The UNFPA Country Office in Turkmenistan advertises the vacancy of an Individual International Consultant to provide capacity building support to the Ombudsperson’ Office to implement gender and reproductive health mandate.
The detailed description and requirements of the position can be found at the below links:
For internal candidates: View the internal job posting
For external candidates: View the external job posting
We would like to take this opportunity to invite interested individuals (non-citizens of Turkmenistan) with relevant professional experience and qualifications to apply online as indicated in the above links by the deadline of 18 June 2023 (09:00 EST).
Qualified Female Candidates are Strongly Encouraged to Apply!
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted in advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Job Description
Background
Existing evidence shows that gender-based violence in Turkmenistan has been still considered a sensitive public issue and gives grounds for a concern. For instance, 58.4 per cent of women aged 15-49 years justify violence against women due to the established traditional gender roles of women in a family and society. This has almost been doubled from 35% in 2016. Only 42.2 per cent of women aged 15-49 years (married or in union) make informed decisions about sex, contraceptive use and reproductive health (SDG indicator 5.6. 1). This indicator is even less for women living in rural areas (37,7 %). The Sustainable Development Index measuring progress toward gender equality (59.4) also shows inequalities for women and girls, including issues ranging from health and gender-based violence to other socio-economic dimensions of life. 12 per cent of women aged 18-59 have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence by a spouse or partner.
The survey revealed differences in the prevalence of violence among the regions, with Lebap region demonstrating highest and Balkan region – lowest rates:
Physical: 7.3% in Balkan region and 17.1% in Lebap region;
Psychological: 7.3% in Balkan region and 15.7 in Lebap region;
Sexual: 1% in Balkan region and 2.9% in Lebap region;
Economic: 9.2% in Balkan region and 14.1% in Lebap region.
Turkmenistan adopted legislation to establish the Office of the Ombudsperson as an independent human rights body in 2017. The country's first Ombudsperson was appointed by the Parliament in March 2017. In 2022 she was re-elected for the next term. As per the Law, the functions of the Ombudsperson include:
-assistance in observance of human rights and freedoms, restoration of violated human rights and freedoms,
-ratification of international treaties in the field of human rights,
-improvement of legislation in this area, legal education of citizens in the field of protection of human and civil rights and freedoms, interaction of state bodies in this area, development and coordination of international cooperation,
-consideration of complaints against decisions or actions of state authorities, local self-government, officials and civil servants, if these decisions or actions have previously been appealed in a judicial or administrative manner,
-annual report of the Ombudsperson on activities and on the situation in the field of human rights in the country, which is submitted for consideration by the President of Turkmenistan and presented to the Mejlis of Turkmenistan.
The Ombudsperson has the right to verify information about violations of human rights and freedoms both on the basis of received appeals and on her own initiative, if she becomes aware of such violations from official sources or the media. The rights of the Ombudsperson include the right to apply to the head of a state authority, local government, enterprises, institutions and organizations, regardless of their organizational and legal forms and forms of ownership, the administration of a correctional institution and a place of pre-trial detention, a place of detention of detainees, military institutions with a proposal to bringing the person guilty of violating the rights of the applicant to disciplinary liability to the competent state body with a proposal to bring the person guilty of violating the rights of the applicant to administrative or criminal liability, to the court with a statement on the protection of the violated rights of the applicant, compensation for material damage caused to him and compensation for moral damage.
Indeed, National Human Rights Institutions (NHRIs) are in a unique position to hold governments accountable to their commitment to respect, protect and fulfil reproductive rights as defined in the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Programme of Action, CEDAW, other international human rights documents, national laws and policies such as National Action Plan on Gender Equality, and SDGs. NHRIs are also uniquely placed to support governments to meet the commitment to integrate the promotion and protection of human rights in their development and cooperation policies.
In 2022 UNFPA CO established a partnership with the Office of Ombudsperson to increase the capacity of the staff in the area of the protection and monitoring of the women’s and youth rights based on UNFPA’s normative agenda and three Transformative Results, which are guided by the international human rights instruments such as CEDAW and commitments to ICPD PoA and SDG 5 based on leave no one behind principle.
Reproductive rights of women living with disabilities, with chronic diseases and living in remote areas are at most concerns within the focus of the UNFPA reproductive health program. Currently UNFPA has already jointly with partners has assessed the investment needs for the Government to drop the unmet need in family planning through reaching those who are most vulnerable first and most. Also, UNFPA has assessed in 2021 the needs of women with disabilities in meeting their reproductive health to its full spectrum. Now there is a need to operationalize the identified findings to recommendations within the roadmap of actions for strengthening capacity of the ombudsperson's office.
Considering the above mentioned, UNFPA CO plans to provide capacity building support to the National Human Rights Institution in strengthening national protection systems for advancing reproductive rights, promoting gender equality and non-discrimination, addressing gender-based violence and enhancing accountability. UNFPA is working in the context of its normative framework to also develop the capacities of National Human Rights Institutions to monitor and protect reproductive health and reproductive rights, gender-based violence violations with youth as a cross cutting issue.
Scope of work:
(Description of services, activities, or outputs)
Within this framework UNFPA is planning to hire an international consultant to perform the following tasks:
Preparation phase – 10 days:
Conduct desk review of international practices and country documentation to familiarize with the content of the country on the subject and international good practices;
Conduct consultations with the Office of Ombudsman to assess the opportunities and needs of the office.
Building on the previous seminar outcomes and recommendations, prepare for a 4-day technical TOT seminar.
In consultations with the Office of Ombudsperson develop a methodology and instruments for fact-finding mission for the Office of Ombudsperson based on UNFPA’s conceptual and methodological framework and guidance and outlining key target groups, stakeholders, etc.
Country mission – 8 days:
Conduct a 4-day technical TOT seminar for the Office of Ombudsperson. The training will be designed as a continuation of the work conducted in 2022 and will include:
Topics of SRHR, anti-discrimination and VAW/DV in greater detail to understand the ways in which national laws and policies conform to international standards;
Analyzing specific complaints and making recommendations, as well as to making relevant and strategic recommendations in their participation in government working groups;
Human rights monitoring, legal analysis, report writing, engagement with CSOs and working with vulnerable categories of the population, among other topics.
Complete 4 days of fact-finding mission jointly with the staff of the Ombudsman’ Office to Balkan and Lebap regions (2 days in each region) to coach the Ombudsman’s staff apply the skills and conduct an inquiry based on the results of the National Survey, analyze its findings of the difference in responses of women and provide observations and strategic recommendations for intervention.
Online counselling and advisory support – 14 days:
Analyze the results of the fact-finding mission and provide guidance and recommendations next steps.
Debrief with the UN Human Rights, Gender and Youth Thematic Group (HRGYTG).
Assist in designing and planning a study visit for the staff of the Ombudsman Institution to a country in the region with a developed agency.
Provide on-going advisory support to the Office of Ombudsperson.
Write a consultancy report providing results of the discussions and final recommendations on further building capacity of the Office of Ombudsperson.
Total number of days: 32 working days.
Expected Outcomes and Deliverables:
Deliverable 1: By August 5, 2023
Inception report with preliminary findings and workplan on providing support to the Office of Ombudsperson, outlining online and offline interventions with advisory support, training, mentorship and other;
Agenda and presentations for the technical workshop with the Office of Ombudsperson;
Methodology, q-res and programme for the fact-finding mission and inquiry process;
Deliverable 2: By November 20, 2023
Conduct activities planned within the country mission.
Technical report outlining the findings and providing recommendations developed as an outcome of the fact-finding mission.
Design, agenda and assistance for the study visit.
Deliverable 3: By February 15, 2024
Detailed final consultancy report as per UNFPA requirements and de-brief to UNFPA.
Recommendations on further interventions and capacity building of the Office of Ombudsperson.
Duration and working schedule:Duration of this consultancy is from 15th of July, 2023 to 15th of February, 2024 including the operational closure of the contract.
Place where services are to be delivered:The consultancy services will need to be delivered on a home-based mode with a country mission. The consultations, communication, presentations and other sessions will be arranged using online applications. Travel costs are not included in this TOR and will be covered additionally.
Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):Dates for deliverables are provided under the section Scope of work. All deliverables will be provided in an electronic and online format.
Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:The UNFPA Programme Analyst on Gender and Youth will monitor the International Consultant’s work through regular meeting to update on the progress, reviewing submitted materials and participation in the meetings.
Supervisory arrangements: The International Consultant will directly report and work under overall guidance of the UNFPA Programme Analyst on Gender and Youth along with consultation from UNFPA Programme Analyst on Reproductive Health and overall guidance on vision from the UNFPA Head of Office.
Expected travel:No travel is expected under this consultancy.
Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
Advanced Degree in Human Rights, Women’ Rights, Social Sciences, Gender Studies, Law or equivalent;
Excellent English speaking and writing skills required. Knowledge of Russian will be considered an asset;
Strong analytical and effective communication skills.
At least fifteen years of experience of work focused on gender equality thematic topics including gender legislation, international instruments, national mechanisms, addressing GBV, gender stereotypes and women issues;
Experience in conducting country analyses and national inquiries into human rights in the context of sexual and reproductive health, gender -based violence and well-being;
Prior experience in Turkmenistan or in Central Asia and knowledge of gender equality systems and practices in the region;
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, data, information and reports. However, additional information will be identified by the Consultant through desk reviews, consultations with staff, other.
Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:
The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the P6 level of the UN Salary Scale for Professional and higher categories effective 1 January 2022 and will be paid in three installments upon successful completion of all deliverables:
Installment 1 in the amount of 30% of the payment: upon completion of Deliverable 1 in the amount of 30% of the payment by August 5, 2023;
Installment 2 in the amount of 40% of the payment: upon completion of Deliverable 1 by November 20, 2023;
Installment 3 (final): upon completion of Deliverable 1 by February 15, 2024.
[1] MICS, 2019
[2] MICS, 2016
[3] Survey on Health and Status of a Woman in the Family in Turkmenistan, 2020
Disclaimer:
UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process. Fraudulent notices, letters or offers may be submitted to the UNFPA fraud hotline http://www.unfpa.org/help/hotline.cfm
In accordance with the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations, persons applying to posts in the international Professional category, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.