Background

Within UNAIDS PAF-supported project in 2009, UN Women, former UNIFEM, undertook a gender analysis of the national policy and legislation on prevention and response to HIV/AIDS in Tajikistan. As a result it was noted that reflection of the gender dimensions within the HIV/AIDS problem is relatively inadequate; firstly, because in the traditional society women are generally in the background and their lives mostly take place inside the home. Women are perceived by society as having only a reproductive or sexual function, which is associated with the private sphere of life and is rarely made the subject of public attention. Accordingly, development at action level focuses primarily on these functions, such as in the projects to prevent HIV transmission from mother to child, where the emphasis is on women's reproductive function, or in the projects to provide services for sex workers, which emphasize the female sexual function (e.g. the project for the development of youth friendly health services). That is why, in spite of the undoubted importance of a practical approach which targets issues shaped by the notions of femininity and the female social roles traditional in Tajik society, it is also important to focus attention on a number of other, more general issues relating to the integration of a gender perspective in HIV/AIDS prevention. The following priorities were identified to address further by the programming in this field:

• to ensure full and concerted gender mainstreaming in legal and regulatory frameworks set up for preventing the spread of HIV infection and addressing the vulnerability of major risk groups to HIV infection;
• mobilization of civil society; spiritual and religious leaders and the mass media for publicizing safe behavior practices and challenging social attitudes to overcome the most dangerous gender stereotypes in terms of HIV infection;
• to give an increased attention not only to the most vulnerable groups, but also their sexual partners;
• to use of special education technologies to address particularly large groups who face increased risk of HIV infection;
• to promote the value of a healthy lifestyle as a life-goalto use the methodologically appropriate research approaches and improve the sentinel surveillance system.

Meanwhile capacity building and strengthening of local NGOs, especially those representing PLWHA and HIV servicing NGOs remains priority issue for Tajikistan. Networks of WLWHA have been just emerging in Tajikistan (registered in 2011); appropriate techniques and skills limited, self-help and group counseling need to be developed, psychological support to victims of HIV based violence not existed.   Due to the high level of stigma and discrimination, PLWHA, women in particular, refrain from seeking medical, psychological care, VCT, and suffer from the lack of basic services, therefore there is a genuine need to bring an international expert (preferably from the same region) to train representatives of local NGOs and build their capacities to provide quality services at the basis of the NGOs, including networks of WLWHA. Establishing and providing quality services on the basis of those NGOs will open the doors to the abandoned groups of populations and allow referring them to the needed services by other providers.

By this activity UN Women intends to train relevant local NGOs on structuring and organizing services at local NGOs, basic psychological techniques, most common adverse situations in working with PLWHA and ways to address those; referral system and issues related to VCT for PLWHA and their partners/family members. The practical part of the seminar should be focused on the following issues that relate directly to participants (consultants, NGOs):

• the diagnosis and study of negative attitudes and internal stigma towards vulnerable populations (PLWHA, IDUs, sex workers);
• formation of tolerant and supporting attitudes towards vulnerable groups and victims of violence(PLHIV, injecting drug users, sex workers);
• building the skills of psychological assistance, acquiring techniques and methods for interviewing vulnerable populations (PLWHA, IDUs, sex workers);
• building the skills of conflict management in the work of expert working in the field of HIV;
• working tactics and instruments of behavior consultants, referrals to the HIV testing for potential clients and family members;
• teaching conflict prevention skills for clients and family members (the circle) in the interview and offering HIV testing;
• diagnosis of burnout syndrome, consultancy;
• develop algorithms to prevent burnout in the staff.

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the guidance and direct supervision of the UN Women Program Specialist/Gender Advisor for Tajikistan and overall guidance and supervision of UN Women Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Expert will fulfill the following tasks:

• Review available (preferably TJK related) resources related to HIV/AIDS, gender and human rights issues, including assessment/studies on stigma and discrimination against PLWH with an aim to collect arguments/cases to use for practical exercises at the training;
• Based on findings adjust, adopt and agree with UN Women on the training module on capacity building of NGOs providing services (in particular related to HIV based violence, social support, referrals) for WLWHA in the context of HIV/AIDS for five-day training for about 20 participants. The module should encourage participatory approaches with appropriate methods: role-plays, innovative approaches and group exercises; Prepare agenda of the trainings on the above-mentioned subject; Prepare pre and post-test questionnaires for training participants; Prepare all handout materials for the trainings;
• Conduct one five-day training for 20 participants in Dushanbe;
• Analyze the pre and post training test results to suggest recommendations for further capacity building, rational use of available human resources, establishing integrated services between trained individuals and NGOs and incorporate recommendations into the narrative of the final report; Submit the final report and finalized training module (based on the outcomes of the training) with  recommendations on:

1. capacity gaps in NGOs providing services to WLWHA;
2. establishing quality services for WLWHA – victims/survivors of HIV based violence;
3. recommended referral systems to be established/strengthened on the base of NGOs to provide quality services to WLWHA addressing needs of service providers.

Deliverables and Timeframe:

The timeframe for the work of Local Expert is tentatively planned in October 2011. Following deliverables are expected from the expert:

• Training agenda, questionnaires, needs assessment papers developed and approved by Gender Advisor, training module adopted and submitted to GA for review – UN Women looking for already developed manual to be updated based on the context information (e.g. existing Family Health International, AFEW, UNAIDS, etc modules) for HIV servicing NGOs capacity building - by 20th of October, 2011
• Training for 20 participants conducted - by 28th of October, 2011      
• Final report with recommendations developed and provided to UN Women Tajikistan for further dissemination not later than 30th of October, 2011; the report approved by GA, UN Women – 20% of total amount of contract.

Evaluation Procedure: UN Women applies fair and transparent selection process that takes into account the competencies/skills of the applicants as well as their financial proposals. The contract shall be awarded to the expert who provides best value for money.

Technical evaluation criteria:

Nr. / Criteria / Maximum points

1. Relevant University Degree in Social science (human rights, health) with the focus on gender - 30;
2. At least 5 years of professional experience of conducting training for NGOs, research, and analytical work in human rights, HIV/AIDS and gender mainstreaming area - 70;
3. Advanced knowledge of the regional context and understanding of the Tajikistan’s specific towards gender and HIV issues - 40;
4. Strong understanding on human rights and gender equality - 40;
5. Ability to undertake analytical work, conduct training, and prepare narrative reports - 50;
6. Advanced knowledge on the Women’s Human Rights and approaches to mainstream gender equality into development programming, particularly on HIV/AIDS - 45;
7. Familiarization with HIV/AIDS programmes, policies and other related documents - 55;
8. Proficiency in English. (Knowledge of Russian /Tajik is a strong asset– Tajik 10 pts, Russian – 15 pts) - 20.

Maximum total technical scoring: 350

Only candidates who reached at least 245 point will be qualified for financial evaluation.

Evaluation of Financial proposals:

Qualified financial proposals will be evaluated based on the best value for money tool. Evaluation of submitted  offers will be done based on the following formula:

B = T+Y/C *150,  where

T – is the total technical score awarded to the evaluated proposal (only to those proposals that pass 70% of technical evaluation);

C – is the price of the evaluated proposal; and

Y – is the lowest of all evaluated proposal prices among responsive proposals.

150 – is the maximum financial points obtainable (financial part is 30%, while technical is 70%, meaning that if the total technical points are 350 (70%), the financial figure should be 150 (30%).

                                                                                                                 
Management arrangements

The International Consultant will be working under the direct supervision of the UN Women Gender Adviser in Tajikistan and overall guidance and supervision of UN Women Sub-Regional Office for Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

Financial arrangements

Payment modality: payment will be done in two installments:

• Training agenda, questionnaires, needs assessment papers developed and approved by Gender Advisor, training module adopted and submitted to GA for review – UN Women looking for already developed manual to be updated based on the context information (e.g. existing Family Health International, AFEW, UNAIDS, etc modules) for HIV servicing NGOs capacity building – 80% of total amount of contract;
• Final report with recommendations developed and provided to UN Women Tajikistan for further dissemination not later than 30th of October, 2011; pending satisfactory performance certified by Gender Adviser – 20% of total amount of contract.

Competencies

Competencies:

• Ability to undertake analytical work, prepare narrative reports, conduct training;
• Familiarization with HIV/AIDS programmes, policies and other related documents;
• Sufficient familiarization with UN human rights instruments and the national policy in this field;
• Advanced knowledge of the regional context and understanding of the Tajikistan’s specifics towards human rights, gender and HIV issues;
• Advanced knowledge on the Women’s Human Rights and approaches to mainstream gender equality into development programming, particularly on HIV/AIDS.
  

Required Skills and Experience

Education

• Relevant University Degree in Social science (human rights, health) with the focus on gender (desirable)

Work experience/skills

• At least 5 years of professional experience of conducting training, research, and analytical work in human rights, HIV/AIDS and gender mainstreaming area;
• Proved experience of working with NGO sector/communities;
• Advanced knowledge on the Women’s Human Rights and approaches to mainstream gender equality into development programming, particularly on HIV/AIDS;
• Advanced knowledge of the regional context and understanding of the Tajikistan’s specific towards gender and HIV issues.

Languages

• Proficiency in English (Russian/Tajik is an asset)

Application process:

Interested individuals must submit the following documents/information to demonstrate their qualifications:

1. Letter of interest and technical proposal, containing clear description of the following  processes: development of the training module, preparing and delivering the training activities;
2.  CV/duly filled Personal History Form PHF11 (downloadable from http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc) with contact information of 3 referees;
3. Detailed financial proposal with the breakdown for following categories: preparing and conducting training, travel, trainer fee, DSA, other relevant expenses for the given scope of work.

*Each applicant will be required to submit an aggregated financial offer (“aggregated financial offer” is the total sum of all financial claims of the candidate for accomplishment of the task).

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.
All online applications must include (as an attachment) the completed UN Women Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from
 http://www.unwomen.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/P_11_form_UNwomen.doc).
Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed UN Women P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.