Result of Service

1) Detailed scenario for conducting a face-to-face focus group discussion 2) Final report summarizing the key key findings, challenges, human stories, and recommendations for each group interview.

Work Location

Almaty and Astana, Kazakhstan

Expected duration

2 month (20 working days)

Duties and Responsibilities

1. BACKGROUND The United Nations Common Country Analysis (CCA) responds to the urgency of the 2030 Agenda by delivering integrated, forward-looking, and evidence-based joint analysis of the context for sustainable development in a country. The CCA is a signature function of the UNCT, generating tailored analytical products at the country level. It is part of a strategic pivot for the UN towards becoming the top source for independent, trusted analysis and policy advisory support on sustainable development in the 21st century. The preparation of the CCA involves an impartial, independent, and collective assessment and analysis of the country’s context for sustainable development. This process serves a basis for setting development priorities and designing the next cycle of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Kazakhstan for period 2026-2030. The development of a new full-fledged CCA will be grounded in the accumulated knowledge and expertise of United Nations Country Team, ensuring stakeholder engagement to make the CCA an extroverted process and product, rather than an UN-centric one. In addition, principles of human rights, gender equality and women’s empowerment, Leave No One Behind (LNOB) will be mainstreamed throughout the document to highlight often neglected yet important development aspects. Most of the time, people who are left behind in development are not counted in official data and they remain invisible in the formulation of policies and assessment of progress. To address this, the UNCT is seeking a National Consultant to facilitate focus group discussions with vulnerable groups, specifically targeting refuges, persons with disabilities, migrants, GBV survivors, and people living with HIV/AIDS and other people with pre-existing medical conditions. 2. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES Purpose: the focus group discussions with vulnerable groups aim to enhance the inclusivity and responsiveness of the United Nations Common Country Analysis (CCA) for Kazakhstan by capturing diverse perspectives often overlooked in official data and traditional development processes. Objectives: Inclusivity and Representation: Facilitate a platform for vulnerable groups to voice their perspectives, concerns, and aspirations, ensuring their inclusion in the development discourse. This aligns with the UN’s commitment to LNOB principles. Identification of Unique Challenges: Explore and identify challenges faced by vulnerable groups, recognizing that their experiences may differ from mainstream narratives. This information will contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the country’s development context. Data Augmentation: Supplement official data with qualitative information gathered from vulnerable groups, providing a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the development landscape. This ensures that those often invisible in mainstream policies and progress reports are accounted for. Setting Development Priorities: Utilize the information gathered from the focus group discussions as a basis for setting development priorities and designing the next cycle of the United Nations Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) for Kazakhstan (2026-2030). 3. SCOPE OF WORK The National Consultant will implement their obligations under the direct supervision and guidance of the Head of the Resident Coordinator’s Office in Kazakhstan. The National Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks: 1. Develop a detailed scenario for conducting a face-to-face focus group discussion with five to eight interviewees in each group: refuges, persons with disabilities, migrants, GBV survivors, and people living with HIV/AIDS and other people with pre-existing medical conditions. This involves developing a scenario with indicative list of interview questions focused on challenges faced, preparing consent forms and materials, identifying and recruiting participants, among other tasks. The National Consultant should ensure gender representation within each focus group to foster inclusivity and a diverse range of perspectives. 1. Conduct five focus group discussions to explore and identify challenges faced by vulnerable groups and gather ideas/suggestions for overcoming these challenges. The National Consultant will collect one moving story belonging from participants in each group to emphasize the challenges they face. The quotes from the consultations will be included throughout CCA. Furthermore, since, in practice, most people face more than one kind of deprivation and/or disadvantage or discrimination, the National Consultant should identify who have further left behind in each group and why, considering five factors of LNOB: discrimination, geography, vulnerability to shocks, governance and socio-economic status. Identifying why some people are left behind requires understanding not only the immediate, often apparent causes but also the underlying and root causes that may be more structural, keeping people marginalised and excluded over long periods of time. The focus group discussions will be conducted in two localities: Almaty and Astana, and the UN premises can be considered for conducting focus group interviews. 2. Analyse qualitative data collected during the focus group discussions and prepare comprehensive report (15-20 pages), that summarise key findings, challenges, human stories, and recommendations for each group interview. The final report should be submitted in English.

Qualifications/special skills

Education • Bachelor degree or equivalent in Economics, Public Policy, Social Sciences, or a related field is required Experience • A minimum of 3 years relevant professional experience at the national and/or international level is required. Experience in designing and conducting focus group interviews is highly desired. A human-rights background is preferred.

Languages

Language Requirements • Fluency in English, Kazakh, Russian are required. • Excellent communication skills (spoken and written), including the ability to write reports, conduct studies and to articulate ideas in a clear and concise style in English.

Additional Information

APPLICATION Interested candidates shall submit documentations demonstrating why they are the best-suited to carry out the above task. This should include: • Latest CV and a sample of previous works. • A brief outline of the strengths and expertise highlighting directly relevant experiences to the assignment. These should encompass experience and knowledge in conducting focus group discussions, the UN programming principles (LNOB, human rights, GEWE, environmental sustainability and resilience, and accountability). • Approach to work/suggested methodology and work-plan • Financial Proposal (inclusive of expenses related to travels and DSA) as required. ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES The National Consultant will be responsible for their own cross-country travel arrangements. No additional costs outside of the scope of this TOR will be covered. The consultant must possess their own laptop and other technical equipment to complete the assignment. The documents produced during the period of this consultancy will be treated strictly confidential and the rights of distribution and/or publication shall solely reside with the UN. REFERENCE DOCUMENTS The key documents will include: • UNSDCF Kazakhstan 2021-2025 • Annual Results Reports • Master list of UN activities in Kazakhstan (excel) • Common Country Analysis (latest update December 2023) • Checklist on Integrating Human Rights, Leave No One Behind, and Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in Common Country Analyses (CCAs) • Operationalizing Leaving No One Behind: good practice note for UN Country Teams • DCO Policy Guidance on Updating UN Common Country Analysis • Other documents as relevant

No Fee

THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.