The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has officially announced applications for the position of International Consultant on Violence Against Women (VAW) Survey in Tirana, Albania. This high-level international consultancy presents an exceptional opportunity for experienced gender experts, statisticians, researchers, and violence prevention specialists to contribute to one of Europe’s most important national gender data initiatives.
The application deadline is 18 May 2026.
The consultancy will support Albania’s upcoming national Violence Against Women prevalence survey scheduled for implementation between 2026 and 2027. The selected consultant will work closely with the Albanian National Institute of Statistics (INSTAT) and UN Women Albania to ensure the survey meets global methodological and ethical standards while aligning with European Union gender-based violence data requirements.
About UN Women
UN Women works globally to eliminate discrimination against women and girls, promote women’s empowerment, and achieve gender equality across all sectors of society.
In Albania, UN Women is implementing its Strategic Note 2022–2026, focusing on ensuring women and girls fully enjoy their human rights and actively contribute to the country’s sustainable development and European Union integration process.
This consultancy is part of broader initiatives funded by Sida and the European Union to strengthen gender equality systems, improve violence prevention mechanisms, and advance gender statistics in Albania.
About the Violence Against Women Survey
Albania was among the first countries to conduct a comprehensive national Violence Against Women prevalence survey in 2018 following the adoption of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The next survey round for 2026–2027 will:
- Measure the prevalence of violence against women in Albania
- Produce internationally comparable gender-based violence data
- Support monitoring of SDG Indicator 5.2
- Contribute to the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE) Gender Equality Index
- Support Albania’s EU accession reporting obligations
- Align with the EU Survey on Gender-Based Violence (EU-GBV)
- Follow WHO and UN statistical guidelines on violence against women surveys
The survey will also incorporate updated legal frameworks following Albania’s January 2026 law on the Prevention and Protection from Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence.
Consultancy Overview
Position Title
International Consultant on Violence Against Women Survey
Location
Tirana, Albania
Contract Type
International Consultant Contract
Contract Duration
Up to 50 working days between June 2026 and September 2027
Work Arrangement
Home-based consultancy with up to four trips to Tirana, Albania
Application Deadline
18 May 2026
Key Responsibilities
The selected international consultant will provide technical leadership and methodological guidance throughout all phases of the survey process.
1. Technical and Methodological Leadership
The consultant will:
- Guide overall survey implementation
- Ensure alignment with EU-GBV methodology
- Ensure compliance with Eurostat standards
- Support implementation according to WHO and UN ethical guidelines
- Provide methodological oversight across all survey stages
2. Survey Design and Methodology
Responsibilities include:
- Reviewing sample strategies and survey design
- Supporting questionnaire adaptation and validation
- Reviewing fieldwork procedures and protocols
- Supporting development of respondent materials
- Reviewing enumerator manuals and survey tools
3. Training and Capacity Building
The consultant will:
- Support development of ethical protocols
- Develop training materials for field teams
- Conduct Training of Trainers sessions for INSTAT staff
- Strengthen institutional capacity for GBV survey implementation
4. Stakeholder Engagement
Tasks include:
- Supporting consultations with national stakeholders
- Assisting the National Reference Group on VAW Survey
- Ensuring survey objectives align with national priorities
5. Pilot Testing and Quality Assurance
The consultant will:
- Guide pre-test and pilot survey implementation
- Review pilot findings
- Recommend methodological adjustments
- Ensure quality assurance during field implementation
6. Data Processing and Analysis
The consultant will support:
- Data cleaning and validation
- Weighting procedures
- Eurostat quality compliance
- Preparation of final datasets
- Development of tabulation plans
- Trend analysis comparing 2018 and 2026 data
7. Report Writing and Dissemination
Responsibilities include:
- Co-leading analytical report preparation
- Supporting stakeholder presentations
- Participating in dissemination events
- Finalizing reports and presentations
Deliverables and Timeline
The consultancy includes several major deliverables across the project lifecycle.
Key Deliverables
- Inception report and detailed methodology
- Validated survey instruments and ethical protocols
- Stakeholder consultation inputs
- Training package and Training of Trainers delivery
- Pilot survey recommendations
- Data processing and quality assurance support
- Tabulation plan and draft analytical report
- Final survey report and dissemination presentation
The consultancy timeline runs from June 2026 through September 2027.
Required Qualifications
Applicants must possess strong expertise in gender statistics, violence against women research, and international survey methodologies.
Education
Applicants should have:
- A Master’s degree in Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Development Studies, Human Rights, Sociology, or related disciplines
OR
- A first-level university degree combined with additional qualifying experience
Professional Experience
Candidates must demonstrate:
- Minimum 10 years of progressively responsible experience in GBV/VAW, social inclusion, or human rights
- Minimum 7 years of experience in GBV/VAW research and statistical processes
- Experience leading at least two household surveys on violence against women
- Expertise in Eurostat, EIGE, and FRA methodologies
- Familiarity with WHO Multi-Country Study standards
- Experience delivering trainings and facilitation
- Strong knowledge of statistical software such as STATA and SPSS
Language Requirement
- Fluency in English is mandatory
Core Competencies
UN Women seeks professionals with:
- Integrity and professionalism
- Strong communication skills
- Gender sensitivity and awareness
- Accountability and stakeholder engagement
- Inclusive collaboration skills
- Organizational and teamwork abilities
- Commitment to quality and deadlines
Why This Opportunity Matters
This consultancy is more than a research assignment. It contributes directly to:
- Strengthening evidence-based policy making
- Improving protections for women and girls
- Advancing EU-aligned gender statistics
- Supporting implementation of the Istanbul Convention
- Enhancing Albania’s national response to gender-based violence
Professionals selected for this role will help shape one of the region’s most significant gender equality data initiatives.
How to Apply
Applicants should carefully demonstrate:
- Technical expertise in VAW/GBV surveys
- International survey leadership experience
- Statistical and analytical capabilities
- Experience with ethical research methodologies
Application Deadline: 18 May 2026
Interested candidates can apply through the official application portal HERE.
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