“Having open and honest discussions about what violence is,

in a safe environment, can have a massive impact in stopping violence”

Sangam World Centre leader

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 Tajikistan, pervasive nature of violence against women and girls (VAWG), especially domestic violence, gives an impression of it being ‘normal’. According to Demographic and Health Survey of Tajikistan (DHST), around 26% of urban women and 24% of rural women reported experiencing physical violence by a spouse and 20% of those who experienced physical/sexual violence pursued help/remedy (State Statistic Committee 2017). There are concerns/possibilities about extent of VAW/G underreporting (Tajikistan National Statistics Committee 2012), its actual prevalence is considered higher at >33% (UN Women 2014 cited in Lin et al. 2016.) Media in Tajikistan (Asia Plus, Ozodagon) have reported on women’s suicides or murders by their spouses, all of which are related to domestic violence. Communities justify wife-beating (or violence from in-laws) and take it as a personal/familial matter-result of acceptance of traditional gender norms. Recent study (Oxfam/Z-Analytics 2016) revealed that 97% and 72% of male & female respondents respectively believe ‘a woman may tolerate different forms of violence to keep family together.’ Experts observe a new phenomenon - the "self-underestimation" of women in matters of gender equality in the family. Unregistered marriages make it difficult for Tajik women to claim entitlements.

In 2020 Tajikistan has also been affected for a pandemic of coronavirus COVID-19. Emergencies, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, exacerbate the threat of gender-based violence against women and girls for people, their families and societies, especially when quarantine requirements introduced. In Tajikistan, pandemics caused serious economic and social consequences, especially due to the reduction of remittances from Russian Federation and Kazakhstan, disrupted social and protective networks; incurred sudden adverse changes in family life and stress, increased food and health expenditures, and reduced access to basic services. UN Women and Women Count programme has conducted the Rapid Gender Assessment amid COVID-19 in 17 countries, including Tajikistan, and publicized the following warning findings:

• Women face difficulty in meeting basic expenses and might forgo seeking health services;
• The phycological and emotional wellbeing of women has been severely affected;
• The proportion of women in Tajikistan who did not know where to seek help in case someone was experiencing domestic (50%) is alarming;
• More cases of violence between siblings; between daughters-in-law and mothers/fathers-in law.

Tajikistan is signatory to various international instruments (CEDAW/UPR/CRC) and adopted the Law “On the Prevention of Violence in the Family” in 2013. The limitations within the Law (failure to define family and criminalize domestic violence) have led to difficulties in its implementation. Barriers to implement the Law are: capacity and willingness of police, lack of clear implementation-procedure, inadequate and under-funded NGO-run shelters and victim support rooms, lack of state-run shelters, limited access to legal assistance/justice, insufficient inter-agency coordination and funding, lack of monitoring mechanisms and imperfection of the Law itself. The underreporting of VAWG is a common phenomenon, mainly due to: lack of awareness of rights and available protections, stigma, economic dependence, bias/discrimination from government authorities, tradition that promotes reconciliation and, what is even more important, lack of well-developed convenient and secured mechanism of public reporting. Barriers to prosecution of VAWG include costs, judiciary/ignorance of law implementation, corruption, burdensome evidentiary requirements.

The prevalence of VAWG in public and private sphere is driven by multiple factors, especially by patriarchal social structures and norms (that becomes even stronger recently), deep-rooted gender inequalities, lack of adequate education. Gender-related social norms influence the specific knowledge, attitude and behaviors towards women at various levels, starting from the legislation, going to violence-related patterns at the community and individual levels. In this regard, while the Constitution of Tajikistan guarantees equal rights for both men and women; in reality, women and girls continue facing significant barriers to accessing sexual and reproductive health, education and economic services. Limited access to services is compounded by the violence against women at the household level. The adolescents’ knowledge, attitude and practice of gender equality, and their mind-set are being formed chaotically, often by internet and social networks. Moreover, the law enforcement institutions indicate that the endemic nature of the problem can only be addressed with the broad support of the public and changing the social norms, as well as behavior and attitudes of youth, men and boys across various strata of the society. In fact, violence in many cases can be foreseen and prevented.

UN Women aims to introduce innovative approaches in Tajikistan in working with social norms by applying Gender Action Learning System methods for identification of new social norm holders to create a demand within communities and individuals to stop impunity of violence, formation a public opinion on illegality of violence and HP and stressing it as crime.

Recently, it is in Afghanistan and Kyrgyzstan the GALS has been practiced through UN projects and programmes. UN Women in Tajikistan wishes to apply the adopted version of Kyrgyzstan’s colleagues for capacity building purposes. In 2021 in its different projects, such as improvement of wellbeing of abandoned migrant’s wives, programmes to prevent and response to sexual and gender-based violence, UN Women will use the Gender Action Learning System (GALS), as a community-led empowerment methodology, through CSOs and mobilizers for:

• Individual life and livelihood planning;
• Collective action and gender advocacy for change;
• Institutional awareness raising and changing power relationship with service providers, private sector stakeholders and government bodies.

In the light of the abovementioned, UN Women seeks an International Consultant to build capacity of Tajikistan PP’s project staff (related staff of sister UN agencies may also join) and key partnering WROs (up to 20 trainees) on Community mobilization through distanced training (TOT) on Gender Action Learning System (GALS) (GALS INTERNATIONAL CONSULTANT).  

1. Goal and objectives:

The goal: upon receiving the training, the UN Women’s project staff and its partners will be enabled to lead the process of Community mobilization within its projects and through local women’s rights organizations. As a result, mobilized community members will be supported to lead the gender transformative process, including:

• Self-reflection and understanding of inner beliefs and attitudes on VAWG;
• Personal conscious decisions on that he/she is unwilling to continue bear with violence and seek/learn the ways of fighting against violence;
• Start personal change process;
• Unite with community members to undertake joint advocacy actions to change norms at family/community levels;
• Reflection on the process and acknowledging victorious examples of changes and documenting lessons learned.

The objectives of this assignment are:

1. Deepen understanding and rendering new training skills of the training participants on the overcoming and challenging - through GALS - those stereotypical norms and behavior that lead to VAWG.
2. To present the innovative approaches on how to mobilize Community for critical thinking and gender transformative interventions, based on flagship initiatives
3. To catalyze an increased commitment, understanding, potential of the trainees in their capacity of gender transformative programme mentors.

Under the supervision of the UN Women Country Programme Manager, GALS International Consultant will be responsible for adaptation of GALS Methodology from Kyrgyzstan [preferably] to the local context and provision of online 2-day training: 

• Review and adapt GALS Methodology and Tools [preferably of Kyrgyzstan] to the local context;
• Conduct 2-day online training on application of the methodology for further up-scaling for UN Women managers and WRO’s representatives (for up to 20 participants). The training should also become instrumental in gathering recommendations from participants for improving the final methodology;
• Review and finalize the methodology based on the outcomes of ToT and consultations with participants;
• Submit final report on deliverables, recommendations and lessons learnt.

1. Expected deliverables

Core Values:

• Respect for Diversity
• Integrity
• Professionalism

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues
• Accountability
• Creative Problem Solving
• Effective Communication
• Inclusive Collaboration
• Be client-oriented – ability to listen all parties and to facilitate the process for mutual satisfaction and consensus
• Ability to work in a multicultural environment and in a team

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:

• Good knowledge of technical area;
• Good organizational skills and ability to pay close attention to detail;
• Experience in report writing.

Education:

• Master’s degree in one of the areas: education, gender or social development, humanitarian sciences, human rights, public health or related area. A Bachelor’s degree may be accepted with +2 more years’ experience (total 5 years).

Working Experience:

• At least 3 years of practicing in conducting training/mentorship of adults on gender equality/inclusiveness; or social justice; or community/youth mobilization.
• Experience in conducting Training of Trainers is an asset;
• At least 2 years of experience in development of the programmes, curricula, manuals or training modules on gender and social development;
• Proved experience in practicing Gender Action Learning System (GALS) or very similar methodologies on Community mobilization for gender action and transformative interventions; submission of GALS trainer’s certificate is an asset.
• Prior experience in the work environment of an International agency, NGOs, Women’s Organizations, UN, or international institutions.

Knowledge of languages:

• Proficient knowledge of Russian language; knowledge of English language is an asset

Other:

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

Application Process 

The application should include:

• Letter of Interest;
• Personal History Form (P-11 form) - including past experience in similar assignments; can be downloaded at http://www.unwomen.org/about-us/employment  a signed [scanned] copy should be submitted;
• Financial Proposal:  Specify a total lump sum amount for the tasks specified in this Terms of Reference. The financial proposal shall include a breakdown of this lump sum amount per day; 

Candidates should have the ability to quickly produce degree certificates and medical certification (of good health) should they be short-listed in consideration of the consultancy post.

Payment Schedule

Payment for the services provided will be made upon achievement of expected results and approval of all deliverables and acceptance of services by the UN Women (PERF) that the services have been satisfactorily performed.