National Consultant CRSV Policy Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for the European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine

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.

Since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has faced one of the world’s most complex humanitarian crises. Women and girls, as well as men, boys, and LGBTIQ+ persons, have been affected differently, with women facing heightened safety and protection risks. Incidents of GBV, particularly domestic violence, trafficking, and CRSV, have drastically increased. From February 2022 to 31 May 2025, the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission has documented 484 cases of CRSV perpetrated by Russian authorities against civilians and POWs, including 350 men, 119 women, 13 girls, and 2 boys. Forms of sexual violence have included rape, attempted rape, genital mutilation, sexual assault, forced nudity, beating or the administration of electric shocks to genitals, and threats of sexual violence. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, as of 1 August 2025, 372 confirmed cases of conflict-related sexual violence have been documented, affecting 236 women, 136 men, including 20 children. These crimes include rape, sexual torture, forced nudity and other forms of violence that are organized and systematic and constitute a gross violation of international humanitarian law. 

Women-led civil society organizations have played a critical frontline role in responding to these needs—providing psychological support, legal aid, and protection counseling to survivors, as well as promoting social cohesion and international advocacy for peace, recovery, and reparations.

In May 2022, the Government of Ukraine and the UN signed the Framework of Cooperation (FoC) on prevention and response to CRSV, led by the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and the UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict. The FoC prioritizes justice and accountability, comprehensive survivor services, and strengthened coordination. To support its implementation, the Government established an Inter-Agency Working Group on CRSV, co-chaired by national and UN counterparts across five thematic areas: trafficking, survivor assistance, justice and accountability, security sector capacity, and reparations.

UN Women has supported the adoption and of the FoC Implementation Plan in 2022 and its updates in 2023 and 2025 and contributes to its delivery alongside government bodies, the UN Country Team, and civil society. Under the Ukraine Joint Programme on CRSV, policy experts and Women Protection Advisers are deployed to reinforce national mechanisms, strengthen institutions, and improve services for survivors.

In Phase One of the Ukraine Joint Programme on CRSV, UN Women and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration (DPMO) achieved significant progress at the national level. Together, they co-chaired Sub-Group 5 on Reparations under the Inter-Agency Working Group, advancing survivor-centered legal reforms and contributing to the drafting and adoption of two landmark laws: Law 4067-IX on urgent interim reparations for CRSV survivors, and Law 4071-IX on the registration of persons affected by the armed aggression against Ukraine. These efforts were accompanied by policy advice, technical expertise, and advocacy to ensure that reparations and accountability frameworks align with international standards and Ukraine’s broader European integration commitments. 

Phase Two now shifts the focus to the regional and local implementation of national CRSV framework developed during the 1^st phase. The priority is to strengthen the ability of regional authorities, local governments, and women-led civil society organizations to translate national CRSV commitments into practice. This includes building capacity for survivor-centered monitoring and referral mechanisms, supporting local actors to deliver coordinated services, and embedding reparations and protection measures into broader recovery and reconstruction policies. UN Women and the DPMO are working together to ensure that Ukraine’s most affected regions benefit from these frameworks, bridging the gap between high-level policy and practical, community-based implementation. 

National Consultant CRSV Policy Adviser to the Deputy Prime Minister for the European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine will support the Deputy Prime Minister and his Office by advancing the implementation of the Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the prevention and response to CRSV. This includes facilitating the work of the Inter-Agency Working Group and its sub-groups, ensuring coherence across commissions and working groups, and contributing to the development of implementation decisions that operationalize the Framework’s commitments in practice. 

The consultant will be reporting to UN Women and DPM, and will be supported by UN Women, who will be the point of contact on the contract and payment issues. 

Description of Responsibilities /Scope of Work

Under the overall guidance of UN Women’s Representative and the supervision of the Women Protection Adviser at UN Women, the  National Consultant CRSV Policy Adviser will work on a daily basis in close collaboration with the Office of Deputy Prime Minister on European and Euro-Atlantic Integration to provide technical and expert support on policy-making and operationalization of CRSV prevention and response measures in line with the FoC. 

Consultant will be responsible for the following tasks:

• Policy Advisory and Strategic Guidance: Provide expert advice to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration on the implementation of the Framework of Cooperation on CRSV and its integration within the national legal and policy framework, ensuring consistency with Ukraine’s reform and European integration processes.
• Co-chairing of National CRSV Response Coordination Mechanisms: Co-chair Sub-Group 3 (“Access to Justice and Accountability”) and Sub-Group 5 (“Reparations and Compensation”) of the Inter-Agency Working Group, fostering coordination across institutions and partners to advance survivor-centered outcomes and strengthen accountability and reparations frameworks.
• Strengthening the Legal Architecture: Support the roll-out and operationalization of the Law of Ukraine “On Legal and Social Protection of Persons Affected by Sexual Violence Related to the Armed Aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine and on the Provision of Urgent Interim Reparations to Them,” including the development of accompanying by-laws and mechanisms aligned with international standards.
• Justice and Accountability for CRSV: Provide expertise on victims’ procedural rights and contribute to the advancement of effective investigation and prosecution of CRSV crimes, linking Ukraine’s national processes with international legal obligations and accountability mechanisms.
• Engagement and Advocacy: Advise the Deputy Prime Minister in preparation of national and international policy discussions, ensuring survivor voices and civil society perspectives inform the CRSV response, and advocating for comprehensive reparations and access to justice as part of recovery and reconstruction.
• Knowledge, Reporting and Analysis: Produce policy briefs, analytical papers, and strategic reports on progress and challenges in the implementation of CRSV commitments, supporting informed decision-making and ensuring results-based reporting against agreed work plans.

Outputs

Expert and policy advice support to the Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration for coordination of the implementation of the Framework of Cooperation on CRSV and relevant national legal framework.

• Preparations of policy papers and situational analyses on CRSV prevention and response 
• Preparations of talking points for the Deputy Prime Minister on CRSV prevention and response
• Support the continued development of the national legal framework on CRSV prevention and response including the development of gender-responsive and survivor-centred by-laws on the implementation of Law of Ukraine 4067 On legal and social protection of persons affected by sexual violence related to the armed aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, and provision of urgent interim reparations to them.

Co-coordination of Working Sub-Group 3 “Access to Justice and Accountability”

• Agendas, minutes, and follow-up notes of Sub-Group 3 meetings, ensuring timely circulation and proper documentation of decisions and actions.
• Progress reports – summarizing key achievements and challenges of the sub-groups in relation to the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence:

1. Interim updates, as needed, to inform stakeholders.
2. A comprehensive end-of-year progress report consolidating results and providing recommendations for the next cycle. 

Co-coordination of Working Sub-Group 5 “Reparations and Compensation”

• Agendas, minutes, and follow-up notes of Sub-Group 5 meetings, ensuring survivor-centered and inclusive discussions.
• Progress reports – summarizing key achievements and challenges of the sub-groups in relation to the implementation of the Plan of Implementation of the Framework of Cooperation between the Government of Ukraine and the United Nations on the Prevention of and Response to Conflict-Related Sexual Violence:

1. Interim updates, as needed, to inform stakeholders.
2. A comprehensive end-of-year progress report consolidating results and providing recommendations for the next cycle. 

Support and advocacy for the implementation of the Law of Ukraine on Legal and Social Protection of CRSV Survivors

• Organize consultations with government agencies, and international partners; produce summary recommendations for improved coordination.
• Consultation Notes summarizing inputs from government, civil society, and international partners, with recommendations for improved coordination of the Law’s implementation.
• Advocacy campaign support, including expert inputs for policy briefs, media engagements, conferences, and roundtables to sustain political momentum.

Expert work and advocacy on survivors’ procedural rights and CRSV investigation

• A technical policy paper on strengthening victims’ procedural rights, addressing barriers to reporting, investigation, and prosecution of CRSV crimes (addressing Parliament, MoJ, Office of the Prosecutor General, and judiciary)
• Capacity-building materials and guidance notes for justice sector actors (prosecutors, investigators, judges) to enhance survivor-centered investigation and adjudication of CRSV cases.

Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel

• This is an office-based consultancy (a part-time presence). 
• As part of this assignment, upon the prior UN Women approval, consultant might be requested to go on a working mission. If it is necessary for better performance of the assignment UN Women will arrange travel and these expenses will be covered separately to the consultant based on UN travel policy and applicable daily subsistence allowance rates. 

Financial arrangements

• Payments will be disbursed on a monthly basis upon submission of the monthly narrative reports by the Consultant and their endorsement by UN Women.
• The level of remuneration will be established based on the UN salary scale.

Inputs

• UN Women will provide the Consultant with background materials related to the assignment.
• The consultant is expected to work using her/his own computer.

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 international human rights law, international humanitarian law and the national human rights framework 
• Strong knowledge of the Women, Peace and Security Agenda and CRSV prevention and response agendas. 
• Strong analytical skills and report writing.
• Ability to gather and analyze data, reach logical conclusions and recommendations.
• Proficiency in coordinating activities among different stakeholders.
• Strong interpersonal skills to build alliances, negotiate partnerships, and drive collaborative advocacy efforts.

IV. Required Qualifications

Education and Certification:

• Advanced University Degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in public administration, law, social science, security and defense, international relations, international human rights, gender studies/or related fields.

Experience:

• A minimum of 5-years’ professional experience in human rights and gender equality, international humanitarian law, the Women, Peace and Security agenda, CRSV, and/or GBV response or related fields, is required. 
• Experience in policy-making on CRSV prevention and response including developing policy papers and recommendations is an asset.
• Experience in multi-stakeholder (Government , UN, Civil Society) coordination is desired. 
• Knowledge and experience in project coordination; knowledge and experience in managing internal and external communications; experience in facilitating cooperation between governmental, multilateral and non-governmental organizations and/or UN agencies.
• Experience in working with survivors of conflict-related sexual violence and networks of survivors is an asset. 

Languages:

• Fluency in verbal and written English and Ukrainian is required.

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.