Deadline: 20-Aug-2025
The Kashf Foundation has announced an open call for proposals from experienced research institutions and consulting firms to conduct a mixed-methods primary research study focused on socio-economic and gender dynamics in Karachi’s coastal communities.
The research aims to generate detailed, gender-disaggregated insights into the socio-economic and structural realities shaping household well-being and women’s empowerment in these areas. Key areas of inquiry include demographic profiles, income generation, savings behavior, asset ownership, education levels, health outcomes, coping strategies, housing conditions, digital and financial inclusion, women’s decision-making roles, gender norms, and climate-related vulnerabilities.
The study will assess household size and structure, gender distribution, marriage and childbirth ages, and ethnic diversity to understand social and economic behaviors. It will explore income security with particular attention to female employment, income barriers, and savings. Asset ownership such as land, livestock, tools, and valuables will be evaluated to measure economic resilience.
Education outcomes will cover enrollment, dropout rates, literacy, and barriers to schooling. Health and nutrition will be studied through expenditures, illness rates, maternal and child health indicators, immunization, family planning, and food consumption patterns. Coping mechanisms like food reduction, labor increase, asset sales, school withdrawal, and informal loans will also be analyzed.
Housing data will include type, structural quality, sanitation, water access, and utilities. Poverty levels will be classified using PPAF’s scorecard. Access to digital technology and financial services, especially for women, will be mapped. Women’s empowerment in household decision-making across income, health, and mobility will be assessed.
The research will explore societal attitudes towards women’s financial independence, education, family planning, unpaid care, inheritance rights, and protection from gender-based violence. It will also quantify women’s unpaid domestic labor and its impact on economic participation. Lastly, the study will examine the effects of climate events on health, education, and income, along with community preparedness and coping strategies.
Eligible applicants must have at least five years of experience in socio-economic and gender research, expertise in mixed-methods data collection and analysis, and capacity to work in underserved urban settings like Karachi. Ethical research practices, community engagement, and a gender-balanced multidisciplinary team are required.
For more information, visit Kashf Foundation.
