Background:

UN Women exists to advance women’s rights, gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. As the lead UN entity on gender equality and secretariat of the UN Commission on the Status of Women, UN Women shift laws, institutions, social behaviours and services to close the gender gap and build an equal world. UN Women’s partnerships with governments, women’s movements and the private sector coupled with its coordination of the broader United Nations translate progress into lasting changes.

In Türkiye, in line with its global Strategic Plan 2022-2025 and Country Strategic Note (2022-2025), and the overall UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Türkiye (UNSDCF) (2026-2030), UN Women works towards the overarching goal of “Women and girls including those at greatest risk of being left behind fully exercise their human rights, enjoy a life free from violence and discrimination, and lead, influence and benefit from sustainable and inclusive socioeconomic development towards the advancement of gender equality in Türkiye”. UN Women works in four thematic areas: (i) governance and participation in public life; (ii) women’s economic empowerment; (iii) ending violence against women and girls; and (iv) women, peace and security, humanitarian action and disaster risk reduction. In line with its coordination mandate, UN Women promotes coordination and coherence across the UN system to enhance accountability and results for gender equality and women’s empowerment, including through joint programmatic and advocacy actions and initiatives, standardized tools and guidance and services to strengthen the relevant capacities of the UN system. 

Towards these goals, UN Women implements programmes and projects that aim to advance gender equality, improve women’s access to opportunities, rights, and services in political, social, and economic life, and combat gender stereotypes, discrimination, and violence, as required by international and national legal and policy commitments. UN Women collaborates with numerous partners – central and local level government authorities, civil society organizations, including women’s organizations and platforms, academia, private sector companies, and other UN agencies. It commits itself to the Leave No One Behind principle, by supporting targeted actions to remove the obstacles that marginalized and vulnerable groups of women face in accessing their rights and to promote them as agents of change. UN Women Türkiye has been at the forefront of support for Türkiye’s continuous commitment to implement international norms and standards on women’s rights, and the enhancement and implementation of relevant national legal and policy frameworks. The Country Office has been operational in Türkiye since 2012. 

In the area of ending violence against women and girls (VAWG) and other harmful practices, UN Women supports enhancing services on VAWG prevention and protection through strengthened capacities of institutions, improved data management, better coordination, and empowerment of women and girls who are at risk of and/or are survivors of violence. Furthermore, to address the underlying root causes of VAWG and harmful practices, UN Women Türkiye works towards favorable social norms, attitudes, and behaviors at the individual, community, and institutional levels that advance gender equality and women’s empowerment. Currently, UN Women in Türkiye has a diverse and growing portfolio on Ending Violence Against Women (EVAW) which is led by a Programme Specialist, under the overall guidance of the UN Women Country Director and the direct supervision of the Deputy Country Director. 

Within the scope of “Restoring and Strengthening the Preventive and Protective Services in response to Violence Against Women affected by the earthquakes in Türkiye (2024-2027) ” project, UN Women aims to restore and strengthen both the physical infrastructure and technical capacities of VAW service provision through a survivor-centered and rights-based approach that contributes the empowerment of women. The project aims to establish good models that can then be scaled up to become part of the overall MOFSS response to violence against women in their areas of competence under the scope of the project.

The Impact/ Overall Objective of the Project is to improve the protection of women and children’s rights in earthquake affected regions in Türkiye. The project comprises of the following 1 Outcome/Special Objective and 4 Outputs:

• Outcome/ Specific Objective 1: To enhance access to quality prevention, protection and empowerment services for women and girls at risk of and survivors of VAWG, in the earthquake-affected provinces and provinces receiving migration from the affected region, in line with national and international standards.
  • Output 1.1. Reconstructed women shelters for survivors of violence and their accompanying children in selected earthquakes affected provinces and migration receiving ones, in line with the national and international standards and good practices.
  • Output 1.2. Strengthened and refurbished shelters and violence prevention and monitoring centres for survivors and those at risk of violence against women and girls, and their accompanying children in selected earthquakes affected provinces and provinces that received migration to meet the increasing needs.
  • Output 1.3. Increased technical knowledge, skills and enhanced tools of the public personnel providing and coordinating violence prevention and protection services at the institutions of Ministry of Family and Social Services and Law Enforcement institutions in the target provinces. 
  • Output 1.4. Increased access of survivors to opportunities supporting their socio-economic empowerment and well-being, including in the post-shelter period. 

Specifically, under the Output 1.3, the project focuses on strengthening the technical knowledge and skills of MoFSS and EVAWG staff in target provinces, enhancing survivor-centered and trauma-informed tools, supporting knowledge products and training curricula, and facilitating inter-agency coordination and dialogue for better prevention and protection services, while also contributing to the broader EVAWG activities of the project, particularly the design, delivery, and monitoring of training programmes. To this end, UN Women seeks to hire a Consultant to provide technical and coordination support to the design, implementation, monitoring, and knowledge management of specifically training activities under Output 1.3 and the project’s overall EVAWG-related capacity development initiatives.

Under the supervision of the Programme Specialist and the overall guidance of the Deputy Country Director, and in close collaboration with the Directorate General on the Status of Women (DGWS), the Consultant will provide technical and coordination support in the design, implementation, and monitoring of activities, ensuring that all interventions are survivor-centered, trauma-informed, and responsive to institutional and service delivery needs.

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

1. Provide Technical and Coordination Support for Training Design and Implementation under Output 1.3:

• Provide technical inputs to the design, methodology, and curricula of training programmes for MoFSS staff and relevant stakeholders, ensuring they are sensitive to the needs of women and girls, participatory, and aligned with national legal frameworks, and international good practices.
• Guide the development of survivor-centered and trauma-informed training content, including written, visual, and interactive materials tailored to diverse service providers across target provinces.
• Coordinate with UN Women, MoFSS, and relevant partners to identify and engage qualified institutions or trainers with expertise in EVAWG for the delivery of training programmes, ensuring alignment with project objectives and quality standards.
•  Provide technical guidance to UN Women and MoFSS in monitoring the rollout of training activities delivered to professionals working in Women’s Shelters, Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (VPMCs), and relevant MoFSS service units designed under the Output. Support the assessment of knowledge transfer and learning outcomes through the review of training reports, participant feedback forms, and pre- and post-training evaluation tools.
• Guide or facilitate selected training sessions to strengthen institutional practices and reinforce consistency across project activities that help strengthen survivor-centered approaches.
• Provide technical support to design and implement Training of Trainers (ToT) modules to ensure sustainability and the institutionalization of capacity-building within MoFSS and partner institutions.
• Support the tracking, monitoring and supervision of partner activities under the Output.

2. Support Development and Revision of Knowledge Products and Tools

• Develop and adapt technical guidelines, manuals, protocols, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to accompany training programmes and strengthen institutional service delivery.
• Review and provide quality assurance of draft knowledge products, ensuring they integrate lessons learned from the earthquake response and align with both national frameworks (Law No. 6284, National Action Plan on EVAW) and international standards.
• Incorporate training outcomes and participant feedback into updated tools and resources, working closely with the end beneficiary of the project MoFSS and UN Women to ensure institutional relevance and quality.

3. Coordination, Monitoring, Knowledge Management, and Technical Support 

• Provide technical support for the planning, organization, and facilitation of inter-agency workshops, technical meetings, and coordination platforms related to EVAWG capacity development.
• Plan and conduct monthly online supervision sessions for relevant professionals under the coordination of MoFSS, in accordance with the principles of confidentiality and security.
• Conduct consultations with government institutions and partners to validate training content and harmonize approaches, and foster joint ownership among relevant institutions of curricula, tools, and methodologies.
• Collect, analyze, and synthesize training evaluation data (e.g., pre-/post-tests, participant feedback) to inform continuous improvement and assess impact.
• Evaluate practices, institutional challenges in training and service delivery, and prepare actionable recommendations for scaling up and institutionalizing capacity-building models nationally.
• Draft and adapt guidance notes, toolkits, training summaries, and other knowledge products for dissemination to institutions, ensuring institutional learning and sustainability.
• Contribute to progress reports on training, coordination, and outcomes under Activity 1.3.1, and prepare brief technical reports following training activities and supervision sessions and share them with relevant units. Provide ad hoc technical support as needed between Activity 1.3.1 training programmes of the project.
• Support the alignment of international expertise with national priorities by ensuring coordination with the international consultants to be recruited under this project, including on monitoring frameworks, reporting tools, and training methodologies, to strengthen sustainability 
• Support to strengthen comprehensive and resilience-focused approaches to post-disaster service delivery, develop disaster-specific training content, case-based application tools, and scalable model proposals.
• Comply with the confidentiality and security principles set forth in the relevant legislation in all activities carried out within the scope of the project.

Payments will be made on a monthly basis, based on the provision of timesheets and supporting deliverables approved by the UN Women Programme Specialist, who shall confirm Consultant’s work is completed and eligible for payment. The total duration of the contract is 60 working days until 31 March 2027.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel:

This is a home-based assignment with travels to project provinces when needed. UN Women Türkiye Office will cover the organization and the costs of the consultant’s travel as per UN Women’s rules and regulations. 

Competencies :

Core Values:

• Integrity;
• Professionalism;
• Respect for Diversity.

Core Competencies:

• Awareness and Sensitivity Regarding Gender Issues;
• Accountability;
• Creative Problem Solving;
• Effective Communication;
• Inclusive Collaboration;
• Stakeholder Engagement;
• Leading by Example.

Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Values and Competencies Framework: 

Functional Competencies:

• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in violence against women, women's services, victim-centered approaches, and the relationship between protection, assistance, and social services,
• Demonstrated experience in designing, implementing, and monitoring training programs on violence against women for personnel working in institutions affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Services, primarily Women's Shelters and Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers (VPMCs), or for public personnel such as law enforcement officers,
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in the legal frameworks (Turkish Penal Code, Law No. 6284, regulations and circulars), policy documents (National Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women, etc.), institutional services, and international standards related to combating violence against women in Turkey,
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in strong facilitation, curriculum development, adult education, and quality assurance,
• Demonstrated knowledge and expertise in technical documentation, report and presentation preparation, with strong analytical and writing skills,
• Demonstrated experience in effectively coordinating with ministries, civil society organizations, and private sector stakeholders,
• Strong understanding of victim-centered and women -sensitive approaches, particularly in the context of violence against women and girls,
• Field experience in community-based protection and psychosocial support approaches,
• Competence in conducting risk analysis of violence against women in crises, disasters, and emergencies,
• Knowledge of providing supervision or awareness training to professionals on secondary trauma, burnout, and self-care issues.

Required Qualifications:

Education and Certification:

• A master's degree in women's studies, law, social work, psychology, psychological counseling and guidance, or a related field is required.
• A first-level university degree in combination with at least two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• Additional training or supervision certificates in disaster management, crisis psychology, humanitarian aid, or women's issues are desirable

Experience:

• At least 7 years of progressively responsible experience in EVAWG and women’s protection services, with a strong track record in training and institutional capacity-building is required.
• Extensive experience in designing and implementing training programmes for government institutions, shelters, or law enforcement is required. 
• Proven working experience in projects conducted by the MoFSS is desirable.
• Proven experience in monitoring and evaluating training outcomes is desirable.
• Familiarity with survivor-centered, trauma-informed training methodologies is desirable.

Languages:

• Fluency in English and Turkish is required.

Important Notes:

Mandatory Training Courses:

The Consultant shall complete all the mandatory and other required UN training courses and modules on time. The certificates shall be submitted to the supervisor and the HR focal point.

Multiple Contracts:

It is permissible for a Consultant to be engaged by UN Women if the individual has a contract with another employer, provided that there is no actual or perceived conflict of interest and that the performance of the required services for UN Women is feasible (for example, where both contracts involve a part‑time work schedule).

Where the Consultant holds a full‑time contract with another employer, eligibility will be subject to the Consultant’s ability to present formal acknowledgement or approval from their primary employer confirming that engagement with UN Women is permitted. Candidates unable to provide such acknowledgement will not be considered eligible.

Taxes:

The consultant is responsible for payment of any taxes that may be due on the gross fees received from UN Women for their services. UN Women has no liability for taxes, duties or other payments payable by the Individual Contractor on remuneration made under the contract.

Statements :

In July 2010, the United Nations General Assembly created UN Women, the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women. The creation of UN Women came about as part of the UN reform agenda, bringing together resources and mandates for greater impact. It merges and builds on the important work of four previously distinct parts of the UN system (DAW, OSAGI, INSTRAW and UNIFEM), which focused exclusively on gender equality and women's empowerment.

Diversity and inclusion:

At UN Women, we are committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment of mutual respect. UN Women recruits, employs, trains, compensates, and promotes regardless of race, religion, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, ability, national origin, or any other basis covered by appropriate law. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, competence, integrity and organizational need.

If you need any reasonable accommodation to support your participation in the recruitment and selection process, please include this information in your application.

UN Women has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UN Women, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to UN Women’s policies and procedures and the standards of conduct expected of UN Women personnel and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. (Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.)

Note: Applicants must ensure that all sections of the application form, including the sections on education and employment history, are completed. If all sections are not completed the application may be disqualified from the recruitment and selection process.