Purpose of consultancy:

The full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation in February 2022 has resulted in widespread human rights violations and breaches of international humanitarian law, including conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), as well as a deteriorating humanitarian situation marked by alarming levels of displacement. In response, the UN Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict (SRSG-SVC) and the Government of Ukraine (GoU), represented by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, signed a Framework of Cooperation (FoC) to coordinate national efforts on CRSV prevention and response in line with relevant Security Council resolutions. This led to the adoption of an Implementation Plan (IP), overseen by the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy through a specifically established thematic Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG), with technical support from the Office of the SRSG-SVC (OSRSG-SVC), which acts as a co-lead across the five pillars of the FoC. The FoC Implementation Plan outlines commitments by national authorities and the UN under five pillars: countering trafficking in persons, comprehensive assistance to survivors, justice and accountability, security sector capacity-building, and reparations.

The EU-funded Ukraine Joint Programme on CRSV, implemented by UN agencies in partnership with the Government during 2023-2025 (Phase I), supported the strengthening of the national institutional response to CRSV. To achieve this, the programme, inter alia, deployed national experts embedded within selected state institutions and Women Protection Advisers within the UN Country Team. This joint initiative formed part of a broader UN response, operating in synergy with other CRSV-focused projects and contributing to the collective efforts required for the full implementation of the FoC commitments. Phase I of the Joint Programme helped establish the necessary national institutional capacity to plan, coordinate, and deliver CRSV prevention and response. It also supported national authorities, civil society, and the UN in implementing the FoC Implementation Plan in an integrated, coordinated, and coherent manner.

Building on Phase I, and in close coordination with the GoU, while addressing identified gaps and incorporating lessons learned, Phase II of the Joint Programme (2025-2026) places greater emphasis on strengthening national and subnational coordination; institutionalising CRSV prevention and response capacities; supporting accountability through the implementation of the Law of Ukraine No. 4067 on reparations (https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/4067-20#Text); expanding access to inclusive, multi-sectoral services; and strengthening monitoring, documentation, and reporting on CRSV. It is implemented by the UN in Ukraine (specifically, UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA, OHCHR), OSRSG-SVC in partnership with the GoU and is aligned with the current iteration of the FoC IP (2026-2027). It adopts a survivor-centered approach, emphasizes localization, and ensures complementarity with other UN and international partner efforts. Phase II intends to further expand regional and local-level coordination, embedding survivor-centred approaches and integrating women-led and survivor-led organizations in service delivery, oversight, and policy feedback loops. Phase II aims to strengthen subnational systems by expanding local coordination platforms, equipping regional actors with survivor-centred tools and referral frameworks, and connecting them to national decision-making. Sustained partnerships with regional and local public authorities and women-led civil society is considered critical to building community-based support systems.

UNFPA in Ukraine has been working closely with government counterparts, the United Nations Country Team, civil society organisations, survivors’ networks, and other key partners to support the operationalisation of the FoC and the development of its Implementation Plan. UNFPA also co-implements a range of CRSV response-focused initiatives, including Phases I and II of the Joint Programme. In this capacity, UNFPA continues to support efforts related to the coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the FoC, with a particular focus on localisation, including through the secondment of national consultants to the select GoU agencies, including Apparatus of the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy, under Phase II of the Joint Programme. This support aims to strengthen government ownership, ensure harmonised and impactful programming, and promote sustainable institutional leadership in the CRSV response.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The Consultant will support the Apparatus of the Government Commissioner for Gender Equality Policy (Apparatus) – the Hosting Entity – in implementing tasks and activities assigned under the Framework of Cooperation (FoC) between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the prevention of and response to CRSV, as well as its 2026-2027 Implementation Plan, with a particular focus on localisation and strengthening national ownership as part of the Joint Programme for 2025-2026. This will be carried out through close coordination and engagement with key national and subnational stakeholders, including the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity of Ukraine, the National Social Service of Ukraine, other line ministries and state entities, as well as structures and stakeholders at the sub-national and municipal level (oblasts, cities and hromadas) to support the development/update of practical work plans and arrangements for CRSV response, as well as track their implementation. This approach will facilitate alignment across levels of governance and ensure effective localisation of the FoC Implementation Plan.

Based on the above, the main tasks and responsibilities of the Consultant will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Provide analytical and technical support to the Apparatus in drafting relevant legislation (including secondary legislation pursuant to Law No. 4067-IX on the legal and social protection of persons affected by CRSV committed in the context of the RF armed aggression against Ukraine, and the provision of urgent interim reparations), and support the development of related policies and programmes (including the state rehabilitation programme).
• Provide inputs and draft technical documents, including memos, reports, recommendations, and localised action plans for review by the Apparatus within the FoC Implementation Plan.
• Participate in field missions to regions, jointly with government entities, UN agencies, and other stakeholders, to assess local needs and monitor progress in CRSV prevention and response.
• Review and synthesise field reports and research documents to ensure that the Apparatus’ activities are informed by up-to-date evidence.
• Support the Apparatus in facilitating, and actively participate in technical meetings and other relevant coordination platforms on CRSV prevention and response.
• Contribute to the implementation of relevant workstreams/pillars under the FoC Implementation Plan, as assigned by the Apparatus.
• Support the development and endorsement of recommendations for regional and local authorities on CRSV prevention and response, promoting localisation and ensuring a comprehensive, multi-sectoral response at the local level.
• Coordinate information-sharing between the Apparatus and subnational stakeholders to ensure that policy updates effectively reach local-level actors.
• Track implementation progress using internal tools, providing the Apparatus and partners, including UN agencies, with timely updates on localisation efforts.
• Liaise with relevant stakeholders, including oblast administrations and city councils, to address challenges in implementing activities under the FoC Implementation Plan.
• Provide targeted technical support to local partners to align their operations with the FoC Implementation Plan and Joint Programme standards.
• Perform other tasks, as requested.

Furthermore, the Consultant is expected to support the Apparatus in developing a long-term strategy for transitioning the Survivor Relief Centres model into a more sustainable system (more details are available here: https://ukraine.unfpa.org/en/survivor-relief-centres), as well as in developing streamlined and coordinated approaches to service provision and referrals at the subnational and municipal level, including in partnership with the GBV Area of Responsibility, 1325 Coalitions, UN field teams, and other actors.

The Consultant will also support the integration of research findings from relevant studies (including 2025 monitoring report of the specialised GBV services commissioned by the GoU under UNFPA’s support, and 2025 report on reparation consultations with survivors conducted by the International Organization for Migration) and joint field mission reports conducted under the Joint Programme into the localisation of the FoC Implementation Plan through the Apparatus.

Expected Deliverables:

• Analytical and policy support package: A set of analytical briefs and draft policy/legislative inputs (including contributions to secondary legislation under Law No. 4067-IX and related policy frameworks), submitted to the Apparatus to support CRSV response.
• Periodic localisation progress reports: Regular (quarterly) progress reports tracking the implementation of the FoC Implementation Plan at national and subnational levels, including identified bottlenecks, risks, and recommendations.
• Coordination and stakeholder engagement outputs: Documented outcomes of coordination efforts, including meeting summaries, stakeholder mapping, and established communication mechanisms between the Apparatus, UN agencies, and subnational actors.
• Strategic recommendations and sustainability framework: A consolidated set of recommendations on (i) strengthening localisation of the FoC Implementation Plan, (ii) transitioning the Survivor Relief Centres model towards sustainable government-led systems, and (iii) improving referral pathways and multi-sectoral service delivery at the local level. 

Education:

Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, social science, international relations, international human rights or a related field.

Experience: 

• A minimum of 2 years of work experience in fields of human rights and gender equality, GBV or related fields is required. 
• Knowledge of and experience in global and domestic CRSV response frameworks and Women, Peace and Security agenda is a strong asset.
• Experience in inter-agency coordination with government entities, the UN system, or comparable international organisations is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in successfully undertaking similar assignments is highly desirable.

Knowledge and skills: 

• Demonstrated experience in facilitating cooperation among governmental, multilateral, and non-governmental organisations, including UN agencies.
• Strong skills in managing internal and external communications.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess policy frameworks, identify gaps, and formulate evidence-based recommendations.
• Fluency in Ukrainian (oral and written) and working-level proficiency in English (oral and written).

Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: The Hosting Entity will provide organisational support to the Consultant in communications with the implementing partners, and national and local stakeholders. The Hosting Entity will provide the Consultant with a set of documents related to the scope of analysis and results of the previous research on the topic. Additional services to be provided are subject to agreement with the Hosting Entity and UNFPA.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any: The consultancy fee will be paid on a monthly basis upon acceptance of deliverables. 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 any reports by the Consultant. The scope of work 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 consultations with the Hosting Entity.

You can find the job description in Ukrainian following the link:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1YL0Vmxm18Mp5oTYsno0oMzN9esMwLkSv/edit

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