National Consultant, Coordinator of the National Training Centre on GBV Prevention and Response under the High School of Public Governance to Advance CRSV Capacity-Building

Purpose of consultancy:

Over the past decade, the UNFPA GBV Prevention and Response Programme has been instrumental in building a comprehensive national system to address domestic and gender-based violence (GBV) in Ukraine. This initiative prioritizes human dignity, gender equality, and the rights of women and girls, with a sharpened focus on localization and capacity building to ensure life-saving services reach those most in need in conflict-affected communities. Key achievements include supporting legislative advancements, piloting specialized services for GBV survivors, including survivors of conflict-related sexual violence (CRSV), strengthening the role of law enforcement, and establishing a multi-sectoral response at national and community levels.

An essential element of this effort is the imperative to address CRSV. Following the full-scale invasion in 2022, the UN and the Government of Ukraine signed a Framework of Cooperation (FoC) on CRSV Prevention and Response to coordinate national efforts across five critical pillars: countering trafficking in persons, providing survivors with comprehensive support, ensuring justice and accountability, strengthening the capacities of security and defense sector, and securing reparations. As the humanitarian situation remains complex, building resilience and sustaining these response systems has become a priority under the Women, Peace and Security Agenda. UNFPA in Ukraine has been working closely with the UN Country team, government counterparts, civil society and other key partners to support the operationalization of the FoC and development of its Implementation Plan. Also, UNFPA has been co-implementing a range of CRSV response-focused initiatives, the EU-funded Joint Programme on CRSV Response. In this capacity, UNFPA continues to support efforts related to the coordination, implementation, monitoring, and reporting of the FoC, including through the secondment of national consultants to the select government agencies under the current Phase II of the mentioned Joint Programme. This support aims to strengthen government ownership, ensure harmonized and impactful programming, and promote sustainable institutional leadership in the CRSV response.

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 social and legal protection and 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. 

To facilitate the replication of effective GBV response practices, including those addressing CRSV, UNFPA in partnership with the High School of Public Governance (HSPG) established the National Training Centre for GBV Prevention and Response (NTC) in July 2023. The NTC serves as a vital knowledge hub for modern, survivor-centered prevention and response strategies. Between 2024 and 2026, the NTC developed and certified 22 specialized training programmes on GBV and CRSV, equipping over 6,000 professionals – including social workers and law enforcement – with the skills required to provide unified, rights-based support nationwide.

As the NTC moves toward greater institutionalization and sustainability, a critical next step is to ensure that its curricula and training offer are grounded in an accurate, up-to-date understanding of the CRSV-specific knowledge and skills gaps among the professionals it serves. UNFPA is therefore seeking a national consultant to serve as NTC Coordinator for a focused, time-bound assignment to advance CRSV capacity-building. Among other priorities, this role is important for integrating CRSV-specific expertise into national training curricula and ensuring that the NTC functions as a permanent, sustainable pillar of the national GBV/CRSV response system, and for ensuring that all training initiatives effectively support the long-term implementation of the Framework of Cooperation (FoC) between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence, its 2026-2027 Implementation Plan, and other strategic documents in the field of GBV/CRSV prevention and response. This work, in particular, falls under the Implementation Plan’s Outcome 2.4 ‘The service provision to CRSV survivors has become more professional’, Activity 2.4.1.2 'Collect and systematize all developed training programs, training courses, and methodological materials on providing survivor-centered services to CRSV survivors', under which HSPG is named as a responsible government actor, and is closely linked to Activity 2.4.1.1 ‘Develop and implement procedures and tools for assessing gaps and needs in capacity building of key service providers (state and non-state) in medical and socio-psychological support’.

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

A national consultant, Coordinator to Advance CRSV Capacity-Building, of the National Training Centre on GBV Prevention and Response under the High School of Public Governance, will be responsible for a focused, time-bound assignment to conduct a training needs assessment of key stakeholders on CRSV prevention and response, aligned with the 2026-2027 Implementation Plan for the Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence. This will directly inform the future design of NTC training programmes and curricula, ensuring that capacity-building investments are evidence-based and targeted to the actual gaps faced by service providers, law enforcement, social workers and other actors engaged in the CRSV response. Alongside this core analytical task, and working in close cooperation with UNFPA and HSPG as the Hosting Entity, the consultant will carry out coordination functions necessary to ground the assessment in the realities and priorities of the CRSV response system – liaising with UNFPA, HSPG, government counterparts and other stakeholders to ensure the exercise is participatory, credible and positioned for uptake into future NTC programming.

The consultant will support the High School of Public Governance with:

• Designing the methodology and tools for the CRSV training needs assessment, covering relevant stakeholder groups such as social workers, case managers, law enforcement, health and psychosocial service providers, and other actors involved in CRSV prevention and response.
• Conducting data collection through surveys, key informant interviews and/or focus group discussions with the identified stakeholder groups across national and, where relevant, regional levels;
• Analyzing collected data to identify existing knowledge, skills and competency gaps in CRSV prevention and response among target professional groups;
• Validating preliminary findings with HSPG, UNFPA, the Ministry of Social Policy, Family and Unity, the National Social Service, and the Ministry of Health, and other relevant stakeholdersю
• Formulating evidence-based recommendations on priority CRSV training content, target audiences, and delivery modalities to inform the NTC's future curricula and professional qualification framework; ensuring their final review by the Apparatus of Gender Equality Commissioner (GEC) and Office of Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (ODPM).

In parallel to the core analytical work, and specifically to ensure the assessment is grounded, participatory and positioned for uptake, the consultant will:

• coordinate with UNFPA, HSPG, government counterparts and other stakeholders to identify and mobilize the stakeholder groups and experts to be engaged in the CRSV Training Needs Assessment;
• organize and facilitate consultation and validation meetings/workshops with relevant stakeholders on the CRSV assessment methodology and findings;
• ensure effective inter-institutional communication among UNFPA, HSPG, ODPM, GEC Apparatus, MoSP, NSSU, and other CRSV response stakeholders throughout the assignment, to support the eventual integration of the assessment's findings into the planning processes of the NTC and other relevant state entities.
   

The assignment envisages the following deliverables:

• Inception report for the CRSV Training Needs Assessment, including methodology, data collection tools, and stakeholder engagement plan.
• Final CRSV Training Needs Assessment report, including findings, identified knowledge/skills gaps, and evidence-based recommendations for the curricula of the NTC and other relevant state entities, validated with key stakeholders.
• Monthly narrative progress reports summarizing achievements, challenges, recommendations, analytical work, coordination activities, and stakeholder engagement.

The performance of the above may require the participation of the consultant in working meetings, workshops, and advocacy events in the role of the expert, and for data collection, presentation of deliverables, and analysis of feedback.

Duration and working schedule:

Start date: 1 September 2026 (tentatively)

End date: 31 December 2026

Place where services are to be delivered: Kyiv, Ukraine, with a hybrid work modality (in-person and online)

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.): Delivery will be tracked through a progress reporting mechanism on a monthly basis. Reports should be accompanied by developed/reviewed documents or any other deliverables within the agreed scope of work.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: Daily work monitoring will be done by the HSPG being the Hosting Entity in conjunction with a designated officer within UNFPA. The consultant will submit monthly progress reports, cleared by the Hosting Entity, to UNFPA, no later than the 10th day of the following month.

Supervisory arrangements: The Consultant will work under daily supervision of the HSPG being the Hosting Entity and a designated focal point on UNFPA side – Nadiya Prokopenko, GBV Programme Analyst.

Expected travel: Possible.

Proposed grade: Equivalent to NOA.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements: 

Education:

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

Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in the development and coordination of training programs, educational activities, including those related to gender equality in GBV/CRSV prevention and response and/or coordination of educational institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in designing competency-based training needs assessments, surveys or comparable evidence-gathering exercises and translating findings into learning strategies and training plans.
• Experience in managing teams and experts in educational and awareness-raising fields.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating cooperation among governmental, multilateral, and non-governmental organisations, including UN agencies.
• 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 a strong asset.

Knowledge and skills: 

Education:

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

Experience: 

• A minimum of 5 years of proven experience in the development and coordination of training programs, educational activities, including those related to gender equality in GBV/CRSV prevention and response and/or coordination of educational institutions.
• Demonstrated experience in designing competency-based training needs assessments, surveys or comparable evidence-gathering exercises and translating findings into learning strategies and training plans.
• Experience in managing teams and experts in educational and awareness-raising fields.
• Demonstrated experience in facilitating cooperation among governmental, multilateral, and non-governmental organisations, including UN agencies.
• 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 a strong asset.

Knowledge and skills: 

• Knowledge of gender equality concept approaches to GBV/CRSV prevention and response, familiarity with the national policy. 
• Strong skills in managing internal and external communications.
• Strong analytical skills, including the ability to assess policy frameworks, identify gaps, conduct marketing research 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.

UNFPA Work Environment:

UNFPA provides a work environment that reflects the values of gender equality, diversity, integrity and healthy work-life balance. We are committed to ensuring gender parity in the organization and therefore encourage women to apply. Individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community, minority ethnic groups, indigenous populations, persons with disabilities, and other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. Reasonable accommodation may be provided to applicants with disabilities upon request, to support their participation in the recruitment process. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity. Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is at the heart of UNFPA's workforce - click here to learn more.

Disclaimer:

Selection and appointment may be subject to background and reference checks, medical clearance, visa issuance and other administrative requirements. 

UNFPA does not charge any application, processing, training, interviewing, testing or other fee in connection with the application or recruitment process and does not concern itself with information on applicants' bank accounts. 

Applicants for positions in the international Professional and higher categories, who hold permanent resident status in a country other than their country of nationality, may be required to renounce such status upon their appointment.