BACKGROUND/CONTEXT
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and girls, advance women’s empowerment, and achieve equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action, and peace and security.
UN Women Country Office (CO) in the Kyrgyz Republic (KR) was established in 2012 to support implementation of international and national commitments of the country on gender equality and women’s empowerment, including the CEDAW, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, UN Security Council’s resolutions on women, peace and security, and the Sustainable Development Goals. UN Women CO in the Kyrgyz Republic leverages its mandate of normative support, UN system coordination and operational activities for results in line with UN Women Strategic Plan and the Country Strategic Note. UN Women Kyrgyzstan implements programmes that eliminates all forms of violence against women and girls; advances women’s full, equal and effective participation in the peace and security agenda and in all aspects of decision-making; strengthens financing for gender equality; and expands women’s economic empowerment.
Violence against women and girls (VAW/G) is one of the most systemic and endemic human rights violations which disproportionately affects women and girls worldwide. Domestic violence remains one of the most widespread forms of VAWG, with one in four women aged 15–49 experiencing violence, and cases continuing to increase. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 19,995 cases of family violence were registered in the first 11 months of 2025, marking a 27.5% increase compared to the same period in 2024. During this time, over 15,800 protection orders were issued, the vast majority (94%) against male perpetrators, with women comprising most survivors. Administrative enforcement remains significant, with over 5,000 protocols registered, resulting in arrests and community service sanctions; however, accountability gaps persist, particularly in enforcement of protection orders and corrective programmes. At the criminal level, 516 cases were initiated, including serious offenses such as murder (31 cases), grievous bodily harm (35), rape (28), and other forms of sexual violence, underscoring the severity of abuse. Despite these responses, underreporting remains widespread due to stigma, economic dependence, and social pressure, with many survivors returning to abusive environments. While civil society organizations play a critical role in service provision and advocacy, shrinking civic space and limited funding continue to constrain their capacity, highlighting the urgent need for strengthened, survivor-centred and systemic responses to VAWG.
The EU-UN Women Action “Zero VAWG Program” in the Kyrgyz Republic aims to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls by preventing and responding to violence against women and girls (VAWG), through a gender-transformative, community-led approach. The 3-year programme prioritizes creating and strengthening leadership spaces for women’s and youth civil society organizations, particularly in rural areas, building on results of the EU–UN Spotlight Initiative (2020–2023), and directly empowering around 140 organizations and 1,400 change leaders, while engaging a wider network of actors and organizations. Its three interlinked components focus on: (i) capacity development to enhance technical, organizational and adaptive leadership for effective EVAWG advocacy and programming; (ii) development and institutionalization of innovative “Zero VAWG” community models, including Standard Operating Procedures; and (iii) consolidation and digitization of knowledge on EVAWG through academic, media and other platforms. The Action is fully aligned with the Kyrgyz Republic’s international and national commitments, supports the National Gender Equality Strategy (2022–2030) and the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework Strategic Outcome 4, and contributes to UN Women Kyrgyz Republic’s Strategic Note.
Prior to full-scale implementation, the Zero VAWG programme will carry out an inception phase to ensure strategic preparedness and alignment with national and local stakeholders. This phase will include a comprehensive baseline assessment in line with the results logical framework, validation of programme assumptions, and participatory consultations with key stakeholders, including survivors, women’s and youth organizations, and national and local authorities, to ensure contextual relevance and inclusivity. It will also result in the development of a detailed implementation, monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators, accountability mechanisms, and coordination structures to guide effective and adaptive programme delivery. It is also important to note that the programme management and coordination structure has been formally endorsed during the inception phase. This phase will further reaffirm the selection of target localities and include comprehensive stakeholder mapping in all seven target provinces and Bishkek and Osh cities, laying a strong foundation for coordinated, context-specific, and effective programme delivery.
To support this work, UN Women seeks to engage two National Consultants who will contribute to the design and implementation of the baseline assessment, conduct field data collection across targeted provinces, facilitate stakeholder and community consultations, and prepare key analytical and planning deliverables required for the inception phase. The consultants will work under the overall guidance of the Programme Manager and in close coordination with M&E Specialist and other staff members.
Objectives of the baseline study:
The objective of the baseline study is to establish a comprehensive, evidence‑based baseline for the Zero VAWG Programme against the results framework, indicators, and assumptions outlined in the M&E logframe, in order to inform effective implementation, monitoring, learning, and adaptive management throughout the programme lifecycle. Specifically, the baseline study will:
The findings of the baseline study will serve as the foundational reference point for measuring progress, assessing change over time, and strengthening coordinated, context‑specific, and results‑oriented delivery of the Zero VAWG Programme.
SCOPE OF WORK
Under the overall guidance and support of UN Women project team, the hired consultant will conduct the baseline study in collaboration with UN Women implementing partners. Two consultants will be engaged to carry out identical responsibilities, working closely and collaboratively to complete all tasks during the inception and baseline assessment phase of the Programme. The entire period of this consultancy will last 60 working days.
Phase 1. Design the Methodology:
The baseline will be complemented by an endline survey at the conclusion of the Programme to assess progress achieved and inform the final evaluation.
Phase 2. Data Collection and Data Processing:
Phase 3. Data Management (cleaning, entry), Analysis & Reporting:
Inception Phase Deliverables
DELIVERABLES AND PAYMENT TIMELINE
| Deliverables | Expected completion time (due day) | Payment Schedule (TBC) |
| Desk research, consultations with UN Women team and prepare and submit an inception report detailing study objectives and scope, outlining the research design, approach/methodology, work plan and schedule; In consultation with UN Women, design and draft data collection tools, pre-test and revise data collection tools for the survey; | By 20 May 2026
| 10% upon submission and approval by UN Women
|
| Completion of fieldwork across seven provinces and documentation of stakeholder consultations | By 30 June 2026 | 30% upon submission and approval by UN Women |
| Analyse, and interpret the data; draft Baseline study report, including proposed indicators and targets. Share initial baseline study report with UN Women for review. | By 30 June 2026 | |
| Present the key finding to the programme partners and other stakeholders (UN Women to organize); Incorporate input from UN Women and partners and submit the final report. | By 20 July 2026 | 10% upon submission and approval by UN Women |
| Final Baseline Assessment Report in English and Russian, including: • Logical framework with adjustments or suggestions as a result of the findings from data collection • Stakeholder engagement plan • Revised risk and mitigation matrix | By 30 July 2026 | 50% upon submission and approval by UN Women |
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home‑based consultancy with required travel to regions of the Kyrgyz Republic.
All official travel will be self‑arranged by the consultant, in accordance with UN Women rules and procedures, and subject to prior approval by UN Women.
III. Competencies
Core Values:
Core Competencies:
Please visit this link for more information on UN Women’s Core Values and Competencies: https://www.unwomen.org/en/about-us/employment/application-process#_Values Functional Competencies:
IV. Required Qualifications
Education and Certification:
Experience:
Languages:
Fluency in English, Kyrgyz and Russian is required. We encourage collaboration and submission within teams to ensure that the necessary language skills are met.
V. How to Apply
Applicants may be asked (ad hoc) for any publications relevant to pre-assessing the relevance of their experience, such as reports, presentations, or other research materials.
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.
