National Individual Consultant: Situational Analysis and Strengthening GBV Case Management Response Services for Married Girls in the Philippines, Home-based (remote), Philippines

 In 2025, the UNFPA Asia and the Pacific Regional Office (APRO) led a South Asia–focused initiative to strengthen gender-based violence (GBV) case management response services for married adolescent girls. The regional findings highlighted that existing GBV response services were rarely adapted to the unique risks faced by married girls—such as intimate partner violence (IPV), severe restrictions on mobility, forced pregnancy, and denial of resources or educational opportunities. Furthermore, the integration of survivor-centered GBV approaches with specialized child protection practices remained underdeveloped, leaving social workforces without tailored guidance or clear multi-sectoral referral mechanisms. Following the South Asia model, UNFPA APRO is expanding this regional effort across Southeast Asia (Cambodia, Lao PDR, and the Philippines) to ensure married girls are effectively included in national GBV response systems. In the Philippines, despite landmark legislation such as Republic Act No. 11596, which prohibits child marriage, girls who entered marriage or informal unions during adolescence—including adolescent mothers and girls living in humanitarian, displacement, or culturally distinct settings—may face complex barriers in accessing survivor-centered GBV case management and child protection services. To better understand these barriers and identify opportunities for strengthening response systems, UNFPA Philippines will engage a National Consultant to conduct a situational analysis and localized consultations across three diverse geographic contexts: the National Capital Region, Catbalogan City in Eastern Visayas, and Maguindanao del Sur in BARMM. 

The primary objective of this consultancy is to assess the existing GBV case management and child protection response systems for married adolescent girls in the Philippines and formulate evidence-based recommendations to strengthen localized response pathways. 

Specifically, the consultancy aims to: 

Under the overall supervision of the UNFPA Philippines Gender/GBV Team Lead and in close technical alignment with the International Regional Consultant, the Consultant will undertake the following tasks: 

● Contribute to the development of a detailed sampling and recruitment strategy specifying participant eligibility criteria, the proposed number and distribution of KIIs and FGDs per site, participant recruitment mechanisms, and the rationale for the inclusion of each participant group, including married adolescent girls in informal unions and adolescent mothers.  

● Participate in regional kick-off meetings and technical planning sessions with UNFPA APRO and the research team. 

● Co-review, contextualize, and validate qualitative data collection instruments (FGD and KII guides) into local languages (Tagalog, Waray, and Maguindanaon context). 

● Participate in specialized orientations on sensitive qualitative interviewing, survivor-centered ethics, child safeguarding, and Do No Harm principles. 

● Map key informants, service providers, local government units (LGUs), and community structures across NCR, Catbalogan City, and Maguindanao del Sur. The final sampling strategy and participant distribution shall be reviewed and approved by UNFPA prior to the commencement of fieldwork.  

● Finalize field logistics, participant selection criteria, and interview/FGD schedules in coordination with local partners and UNFPA field offices. 

● Develop and finalize a comprehensive ethical and safeguarding protocol for the consultation process, covering informed consent, assent and caregiver consent requirements where applicable, confidentiality, privacy, safe recruitment and interview arrangements, and procedures for responding to disclosures of violence, imminent risk, or requests for assistance. The protocol shall include appropriate referral pathways and safeguarding measures for married adolescent girls, including those in informal unions and adolescent mothers, and shall be reviewed and approved by UNFPA prior to the commencement of fieldwork.  

● Travel to target sites and conduct 10–15 Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with service providers (DSWD, CSWDO/MSWDO, WCPD Police, Health Officers, NGOs, BARMM MSSD). 

● Facilitate 10–15 Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with affected populations (young mothers, female caregivers, husbands/male partners, mothers-in-law, and community leaders). 

● Ensure the systematic documentation of all KIIs and FGDs through de-identified transcripts and/or detailed field notes, including translation where necessary, data cleaning, coding, and identification of key themes using the agreed regional qualitative analysis framework. All data shall be securely stored and managed in accordance with UNFPA’s data protection, confidentiality, and safeguarding requirements.  

● Conduct daily data cleaning, note-taking, transcript coding, and key theme identification using the shared regional qualitative synthesis matrix. 

● Implement the approved ethical and safeguarding protocol throughout participant recruitment, informed consent and assent processes, interviews, and FGDs. Ensure that all consultations are conducted in safe, private, and appropriate settings, with due attention to confidentiality, voluntary participation, and the safety and well-being of participants. Any disclosures of violence, imminent risk, or requests for assistance shall be managed in accordance with established safeguarding procedures and referral pathways. 

● Participate in multi-country analytical debriefs and regional participatory analysis workshops with international research leads. 

● Develop a concise 4-Page Executive Analytical Summary highlighting core country-level findings and policy recommendations. 

● Review the comprehensive analysis report on GBV case management for married girls in the Philippines that will be drafted by the international consultant. 

● Conduct local community validation sessions with stakeholders and affected groups to verify data accuracy and refine final recommendations. 

● Develop key policy recommendations relevant to the Philippines context and a practical action plan to ensure recommendations can be adopted and rolled-out nationally. 

● Ensure that all data analysis, reporting, and validation activities uphold confidentiality, privacy, and the protection of participants. No personally identifiable information or details that could identify individual survivors or participants shall be included in research outputs without appropriate consent and authorization.  

Please note that if the consultant determines that additional experts or personnel are needed to complete all deliverables in this project, all associated expenses, including travel costs, professional fees, and any other related expenses, will be covered by the consultant. 

Payments will be made upon the satisfactory completion and acceptance of each deliverable, in accordance with the schedule outlined below.   

1st Payment: 20% by 30 November 2026:  Upon submission and acceptance of: 

Deliverable 1: Inception Report, including the finalized methodology; detailed sampling and participant selection strategy; proposed distribution and composition of KIIs and FGDs across the three target sites; validated KII and FGD guides; ethical and safeguarding protocol; informed consent and assent procedures; data protection and management plan; translation and transcription arrangements; risk mitigation measures; and detailed fieldwork schedule for the National Capital Region, Catbalogan City, and Maguindanao del Sur.   

2nd Payment: 30% by 28 February 2027:  Upon submission and acceptance of:

Deliverable 2: Completed Fieldwork and Data Matrix, including de-identified transcripts and/or detailed field notes from a total of 10–15 KIIs and 10–15 FGDs conducted across the three target sites, coded using the shared regional qualitative analysis framework. The submission shall include a site-by-site record of completed consultations, participant group, consultation type, date, location, language used, and completion status, without including names or other directly identifying information. 

3rd Payment: 20% by 15 March 2027: Upon submission and acceptance of: 

Deliverable 3: Develop the 4-page summary brief of major themes and recommendations that will feed into the report. Actively participate in regional meetings and synthesis workshops.  

4th Payment: 30% by 30 April 2027: Upon successful completion and acceptance of:

Deliverable 4: Review of the comprehensive analysis report on GBV case management for married girls in the Philippines, ensuring it reflects findings gathered during consultations and feedback from validation exercises.   

Deliverable 5: Develop policy recommendations and a practical action plan based on the findings of the situational analysis and stakeholder consultations. The action plan should identify priority actions and relevant stakeholders to strengthen GBV case management, child protection services, and referral pathways for married adolescent girls in the Philippines, including opportunities to improve inter-agency coordination and support the implementation of recommendations at the national and local levels. 

TOTAL: 100% 
 

1. The first payment of 20% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the first deliverable as per the table of deliverables (electronically); 

2. The second payment of 30% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the second deliverables as per the table of deliverables (electronically); 

3. The third payment of 20% will be made upon receipt and acceptance of the third deliverables as per the table of deliverables (electronically) 

4. The fourth and final payment of 30% will be made upon submission and acceptance of Deliverable 4 (Review of the Comprehensive Analysis Report) and Deliverable 5 (Philippines-Specific Policy Recommendations and Action Plan). 

A detailed project timeline, including specific deliverables and their associated deadlines, will be mutually agreed upon by the consultant and UNFPA. This timeline will be outlined in an inception report to be submitted by the consultant at the commencement of the engagement.  

UNFPA will cover the transportation and meal expenses for the in-person FGD and KII participants. 

National Capital Region, Catbalogan City, and Maguindanao del Sur, with Cotabato City serving as a possible logistical or accommodation base for field activities in Maguindanao del Sur, as required. 

A work plan/delivery monitoring schedule will be determined by UNFPA and the Consultant at the outset of the consultancy. A tracking sheet will be used to note progress against the TOR deliverables and deadlines.   

The consultant will work under the overall guidance of the Gender/GBV unit head at UNFPA Philippines, in close coordination with the Social Norms Change Analyst and UNFPA APRO.  

The following experience and qualifications are required for the IC: 

UNFPA will manage the logistical requirements for the activities outlined in this TOR, including arrangements for the venue, accommodations (as necessary), and meals.  UNFPA will also provide relevant reports, databases, research materials, and other key documents to support the implementation of the project. 

Interested applicants are required to submit the following: 

● Sample related works 

● Updated CV highlighting relevant experience; and 

● At least 2 professional references 

● Minimum of 5 years of professional experience in GBV prevention/response, child protection, or adolescent sexual and reproductive health (ASRHR) within CSOs, INGOs, or UN agencies. 

● Demonstrated knowledge and practical experience in ethical and survivor-centered qualitative research, including informed consent and assent processes, child safeguarding, confidentiality, safe engagement of survivors and vulnerable participants, data protection, and appropriate referral procedures for disclosures of violence or protection concerns.  

● Experience in conducting research or assessments related to child marriage, adolescent pregnancy, intimate partner violence, violence against children, GBV case management, or the intersection of GBV and child protection is highly desirable. Demonstrated expertise in conducting qualitative research, facilitating FGDs, and conducting sensitive KIIs with vulnerable populations (adolescent girls, survivors of violence). 

● Familiarity with Philippine national GBV frameworks (RA 9262, RA 11596, Magna Carta of Women) and local government mechanisms (VAWC Desks, LCPCs, CSWDO). 

● Proven experience working in complex or diverse socio-cultural environments, including urban informal settlements (NCR), rural/coastal settings (Visayas), and BARMM/Muslim Mindanao contexts. 
 

Fluency in written and spoken English and Filipino is required. Knowledge of Waray or Maguindanaon is highly desirable. 

Ownership and use of data Data ownership and confidentiality: All data, transcripts, field notes, coding matrices, analysis products, reports, and other materials produced under this consultancy shall be submitted to and remain the property of UNFPA, subject to applicable UNFPA policies and contractual provisions. The consultant shall not disclose, publish, reproduce, or share any research data or findings externally without prior written authorization from UNFPA. All submitted data shall be de-identified and securely stored. 

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, 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.