TERMS OF REFERENCE (to be completed by Hiring Office) Hiring Office: UNFPA Turkmenistan CO Title: National Consultant to deliver a โTraining-of-trainersโ Training with Psychologists of the Ministry of Defense Purpose of consultancy:
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) is the lead UN agency dedicated to achieving a world where every pregnancy is wanted, every childbirth is safe, and every young person's potential is fulfilled. UNFPA's Strategic Plan prioritizes three transformative results: ending preventable maternal deaths, ending unmet needs for family planning, and ending gender-based violence and harmful practices.
Building upon a successful 2024 pilot initiative, the UNFPA Turkmenistan Country Office, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence, is expanding its efforts to integrate youth-friendly and gender-sensitive approaches into the mandatory two-year military conscription service. The 2024 project successfully developed and piloted training materials on gender equality, GBV prevention, and positive masculinity, as well as developed a comprehensive handbook. The 2025 project aims to transition from a pilot phase to a nationally scaled up programme by disseminating these training materials throughout the military system nationwide.
Military service is a critical period for the education and socialization of young men, yet it can also be a challenging transitional phase, potentially having risk for some to negatively internalize impacts from strict military discipline and norms. Recognizing the unique position of the military in shaping the lives of young men, this intervention seeks to promote intergenerational dialogue, enhance young men's well-being and life skills, empower them to make informed choices for their post-military future, and, crucially, catalyze their potential to advance gender equality. This includes combating harmful gender practices and gender-based violence (GBV), promoting reproductive health and rights, and fostering more equitable, respectful and healthy relations.
This initiative aligns with Turkmenistan's National Action Plan on Gender Equality (2021โ2025), which emphasizes strengthening the legal framework and institutional arrangements for gender equality, gender-responsive healthcare, and countering gender-based violence against women and girls. It also supports the development of a counseling system for young people on family planning, reproductive health, and healthy lifestyle skills. Furthermore, the project contributes to the Youth, Peace and Security agenda, a priority thematic area for the government and the United Nations, and aligns with Turkmenistanโs demonstrated commitment to youth development and empowerment, as evidenced by the State Youth Policy (2021โ2025) and the Strategy for International Cooperation of Turkmen Youth (2023).
The Ministry of Defence's recently established Psychology Division, tasked with the mental and social well-being of military personnel, including young conscripts, represents a key partner for long-term implementation. UNFPA is collaborating with the Ministry of Defence on a comprehensive programme that integrates human rights and gender considerations within the military. This programme aims to foster a more inclusive and respectful military culture by strengthening the capacities of military instructors and psychologists, as well as educating and sensitizing young military conscripts, with a focus on promoting gender equality, preventing gender-based violence, introducing family planning, and improving young military personnel's emotional intelligence.
The purpose of this consultancy is to contribute to this national scale-up by delivering a comprehensive Training of Trainers (ToT) programme to military psychologists. This ToT will strengthen their capacity to effectively deliver human rights and gender equality training to other military psychologists and instructors across Turkmenistan, enabling a sustainable cascade of knowledge around delivering engaging and impactful training, and ensuring a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track progress, beyond the projectโs timeframe.ย
Scope of work:
(Description of services, activities, or outputs)
The National Consultant will conduct comprehensive โTraining of Trainers (ToT)โ training for a selected \"Training Team\" of military psychologists and instructors. This ToT is designed to equip the Training Team with the necessary interactive training skills, education materials knowledge, and monitoring and assessment skills to effectively cascade human rights and gender equality training throughout the military conscription programme in Turkmenistan.
The consultant will carry out the following assignments and produce the respective outputs:
Preparation of the ToT Programme (9 working days): Desk review of the 2024 project materials, including reports, assessment results and lessons learned. Thoroughly review the existing training materials on human rights and gender equality, including GBV prevention, positive masculinity, active fatherhood, and reproductive health, developed under the 2024 project.ย Design a detailed facilitation plan for the delivery of the ToT programme (by the consultant). This planย must also incorporate teaching of interactive training methodologies and a results-based education approach. Create comprehensive tools and handouts specifically designed for the Training Team to utilize during their cascade training with other military psychologists and instructors across all velayats. This includes, but is not limited to, a set of interactive exercises, check-in activities, icebreakers tailored to the military context. Develop monitoring, assessment, data collection tools and possible unified templates to be used by the Training Team for their implementation and monitoring of the cascade training. This will also include tools for the instructorย trained by the Training Team.ย Delivery of the ToT Programme (5 working days):Conduct an intensive, hands-on, 5-day ToT programme for the Training Team. This programme will equip them with:
Interactive Training Skills: Practical skills in facilitating engaging and impactful training sessions, including learning methodologies, group dynamics, effective communication, and techniques for fostering participant interaction and discussion. The consultant will guide the Training Team in developing and practicing their own interactive exercises, check-ins, and icebreakers for their cascade training. Subject Matter Expertise Transfer: Knowledge of human rights and gender equality, including GBV prevention, positive masculinity, active fatherhood, and reproductive health, with a focus on how to effectively convey these complex topics in the military context. Monitoring and Assessment Skills: Proficiency in utilizing pre- and post-assessment tests/questionnaires, data collection tools, and reporting templates for their own level of assessment and for conducting assessments during their cascade training. Collaborative Development of Training Team's Facilitation Plan: During the 5-day ToT delivery, facilitate collaborative exercise with the Training Team to develop their specific facilitation plan for future cascadeย training. This will include identifying and setting their roles for sessions, facilitation responsibilities, and overall training delivery strategies. Equip with Cascade Tools: Provide the Training Team with all necessary tools and materials, including assessment tools (pre/post- tests/questionnaires), data collection templates, and reporting formats, which they will then utilize and transfer to military psychologists during their cascadeย training.The trainees need to be assessed before and after the training for the knowledge of Interactive Training, Subject Matter Expertise, Monitoring and Assessment.
Submit a comprehensive report on the ToT programme's progress, including:
An assessment of the Training Team's each memberโs proficiency gains in interactive training methodologies, subject matter knowledge, and monitoring/assessment skills. Attendance records and analysis of pre/post-training test scores from the ToT participants. Feedback and observations on the Training Team's engagement and readiness for cascade training.ย
The total number of days โ 16ย working days. Expected Outcomes and Deliverables:
The IC is expected to deliver all services and outputs to the UNFPA Country Office in Turkmenistan via online mode and in-person. At the same time, the consultant will be expected to achieve the following overall deliverables:
Deliverable 1: A detailed ToT facilitation plan, presentations and handouts for the 5-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme by October 1st.
Deliverable 2: Completed 5-day Training of Trainers programme for the selected military psychologists and instructors by October 11th (preliminary dates: 7 - 11 October 2025).ย
The Training shall include a combination of expert presentations, interactive sessions, group discussions, and practical exercises.ย
Deliverable 3: A facilitation plan for the cascade training; a set of exercises, check-ins, icebreakers; as well as comprehensive assessment tools (pre/post tests/questionnaires), data collection and reporting templates for the Training Team to utilize during their cascade training and for monitoring purposes, by October 11th.
Deliverable 4: Final Consultancy Report to UNFPA by October 15th.ย ย ย
Important Note:ย The dates for the training and subsequent deliverables might change based on the government clearance and official approvals, provided shifts in the schedule will not extend beyond the operational closure of the contract. UNFPA will communicate any necessary adjustments to the consultant in a timely manner.ย Duration and working schedule: Duration of this consultancy is from 22 September to 7 November 2025 including operational closure of the contract. Place where services are to be delivered: The consultancy services will need to be delivered in-person in Ashgabat. Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g., electronic, hard copy etc.): Dates for deliverables are provided under the section Expected Outcomes and Deliverables. All deliverables will be provided in an electronic format. Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline: The UNFPA Head of Office with the Programme Coordination Associate will monitor the National Consultantโs work through reviewing submitted materials and participation in the meetings. Supervisory arrangements: The National Consultant will directly report to and work under overall guidance of the UNFPA Programme Coordination Associate in consultation with Gender and Youth, and SRHR Specialists. Expected travel: Travel is not expected under this consultancy.ย Required expertise, qualifications and competencies, including language requirements:
Masterโs degree in psychology, sociology, gender studies, human rights, social work, public health, or a related field. At least 2 years of relevant professional experience in designing and delivering interactive training programmes, particularly Training of Trainers programmes, participation and working in the intersection of youth and gender equality and women empowerment areas. OR Bachelor degree with additional 2 relevant years of experience Experience working with government institutions, preferably within the security, defence, or law enforcement sectors. Strong knowledge of the work and approaches in gender, human rights and youth related programming used by UN agencies, including Youth, Peace and Security programming and normative framework. Strong ethical standards and commitment to confidentiality. Fluency in Turkmen and Russian is required. Knowledge of the English language would be an asset. Excellent facilitation, communication skills and development of methodological guidance. Familiarity with Central Asian contexts. Inputs / services to be provided by UNFPA or implementing partner (e.g., support services, office space, equipment), if applicable: UNFPA will provide the consultant with the available materials, data, information and reports. However, additional information will be identified by the consultant through desk reviews, consultations, etc. Other relevant information or special conditions, if any:The consultancy fee will be calculated based on the NOB level of the UN Salary Scale for National Officers categories, effective 1 November 2020 and will be paid in a lump sum upon quality provision of the deliverables.
COA: 71305, 3FPBF, 54700, TKM05GEN, MENEDUCATE, PU0074
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. Persons with disabilities, and individuals of other underrepresented groups are highly encouraged to apply. UNFPA promotes equal opportunities in terms of appointment, training, compensation and selection for all regardless of personal characteristics and dimensions of diversity.