Background

Funded by the European Union in co-operation with all participating countries, the Spotlight Initiative (SI) Regional Programme for Central Asia and Afghanistan will harness the collective expertise, experiences, challenges, and energy of gender equality advocates from the five Central Asian countries as well as Afghanistan. This will be done to advance legislative reform, policy dialogue and advocacy, technical assistance in the adaptation of most effective measures to address sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), and social norm change necessary to prevent and respond to SGBV and harmful practices such as bride kidnapping, child, early and forced marriage.

The SI invests in the development of the Central Asia Alliance, which includes both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including parliamentarians, ministries and other government bodies, the judiciary, the police, civil society organizations (CSOs), activists, SGBV survivors, youth, men and religious leaders.

A nascent Central Asia Alliance for ending SGBV and harmful practices will emerge through strengthened cross-border networking and experience sharing, collective capacity development and awareness-raising on international norms and standards, and hands-on work with international and national experts in the development of SGBV Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) “models” grounding in international norms related to SGBV.  

The Alliance will be owned and shaped by the five national Central Asian countries with the participation of the relevant stakeholders from Afghanistan. Technical and coordination support will be provided by the Secretariat of the Alliance, which is planned to be established by end of 2022.  

Within the framework of the SI Pillar 6, designed to strengthen CSOs’ capacities and support a regional women’s movement, the SI will invest in strengthening regional leadership, coordination, knowledge sharing, and networking of women rights organizations to support CSOs’ collective and strategic engagement with governments and other actors within the broader Alliance for Central Asia on SGBV.

Duties and Responsibilities

The Goal of Coordination Group:

The goal of the Coordination Group within the framework of the Pillar VI of the Spotlight Initiative Regional Programme for Central Asia and Afghanistan is to engage representatives of the Civil Society in the establishment of a regional CSO network, for their participation in the development of strategic documents and the network roadmap, and for contribution to the creation of the Central Asian Alliance to End SGBV and Harmful Practices.

The Objectives of Coordination Group:

• Participate in discussions and ideas exchange on the creation of a regional CSO network, finalize the draft Charter and Regulations;
• Participate in a a two-day meeting in Almaty to develop strategic documents and a roadmap for the CSO network for the period until the end of 2023, as well as to identify the most appropriate mechanism for CSO participation in the Alliance;
• Facilitate the involvement of civil society organizations in the regional network;
• Disseminate information and materials to grassroots, remote CSOs in the country;
• Actively participate in meetings and other events related to the work of the regional network of CSOs and the Alliance;
• Contribute to capacity building work for CSOs and the regional women's movement through networking platforms for CSOs in Central Asia to engage them in joint regional advocacy, exchange of knowledge, experiences and best practices;
• Be a Champion and contribute to the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of women.

Organization of work

The work of the Group will be led by a Pillar VI Project Manager.

Working languages: Russian and English.

The date of the meeting in Almaty is planned for November, TBC once the Group is formed.

Expected terms of work: November-December 2022, with a possibility of renewal of membership for 2023.

Competencies

Core Values:

• Tolerance and respect
• Honesty
• Responsibility
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration

Required Skills and Experience

Structure and Selection Criteria

The Group will make up of 1-2 representatives from each participating in the Program country. Members of the Group can be both representatives of registered civil society organizations or members of informal movements and activists.

The Group members will be selected based on the following criteria:

- be a citizen of one of the participating in the Program countries - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan;

- have at least 5 years of professional experience in the field of gender equality, elimination of sexual and gender-based violence, women's rights protection and other related areas;

- experience in participating / establishment of women's networks and movements;

- knowledge and experience of strategy development, strategic plans writing (desirable);

- active participation in the Spotlight Regional Programme for Central Asia and Afghanistan.

Members of the Group will be selected and approved by the Regional Programme team.

All documents should be sent including:

• Completed and signed P11 form http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment

• copies of diplomas

• financial proposal in US dollars, including the total amount required to complete all tasks under the TOR (including travel expenses for a trip to Almaty)

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