Expert on the Development of Strategy for GBV Prevention Work in Ukraine

Purpose of consultancy:

Over the last 6 years, UNFPA has made considerable input in developing the national system of GBV prevention and response in Ukraine. Back in 2015 with the support of the UK Government, UNFPA launched its humanitarian response programme to address the increased risk of GBV caused by a large-scale humanitarian crisis provoked by the armed conflict in the eastern part of the country. It included the provision of services to GBV survivors, capacity development of service providers, awareness-raising and in-kind contribution of reproductive health kits. GBV response services which were launched in the humanitarian phase as short-term solutions (such as psychosocial support mobile teams, safe space solutions and health service delivery points) gradually became a model for national level expansion and replication.

The UNFPA GBV Programme has supported both scaling up and expanding on mechanisms and frameworks that have been set through the UNFPA-led GBV response interventions in 2015-2017 into systemic national wide development activities aimed at improving regulatory frameworks, developing capacity to address GBV and generating demand for services.

Guided by the Essential Services Package for Women and Girls Subject to Violence, the programme extended intensive capacity development programme to local service providers (psychosocial, police, justice, health) and supported the development of modern service provision models based on a survivor-centred approach.

In 2019 – 2022 UNFPA piloted several GBV prevention interventions at national and regional level.

In particular, at the national level:

• “(No) Trivia in relationships” project aimed to raise awareness about healthy relationships started in 2019. Due to the full-scale war in Ukraine project has broaden its initial topic to the mental health support, as adolescents who have been affected by war are vulnerable and have a higher risk of developing depression anxiety. This, in turn, negatively affects both the relationship with one's own "self" and relationships with loved ones. Updated in 2022 project “No trivia” possesses a versatile system of platforms: Instagram, chat bot where psychological consultations may be received and website.

• Hotline to provide psychological support for men was launched. Men can reach out with any psychological issues that cause stress. It includes problems at work or relationships, war distress, and anger management difficulties. The hotline works 24/7 and is anonymous.

At the community level, UNFPA:

• deploys educational learning sessions for communities on GBV prevention and supports deployment of community-based  participatory  prevention  programmes in target  communities.
• involves community activists, given their unique position to take early action against GBV. A series of training sessions aimed to support and empower communities to develop survivor-centred GBV early-warning mechanisms is conducted.
• provide a series of interactive online training sessions for youth centres specialists to  trained them to mentor  young people on healthy relationships and the prevention of abusive  behaviour, which became ever-important during wartime.
   

The UNFPA GBV Response and Prevention Programme requires a comprehensive strategy for GBV prevention in Ukraine that will be implemented by UNFPA from 2023 to 2026.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The Strategy should include the already planned and ongoing interventions, designed by UNFPA. Descriptions of the planned activities will be provided after the contract signing. 

 Strategy should guide UNFPA work that aims to (1) develop an effective GBV prevention system able to gradually transform social norms and stereotypes and (2) create a culture of zero tolerance to GBV that will contribute to the eradication of violence against women in Ukraine.

The developed Strategy should include (but not limited to):

• Analysis of the priority issues and needs in GBV prevention in Ukraine
• Strategic plan and theory of change (vision, strategic objectives, expected outcomes, target audiences)
• Recommendations for implementation of the strategy (guiding principles, approaches)
• Framework for monitoring and evaluation of the strategy implementation.

Implementation of the Strategy needs to contribute to achieving the following GBV Programme outcomes:

• Increased perception of the unacceptability of gender-based violence in Ukrainian society.

Indicator: Percentage of women and men who believe that physical violence cannot be justified. Baseline: 76% women and 68% men believe that physical violence cannot be justified (March 2020). Target and date: 87% women and 80% men believe physical violence cannot be justified (March 2024).

• Changed men’s attitude to violence.

Indicator: Percentage of men who believe that survivor shares responsibility for the case of sexual violence. Baseline: 50% men believe that survivor shares responsibility for the case of sexual violence (Masculinity Research 2018). Target: 32% men believe that survivor shares responsibility for the case of sexual violence (March 2024).

Descriptions of the planned activities will be provided after the contract signing. 

The Strategy should be clearly defined and well-elaborated to facilitate its implementation by UNFPA Ukraine.

It is expected that the expert will:

1. Apply UNFPA experience in tackling GBV, learn the country’s context.

2. Develop the Strategy on GBV Prevention for UNFPA GBV Programme.

3.Introduce necessary changes to the developed Strategy upon UNFPA recommendations/suggestions as part of the review of the document (within the contract timeframe).

The Strategy should be developed in English.

Duration and working schedule:

All deliverables have to be received in three months after the contract signing.

Place where services are to be delivered:

Remotely

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

Brief progress reports to be delivered electronically every week via email: kovalevych@unfpa.org by the end of reporting period accompanied with draft documents developed/reviewed. The reporting periods should be agreed with the consultant additionally.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Monitoring to be done by Nadiia Kovalevych, Project Coordinator.

Supervisory arrangements:

This consultancy will be directly supervised by UNFPA GBV Project Coordinator – Nadiia Kovalevych, kovalevych@unfpa.org.

Expected travel:

No

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education, experience and skills:

• minimum Master's degree in psychology, social sciences, gender studies, pedagogy or higher education in related fields;
• extensive experience in strategic program design and implementation;
• knowledge and expertise in the area of GBV prevention and transformation of social norms;
• previous assignments with UNFPA globally would be an asset.

Language: English.

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable:

Additional services could be provided upon UNFPA request and authorisation.

UNFPA will provide organisational support to the Consultant in communications with the implementing partners, national and local stakeholders.

UNFPA will provide the consultant with a set of documents related to the scope of analysis and results of the previous researches on the topic.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

Consultancy fee will be paid upon receipt of deliverables as stipulated below:

• 30% of the contract amount, three weeks after the contracting and upon UNFPA acceptance of the submitted strategic plan of the Strategy and theory of change;
• 70% of the contract amount, 8 weeks after the contracting and upon UNFPA acceptance of submitted complete Strategy (that should include (but not limited to) recommendations for implementation and M&E framework).

Any remarks, proposals, complaints or claims to the consultant regarding services being provided in line with these terms of reference should be submitted to the consultant in writing within 10 days of submission of consultancy deliverables or reports by the consultant.

The scope of works to be performed by the consultant under these terms of reference, as well as other conditions of the consultancy, could be modified, if required, through a written agreement between the consultant and UNFPA.

In order to participate in the competitive selection for this position, please submit an application containing the following documents to ukraine.office@unfpa.org by December 17, 2022:

• Price proposal;
• Outline of what you envision that the strategy should compose of;
• Some of your publications (if any) that you think are relevant for this position.

Only fully prepared applications received by the deadline will be evaluated.

Please indicate in the subject line: Expert on the Development of Strategy for GBV Prevention Work in Ukraine