About Pathfinder
Pathfinder envisions a world where everyone, even in the most challenging environments, has what they need to be healthy, thrive, and live the life they choose. Pathfinder expands access to sexual and reproductive health services, opening the door to opportunities for women and all individuals to thrive economically, educationally, and civically.

Scope of Work

Title : Individual Consultant to Support the Development of Legal Framework of DuA and Safe Houses in Sindh
Supervisor : Assistant Project Manager, Pathfinder International
Period of Performance : 3rd November 2025 to 31st March 2026
Number of positions : One Position for Sindh Province
Place of Assignment: Karachi, Sindh (applicant must be based in Karachi during work). No relocation allowance will be provided

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.

Gender-Based Violence (GBV) is a persistent and deeply rooted issue in Pakistan, with thousands of cases reported each year. In 2024 alone, 5,112 cases of violence against women were officially documented, with 15% of those cases reported from Sindh Province. However, due to social and cultural stigma, these figures are widely believed to underrepresent the true scale of the issue.

Safe Houses and Dar-ul-Amans (DuAs) in Sindh play a vital role in fostering an enabling environment for women and girls to report violence. These facilities are designed to provide temporary refuge and holistic support to women facing domestic violence, abuse, or other forms of distress. Services offered include shelter, legal assistance, psychological counselling, and vocational training, all aimed at helping survivors rebuild their lives and regain independence.

The Women Development Department (WDD), with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Pathfinder International under the AWAAZ II Program funded by FCDO, has developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for these facilities. These SOPs are aligned with international frameworks to ensure that both provincial and federal governments meet their obligations under global development commitments—particularly the UN Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence and the Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Inter-Agency Guidelines. This alignment is essential for ensuring coordinated, survivor- centered, disability-inclusive, and high-quality services across the GBV response system. It also ensures that provincial efforts are in harmony with the objectives of the Multi-Sectoral Coordination Committee on GBV, chaired by the Chief Secretary of Sindh.

Building on this progress, there is now a critical need for a formal legal framework to regulate and standardize the functioning and accountability of both public and private Dar-ul-Amans, Safe Houses, and Shelter Homes across Sindh. Pathfinder International and UNFPA are supporting the Women Development Department in the development of this legal framework to institutionalize standards, enhance service delivery, and strengthen protection mechanisms for survivors of gender-based violence.

In this context, Pathfinder International is seeking an experienced and skilled Consultant to provide technical support and legal expertise to facilitate the development of a legal framework for Dar-ul-Amans and Safe Houses for Sindh Province.

Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to draft a provincial law (Act and Rules of Business) to standardize, regulate, and oversee the establishment, operations, and accountability of Dar-ul- Amans and Safe Houses in Sindh. The legal framework will ensure alignment with international standards and national commitments, while promoting survivor-centered, gender-just, and rights-based approaches. Specifically, the consultant will be responsible for:

1. Developing a clear, actionable legal framework for Dar-ul-Amans and Safe Houses in Sindh.
2. Ensure the law reflects provincial and international obligations related to GBV response.
3. Incorporate stakeholder input through a consultative and participatory process.
4. Aligning the law with the observations of the Women Development Department, Law Department and other relevant entities.

The consultant will be responsible for the following task-based outputs:

Remuneration and Payment Terms

Payment will be made on a fixed, deliverable-based basis according to the percentages specified in the deliverables table. The payment amounts are inclusive of all applicable taxes and exclusive of any travel costs incurred by the consultant during the course of this consultancy.

Timeline

The consultancy shall not extend beyond 31st March 2026.

Logistics

The consultant will be responsible for all logistical arrangements and related expenses. Pathfinder will not bear any costs exceeding the approved ceiling amount for this assignment.

Penalty Clause

A late submission penalty of 1% per day will be applied after a five (5) day grace period, if the consultant fails to complete the assigned work within the agreed timeline.
The maximum penalty shall not exceed 10% of the total ceiling amount.

This penalty may be waived in cases where delays are caused by Pathfinder International or any government entity. In such cases, the consultant must submit a written justification to the Project In-Charge for review and approval.

Desired Qualification:

• Education: Advanced degree in Law (LL.M or equivalent), preferably with specialization in human rights, gender, or administrative law.
• Experience: Minimum of 8 years of experience in legal drafting and policy development. Prior experience with GBV-related legislation or public sector regulatory frameworks. Demonstrated experience in working with government and high-level stakeholders (4+ years) and experience in undertaking similar assignments.
• Skills: Strong analytical, research, and writing skills, with the ability to work independently and collaboratively.
• Knowledge: In-depth knowledge of Pakistan’s legal and governance structures, particularly in Sindh.

Work Environment:

• Work in a dynamic and fast-paced environment with a team of professionals.
• Frequent travel to Sindh province, including rural and urban areas.
• Work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, as needed.

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.

  How to Apply:

Interested individual consultants must submit their updated CV through the BrightSpyre Portal before the deadline.

Submission Requirements:

1. Updated CV clearly highlighting relevant qualifications and experience.
2. Technical certifications related to the required field (attach copies or mention certification details in the CV).
3. Details of relevant past experience, especially similar consultancy assignments, must be clearly mentioned.

Note:
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted for further processing. Incomplete submissions or those received after the deadline will not be considered.