Background

The Government of the Kyrgyz Republic (GoKR), European Union (EU) and the United Nations have launched the Spotlight Initiative (SI), a multi-year programme aimed at addressing all forms of violence against women and girls (VAWG), and harmful practices (HP). The SI aims to support transformative change on the ground to end VAWG, in numerous countries globally, including the Kyrgyz Republic. The initiative comes with the highest level of commitment globally and will be governed by the UN Deputy Secretary General and the Vice President of the EU Commission.

The goal of the Spotlight Initiative (SI) in the Kyrgyz Republic is for all women and girls, particularly those most vulnerable, to live a life free of violence and harmful practices, including child marriage and ala kachuu. It is built around six pillars developed after an extensive global theory of change exercise

Policies and legislation

1. Institutions  
2. Violence Prevention
3. Services
4. Data
5. Women’s movement and civil society

Under the Pillar 4, the SI Programme will focus on transforming the approach and understanding of women and girls as target groups or “service users” to “solution-holders and new norm shapers.” This principle will be embedded in all activities and processes of the action, with an emphasis on the participation of different categories of societal actors (women, youth, community members, LSGs, service providers, business representatives, etc.), in services provision, local decision making, etc. which will lead to stronger and more inclusive communities and governance. Moreover, the programme will work with relevant government stakeholders and women’s rights organizations to improve multi-sectoral coordination in order to have increased capacity to deliver quality and coordinated essential services. A major focus on Pillar 4 will be related to ensuring adequate service provision to women and girls facing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination.

Sexual harassment and gender biases within service-providing institutions are globally known barriers for institutions to successfully prevent and respond to GSBV and VAWG. Without shifting the harmful norms, behaviors and attitudes within the institutions set to implement EVAWG and safeguard women’s rights, the national legislation does not suffice to prevent and protect women and girls from violence. SI aims to address these by, inter alia, supporting institutions at the regional/provincial level to develop policies and mechanisms to address sexual harassment as aligned with international best practices.

Under the Pillar 1, the Programme will support the Ministry of Labor, Social Security and Migration (MLSSM) and inter-ministerial working group to draft and localize the Gender Equality Strategy (GES) until 2030 along with National Action plan 2022-2024.  

To co-create and launch above two processes with service providers, the Programme seeks to hire National Consultant to provide technical assistance to the regional/oblast administration in the localization of the GES in Chui province and support the development and testing of a protocol and mechanisms of dealing with sexual and gender-based violence. The aim of the latter is to provide effective mechanisms on how to prevent and to protect women and girls from sexual and gender-based violence. 

Duties and Responsibilities

Under the overall supervision and guidance of the Spotlight Programme Officer the National Consultant will provide expert and logistics support to the process of GES and SGBV SOP localization in Chui province.

Specific responsibilities and tasks of National Consultant  include:

1. Preparatory phase

• Conduct desk review of GES and NAP 2022-2024, oblast/local level development/sectoral strategies and plans, matrix of harmonized approach to recommendations of Treaty Bodies (CEDAW, UPR, ICRC etc)
• Hold negotiations with provincial administrations and pilot districts and AOs and inform them about the launch of the process, goals, and objectives, and map their expectations of the process
• Support target oblast administrations with creating working group (oblast, district and municipality levels) responsible for GES, NAP, and SGBV SOP localization in Chui oblast  
• Co-develop agenda of 2 two-days workshops and LOP together with national and oblast level working groups
• Support oblast administrations with logistics of the workshops
• Co-create with service providers 4 case-scenarios based on real stories of survivors of gender-based violence

2. Implementation phase

•      Co-facilitate 2-day workshop on SGBV SOP localization to better identify problems and prototype solutions

•      Based on findings of the workshop develop protocol including algorithm of actions

•      Discuss protocol, algorithm with key stakeholders

•      Jointly with stakeholders develop roadmap for testing protocol in concrete institutions (to be identified jointly with partners)

•      Inform experts working on law on identified challenges and gaps with recommendations how it can be addressed

•      Support selected district level institution to test the protocol

•      Co-facilitate two-day GES and NAP localization workshop/

•      Facilitate at least 8 expert and peer review sessions within Chui oblast, district and municipality administrations to finalize the localized         action plans

•      Provide further hands on support and coaching sessions to Chui oblast, district and municipality administrations related to activities, budgets, monitoring and evaluation matrix, coordination with other actors (eg. CSOs, private sector etc)

•      Conduct final review of the localized action plans

3. Review phase

•             Finalize and write up the protocol based on the testing and aligning it with the national legislation and regulations and international best practices

•             Organize a validation session with all relevant stakeholders to present the protocol and the report with particular focus on ensuring buy-in for the recommended next steps in order to ensure the implementation and sustainability of the protocol / mechanisms

•             Conduct review session engaging key stakeholders to document lessons learnt

•             Prepare final analytical report including lessons learned from the testing and recommendations for the scaling up / implementation of the protocol for adoption in other government organizations and public institutions.

  Review and lessons learnt

• Attend final review sessions engaging all stakeholders (Chui, Naryn and Osh province) on lessons learnt
• Document overall above processes as ‘how to’ practical toolbox including key tipping points and lessons learnt

Duration & Deliverables Timeframe:

The assignment will be for 60 working days for a period of March – June 2023. The Assignment should commence on March 10, 2023 and complete on June 10, 2023.

Competencies

Functional Competencies:

• In-depth knowledge of gender equality and women’s rights issues
• Demonstrated ability to interact effectively with national and local partners
• Knowledge and understanding of UN system
• Past experience of work in a national environment
• Excellent writing, analytical, training, presentation skills
• IT literacy with sufficient use of Microsoft Words, Excel, and Power Point Presentation

Behavioral Competencies:

• Very effective at multi-tasking;
• Strong analytical and interpersonal skills;
• Strong initiative-taker;
• Excellent communication skills;
• Focuses on impact and results for client;
• Identifies opportunities and builds strong relationships with client and external actors;
• Participates effectively in team-based, information-sharing environment, collaborating and cooperating with others;
• Consistently approaches work with energy and a positive, constructive attitude;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:

• University degree in Social Sciences, gender studies, human rights or other relevant social science fields

Experience:

• At least three (3) years of experience in EVAWG and GEWE related policy advice, research, data analysis and documentation;
• Proven experience in facilitation of group reflections and documenting KAPs (knowledge, attitude and practices);
• Experience in provision of gender sensitivity and VAWG topic-related expertise

Language:

• Proficiency in professional written and oral Russian and Kyrgyz, knowledge of English is an asset

Evaluation Procedure:

The candidates will be evaluated in three stages: according to minimum qualification criteria; technical and financial evaluation.

The candidates must possess following minimum qualification criteria to be eligible for further technical evaluation:

• University diploma in social sciences
• At least 5 years of experience in drafting policy documents, legal acts, protocols
• Strong Experience and expertise in gender-based violence, sexual harassment
• Proven experience on conducting participatory and co-creation capacity-building initiatives
• Working experience with United Nations is highly desired
• Fluency in Russian and Kyrgyz is required
• Fluency in English is a strong asset
• Knowledge and skills of relevant computer applications of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).
• Knowledge of Internet communications (Zoom, Skype, email) and command is required

Technical evaluation criteria (including minimum qualifications):

Only candidates who have passed over the minimum qualification criteria and have accumulated at least 80 points out of maximum 110 under technical evaluation will qualify for the next stage i.e. evaluation of their financial proposals.

Evaluation of financial proposal

Evaluation of submitted financial offers will be done based on the following formula: S = Fmin / F * 30

S – score received on financial evaluation;

Fmin – the lowest financial offer out of all the submitted offers qualified over the technical evaluation round;

F – financial offer under consideration.

Winning candidate

The winning candidate will be the candidate, who has accumulated the highest aggregated score (technical

scoring + financial scoring).

Submission package:

• CV;
• Dully filled Personal History Form PHF11;
• aggregated financial offer*
• Writing sample

*The applicants are required to submit an aggregated financial offer (“aggregated financial offer” is the total sum of all financial claims of the candidate for accomplishment of all tasks spelled out in this ToR).

Management arrangements:

The contractor will work under direct supervision of UN Women Kyrgyzstan Representative and guidance of UN Women National Programme Officer.

Financial arrangements:

Payment will be disbursed upon submission and approval of deliverables and certification by UN Women National Programme Officer that the services have been satisfactorily performed as specified below:

• Deliverable 1 – 30%;
• Deliverables 2, 3 – 70%;

Attention:

All online applications must include (as an attachment) the completed Personal History form (P-11) which can be downloaded from http://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment.

Kindly note that the system will only allow one attachment. Applications without the completed P-11 form will be treated as incomplete and will not be considered for further assessment.

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 is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. 

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.)