National consultant to provide support to Family Support Service Provision (case management)

TERMS OF REFERENCE (to be completed by Hiring Office)

Hiring Office:

UNFPA Turkmenistan CO

Title:

Individual consultant (National) to provide support to Family Support Service Provision – case management 

Purpose of consultancy:

UNFPA is the lead UN agency for reproductive health, dedicated to ensuring every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person’s potential is fulfilled. By 2030, UNFPA aims to end the unmet need for family planning, preventable maternal deaths, and gender-based violence (GBV). In Turkmenistan, UNFPA plays a vital leadership role in promoting human rights and gender equality and provides technical support to the Government of Turkmenistan in the implementation of the national strategy on gender equality, National Action Plan on Gender Equality as well as in the implementation of national commitments regarding the SDGs and CEDAW. 

The national data indicates 12% of women face physical or sexual abuse, the true scale remains hidden due to only 4.8% of survivors reported to seek help from formal institutions (2020); 42.7% of women justify partner violence and 70.6% reported experiencing controlling behaviours (2024). These alarming indicators highlight a critical lack of services and support to women and girls and, to GBV survivors, in particular.

In July 2024 UNFPA signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the National Red Crescent for opening 6 Family Support Services (FSSs) in Ashgabat and 5 velayats (cities of Ashgabat, Tedjen, Mary, Turkmenabat, Dashoguz and Balkanabat) to provide helpline call services, psychological counselling and case management to women – survivors of GBV. The ultimate goal of these services is an integration of this practice to the newly established government system of social services.

In 2026 UNFPA initiated a Country component of the Regional GBV project funded by European Union. Within this project UNFPA in cooperation with the national partners within the FSSs plan to open Women and Girls Safe Spaces (WGSS) as secure, male-free environments designed to guarantee the physical and emotional safety of women and adolescent girls, free from the threat of violence or surveillance. These spaces serve as a discreet, stigma-free entry point where survivors can access confidential psychological counselling, trauma-informed case management, and immediate referral pathways to medical, legal, and emergency shelter services when appropriate. Additionally, the WGSSs will foster long-term resilience and independence by reducing social isolation, rebuilding supportive peer networks, and offering vocational and economic empowerment programs.

In this regard, UNFPA seeks to hire a National consultant to coordinate and ensure the provision of case management services including vocational and economic empowerment programmes. 

Scope of work:

(Description of services, activities, or outputs)

The functions of the National consultant include the following: 

She/he will organize the work of specialists to provide case management services including vocational and economic empowerment programmes in 5 velayats and Ashgabat city following MSR approach and ensuring their quality and effectiveness in line with the international norms and national legislation. The abovementioned services must reach at least 108 GBV survivors with opened cases, and at least 30 GBV survivors with economic empowerment interventions 

ensuring the following:

• Ensure that structured interviews are conducted to determine GBV cases, perform an immediate assessment of the survivor's situation, identifying the urgent needs of both the individual and their family members.
• A detailed evaluation of vulnerabilities and environmental risks facing the survivor and their children, while simultaneously identifying the survivor's personal strengths and available community opportunities is performed.
• Physical and psychological safety is prioritized throughout the assessment, providing the necessary support to ensure the survivor can make an informed decision about their next steps.
• Ensure partnering with the survivor to develop and implement a customized intervention plan, involving local specialists and family members where appropriate and safe.
• Multi-Sectoral Response (MSR) is applied and followed, ensuring the survivor receives integrated social, medical, and legal assistance tailored to their specific needs.
• Partnership is established with psychologists and other professionals to ensure a unified approach to the survivor's care.
• At least 30 survivors are actively assisted in enrolling in job skill training programs and employment initiatives to facilitate income generation and reduce economic dependency on perpetrators.
• Coordination is maintained with employment services and public organizations to create sustainable pathways for the survivor’s social and economic reintegration.
• Perform regular monitoring and reassessment of the intervention’s progress in collaboration with the social work team to ensure goals are being met.
• Systematically collect user feedback to evaluate the effectiveness and quality of the services provided, ensuring the survivor's voice drives service improvements.
• Appropriate case closure, archiving, or decision on whether a case needs to be reopened or transferred to other specialized services is completed following the survivor’s evolving situation.
• Execute necessary follow-up actions, including sustained coordination with stakeholders such as the police, medical services, and local mayors (Hyakimliks).

Continuous professional development and reporting:

• Maintain a comprehensive understanding of the mandates and operational goals of UNFPA and NRCST, ensuring all service delivery aligns with international protection standards.
• Actively engage as a core member of the multidisciplinary team, participating in joint strategy sessions with UNFPA and NRCST staff to harmonize regional response efforts.
• Attend specialized training sessions focused on advanced psychological support, 24/7 helpline management, and the latest social work methodologies to maintain high-quality service standards.
• Integrate lessons learned from training into daily practice, particularly in the areas of trauma-informed care and Multi-Sectoral Response (MSR) coordination.
• Diligently complete all mandatory documentation, including initial assessment forms and individualized intervention plans, ensuring they accurately reflect the survivor’s journey.
• Adhere to the "Do No Harm" principle and maintain absolute client confidentiality in all interactions, protecting the privacy and dignity of survivors at all times.
• Ensure all physical and digital files (reports, case files, sensitive personal data) are stored in secure, restricted-access locations to prevent unauthorized disclosure.
• Utilize the agreed-upon methodology to gather disaggregated data (by age, sex, disability, and region) for all service interactions.
• Generate and submit comprehensive monthly and quarterly reports. 

Expected Outcomes and Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Interim report explaining the work completed – 50 days - until September 25, 2026 by including:

• Qualitative and quantitative information on the beneficiaries and the services provided according to the agreed data collection methodology;
• online and offline monitoring meetings, 
• professional guidance for the for personnel involved in the provision of services,
• outreach activities held and outcomes;
• conclusions and recommendations.

Deliverable 2: Interim report explaining the work completed – 45 days - until December 25, 2026 by including:

• Qualitative and quantitative information on the beneficiaries and the services provided according to the agreed data collection methodology;
• online and offline monitoring meetings, 
• professional guidance for the for personnel involved in the provision of services,
• outreach activities held and outcomes;
• conclusions and recommendations.

Duration and working schedule:

The duration of the contract will be 95 days from 22^nd of June, 2026 to 25^th of December, 2026, including the operational closure of the contract. 

The work will be delivered on a part time basis (50 days within Instalment 1 (June 22 – September 25, 2026) and 45 days in within Instalment 2 (September 26 – December 25, 2026).

Place where services are to be delivered:

NRCST premises in Ashgabat city, Tedjen city, Mary city, Turkmenabat city, Balkanabat city, Dashoguz city.

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

Dates for deliverables are provided under the section Scope of work. All written deliverables will be provided in an electronic format. 

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

Monitoring will be carried out through regular reports, progress meetings, review of submissions and participation in training.

Supervisory arrangements:

Supervision will be provided by the UNFPA Gender and Youth Program Analyst.

Expected travel:

Travel within the country and internationally will be agreed beforehand and travel costs will be covered according to the UNFPA’s Duty Travel Policy.

Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:

Education:

• Bachelor's degree in psychology, social work, sociology, medical or pedagogical education, law, economics and other humanities. 

Experience: 

• Six years of work in project management NRCST, in particular;
• Including at least 5 years of experience providing services to vulnerable groups, including women, older people and adolescents in difficult life situations;
• Knowledge of gender issues and experience working in an intercultural environment;
• Experience in international organizations is welcomed;
• Excellent knowledge of Turkmen, Russian languages. English is considered an asset.
• Knowledge of computer programs.

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

UNFPA will provide methodological support and training involving international and national expertise and exchange of experience in providing the above-mentioned services.

Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:

Fees will be calculated monthly at the GS-7 level of the UN salary scale for General Service Category effective 1 November 2020 and will be paid in 2 instalments subject to quality provision of deliverables as follows:

Instalment 1 upon completion of Deliverable 1 by September 25, 2026 (50 working days);

Instalment 2 upon completion of Deliverable 2 by December 25, 2026 (45 working days). 

COA to charge:

TKM06GEN, UDE18, GBVSERV, PU0074, 71305