Global Communities (GC), in partnership with Kivulini (a women’s rights organization) and the Government of Tanzania (GOT), is implementing the Engaging Fathers for Effective Child Nutrition and Development, Violence Against Women and Children Prevention project in Tanzania (referred to as the EFFECTS Plus project). This project has an implementation and research arm and is funded by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) through the What Works to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls consortium. The EFFECTS Plus project aims to promote nurturing care practices, improve child dietary diversity, reduce Intimate Partner violence (IPV) and violence against children (VAC), and influence policy and behavioral changes related to IPV/VAC. This initiative builds on the evidence and success of the earlier EFFECTS randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in the Mara region, Tanzania, and seeks to scale proven gender-transformative parenting interventions.

The EFFECTS community-based cluster RCT (2018–2021) tested a bundled parenting and nutrition interventions using a curriculum that was delivered to groups of fathers and mothers by Community Health Workers (CHWs). The intervention led to improvements in child dietary diversity, early child development, nutrition outcomes, and a reduction in intimate partner violence (IPV). RCT also achieved high community participation and demonstrated, with evidence, that CHWs can effectively deliver gender-transformative curricula to mothers, fathers, and couples through peer groups and home visits.

EFFECTS Plus will strengthen this approach by adapting and refining the structured curriculum that bundles nutrition and parenting behavior change interventions to further integrate gender-transformative content, and incorporating specific IPV and VAC prevention components in line with priorities set out in GOT’s National Plan of Action to End Violence Against Women and Children (NPA-VAWC II) and, the National Multisectoral Nutrition Action Plan (NMNAPII) targeting couples with children under 24 months in 180 villages across Mara, Dodoma, and Iringa regions in Tanzania. The intervention is designed to be scalable and sustainable working closely with government stakeholders including the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of Community Development, Gender, Women and Special Groups (MOCDGWSG), and the President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PORALG).

A critical step in this adaptation is formative research. This research will inform the redesign of the EFFECTS curriculum to ensure the additional content is relevant, the messaging is clear, culturally appropriate, effective, user friendly and the curriculum is sustainable.

Global Communities seeks a qualified Formative Research Consultant to lead the design, implementation, and reporting of the formative research that will inform the redesign of the structured child-centered, gender transformative curriculum under EFFECTS Plus project. The consultant will help ensure that parenting group interventions are grounded in community realities and tailored to address harmful gender norms, parenting practices, and family dynamics that contribute to violence against women and children (VAWC).

The consultant will work closely with EFFECTs Plus team, curriculum design consultant and relevant community members to provide actionable recommendations that shape the content, structure, and delivery of the revised curriculum, focusing on integrating more targeted content to reduce IPV and VAC.

Scope of Work

The consultant will lead the design and execution of formative research to inform the adaptation of the EFFECTS Plus curriculum, with a strong emphasis on integrating gender-transformative content to address IPV and VAC. This work is crucial to ensuring the curriculum is grounded in the lived experiences, cultural realities, and behavioral dynamics of communities in Tanzania. Furthermore, it will ensure that the additional content is relevant, the messaging is clear, culturally appropriate, effective and user friendly.

The formative research consultant will analyze the findings and develop a report which will include actionable recommendations for adapting curriculum content, refining delivery strategies, and enhancing engagement especially of men in parenting programs. These insights will directly inform the curriculum redesign process and be presented to stakeholders in a formal validation workshop.

Finally, the consultant will remain engaged during the adaptation phase, providing technical guidance to ensure that the curriculum revisions align with research findings and reflect the realities of the program’s target populations.

1. Design and Planning

• Develop a detailed, formative research plan.
• Design qualitative and quantitative tools such as focus group guides, interview guides, and observation checklists.

2. Field Data Collection

• Conduct formative research in selected non-study wards in Mara, Dodoma, and Iringa focusing on curriculum messages.
• Lead/coordinate focus group discussions, in-depth/Key informant interviews, and other participatory methods with community members, CHWs for input on final version of the curriculum.

3. Analysis and Reporting

• Analyze findings and synthesize them into practical, evidence-based insights.
• Produce a comprehensive formative research report, including:
• Key themes and findings
• Recommendations for curriculum adaptation
• Suggestions for improving delivery and engagement

4. Technical Input and Follow-up

• Provide ongoing input to curriculum adaptation workshops.
• Advise on how to integrate findings into training and implementation materials.
• Support efforts to ensure the final curriculum reflects community voice and lived realities.

Deliverables

The consultancy will produce several key deliverables, to inform and strengthen the EFFECTS Plus curriculum redesign process:

1. Formative Research Plan
   This will include design and methodology, data collection methods, sampling, data analysis plan, timeline and workplan, and draft versions of data collection tools. It will set the foundation for formative research and be finalized in consultation with project partners and curriculum design consultant.
2. Fieldwork Summary Report
   Following data collection, the consultant will submit a summary brief outlining where and how the fieldwork was conducted, challenges encountered, and initial observations. This report will help the project team prepare for data interpretation and validation.
3. Draft Formative Research Report
   This comprehensive document will synthesize the research findings into thematic insights, and present specific, evidence-based recommendations for adapting the EFFECTS curriculum. It will be reviewed by GC, Kivulini, Emory University, NIMR, curriculum design consultant and GOT representatives.
4. Final Formative Report
   Incorporating feedback from stakeholders and validation processes, the final report will serve as a foundational resource for curriculum adaptation. It will include an executive summary, full findings, analysis methodology, and detailed programmatic recommendations.
5. Presentation of Findings
   The consultant will prepare a slide deck and present the research findings and recommendations at a stakeholder validation workshop. The presentation will be designed to engage key partners to ensure alignment with national strategies and program implementation plans.

The Consultant should have:

• Master’s degree or higher in public health, demographic, epidemiology, gender studies, sociology, or a related field.
• At least 7 years of experience in conducting formative or implementation research in Sub-Saharan Africa, preferably in Tanzania.
• Demonstrated expertise in gender, GBV prevention, VAC, child development, parenting programs, or related fields.
• Strong skills in qualitative research design, facilitation, and thematic analysis.
• Proven ability to translate research into practical recommendations for program adaptation.
• Familiarity with participatory, rights-based, and gender-transformative approaches.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English. Fluency in Swahili will be an added advantage.
• Strong understanding of the Tanzanian context, including health, community development, and GBV frameworks.

Location of Work

The consultant will do this work in Tanzania, with flexibility for remote work where appropriate. The assignment will involve travel to Mara, Dodoma, and Iringa regions for field engagement, curriculum piloting, and validation workshops with GOT stakeholders.

Travel and associated costs will be supported by Global Communities in accordance with project guidelines.

Application Process 

Interested consultants should submit electronic copy of all documents listed below in one folder to ekumalija@globalcommunities.org by July 10th, 2025.

1. Application letter
2. Updated CV
3. Technical proposal outlining approach, methodology and timeline for curriculum design
4. Financial proposal with breakdown of fees and expected expenses
5. Two sample reports of relevant past research
6. Contact information for two references

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted