripts or detailed notes from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions conducted during the main qualitative data collection phase

Deliverables of the National Consultant under Task 3:

• Inputs to the development of the final report outline, including preliminary findings, key messages, and recommendations.
• Inputs to the drafting of the comprehensive final report (50-70 pages) integrating evidence from qualitative and quantitative data collection and the review of legislative and policy framework.
• Inputs to advocacy materials, including one main advocacy brief and seven short thematic, geographic, and/or demographic briefs. 
• Draft content or support to the development of at least two human interest stories or articles on good practices.
• Support to the documentation of lessons learned throughout the assessment.

Deliverables of the National Consultant under Task 4:

• Inputs to the Terms of Reference for the Reference Group.
• Draft meeting summaries from Reference Group meetings.
• Draft meeting summary from the national workshop.
• Inputs to the development of a dissemination plan for the final report and advocacy materials.

Duration of assignment 

It is anticipated the assignment will take up 60 working days over a period of 5 months. 

Deliverable

Payment for this consultancy will be based on the achievement of each deliverable and certification that each has been satisfactorily completed. Payment will be based on relevant annexes as supporting documents for the achievement of deliverables

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

This is a home-based consultancy with travel to selected counties within Liberia. Travel dates and locations will be determined during the inception phase.

UN Women inputs:

• UN Women Liberia will facilitate travel arrangements (international, national) and provide DSA as per actual cost, based on a mutually agreed travel plan.
• UN Women will provide the consultant with relevant background materials and programme documents for the project. Specifically, UN Women will provide project documents and access to relevant training materials, reports, research and data.
• UN Women will directly hire national consultant for the implementation of the quantitative components of the assessment. 
• UN Women will provide formal letters to introduce the consultant to government and other key stakeholders as and when needed. 
• It is mandatory for the consultant to participate in a UN security briefing and to follow UN security rules and guidance. 
• It is the consultant’s responsibility to arrange private insurance.

The consultant will be required to provide a Statement of Good Health, endorsed by a certified Medical Practitioner.

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Statements:

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.