I. Background

UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.

The UN Women Cambodia Country Office (CCO) Strategic Note (SN) 2019-2023 focuses on three key priorities to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment (GEWE). The first priority is to strengthen government capacity and accountability to integrate international norms and commitments (CEDAW, SDGs, Beijing PfA, Sendai) into national legislative and regulatory frameworks, including supporting dialogue and CSO engagement in accountability for GEWE commitments.  The second area of focus is Ending Violence Against Women where CCO’s focus includes creating an enabling environment to prevent, respond to and prosecute all forms of GBV as well as ensuring that marginalised women who experience violence, including women migrant workers, access services and protections.  Thirdly, CCO works to enhance gender responsiveness in climate change action and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR).  A focus on empowerment, women’s leadership, challenging negative gender norms and leaving no one behind runs through the programme.

In Cambodia, an estimated 1 in 5 women[1] report having experienced physical and/or sexual violence by an intimate partner in their lifetime, and 4 percent of women report having experienced sexual violence by a non-partner after the age of 15.[2]  The COVID 19 pandemic is increasing the risk for these already high rates of violence against women (VAW). Initially the direct impact of COVID-19 and the number of cases was low to date in numbers to date with indirect impacts increasing stressors on families due to impact to a downturn in key economic sectors, returning migrant workers (both nationally and internationally). However, in February 2021, community spread of COVID 19 began with an increase from about 500 identified cases to an estimated 128,000 in February 2022. This increased burden on the health and response systems, coupled with financial constraints, increased care burdens, and school closures, are increasing stress and women are at risk of higher levels of violence and putting strains on the already inadequate response systems. 

UN Women’s EVAW Programme in Cambodia is aligned with UN Joint Global Programme (JP)—the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence (ESP). In 2019, as part of Phase II of the Joint Programme, under the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MoWA) leadership and with the support of UN Women, the third National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against Women 2019-2023 (3rd NAPVAW) was drafted. The 3rd NAPVAW was adopted by the councils of ministers in 2020 and launched in January 2021 with the overarching goal to reduce violence against all women and girls, including those at increased risk or with challenges in accessing services through increased prevention interventions, improved response, such as increased access to quality multi-sectoral services, and multi-sectoral coordination and cooperation. Four key areas have been identified as primary areas of focus:1) Prevention; 2) Legal Protection and Multi-Sectoral Services; 3) Formulation and Implementation of Laws and Policies; and 4) Review, Monitoring and Evaluation.

UN Women Cambodia is currently implementing the  ACCESS project title “Supporting Implementation of the 3rd NAPVAW in Cambodia” funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). The project builds on the partnership with the Ministry of Women’s Affairs (MOWA) which aims to improve MOWA capacity for implementing minimum service standards and informing laws that better prevent, respond to, and prosecute all forms of gender-based violence and to hold Technical Working Group on Gender – Gender-Based Violence (TWGG-GBV) members accountable for the coordinated implementation of the NAPVAW III at national, and subnational levels through improved planning, reporting, monitoring and evaluation processes.

UN Women Cambodia is seeking the services of an international consultant with EVAW expertise to provide technical expertise and policy advice to the Ministry of Women’s Affairs and TWGG-GBV to conduct the final evaluation of the National Action Plan to Prevent Violence against Women (2019-2023). Under the direct supervision of the Country Programme Coordinator and working in close collaboration with the EVAW team, the consultant will serve as a lead technical consultant ensuring the public participation especially the marginalized group of women and transparency in the national policy evaluation process, bringing evidence of best practices and gaps in the 3rd NAPVAW implementation at the national and sub-national levels by government counterparts, development partners and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). The overall objective of the final evaluation is to collect information and evidence based among key stakeholders including women survivors and marginalised group of women, CSOs, development partners, and government agencies in regard to the successes and challenges in implementing the 3rd NAPVAW against its targets, and strategies as set in the result framework and provide concrete recommendations for priorities for 4th NAPVAW. Below are the specific objectives of the assignment:

1. To assess the relevance, effectiveness and impact of the action plan and its strategic priority areas in regard to the evolution of the gender based violence situation in Cambodia taking into the consideration of COVID-19 pandemic, the needs of the VAW survivors, VAW service providers and regional and global commitments to end violence against women
2. To assess the level of achievement of the 3rd NAPVAW  implementation against logical framework
3. To assess the sustainability of the joint efforts of government agencies at the national and sub-national levels, CSOs and development partners in ending violence against women resulting from the guidance of the 3rd NAPVAW
4. To analyse how human rights approach and gender equality principles are integrated in implementation of the 3rd NAPVAW across the country
5. To identify and validate gaps and challenges in implementing the 3rd NAPVAW, lessons learned, good practices and examples and innovation of efforts that support gender equality and human rights in area of ending violence against women; and
6. To provide concrete recommendations and strategies/directions for the success of the 3rd NAPVAW and recommendation for priorities for 4th NAPVAW

[1] aged 15-64 who have ever been in a relationship

[2] National Institute of Statistics, Ministry of Women’s Affairs, UN Women, World Health Organization (2015). National Survey on Women’s Health and Life Experiences Report. Phnom Penh.

II. Duties and responsibilities

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Country Programme Coordinator and will work closely with the EVAW Lead to undertake the tasks outlined below:

Leading and providing technical assistance to conduct the final evaluation of the 3rd NAPVAW implementation

1. Conduct a desk review of relevant 3rd NAPVAW policy documents, periodic reports, relevant research, and other documentation of the work that has contributed to the achievement of the 3rd NAPVAW  from the TWGG-GBV members – both government and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
2. Conduct consultations and interviews with key stakeholders government at the national/sub-national levels including development partners, CSOs, selected GBV Working Group members at the sub-national, and women including maginalised groups (Women with disabilities, women migrant workers, LBTI women, etc.) subject to violence that have received services.
3. Conduct the analysis of the findings from the desk review and consultations/interviews and draft a report with the findings based on the key 3rd NAPVAW Strategies. The draft report will be reviewed by and validate with key stakeholders, while the draft version has been developed.  it is expected to include findings/progress in each strategic area and reflect the specific objectives of the evaluation, as well as recommendations for continuing the implementation of the plan and future priorities for preventing and responding to GBV.

III. Expected deliverables and timelines

V. Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Stakeholder Engagement
• Leading by Example

Functional Competencies: (below are examples to be adjusted to each assignment)

• Excellent analytical skills
• Strong knowledge of UN Women processes and systems
• Strong networking skills
• Strong inter-personal skills, communicate effectively with staff at all levels of the organization and government counterpart;
• Ability to work in a highly pressured environment

VI. Required qualifications 

Education:

• Master’s degree in gender, development studies, public policy and administration, international relations, or other related disciplines

Experience: 

• Minimum 5 years professional experience in addressing gender, policy, and development and in EVAW programme planning and implementation, monitoring, evaluation, reporting and resource mobilization, preferably from the UN System or an international organization.

• Proven good knowledge of international standards on human rights, women’s rights, and related instrument such as CEDAW, Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Convention on the Rights of Child,  SCR 1325 etc., and international good practices in policy and legislative frameworks and institutional mechanisms concerning ending violence against women.

• Proven experience in Result Based Management, the Human Rights-Based Approach (HRBA) to programme planning and implementation, monitoring and evaluation, and result-based report writing.

• Professional experience working in women’s human rights and/or gender related work in Asia and Pacific, preferably in Cambodia, in particular on GBV and ending violence against women would be a strong asset.

• Experience in liaising and coordinating with a myriad of stakeholders and partners, including government, civil society, international organizations and grassroots organizations. 

   

Language requirement:

• Fluency in English with proven report writing experience. 

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)