Background:
UN Women, grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
UN Women grounded in the vision of equality enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, works for the elimination of discrimination against women and girls; the empowerment of women; and the achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
The work of UN Women in Moldova is guided by its Country Strategic Note 2023-2027, aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework for Moldova (2023-2027), UN Women Global Strategic Plan, National Programs and Strategies and aims to contribute to the gender-responsive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Strategic Note focuses on four main areas: 1) Ending Violence against Women; 2) Women’s Leadership and Governance; 3) Women’s Economic empowerment and 4) Humanitarian and Peace development nexus and UN Coordination on Gender Equality.
In the Republic of Moldova, violence against women and domestic violence (VAW and DV) remains one of the most pervasive and deeply rooted human rights violations. It is not only a violation of fundamental human rights but also a major impediment to gender equality, inclusive development, and the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. The prevalence rates remain critically high: three in four women have experienced some form of abuse by an intimate partner; psychological violence affects 71% of women; one in three has been subjected to physical violence; and 20.9% have experienced sexual violence. These data not only illustrate the widespread nature of VAW/DV but also underscore the persistent structural and systemic barriers that hinder the establishment of effective prevention measures, protection systems, and responsive support mechanisms.
The consequences of VAW and DVare far-reaching and multidimensional, affecting individuals, communities, and society at large. Survivors often experience profound psychological trauma, physical harm, social exclusion, and economic marginalization, which can have lasting impacts on their well-being and autonomy. At the family and community levels, VAW and DV undermine social cohesion, reduce economic productivity, and place significant strain on healthcare, judicial, and social protection systems. At the national level, it reinforces systemic gender inequalities and constitutes a major barrier to social progress, inclusive development, and the realization of fundamental human rights.
Over the past decades, the Republic of Moldova has demonstrated a strong commitment to addressing VAW and DV through the ratification of key international human rights instruments, including the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention), the adoption of legislative reforms, the development of institutional and policy frameworks, and the implementation of public awareness campaigns aimed at challenging and transforming harmful gender norms. Nevertheless, despite these important achievements, significant challenges persist. Ensuring the consistent integration of a survivor-centred approach, expanding equitable access to high-quality and specialized support services, strengthening the capacity and coordination of frontline professionals, and addressing the structural and societal causes of gender-based violence remain critical priorities for advancing a comprehensive and effective response to case of violence.
Guided by its mandate, UN Women applies a comprehensive approach that combines prevention and protection measures, including technical assistance to align national legislation with international standards, strengthening multidisciplinary services, and strengthening the capacities of state and civil society actors. The organization advances evidence-based programming through data collection, research, and analysis, while leading advocacy and communication efforts to transform social norms and engage men and boys as allies in ending gender-based violence. Rooted in a human rights-based and intersectional framework, its interventions prioritize the needs of marginalized groups such as rural women, women with disabilities, Roma women, and survivors facing multiple forms of discrimination. Through strong institutional partnerships and enhanced accountability, UN Women works to ensure that all women and girls in Moldova live free from violence, fear, and discrimination, with their rights fully protected.
To further expand its technical work on ending violence against women, UN Women is seeking to engage a national consultant that will extend continued expert support and advice on various programmatic interventions. The consultant is expected to report and coordinate regularly with the EVAW Program staff concerning the progress of the completion of the deliverables. The consultant is also expected to inform UN Women in a written form of any unforeseen challenge or risk that might occur during the duration of the assignment and will come up with a backup plan to ensure the accomplishment of deliverables
Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work
UN Women is seeking to engage a national consultant to provide expert technical support to the overall programmatic work on ending violence against women, including reviewing and aligning legislation, policies, and regulations aimed at eliminating violence against women and domestic violence, in full compliance with the Istanbul Convention. The position will require close collaboration with relevant national and local authorities, offering specialized guidance, facilitating stakeholder engagement, and promoting the exchange of expertise and best practices.
The consultant will be responsible for delivering the following tasks, including but not limited to:
Provide inputs to the development and/or revision of relevant national legal and policy documents or action plans for preventing and combating VAW and DV, ensuring alignment with the Istanbul Convention and other relevant international human rights instruments, and identifying legislative gaps with concrete proposals for improvement. Review and analyze relevant research, studies, and documents on VAW and DV, assessing their consistency with international standards and best practices, and producing analytical briefs to inform evidence-based decision-making. Contribute to comprehensive evaluations of relevant national programmes, strategies, and interventions addressing VAW and DV, applying qualitative and quantitative methodologies, and preparing in-depth, evidence-based reports with actionable recommendations to enhance policy effectiveness, service delivery, and long-term impact. Design and deliver tailored capacity-building trainings to service providers and relevant institutions, including representatives from state-run, NGO managed shelters and other stakeholders. The trainings will focus on strengthening knowledge and practical skills in the areas of prevention of VAW/DV, PSEA, survivor protection, and the provision of high-quality, trauma-informed, and survivor-centred services.The consultant is expected to work in close coordination with the representatives of the UN Women project team. All written products should be agreed with the representatives of the UN Women and be provided in an electronic copy. The monthly reports to UN Women should be provided in English.
Duration of the assignment
The estimated duration of the contract is from 20/09/2025 to 30/09/2026.
Management arrangements
The consultant will work under the overall guidance and direct supervision of the EVAW team to ensure effective coordination and alignment of initiatives/tasks, with a strong focus on promoting gender equality and women's empowerment.
Performance evaluation
The consultant’s performance will be evaluated against performance criteria such as timeliness, responsibility, initiative, communication, accuracy, and quality of the products delivered. All reports must be provided in English, electronically.
Financial arrangements
Payment will be disbursed monthly upon submission and approval of the Time sheet and report on the completed tasks, along with deliverables and is subject to the certification made by UN Women confirming that the services have been satisfactorily performed.
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
The Consultant will have to work remotely. However, the consultant is expected to have periodic coordination meetings with representatives of the UN Women to ensure effective coordination. The travel is envisaged under the current assignment, to be arranged by UN Women Country Office.
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:
Strong knowledge of the work context of centres providing assistance to survivors of violence in Moldova; Ability in conducting the evaluation of national programmes, strategies, and interventions addressing VAW and DV; Commitment to accomplish work; Excellent communication skills; Ability to demonstrate resilience, adaptability and critical thinking; Ability to recognize and apply intersectionality awareness.Required Qualifications
Education and certification:
Master’s degree in human rights, sociology, gender studies, public relations, development studies and/or other social science related areas relevant for the assignment; Additional training and certification in gender equality, human rights, gender-based violence, etc., would be considered an advantage.Experience:
At least five (5) years of proven professional experience in the field of gender equality and/or preventing and combating VAW and DV is required. At least 1 evaluation conducted of national programmes, strategies, and/or interventions addressing VAW and DV is required. At least 2 years of experience in designing and providing training in the field of preventing and assisting/protecting women survivors of domestic violence is required. At least 1 year of experience in conducting needs assessments, providing coaching and mentoring services in the field of VAW and DV is required. Previous experience in working with women support centres, with governmental and/or non-governmental organizations in the field of gender equality and/or ending violence against women is an advantage. Previous experience with UN agencies or international organizations is an advantage.Languages:
Fluency in Romanian and English is required. Knowledge of Russian is an asset.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.