Project Title

Research Associate for “Research study on Barriers to Access & Uptake of Public Sector GBV Services by Women Survivors of Violence in Sindh.” 

Country(s) Supporting

Karachi – Pakistan

Number of Positions

Two Positions for Sindh Province

Period of Performance

Six Months - Short Term Employment 

Place of Assignment

Karachi-based (Remote)

Pathfinder Overview

Pathfinder International is a global leader in sexual and reproductive health. We place reproductive health care at the center of all that we do, believing that it is not only a fundamental human right but is critical for expanding life opportunities for women, families, communities, and nations, and paving the way for transformations in environmental stewardship, decreases in population pressures, and innovations in poverty reduction. Pathfinder provides women, men, and adolescents with a range of quality health services from contraception and maternal care to HIV prevention and AIDS care and treatment. Pathfinder strives to strengthen access to family planning, advocate for sound reproductive health policies, and, through all our work, improve the rights and lives of the people we serve.

Background

Pathfinder International envisions a world where everyone, regardless of their circumstances, has the resources and support needed to be healthy, thrive, and live the life they choose. By expanding access to sexual and reproductive health services, Pathfinder creates pathways for women and all individuals to flourish economically, educationally, and civically. In partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Pathfinder International is advocating, coordinating, and providing technical support to relevant ministries, provincial departments, and stakeholders across Sindh Province to address gender-based violence (GBV), with a particular focus on domestic violence.

As part of this collaboration, Pathfinder is assisting UNFPA under the AAWAZ II Programme, funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), in conducting a study titled “Barriers to Access & Uptake of Public Sector GBV Services by Women Survivors of Violence in Sindh.” The study aims to generate evidence, support policy advocacy, and strengthen institutions for a multi-sectoral approach to preventing and responding to GBV and harmful practices such as child marriage.

In this context, Pathfinder International is seeking a Research Associate to support the Senior Technical Expert leading the study. The Research Associate will assist with implementing the study design, developing research tools, training enumerators, conducting monitoring visits, data analysis, and contributing to report writing.

Description of Research Assignment

Despite numerous initiatives, data on gender-based violence in Pakistan remains limited and inconsistent. This lack of robust evidence hampers effective policymaking and programming for GBV prevention and response. Contributing factors include weak coordination among service providers, unclear departmental roles, insufficient survivor-centred processes, limited institutional capacity, and inadequate governance and operational structures, all of which limit survivors’ access to essential services. On the demand side, barriers such as the normalization of domestic violence, restrictive societal norms, limited awareness of laws and services, financial dependence, and mobility restrictions further prevent women and girls from seeking support. Even when survivors attempt to access services, they often face additional obstacles—highlighting the urgent need to identify and address both systemic and social barriers. To this end, in collaboration with government stakeholders, a comprehensive study is being undertaken that adopts a survivor-centred approach to identify both supply-side and demand-side barriers, intending to improve the accessibility and effectiveness of public-sector GBV services.

The Research Associate will support the Senior Technical Expert in the successful execution of a comprehensive study, assisting in finalizing the concept note, research tools, and preparation materials for the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) meetings. The Research Associate will facilitate and document capacity-building training for researchers and data enumerators and will conduct monitoring visits across selected districts during the data collection phase, providing oversight and guidance to field teams, addressing challenges, and refining data collection strategies. The role also involves identifying successful approaches and good practices relevant to data collection in the context of Sindh. Additionally, the Research Associate will support the organization and facilitation of Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews. Participation in TAG and other coordination meetings of the research team will be required, along with organizing debriefing sessions with researchers, data enumerators, and the Research Coordinator to reflect on field challenges and lessons learned. The Research Associate will oversee the transcription of collected data and review the translation of tools into Sindhi and Urdu. They will support the analysis of the data in coordination with the Senior Technical Expert, contribute to drafting the research report, incorporate feedback, and help finalize the document. The Research Associate will also attend and participate in the launch of the final research report and undertake any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Research Associate’s Core Deliverables

Pathfinder Pakistan office is looking for a Research Associate who will work in close coordination with the Senior Technical Expert to undertake the following tasks:

1. Assist the Senior Technical Expert in finalizing the concept notes, research tools, and preparation for the TAG meeting, including drafting training content, session plans, agenda, presentations, and training manuals.
2. Participate in TAG meetings and other coordination meetings of the Research Team.
3. Facilitate and report on a five-day capacity-building training for researchers and data enumerators.
4. Provide support in organizing and conducting Key Informant Interviews (KIIs), Focus Group Discussions (FGDs), and in-depth interviews in Karachi, Hyderabad, Umerkot, Jacobabad, and Shaheed Benazir Abad (districts subject to change based on feedback from technical advisory group meeting).
5. Conduct monitoring visits to the districts during the data collection process.
6. Support the Senior Technical Expert in providing oversight and guidance to researchers and data enumerators on field challenges and data collection strategies.
7.  Identify successful approaches and good practices for effective data collection in the context of Sindh.
8. Arrange debriefing meetings with researchers, data enumerators, and the Research Coordinator to reflect on issues and challenges encountered during the data collection process.
9. Oversee the transcription of collected data and review the translation of tools into Sindhi and Urdu.
10. Analyze the collected data in coordination with the Senior Technical Expert.
11. Review, incorporate feedback, and finalize the drafts of the research report.
12. Attend and participate in the launch of the final research report.

13.Perform any other tasks assigned by the supervisor.

Period of Assignment

The research assignment will be concluded within 6 months, following the signing of the contract. The initial contract will be till December 2025.

The Following will be the tasks and deliverables.

Desired Qualifications

The Research Associate is expected to have access to the necessary resources to effectively carry out the assignment, including a personal laptop or computer, voice recorder, listening device, and other tools required for transcription and data handling. The ideal candidate will possess the following qualifications and competencies:

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree in social sciences, Gender Studies, Sociology, or a related field.
• 3–5 years of experience conducting research, with at least two published articles in peer-reviewed journals.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting in-depth interviews and focus group discussions.
• Proven experience in transcription of research or development project-related data.
• Proficiency in qualitative and quantitative data analysis methods.
• Familiarity with using research software such as NVivo is desirable.
• Strong skills in report writing, with the ability to synthesize complex findings into clear, concise documents.
• Excellent listening, analytical, and typing skills, with keen attention to detail.
• Knowledge of and/or experience with gender-based violence (GBV) interventions.
• Familiarity with relevant government bodies in Sindh, including the Women Development Department, Social Welfare Department, Sindh Commission on the Status of Women, and the Sindh Human Rights Commission.
• Fluency in spoken and written Sindhi, Urdu, and English, with strong formal communication skills in all three languages.
• Ability to manage teams.
• Willingness to travel when required.

Equal Employment Opportunity Employer Statement

Pathfinder International provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Safeguarding and Protection Statement

Pathfinder is committed to the safeguarding and protection of the people we serve and our staff. We have zero tolerance for any type of behavior that inflicts harm on children, young people, adults, our staff, and partners, including sexual abuse, harassment, bullying, and exploitation. We do everything possible to ensure that we recruit only those who are suitable to work with us. We expect that everyone we hire will abide by our safeguarding and related policies and will report any suspected or known violations. This job is subject to a range of vetting checks as legally permitted in the country where they are being hired. By applying, the job applicant acknowledges they understand our intent to verify suitability to work with us.