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. In 2018, UN Women Programme Office in Tajikistan works towards selected Development Results in the impact areas of combating violence against women and supporting the women, peace, and security agenda. Furthermore, UN Women works on achieving Organizational Results focusing on strategic normative, partnership and coordination activities. The Development and Organizational Results Framework (DRF and OEEF) for Tajikistan is implemented in the framework of the Strategic Plan for Europe and Central Asia 2015-2018 of the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia.

Under these results, UN Women is working with different Government and civil society partners and with the UN agencies in support to addressing the national gender equality priorities and addressing stereotypes and patriarchal norms leading to women’s vulnerability and unequal position in the society. UN Women works with the National Committee for Women and Family Affairs under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan and with the key government and non-government stakeholders. Furthermore, UN Women maintains the strategic partnership with women civil society organizations and women’s groups.

Gender inequality contributes to the spread of HIV and increases infection rates and reduces the ability of women and girls to cope with the epidemic. Often, women and girls have less information about HIV and fewer resources to take preventive measures. They face barriers to the negotiation of safer sex, because of unequal power dynamics with men. Sexual violence, a widespread violation of women’s rights, exacerbates the risk of HIV transmission. Evidence suggests that forced and arranged marriages can be a major risk factor, especially for young women and girls. Many women living with HIV struggle with stigma and exclusion, aggravated by their lack of rights. Women widowed by AIDS or living with HIV may face property disputes with in-laws, complicated by limited access to justice to uphold their rights.

In 2019, UN Women will support TNW+ in activities aimed at bringing gender equality and human rights perspectives for women and girls with HIV and AIDS. Focus will be on spearheading strategies that make clear links to factors propelling the epidemic, such as violence against women, denial of legal rights and women’s limited participation in decision-making. UN Women single most important strategy is empowering women and guaranteeing their rights so that they can protect themselves from infection, overcome stigma, and gain greater access to treatment, care and support.

With the support of the NGO «Center on Mental Health and HIV/AIDS», the "Tajikistan Network of Women living with HIV" - TNW+ was born in 2010.

The Tajikistan Network of Women living with HIV (TNW+) is the first and only national network of women living with HIV in the country. It brings together women from many areas of the country, with already 48 registered members.  The main goal of the TNW+ is to "Increase the quality of life of women living with HIV and their children in Tajikistan", already providing support for over 150 women on an ongoing basis.

Members of TNW+ are active in hospitals, NGOs and other community spaces in Tajikistan. They provide social, psychological support, for example through social escorting, peer counseling, support groups, organizing information sessions for women living with HIV. They are also actively involved in international advocacy, as a member of WeCARE+ and the Global Coalition on Women and AIDS (GCWA).

Duties and Responsibilities

The main objective of this task is to support the Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV (TNW+) in preparation of a gender sensitive five-year Strategic Plan (2019-2023) and advocacy and communication strategy focusing on prevention and addressing stigma and discrimination against WLWH.

Under the direct supervision of the UN Women Country Programme Manager, the National Consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Support in preparation of a gender sensitive five-year Strategic Plan of Tajikistan Network of Women Living with HIV (TNW+) for (2019-2023);

• Review of the existing documents including TNW+ Operational Plan, existing strategic plan, by-laws and relevant policies and manual. 
• Data collection from various stakeholders and focus group discussion with WLWH
• Consultative meeting with TNW+ team,
• Presenting the draft strategic plan to TNW+ and stakeholders and make necessary changes based on their feedback and comments

1. Support Tajikistan Network on WLWH to develop its advocacy and communication strategy focused on prevention and addressing stigma and discrimination against WLWH, overcoming stereotypes and negative social norms and practices impacting WLWH position in family and society;
2. Support Tajikistan’s Network of WLWH on implementation of the key actions agreed at the national HIV conference held in June 2018;

Competencies

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Good knowledge of the training topic on medical aspects and ethical norms in the field of HIV counselling.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: http://www.unwomen.org/-/media/headquarters/attachments/sections/about%20us/employment/un-women-employment-values-and-competencies-definitions-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 detail;
• Experience in report writing.
• Proven excellent communication and facilitation skills;

Required Skills and Experience

Education:         

Advanced degree in human rights, legal framework, health, law;

Experience:

• A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience in gender HIV/AIDS programming
• A minimum of 5 years relevant work experience developing HIV & AIDS Strategic Plans or National Development Plans;
• At least 3 years of experience in developing/elaborating of national policies and strategies and plans on HIV& AIDS and gender is essential;
• Previous work and direct working relationships with UN agencies, either in consultation or in training service provision considered an asset;

Knowledge of languages:

• Proficiency in written and oral English and Russian is required.

Other:

Good computer skills in Windows environment, knowledge of internet communications and command of MS Office applications (Word, Excel, Power Point).