Vacancy announcement: Nagaad Network seeks a National Lead Research Consultant (Gender Analysis of Justice Sector) for their operations in Somaliland. The successful candidate will bring strong Research/translation/report And Writings experience spanning at least 7 - 8 years. Interested applicants should submit their applications before Oct, 31.
TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)
Position Title:
National Lead Research Consultant (Gender Analysis of Justice Sector)
Project Title:
Strengthening Womenâs Access to Justice and Gender Equality in Somaliland under Rule of Law Program
Partner Organization:
UN WOMEN
Geographical Scope:
Somaliland (Targeting 5 Key Regions)
Contract Type:
National Individual Consultancy
Duration of Assignment:
30 Operational Days (Spread over Oct 2026 â Dec 2026)
National Lead Consultant:
Gender Analysis of the Justice Sector in Somaliland
1.
BACKGROUND & CONTEXT:
Access to justice remains a fundamental human right and a core pillar for sustainable development, peacebuilding, and gender equality in Somaliland. However, navigating the justice system presents multi-faceted barriers for vulnerable populations, particularly women and female-headed households. Pluralistic legal frameworksâcomprising Statutory Law, Islamic Sharia, and Customary Law (Xeer)âcreate a complex environment where traditional dispute resolution mechanisms often reinforce patriarchal norms, while statutory courts remain economically, geographically, or procedurally inaccessible.
Under the project 'Strengthening Womenâs Access to Justice and Gender Equality in Somaliland' in the Rule of Law Program, NAGAAD Network with partnership
UNWomen
planning to conduct Gender analysis of the justice sector to explore men's, women's, and female-headed households' justice system experiences and how gender bias/discrimination functions. This consultancy seeks to engage an experienced National Lead Research Consultant to rigorously examine differential justice experiences, map structural gender biases, and analyze intersectional factors (poverty, disability, age, gender identity) across both formal and informal court systems.
2.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
The primary objective of the consultancy is to conduct an in-depth, empirical gender analysis of Somaliland's justice sector across 5 target regions to generate evidence-based strategies for gender-responsive judicial reform. Specifically, the assignment aims to:
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Investigate differential experiences, barriers, and outcomes for men, women, and female-headed households within statutory courts and traditional (Xeer) mechanisms.
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Evaluate how gender discrimination intersects with extreme poverty, disability, age, and gender identity to aggravate exclusion in legal processes.
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Establish empirical evidence base mapping systemic legal needs, institutional gaps, and legal aid deficits.
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Formulate strategic policy recommendations to guide UN Women, government ministries, judicial bodies, and civil society in advancing legal reforms and grassroots advocacy.
3.
SCOPE OF WORK & SPECIFIC TASKS:
The National Lead Consultant will work under the direct supervision of the Project Manager. The Consultant will lead all technical research, field oversight, data synthesis, and report validation. The consultant is expected to utilize their own computer/laptop and software for research analysis and report writing.
Task 1: Desk Review, Methodology Design & Inception Phase:
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Conduct a comprehensive desk review of relevant legislative frameworks, judicial policies, customary laws, and existing research on gender and justice in Somaliland.
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Develop a robust mixed-methods research methodology, sampling strategy across 5 target regions, and theoretical intersectionality analytical framework.
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Draft comprehensive quantitative household survey questionnaires, Focus Group Discussion (FGD) protocols, and Key Informant Interview (KII) guides tailored for legal practitioners, judicial officers, traditional elders, and vulnerable household heads.
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Formulate and submit a comprehensive Inception Report incorporating stakeholder feedback.
Task 2: Field Data Collection Oversight & Team Training:
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Design training curriculum for field enumerators and conduct an intensive 2-day training workshop covering research ethics, survey execution, gender sensitivity, and data quality assurance.
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Supervise field data collection across target regions, ensuring rigorous sampling and oversight of enumerators.
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Conduct high-level Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with institutional stakeholders, judges, legal aid providers, Ministry of Justice officials, and civil society leaders.
Task 3: Intersectional Data Analysis & Synthesis:
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Clean, structure, and analyze quantitative and qualitative field datasets.
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Cross-analyze findings across key intersectional variables
(gender, household headship, economic status, disability, age, and geographical location).
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Map systematic gender bias, legal institutional gaps, and procedural barriers across statutory courts and informal customary dispute mechanisms.
Task 4: Draft Report Writing & Stakeholder Validation:
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Draft the comprehensive Gender Analysis Report featuring key findings, baseline metrics, case studies, and actionable policy recommendations.
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Present draft findings at national Stakeholder Validation Workshop engaging institutional actors, civil society, and grassroots advocates.
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Incorporate feedback from validation workshop participants and NAGAAD & UN Women to deliver the finalized Gender Analysis Report.
About Somaliland
Somaliland is a self-declared republic in the Horn of Africa with a relatively stable political environment and growing economy. Employment opportunities are concentrated in the main cities of Hargeisa, Burao, and Berbera, spanning government, NGOs, telecoms, and the private sector.
Ereyada Soomaaliga (Somali Keywords): Shaqo Soomaaliya ⢠La-talin ⢠Shaqo Cusub