International Consultant to conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the behavioural change programme for domestic violence perpetrators piloted in Tajikistan (SSAs)

Background:

The OSCE, within its third human dimension, assists the governments of participating States in preventing and combatting violence against women, including domestic violence. To prevent the perpetuation of the cycle of violence, it also encourages the participating States in devising related prevention mechanisms, including development of programmes to work with the perpetrators of violence against women, in order to avoid repeat offenses. 

The OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe (further – the Office), within the framework of its Domestic Violence Prevention and Response project, conducts a range of activities aiming at supporting the Government in devising mechanisms for effective prevention and response to domestic violence (DV) in Tajikistan, including correctional programming for the DV perpetrators. 

To this end, a draft Correction Programme for DV perpetrators was commissioned by the Office in 2020 and reviewed by the Working Group (WG) on Improvement of Legal Acts to eliminate Gender Stereotypes, protection of Women’s rights and prevention of violence in the family under the Executive Office of the President. 

To further support the Government in regulating correctional services for perpetrators, in 2023 the Office supported a working group on regulation mechanisms to prevent domestic violence, established under the Ministry of Health and Social Protection (MHSP) to develop: (i) a legislative analysis, including recommendations for amending the Law on Domestic Violence and related legislation proposing mechanisms for setting up behavioural change services for perpetrators; (ii) draft standard regulations and minimum quality standards for the operation of correctional services for the perpetrators; and (iii) a related roadmap for enabling the provision of such services in Tajikistan. 

Additionally, as of 2021, the Office piloted the behavioural change programme for the perpetrators in three regions of Tajikistan, i.e. Levakand, Khatlon region, Khujand, Sugd region and Dushanbe, where teams composed of one psychologist and one social worker carry out correctional work with DV perpetrators. 

Thus, under Activity 1.3 (Support for the Regulation and Implementation of the Correction Programme for Domestic Violence Perpetrators), the Office will hire an international consultant who, in conjunction with the national consultants, will: (i) assess the effectiveness of the pilot behavioural change programme for DV perpetrators, including against the minimum quality standards for the operation of such services, as well as the related risks for the full-scale implementation of the programme across Tajikistan; and (ii) propose related recommendations for adjustment, including to the content of the piloted correctional programme, and the relevant normative acts and documents, intended to regulate correctional services in the country.  

Objective of Assignment: 

• Conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of the pilot behavioural change programme for DV perpetrators, including against the minimum quality standards for the operation of such services, as well as the related risks for the full-scale implementation of the programme across Tajikistan;
• Based on the lessons learnt from the piloting phase, the consultant will provide  solutions for mitigating the possible risks for the successful implementation of the behavioral change programme in the country, and will update/adjust the relevant documents for its further regulation: (i) the draft Office-commissioned correctional programme for domestic violence perpetrators, piloted by the Office during 2021 – 2023; (ii) draft standard regulations and minimum quality standards for the operation of correctional services for the perpetrators; and (iii) recommendations for further amending the relevant normative framework. 

Duration of Assignment:

15 days 

Tasks and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the Gender and Anti-Trafficking Officer, the successful candidate will be tasked with the following duties:

1. Developing the methodology for conducting the assessment of the consultation rooms, against the minimum quality standards for the operation of correctional services for the perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as their overall effectiveness;

2. Jointly with the national expert and project staff, conducting the interviews, based on the developed methodology (interview questionnaires and checklist). 

3. Drafting an evaluation report on the effectiveness of the pilot behavioural change programme for DV perpetrators, while assessing the compliance of the Office-supported consultation rooms, piloted in Dushanbe, Sughd and Khatlon regions of Tajikistan, against the minimum quality standards for operation of correctional services for the perpetrators of domestic violence, as well as the related country specific risks for the full-scale implementation of the programme across Tajikistan, with related conclusions and recommendations. 

4. Updating/adjusting the following documents for the regulation of correctional programming for domestic violence perpetrators, in cooperation with the National Consultants, based on the findings of the assessment:
       – The draft standard regulations and minimum quality standards for the operation of correctional services for the domestic violence perpetrators, including the attached draft correctional programme for domestic violence perpetrators, piloted by the Office during 2021 – 2023;
       – Recommendations for amending the related legislation proposing mechanisms for setting up behavioural change services for perpetrators; 
       – Roadmap for enabling the provision of correctional services for DV perpetrators in Tajikistan.

5. Presenting the results of the assessment, related recommendations and resulting deliverables on regulating correctional services during the meeting of the WG on regulation mechanisms to prevent domestic violence under the MoHSP and conducting a half-day seminar on best practices of implementing correctional programmes for DV perpetrators for the working group members;

6. Drafting a technical report on carrying out the tasks 1-5, including actionable recommendations for the further regulation a correctional programme for domestic violence perpetrators in Tajikistan, including the updated roadmap for the institutionalization of correctional services for perpetrators, if necessary. 

Deliverables:

• The methodology of assessment, including the documentation/literature to be reviewed, interview questionnaires to conduct interviews with the Office-supported consultation rooms’ staff, perpetrators supported by these consultation rooms, and the list of relevant Government and non-Government stakeholders to be interviewed, checklist for assessing the minimum quality standards, list of interviewees, developed and submitted by 5 July 2024;
• Interviews with the relevant respondents are conducted, within the period July – August 2024;
• Draft evaluation report developed and submitted by 6 September 2024;
• The following documents are updated, upon need:
  –  Draft standard regulations and minimum quality standards for the operation of correctional services for perpetrators, including the correctional programme, piloted by the Office is amended;
  –    Recommendations for amending the related legislation proposing mechanisms for setting up behavioural change services for perpetrators; 
  –    Roadmap for enabling the provision of correctional services for DV perpetrators in Tajikistan.and submitted by 30 September;  
• Presentation is made for the members of the WG under the MoHSP and a half-day seminar on best practices of implementing correctional programmes for DV perpetrators is conducted, during the meeting, during the period September – October;
• Technical report on carrying out the tasks 1-5, including actionable recommendations for the further regulation a correctional programme for domestic violence perpetrators in Tajikistan, including the updated roadmap for the institutionalization of correctional services for perpetrators, upon need, submitted by 15 October.

For more detailed information on the structure and work of the of the OSCE Programme Office in Dushanbe, please see: http://www.osce.org/programme-office-in-dushanbe 

Necessary Qualifications:

• University degree in social sciences, jurisprudence;
• A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional experience in government structures and experience of working with civil society organizations;
• Experience in law and policy development;
• Experience in development of modules conducting different legal analysis and report;
• Previous experience in preparing draft project on amendment to the legal framework;
• A minimum of 5 years of conducting legal analysis, assessments;
• Previous experience in addressing domestic and gender-based violence;
• Knowledge of the country’s current situation on gender-based violence, correctional programme;
• Knowledge of the national legislation of Tajikistan;
• Good reporting skills;
• Previous experience with the international organizations is an asset;
• Professional fluency in the Russian and English languages, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated gender awareness and sensitivity, and an ability to integrate a gender perspective into tasks and activities;
• Ability and willingness to work as a member of team, with people of different cultural, and religious backgrounds, different gender, and diverse political views, while maintaining impartiality and objectivity;
• Computer literate with practical experience using Microsoft applications.

Remuneration Package:

Remuneration will be based on the selected consultant’s/expert’s qualifications, experience, the tasks and deliverables for this position and in accordance with the OSCE established rates.

If you wish to apply for this position, please use the OSCE’s online application link found under https://vacancies.osce.org/.

The OSCE retains the discretion to re-advertise/re-post the vacancy, to cancel the recruitment or to offer an appointment with a modified job description or for a different duration.

Only those candidates who are selected to participate in the subsequent stages of recruitment will be contacted.

The OSCE is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious, ethnic and social backgrounds to apply to become a part of the Organization. 

Candidates should be aware that OSCE officials shall conduct themselves at all times in a manner befitting the status of an international civil servant. This includes avoiding any action which may adversely reflect on the integrity, independence and impartiality of their position and function as officials of the OSCE. The OSCE is committed to applying the highest ethical standards in carrying out its mandate. For more information on the values set out in OSCE Competency Model, please see https://jobs.osce.org/resources/document/our-competency-model.

Please be aware that the OSCE does not request payment at any stage of the application and review process.