International consultant to provide support to the development of a perpetrator programme

TERMS OF REFERENCE (to be completed by Hiring Office) Hiring Office: UNFPA Turkmenistan CO Title: International individual consultant to provide support to the development of a perpetrator programme for strengthening multi-sectoral response to domestic violence within the Gender and Youth Programme Purpose of consultancy:

UNFPA is one of the UN's lead agencies working to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment, and to end and respond to gender-based violence. UNFPA’s gender programmes focus on strengthening a multi-sectoral response to gender-based violence, and promote the right of all women and girls to live free of violence and abuse.

Eliminating gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices is one of three UNFPA’s global transformative results. UNFPA is recognized for its longstanding work on prevention and response to GBV. This includes advocacy and policy development, implementing a multi-sectoral response, supporting essential services for survivors, combating harmful practices, strengthening GBV data collection, analysis and use, tackling social norms and gender stereotypes. 

In Turkmenistan, UNFPA is partnering with the Government and provides support in the implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan on Gender Equality for 2021-2025. Some of the key areas of intervention include

• Advocacy and policy making support to strengthen the response to GBV and improve the implementation of normative and policy frameworks on GBV in development settings;
• Strengthening multi-sectoral response to gender-based violence for healthcare, police and social services;
• Promoting gender equal positive social norms thus creating an enabling environment for advancing gender equality and preventing gender-based violence.

In 2025 UNFPA Turkmenistan continues contributing to the implementation of the UNFPA Regional Project on “Strengthening prevention and response to GBV in Central Asia” which is a part of a Central Asia programme funded by the UK Integrated Security Fund. Within this project in 2023-2024 UNFPA CO initiated study of international best practices on introducing programmes for working with perpetrators and men engagement programmes to advance gender equality and tackle toxic masculinities. An assessment of country readiness for introduction of perpetrator programmes was completed, Standard Operational Procedures for Multi-Sectoral Response to gender-based violence were updated to include a section on working with perpetrators and an introductory training was held on the topic for police, healthcare and social sectors.

As the next step in facilitating the advancement in introducing perpetrator programmes, the UNFPA CO undertakes an initiative to develop a model perpetrator programme for further piloting. 

Within this context, in close consultations with the Institute of State, Law and Democracy UNFPA CO is in need to hire an international individual consultant to develop a perpetrator programme for strengthening multi-sectoral response to domestic violence within the Gender and Youth Programme. The consultant will work in close coordination with the UNFPA Programme Analyst on Gender and Youth and will be supported by a national consultant who will provide logistical, organizational, country context and administrative support. 

Scope Of Work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The deliverables of this consultancy will include:

Planning Phase:

1. Desk review, methodology development and inception report – 4 days.
2. Preparation for the country mission 3 days:
   1. Review and draft a correctional programme for working with perpetrators of domestic violence;
   2. Develop presentations and training materials for the correctional programme on working with perpetrators of domestic violence, including presentations, evaluation forms, etc.
3. Country mission – 3 days:
   1. Conduct a 2-day training with national partners on the correctional programme for working with perpetrators of domestic violence.
4. Finalizing the programme as per the feedback received. – 7 days
5. De-brief UNFPA and provide a detailed final consultancy report, including recommendations on future piloting, including the organizations that will be involved in it. – 3 days.

Expected Outcomes And Deliverables:

• The total number of days: 20 working days:
• Deliverable 1:   Inception report by October 10, 2025;
• Deliverable 2: Draft correctional programme, presentations and training materials by October 20, 2025;
• Deliverable 3: Conduct a mission to country by November 15, 2025:
• Deliverable 4: Finalized correctional programme and training materials by November 28, 2025:
• Deliverable 5: A detailed final consultancy report by December 5, 2025.

Duration and working schedule: The duration of this assignment is 20 days from 6 October 2025 to 5 December 2025.  Place where services are to be delivered: The place where services are to be delivered home based with one mission to the country.  Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.): The International Consultant will report to the UNFPA Programme Analyst on Gender and Youth and will provide an update biweekly on progress, challenges encountered, and support requirements. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The work of the IC at all stages will be monitored by the UNFPA Gender and Youth National Programme Analyst Supervisory arrangements:  The IC will perform under the overall guidance of and report to the UNFPA Gender and Youth National Programme Analyst Expected travel: Mission to Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, in the week of 3-7 November 2025, 3 days including travel. Travel costs will be covered additionally according to the UNFPA’s Duty Travel Policy. Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

• At least Master Degree in Human Rights, Women’ Rights, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Law, State Service or equivalent;
• At least ten years of experience in the work related to gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, GBV services, MSR application;
• Experience in developing programmes and training materials on GBV, correctional perpetrator programmes, MSR application, country in the context of gender -based violence;
• Prior experience in Turkmenistan and Central Asia;
• Excellent English speaking and writing skills required. Knowledge of Russian will be considered an asset; 
• Strong analytical and effective communication skills.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: UNFPA will provide the Consultant with the available materials, information and reports. However, additional information will be identified by the Consultant through reviews, working with specialists, other. Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the P5 level of the UN Salary Scale for Professional and higher categories effective 1 January 2025 and will be paid in a lump sum upon successful completion of all deliverables. UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. Persons with disabilities, and individuals of other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity.