Qualitative researcher – community perspectives on sexual exploitation and abuse

Terms of Reference

Ground Truth Solutions (GTS) seeks the services of a consultant or research organisation to conduct a qualitative study aiming at understanding community perceptions on sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) in Ukraine. This study is part of a project implemented by GTS and funded by the World Vision International (WVI) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).

Duration: 2-3 months (November 2023 – January 2024)

Location: Ukraine

Reports to: Programme Manager

About Ground Truth Solutions

GTS is an international non-governmental organisation that helps people affected by crisis influence the design and implementation of humanitarian aid. We believe that intended recipients of humanitarian aid should have more of a say in how aid is provided. GTS regularly engages with people affected by crisis to discover whether they find humanitarian services relevant and fair, if they trust aid agencies, and whether they feel empowered. We also gather their ideas on how things could be done better. Through our research, we help communicate this feedback to policymakers and aid providers. Our goal is to make their perceptions the touchstone and driver of humanitarian effectiveness. To achieve this, we champion the views of people affected by crisis wherever decisions about aid are made.

About the project

Previous studies in Ukraine have indicated a growing sensitivity towards gender-based violence (GBV), with increasing disapproval rates and support for victims. However, the studies also show that the response to GBV remains inadequate due to a lack of information on how to address incidents and slow responses from social workers and the police.

Understanding of protection against sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA), as well as the distinction between SEA and GBV, is unclear among crisis-affected individuals and humanitarian workers. There is a lack of reporting, potentially due to low awareness, reliance on non-humanitarian reporting channels, distrust in reporting mechanisms, fear of consequences, or other unknown barriers.

Presently, PSEA efforts in Ukraine focus on risk identification and mitigation of sexual exploitation, abuse, and harassment (SEAH). This involves raising awareness among humanitarian workers about conduct standards and responsibilities, establishing safe reporting pathways, coordinating referral processes, introducing new complaint mechanisms, providing immediate support to survivors, and conducting impartial and fair investigations while respecting the rights of victims and witnesses.

With this research project we aim to understand affected people’s knowledge of and attitudes towards PSEA and SEA reporting as part of their broader view on humanitarian assistance, what constitutes misconduct, whether they can identify cases that would be classified as SEA or GBV, what trusted mechanisms for reporting exist or need to be created, how this intersects with the ability to submit complaints and feedback overall, and narratives and rumours that exist around these concepts.

GTS will support the World Vision International (WVI) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and their implementing partners to identify opportunities for successful PSEA awareness campaigns and community-led design of trusted reporting mechanisms to strengthen and guide PSEA practices in Ukraine, thereby contributing to the establishment of an environment of trust.

General objective: to contribute to the establishment of an environment of trust to encourage reporting SEA(H) by including citizens’ and humanitarian workers’ views in the design and implementation of PSEA(H) strategies.

Specific objectives:

• Understand affected people’s and humanitarian workers’ knowledge on norms and values, gender dynamics, views and practices around SEA(H) and GBV, the standards and expected conduct of humanitarian workers, and what they identify as risks for SEA(H) incidents to happen;
• Understand knowledge of, and trust in, reporting, sensitive and non-sensitive feedback, and complaints and feedback channels generally;
• Understand what reporting mechanisms people would currently use in case of SEA(H), and what reporting mechanisms they would prefer using in future;
• Explore attitudes, perceptions regarding reporting SEA(H);
• Understand who affected people think are most at risk for protection incidents and what high-risk locations are;
• Identify how and to whom people would prefer to complain and how and from whom (trusted actors) people would prefer to receive information on PSEA(H);
• Identify barriers to and best practices for reporting SEA(H;)
• Understand what factors influence trust and a sense of accountability among people affected by the crisis in Ukraine.

To achieve these objectives, qualitative in-person interviews as well as focus group discussions with affected people and frontline aid providers, and focus on a different range of profiles, to make sure we have a broad understanding of the research topics.

The consultancy

The consultancy entails a qualitative study aimed at understanding community perceptions on sexual exploitation and abuse in Ukraine. The findings will be used to generate recommendations directed at the PSEA Steering Committee, including World Vision International (WVI) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and their implementing partners on how to strengthen programming and advocacy in line with community and humanitarian feedback.

Methodology

Research questions:

• How do affected people understand, define, and identify SEA or GBV cases?
• What is the level of awareness among affected people regarding PSEA and SEA reporting mechanisms?
  • What mechanisms do they know of?
  • What mechanisms would they prefer to use?
• What are the prevailing attitudes and perceptions of affected individuals towards PSEA and SEA reporting mechanisms?
• How do these perceptions/attitudes vary across different demographic groups?

We have a preference for a participatory research methodology that is based on participative group discussions where participants can shape the discussions according to their priority. These methodologies could include role playing scenarios, hypothetical storytelling, community mapping, and so on.

Sample and geographic scope:

The target population comprises people who need or received humanitarian aid living in Ukraine. The precise geographic scope will be refined in collaboration with GTS and our partners. Priority will be given to locations deemed particularly vulnerable to incidence of SEA(H).

Sample size:

• Up to 12 focus groups discussions.
• Up to 10 in-depth semi-structured interviews where topics of interest identified in FGD will be further explored.

Scope of work

1. Attend orientation meeting with GTS
2. Attend weekly meetings with GTS
3. Develop work plan with GTS team
4. Co-design and translate interview guides with GTS
5. Co-design sample with GTS
6. Identify eligible respondents in collaboration with GTS
7. Conduct a test phase and pilot the interview guide with pre-agreed number of interviews and submit test transcripts to GTS for review
8. Conduct and record in-depth interviews/focus group discussions, translate verbatim transcripts to English
9. Support on data analysis in collaboration with GTS
10. Revise and input on the findings presented by GTS
11. Present research findings, in collaboration with GTS, to relevant stakeholders, including participating communities

Deliverables

1. Transcripts and audio recordings of qualitative interviews
2. Summary of the conduct of each activity, including observations from FGD.
3. Slide deck and delivery of presentation on key findings

Timeline

It is anticipated that all tasks will be completed by the end of January 2024. A detailed work plan will be agreed upon at the beginning of the consultancy.

Relevant experience & skills

• A degree(s) in Social Sciences, International Development, Humanitarian Action, or any other related area of study/equivalent experience, preferably focused on Psychology.
• A strong and proven background (e.g., through prior publications or references) in qualitative research in sensitive topics and/or humanitarian action.
• Familiarity with the context of Ukraine, preferably with familiarity working with Civil Society Organisations and humanitarian actors and organisations.
• Excellent analytical and reporting skills.
• Fluency in written and spoken English, Ukrainian and Russian. Excellent written English.
• Ethics and safety: research team members need to have a training in providing first psychological aid, allowing them to work on sensitive subjects, such as SEA(H)/GBV.

Preferred:

• Proven skills in conducting participatory research methods, including participatory group discussions (focus group discussions that employ participatory activities throughout)