Consultancy for Development of a Policy Brief on Gendered Vulnerabilities of Single and Deserted Women
About the Employer
Job Description
SCOPE OF WORK
Consultancy for Development of a Policy Brief on Gendered Vulnerabilities of Single and Deserted Women
Based on the Gender Audit & Vulnerability Mapping Study
Project: Let the Women Decide their Destiny
Implementing Organisation: Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation (SLCDF)
Funded by: European Union
Consultancy Period: 24th August 2026 – 30th November 2026 (indicative — to be confirmed)
1. Background
The Let the Women Decide their Destiny project is implemented by the Sri Lanka Centre for Development Facilitation (SLCDF), in partnership with the Community Strength Development Foundation (CSDF) and the Federation of Social Development Organizations (FOSDOO), with financial support from the European Union. The study, based on a survey of 125 women, 10 focus group discussions, and 10 key informant interviews, found that women's vulnerability in these districts is structural rather than individual, driven by gender-blind welfare and labour systems, weak legal recognitions of desertion, entrenched social stigma, and limited access to justice. The final report includes an initial draft policy brief, but this draft has not yet been critically reviewed, validated with a wider stakeholder group, translated into local languages, or used as a basis for structured advocacy dialogue at divisional, district, or national level.
2. Purpose of the Consultancy
This consultancy aims to strengthen and operationalise the findings of the Gender Audit and Vulnerability Mapping study by critically reviewing the existing report, closing identified evidence gaps through two targeted interviews with key informants, and conducting a supplementary study to extend the evidence base to cover priority gaps identified by the Gender Audit and Vulnerability Mapping exercise.
3. Scope of Work
The Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:
- Literature review: Update and expand the literature review in the existing Gender Audit report, identifying policy-relevant evidence gaps and bringing in relevant new sources.
- Identify gaps in the report: Conduct a structured critical review of the Gender Audit report against its original objectives and research questions, identifying gaps in evidence and arguments.
- Quick study on missing information: Design and conduct a rapid assessment to address the priority gaps identified, including fieldwork in the specified districts and populations (interviews, FGDs, and KIs).
- Targeted populations: Single women and deserted women in Vavuniya district; Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in Colombo, Gampaha, and Puttalam districts.
- Develop the policy brief in local languages: Revise the policy brief and translate into Sinhala and Tamil; ensure outputs are consistent across English, Sinhala, and Tamil.
- Presentations to wider stakeholders: Present the draft policy brief to a wider stakeholder group, including SLCDF, Palmera Projects, partner organisations (CSDF, FOSDOO), and relevant government counterparts; incorporate feedback received.
- Facilitate dialogue and advocacy: Design and facilitate the staged dialogue process at divisional, district, and national levels to build consensus and momentum for policy uptake.
- Final reporting: Prepare a consolidated final consultancy report documenting the gap analysis, supplementary findings, and recommendations for dissemination and advocacy.
4. Methodology
The Consultant is expected to apply a light-touch, evidence-strengthening approach that builds on the existing Gender Audit rather than repeating it. This includes:
- A desk-based critical review of the existing report against its stated objectives, research questions, and limitations.
- Two clearly scoped field-based supplementary studies targeting the priority gaps identified — one with single and deserted women in Vavuniya and one with FSWs in Colombo, Gampaha, and Puttalam — each including structured interviews, FGDs, and KI interviews.
- Partnership with organisations already working with FSW communities in the three districts to support ethical participant access.
- Participatory validation of the draft policy brief with SLCDF and partner organisations before dissemination.
- Professional translation (with back-translation or independent review) to ensure Sinhala and Tamil versions accurately reflect the English content.
- A tiered stakeholder engagement design, moving from divisional to district to national level, so that community and local government perspectives inform the framing used in the policy brief.
- All materials must be gender-responsive, accessible to non-specialist audiences, and consistent with the tone and terminology used in the Destiny Project’s Gender Audit report.
5. Required Qualifications
The ideal consultant or consultancy team should have:
- Demonstrated experience conducting gender/socio research and producing policy briefs or similar outputs.
- A senior researcher able to lead analysis and quality-assurance outputs, supported by research assistant(s) and data tabulation capacity.
- Strong understanding of gender-based vulnerability, social protection, and access to justice issues in the Sri Lankan context.
- Excellent writing skills in English, with access to professional Sinhala and Tamil translation.
- Experience facilitating multi-level stakeholder dialogues, including with government officers.
- Familiarity with Kurunegala, Anuradhapura, and Vavuniya districts, and prior exposure to the Destiny Project.
- Demonstrated experience conducting ethical, confidential research with key populations such as Female Sex Workers, including safeguarding and referral protocols.
- Established relationships with, or ability to work through, outreach/harm-reduction organisations supporting FSW communities in Colombo, Gampaha, and Puttalam.
6. Logistics
SLCDF will manage all logistics related to the divisional, district, and national discussion sessions, including:
- Participant selection and mobilisation at each level
- Venue arrangements
- Provision of food and refreshments
- Printing of the policy brief in English, Sinhala, and Tamil for distribution at sessions
7. Submission Instructions
How to Submit
- An updated CV for the senior researcher and any proposed research assistant(s)
- A cover letter indicating the team’s relevant experience
- A brief technical approach note covering the gap-analysis method, supplementary study design, and proposed dialogue structure
- Financial Proposal with the Rs. 1,000,000 ceiling including consultant fee, transport, food and accommodation etc.
- A writing sample, e.g. a previous policy brief or research report
- Please email the proposal to [email protected] on or before 17 August 2026
Queries
For queries regarding this Call for Proposals, please contact the SLCDF Focal Point at [email protected] or mobile no. 077 770 0236 no later than 14th August 2026.
