Lead Consultant to assist CoWFA in drafting the new State Programme and NAP on the Prevention of violence in the family (PVF) in RT for 2024-2026

Consultant

Contract

This is a National Consultant contract. More about National Consultant contracts.

Background

1. Background

UN Women, the UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women has been created to accelerate up the process of meeting the needs of women and girls across the world. As a part of the UN reform agenda, it brings together resources and mandates which will subsequently have a lasting impact on the whole community.

Forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG) vary according to the social, historical, economic, cultural and political contexts of different countries, and the conceptualization of policy must respond to these. Manifestations of VAW are often multiple, interrelated and/or recurring. Women can experience violence in the family, in the community or at the hands of the State, with some forms of violence (such as trafficking and in situations of armed conflict or conflict around natural resources) extending into further settings. Violence against women is still a burning issue in Tajikistan. It negates all the achievements that Tajikistan has achieved over the years of independence in protecting and strengthening the rights of women and girls.

Globally States, including Tajikistan, have clear obligations under international law to address VAW. States are required to exercise due diligence to prevent acts of VAWG; to investigate such acts and prosecute and punish perpetrators; and to provide redress and relief to victims. The requirement to adopt and implement Programmes and National Action Plans (NAP) to VAWG is set out in international and regional human rights instruments and policy documents****[1]****. Strategic, long-term programmes of activities – addressing the underlying causes of domestic violence and VAW and strengthening the systems that respond to it – are a feature of recent policy in this field, as opposed to the more reactive approach of earlier work. Programmes and NAPs are essential to this effort, providing comprehensive, multisectoral and sustained ‘blueprints for ending violence against women’. Programmes and Plans can build on the lessons from reviews and evaluations of previous programmes, plans and policies in this area, or, if formal evaluations do not exist, undertake a critical review of such policies, and plans to assess effectiveness of process, outcomes achieved and gaps remaining.

In Tajikistan the elimination of VAWG is one of the priorities of the National Development Strategy of the Republic of Tajikistan till 2030. With the aim to effectively implement the Law of RT on Prevention of Violence in the Family (PVF) Tajikistan introduced the State Programme of RT on Prevention of violence in the family for 2014-2023 and its Action Plan (NAP) that create mechanisms for the implementation of related legislative frameworks.

In 2022 in frames of Spotlight Initiative in Tajikistan – A Joint EU-UN Initiative to Eliminate Violence Against Women and Girls, the current NAP on the implementation of State Programme on Prevention of violence in the family in RT for 2014-2023 has been reviewed for further improvement and data collection for developing new State Programmes and NAPs in the future.

UN Women will hire a Lead Consultant to draft new State Programme and a comprehensive NAP on Prevention of violence in the family (PVF)in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2024-2026 in close coordination with CoWFA (LEAD CONSULTANT TO DRAFT NEW STATE PROGRAMME AND NAP ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS FOR 2024-2026. Lead Consultant will be supported by a second National Consultant (to be hired by UN Women).

1. Goal and objectives

The main goal is to assist CoWFA in joint development of new State Programme and new comprehensive NAP on Prevention of violence in the family in RT for 2024-2026

In his/her work the Consultant will refer and build upon the recommendations of the review of current Action Plan to State Programme of RT on Prevention of Violence in the Family 2014-2023, conducted in 2022, and reflect approaches to fill the identified gaps and remaining challenges to address within the frames of the new State Programme and NAP. The Consultant will also refer to the recently adopted Law on the Elimination of all forms of discrimination to highlight prohibiting the use of violence against women and girls in all areas of their lives.

Upon the drafting of new State Programme and NAP the following should be considered:

• to what extent the new State Programme and NAP will be effective in directing Tajikistan’s efforts to address PFV;
• to what extent the proposed structure of new State Programme and NAP, as well as the identified roles and responsibilities of institutions are appropriate to achieving its objectives;
• to what extent the governance arrangements and accountability mechanisms are sufficient and

appropriate;

• to what extent actions are appropriate and supporting the implementation and objectives of the State Programme and NAP on the Prevention of violence in the family;
• what can be learned from the results of the current State Programme and NAP implementation (State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family for 2014-2023);
• what are emerging issues and new priorities for the next State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family for 2024-2026;
• how appropriate is the Monitoring and Evaluation framework for new State Programme and NAP;
• how the best international practices suitable for Tajikistan can be incorporated into the new State Programme and NAP.

Duties and Responsibilities

1. Duties and Responsibilities

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Programme Coordinator (jointly with a second National Consultant to be hired by UN Women), the Lead Local Consultant will be responsible for the following:

• Development of the methodology in consultation with the Committee on women and family affairs under the Government of RT (CoWFA), and under guidance of the Check List (Checklist for review of NAPs on ending VAWG) and its adaptation to country’s needs.
• Gathering information from first hands at 5 one-day national consultations in Dushanbe, Khatlon and Sogd regions, GBAO (Zoom calls) and DRS. Final consultation on the review of key elements to be incorporated into the draft of State Programme and draft NAP for representatives of key Ministries, committees and agencies located in the capital will be organized by the Lead and second National Consultants in Dushanbe.
• Incorporating analysis of received data, recommendations and proposals ensuring the protection of women and girls from violence in all areas of their lives, such as (violence in the family, sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment at work and public places, internet bullying of women and girls and others) into the draft of new State Programme and draft NAP.
• Face-to-face presentation of new State Programme and NAP drafts to UN Women, stakeholders and Recipient UN Agencies of the Spotlight Initiative for provision of final comments and discussions.
• Presentation of the draft of new State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family for 2024-2026 to CoWFA.

The Lead Consultant will focus on State bodies as target groups for consultations and will be supported by the second National Consultant, whose coverage of beneficiaries will relate more to the Civil Society sector. Nonetheless, Lead Consultant may suggest his/her own vision on distribution of tasks in the team but will stay responsible for provision of final draft of State Programme and NAP on PVF (the title can change).

1. Tasks
2. A **COLLECT/ RECONFIRM THE REQUIRED INFORMATION AS PER CHECK LIST FOR DRAFTING THE NEW STATE PROGRAMME AND NAP FOR 2024-2026 ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW OF RT “ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY”** ****

Lead and Support Consultants will jointly arrange national consultations to gather or re-confirm evidence-based information for drafting the new State Programme and NAP on PVF for 2024-2026. National consultations consist of several types of activities: the Lead Consultant jointly with second National Consultant, to be hired by UN Women, will develop the agenda of the consultations, invite the participants to administrative centres of indicated localities – Dushanbe for DRS of Tajikistan, Kulyab or Bokhtar for Khatlon region, Khujand for Sogd region, GBAO (zoom meetings) and Dushanbe for representatives of Ministries and Agencies, and hold and facilitate the consultations, supporting the dialogue mainly in Tajik language.

Agenda of consultations****:

The agenda will be guided by the Checklist for review of NAPs on ending VAWG and Annex 1 to this TOR “****Suggested methods of consultations and their facilitation****”. For communicating with the UN Women office and RUNOs, the Lead Consultant will use Teams/Zoom meetings or in-person meetings which will be organised by the Contract Supervisor.

The primary target participants of the 5 national consultations (4 face-to-face and 1 online) include:

To be covered by Lead Consultant:

1. Focal points from line agencies in charge of implementing and monitoring VAW prevention and response programmes (ex.: national machinery on gender, health, social welfare, labor, interior, local government);
2. Representatives from local government;
3. Focal points from line agencies, local government; Representatives from officials in judicial arms, including public prosecutor and attorneys, Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministry of Justice, National Centre of Legislation under the President of the RT, Arbitration Court of RT, Ministry of Health and Social Protection of RT, Centre of Strategic Research under the President of RT;
4. Representatives from government coordination body;

Time Frame and Formats of the consultations:

The Consultation can be conducted within 8 hours. These can be conducted in-person or in a mixed format – in-person and online via platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, Skype for Business, or Google.

On other details of consultations see Annex 1 to this TOR “Suggested methods of consultations and their facilitation”.

Logistics:

1. CoWFA will coordinate the process of inviting the state partners, proposed by the Lead Local Consultant.
2. UN Women will support logistical arrangements of the consultations (hall rent/meal/supply or stationery).

Results of the national consultations:

Specifically, at the end of the national consultations, the participants would be able to:

1. Share or reconfirm the information on key initiatives, programs, and legislation that advance the implementation of the State Programme and NAP, and meet the specific targets in the priority areas;
2. Identify successful activities to be continued or new types of interventions to be included in the framework of new State Programme and NAP, considering all aspects of private and public life of women and girls providing them protection from violence (such as prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment at work and public places, internet bullying of women and girls, and other).
3. Consider existing assets (to build upon and maximize), and challenges faced in the implementation of the current State Programme and NAP in the last ten years;
4. Develop recommendations on addressing challenges in prevention of violence in the family, with a special focus on addressing the needs of specific population (women with disabilities, women migrant workers, women living with HIV/AIDS).
5. Whenever possible to include to the content of draft State Programme and NAP chapters on partnership, innovations, cross-cutting structures and other key components as per global Checklist.
6. Ensure that draft of State Programme and NAP on PVF (the title can change) contains the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework with expected results, indicators, timeframes, responsible agencies, partners, and suggested sources of budgeting.

Ethical guidelines:

Given that the National Consultations is both a form of evaluation as well as research (i.e., primary data gathering), it is important to ensure that the organisers are familiar with the standard ethical guidelines and safety recommendations for social research. In this regard, the Consultations shall be guided by principles outlined in:

1. UN Evaluation Group (UNEG) Norms and Standards for Evaluation in the UN System (2005, updated 2016)
2. UNICEF Ethical Research Involving Children (2013)
3. WHO Putting women first: ethical and safety recommendations for research on domestic violence against women (2001)

Principles of Confidentiality shall be strictly adhered to.

Specifically, the organisers – Lead Local Consultant and National Consultant - shall take accountability to ensure the following:

• information will only be shared internally and externally on a ‘need to know’ basis and only with individuals and/or organisations relevant to the Review process;
• any member of the facilitation team or organisers cannot discuss any case information with family, friends or co-workers;
• only non-identifying data of individuals will be shared in documents and reports, unless otherwise allowed by the participants;
• respondents’ informed consent will be obtained and respected;
• all written information with identifying details will be kept in password protected documents or in locked/secure space (if printed).
• ****B.ANALYSIS OF COLLECTED INFORMATION CONSIDERING RESULTS/RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE PREVIOUS REVIEW OF THE NATIONAL ACTION PLAN ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY FOR 2014-2023 CONDUCTED IN 2022****

Upon collecting information and findings of 5 national consultations (4 face-to-face and 1 online), the Lead Consultant, supported by the second National Consultant (to be hired by UN Women), will be reviewing and analysing the results as per questions of the following control areas and milestones of the Checklist for review of NAPs on ending VAWG with clarifications, notes, examples.

Report of a synthesis of findings & results: the synthesis will include key findings related to drafting of new State Programme and NAP on PVF for 2024-2026, including a Monitoring & Evaluation Framework, interventions ensuring protection of women and girls from violence in all areas of their lives (such as prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, harassment at work and public places, internet bullying of women and girls, and more).

C. COORDINATE THE DEVELOPMENT OF STATE PROGRAMME AND NAP ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY FOR 2024-2026 WITH THE COMMITTEE OF WOMEN AND FAMILY AFFAIRS (COWFA)

In close coordination with CoWFA and National Support Consultant, the Lead consultant will develop the draft of the new State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family in the Republic of Tajikistan for 2024-2026 (the title can change), considering women and girls empowerment within the new State Programme and NAP, ensuring their protection from other forms of VAWG. CoWFA will facilitate the organization of joint meetings in Dushanbe between local consultants, CoWFA and the representatives of designated Governmental Ministries and Agencies for the discussion of new draft of State Programme and NAP on PVF for 2024-2026 (the title can change), provision of their inputs/recommendations.

D. PRESENTING THE DRAFT OF NEW STATE PROGRAMME AND NAP ON PREVENTION OF VIOLENCE IN THE FAMILY FOR 2024-2026 TO SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE’S RUNOS AND STAKEHOLDERS

The Lead Local Consultant, supported by the National Consultant (to be hired by UN Women), will organize the presentation on key findings of consultations and present the Draft State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family (PVF) in RT for 2024-2026 (the title can change) to UN Women, stakeholders, and Recipient UN Agencies of the Spotlight Initiative for clarifications and final validation during a one-day event in Dushanbe for about 30 participants (as one of five consultations, mentioned previously).

UN Women will arrange the event’s logistics (hall rent/meal/supply or stationery), while Lead Consultant and National Consultant will invite participants, make actual presentation of key findings and present the draft State Programme and NAP on PVF for 2024-2026, and support the discussions.

E. REPORTING

The final Draft of State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family (PVF) in RT for 2024-2026 will serve as final report of both consultants – Lead and second National. The submission to UN Women will be made with attached briefing on conducted 5 public consultations.

Format of the Briefing (suggested format) will contain summary (only highlighting key results of the consultations), top-line components suggested for inclusion to the new draft State Programme and NAP, key strengths and successes to be replicated further, main recommendations to consider during drafting new State Programme and comprehensive NAP considering all aspects of women and girls’ private and public life ensuring their protection from violence and LNOB principles, description of participants (just an overview of what sectors they represent, with gender disaggregation), keynote speakers, special guests; conclusions, annexes (if any), photo report with credits.

1. Expected deliverables, timeframes, and payment procedures:

#

Deliverables

Working days

Timeline

Tranche (% of the contract amount)

1

The methodology is submitted to UN Women

5

Till 22 May 2023

20%

2.1

The required Information is gathered from first hands at 5 one-day national consultations (4 face-to-face and 1 online in GBAO). Joint Briefing on 5 consultations held is presented to UN Women

20

Till 30 July 2023

50%

2.2

Draft State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family in RT for 2024-2026 is submitted to UN Women

20

• 30 August 2023

  3

Draft State Programme and NAP on Prevention of violence in the family in RT for 2024-2026 is validated by CoWFA. Minutes of final meeting with representatives of CoWFA or official letter from CoWFA is available.

5

By 20 September 2023

30%

Earlier submission of deliveries is welcome.

Monitoring

It is envisaged that UN Women’s supervisor of this contract will organise, in collaboration with the Lead Consultant, regular virtual meetings to facilitate consultations and assess progress made towards achieving agreed deliverables on time. Reporting will be on a bi-weekly basis. It is expected that these bi-weekly reporting arrangement will provide periodic updates on the progress, challenges and plans towards productions of agreed deliverables.

Performance indicators

The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in TOR
• Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables
• Quality of work
• Demonstration of high standards in cooperation and communication with UN Women and counterparts

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Competencies

1. Competencies and Qualifications

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender and EVAW Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/sites/default/files/Headquarters/Attachments/Sections/About%20Us/Employment/UN-Women-values-and-competencies-framework-en.pdf

Functional Competencies:

• Possesses the ability to work independently, under pressure and meet deadlines;
• Good knowledge of technical area;
• Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to details;
• Experience in facilitating public consultations;
• Experience in report writing;
• Proven excellent communication and facilitation skills;
• Ability to conduct gender programmatic reviews and strong gender analytical skills.

Required Skills and Experience

Qualifications:

Education:

• University Diploma in the areas of Gender Studies, Human Rights and Law, Social Development, Economic, or an area that is fully relevant to the deliverables of this TOR;

Experience:

• At least 3 sole assignments with proven results of their implementation in the sphere of Analysis and Review of Legislation and Policy, including NAPs, codes, strategies, and programmes, through participatory consultations;
• A minimum of 5 years on supporting State bodies in strengthening the gender dimensions of Programme Documents, preferably with a focus on ending VAWG;
• Demonstrated experience in using the gender evidence-based information for shaping or implementing programmes, or in sector planning and policy analysis, or programme evaluation
• Some prior experience with UN Women or UN agencies in programme planning.

Knowledge of languages:

• Proficiency in written and oral Tajik language is a must, and Russian language is required.

1. Application Process

The application should include:

• Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment, a signed copy should be submitted;
• Financial Proposal: Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per deliverable. The proposal must include travel expenses of the Consultant (including accommodation and transportation costs) to administrative centres of Khatlon and Sogd regions and DRS, for public consultations.

Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post.

1. Payment Schedule

Consultant will be paid by deliverables as per Expected Deliveries (see the table of Section V) upon submission and the acceptance of each deliverable by the time as specified in the financial offer in 3 tranches:

1. Tranche 1 - payment of 20% of the contract amount upon submission and approval of the deliverable 1.
2. Tranche 2 - payment of 50% of the contract amount upon submission and approval of the deliverable 2.
3. Tranche 3 – final payment of 30% of the contract amount upon submission and approval of the deliverables 3.

Payment of abovementioned tranches for the services provided will be made upon achievement of expected results and approval of all the deliverables described in the sector V and acceptance of services by the UN Women (PERF) that the services have been satisfactorily performed.

Bank charges related to any payment will be borne by the consultant. No statement of earnings will be issued by UN Women to the consultant. The service provider is responsible for any taxes levied on the monies received under this agreement.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: jobs.undp.org