National Consultant: To conduct the implementation research (post-engagement assessment) for the shombhabona programme

The purpose of this consultancy is to lead and conduct the post-engagement assessment and the final phase of implementation research of the Shombhabona Programme, focusing on:

1. To measure the efficacy and overall effectiveness of interventions in changing social and gender norms and behaviours that perpetuate child marriage in Bangladesh.
2. To provide comprehensive evidence, conclusions, and strategic recommendations for the sustainability, replication, and scale-up of successful programmatic approaches.

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.

Despite Bangladesh’s progress in reducing child marriage rates, the country unfortunately remains among the top ten countries globally with the highest prevalence of this harmful practice. This persistent challenge underscores the deep-seated nature of child marriage, rooted in complex social and gender norms and systemic vulnerabilities. To address this, UNFPA, in close collaboration with the Department of Women Affairs, has launched ‘Shombhabona-the Norm-Shift Accelerator’, a systems-based programme. This programme operates across multiple layers of the socio-ecological model, acknowledging that child marriage is influenced by factors ranging from individual beliefs and behaviours to broader social, institutional, and policy dynamics.  

Shombhabona’s strategic approach involves integrating its interventions on social norm change with two key social protection schemes managed by the Department of Women’s Affairs of the Ministry of Women and Children Affairs. This integration allows for leveraging existing infrastructure and reaching a vast network of populations across the country. By utilising established delivery mechanisms, including community-based organisations and local government structures, Shombhabona effectively extends its reach. The programme also extends to secondary schools,  aiming to support adolescent girls and boys to stay in schools until the completion of their secondary education. This focus on school retention is critical, as retention in education is a proven tool in delaying marriage and empowering girls. 

Phase 1 of the Shombhabona implementation research focused on conducting a comprehensive pre-engagement assessment to establish baseline evidence on social norms, attitudes, behaviours, and implementation readiness related to child marriage prevention across programme areas. The assessment aimed to generate evidence to inform programme adaptation, strengthen implementation strategies, and establish benchmarks for measuring behavioural and normative change over time.

The implementation research adopted a mixed-methods design integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches to capture both measurable outcomes and contextual experiences influencing child marriage practices and programme implementation. The pre-assessment was conducted across four programme districts using structured surveys, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs).

Frameworks and diagnostic tools used

The Phase 1 research design was guided by internationally recognized implementation research frameworks to assess programme effectiveness, implementation quality, and contextual determinants influencing social norm change interventions:

RE-AIM Framework (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance):

The RE-AIM framework was applied to guide the overall implementation research process and assess programme reach, effectiveness, adoption across communities and institutions, quality of implementation, and potential sustainability of interventions.

CFIR (Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research) Diagnostic Tool:

The CFIR diagnostic framework was used to assess implementation processes, contextual barriers and facilitators, institutional readiness, stakeholder engagement, and operational challenges influencing programme delivery and uptake.

These frameworks enabled the research to move beyond outcome measurement and systematically examine how programme interventions were implemented within real-world settings and socio-cultural contexts.

• Development and adaptation of quantitative and qualitative data collection tools aligned with programme objectives and implementation research frameworks
• Enumerator recruitment, training, and supervision to ensure quality data collection
• Pilot testing and refinement of tools prior to field deployment
• Coordination with programme staff, implementing partner, local stakeholders, and community gatekeepers to facilitate respondent identification and field access
• Quantitative household-level, school-level surveys conducted in programme intervention areas
• Qualitative data collection through FGDs, KIIs, and IDIs to explore community perceptions, norms and behavioural drivers, and contextual factors
• Regular field monitoring, spot checks, and data quality assurance procedures throughout the data collection period

Pre-intervention assessment sample size and participant categories

The pre-engagement assessment included both quantitative and qualitative components:

• 2,600 adolescent girls
• 1,084 women

The quantitative survey assessed knowledge, personal belief, descriptive norms, injunctive norms, sanctions and practices related to child marriage, education retention, agency, bodily autonomy, gender-based violence, and alternative pathways. Two different survey questionnaires were used for girls and women because of the difference in age and the distinct modules used for these groups.

The pre-intervention assessment applied a two-stage cluster sampling approach for adolescent girls and VWB components, and a stratified random sampling methodology for the Jibikayon component to ensure adequate representation across programme districts and participant categories. The sampling approach was designed to capture geographic diversity, varying socio-economic contexts, and representation of programme beneficiaries and stakeholders.

The qualitative assessment included:

• 12 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs)
• 16 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs)
• 16 In-Depth Interviews (IDIs)

Primary participants included:

• Adolescent girls 
• Women (VWB and Jibikayon participants)

Other participants included

• Adolescent boys
• Fathers
• School teachers
• Marriage registrars
• Matchmakers
• Programme staff
• Government stakeholders

The qualitative component explored perceptions and experiences related to social norms, child marriage practices, programme implementation, barriers to participation, community engagement, and enabling factors supporting behavioural change.

The plan for Phase 2 (post-intervention assessment) incorporates specific strategies to mitigate the challenges encountered during Phase 1 and clearly defines the scope of work for the consultant to ensure successful completion of the implementation research. 

The consultant will lead the post-intervention assessment and completion of implementation research through the following workstreams:

1. Review of Phase 1 research and methodological refinement

• Review pre-intervention assessment findings, methodologies, tools, and programme documents.
• Review implementation processes and operational challenges identified during pre-intervention assessment.
• Refine evaluation questions and indicators.
• Develop a comprehensive post-intervention assessment framework.
• Update methodologies ensuring comparability with pre-intervention assessment data.

2. Sampling framework and research design

• Develop a comprehensive, integrated implementation research/post-intervention assessment framework, aligned with the initial research design
• Develop a detailed sampling framework specifying target respondents, sample size, district coverage, and respondent tracking strategy.
• Update the toolkits: Revised surveys and interview guides that incorporate "process" questions (e.g., "Why did this intervention work?") alongside "impact" questions (e.g., "Have the norms changed?")
• Adapt and finalise the tools (Survey questionnaires, KII, IDI and FGD guide) and translate these into Kobo Toolbox to ensure alignment with pre-intervention assessment tools.

– Adolescent girls 

– Mothers (VWB and Jibikayon participants)

– Adolescent boys and young men

– Community males; fathers of adolescent girls and young men

– Teachers 

– Community leaders and service providers (marriage registrars)

– Programme implementers and government stakeholders

The post-intervention assessment will target the same cohorts who received the "PLUS" interventions in Phase 1 across four districts: Bagerhat, Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, and Jamalpur.

• Develop a data collection and analysis plan, including ethical protocols
• Lead and oversee data collection in the programme areas (Bagerhat, Chapainawabganj, Gaibandha, Jamalpur,).
• Supervise and train data collectors/field enumerators. 
• Ensure data quality and integrity throughout the research process.
• Analyse quantitative and qualitative data using appropriate statistical and qualitative analysis techniques.
• Conduct comparative analysis (pre-intervention assessment vs post-intervention assessment)

• Assess the effectiveness of programme interventions in achieving intended outcomes related to social norms and behaviours.
• Evaluate implementation fidelity, quality, consistency, and participant engagement.
• Analyze barriers, facilitators, and contextual factors influencing programme outcomes.
• Document lessons learned, good practices, and unintended outcomes.
• Assess sustainability and scalability of interventions.

• Prepare a comprehensive implementation research report, including Executive summary, Background and context, Methodology,  Findings, Discussion and conclusions, and Recommendations. 
• Conduct a validation workshop to discuss preliminary findings.
• Prepare research reports, policy briefs, and presentations.
• Develop recommendations for adaptive programme design and scale-up. 

• Inception report and tools: June 2026
• Enumerator training: June–July 2026
• Data collection: July–September 2026
• Data analysis: October 2026
• Draft report submission: November 2026
• Validation workshop: December 2026
• Final report submission: December 2026
   

The consultant will work closely with the Programme Analyst - Adolescent and Youth, the Technical Officer- Adolescent & Youth, CSO Engagement & MERL under the direct guidance of the Chief, AY, in carrying out the duties detailed above.

The consultant will provide written updates regularly and organise in-person/online meetings to share work updates, needs and challenges as needed. 

• Advanced University degree in social science, gender studies, development studies, or in an alternative relevant field.

• At least 2 years of experience in conducting implementation research, preferably in the context of child marriage or social norms change.
• Excellent understanding of the emerging issues related to child marriage, gender equality, and gender-based violence.
• Strong quantitative and qualitative research skills. 
• Excellent quantitative and qualitative data analysis and report writing skills.  
• Experience with comparative and longitudinal analysis.
• Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written, with proficiency in crafting clear and persuasive content.
• Flexibility and responsiveness to changes as part of the review and feedback process.
   

UNFPA will provide the following support to the Research Consultant:

• Access to relevant programme documents and data
• Introduction to key stakeholders
• Logistical support for data collection activities
   

1st instalment: 30% payment upon the delivery of: Inception report and data collection tools

2nd installment: 30% payment upon the delivery of Submission of the draft report 

Final Installment: 40% payment upon the delivery of Submission of the final report 

 Ethical Considerations

The research will be conducted in accordance with ethical research principles, including informed consent, confidentiality, and respect for participants' rights.

All research outputs and intellectual property rights will belong to UNFPA.

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. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. 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.

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, 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.