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.
Violence against women and girls is one of the most pervasive violations of human rights and is rooted in gender inequality. Domestic violence is one of the most common forms of violence against women and has specific dynamics associated with the relationship between the survivor and the perpetrator, the recurrent nature of violence and the risk of escalation. Its consequences affect women’s safety, health and well-being, their children and families, and their ability to live free from violence.
Kazakhstan has undertaken important legislative and institutional reforms aimed at strengthening the prevention of and response to domestic violence and enhancing the protection of women and children. In 2025, specialized units on combating domestic violence were established within the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MIA), together with a dedicated division within the Administrative Police Committee. Approximately 1,000 officers currently serve in these units across the country. Given the critical role of police as often one of the first points of contact for survivors, the establishment of the specialized units highlights the importance of strengthening officers’ knowledge and practical skills, including gender-responsive and survivor-centered approaches that support survivors’ safety, access to protection and justice, and prevention of secondary victimization. At the same time, the demanding nature of this work and regular exposure to complex and emotionally challenging cases highlights the importance of preventing professional burnout and occupational stress and strengthening officers’ psychological resilience and well-being.
Within this context, UN Women Kazakhstan, in cooperation with the MIA, plans to conduct a series of pilot two-day training sessions for officers of specialized domestic violence units in 2–3 regions of Kazakhstan between 28 September and 9 October 2026. The training will focus on gender-responsive and survivor-centered approaches to domestic violence, drawing on international standards and relevant international practice while considering Kazakhstan’s national legislation and law-enforcement context. The programme will also address professional burnout, occupational stress and professional deformation and provide practical approaches to strengthening officers’ psychological resilience.
UN Women therefore seeks to engage a National Consultant/Psychologist on Occupational Well-being and Psychological Resilience of Law Enforcement Professionals to develop and deliver a practical training component aimed at preventing professional burnout and professional deformation, strengthening stress-management and emotional self-regulation skills, and supporting the psychological resilience and occupational well-being of officers working in specialized domestic violence units.
The National Consultant/Psychologist will report to the UN Women Project Manager and will work under the overall guidance of the UN Women Programme Specialist. The Project Manager will serve as the primary focal point for technical guidance, contract administration and payment-related matters. The Consultant will work in close coordination with other consultants/trainers engaged for the assignment, as well as designated representatives of the MIA.
Description of Responsibilities/ Scope of Work
- Review available information on the mandate, functions and working context of specialized domestic violence units in Kazakhstan to inform the adaptation of the training module to their professional needs and operational realities.
- Participate in consultations with UN Women, the MIA and other experts engaged for the assignment to identify key occupational and psychological challenges faced by officers of specialized domestic violence units.
- Develop a practice-oriented training module and accompanying materials and tools on prevention and early recognition of professional burnout and professional deformation, management of occupational stress, emotional self-regulation, maintenance of professional boundaries and strengthening psychological resilience, including presentations, practical exercises, case-based activities and self-assessment/reflection tools adapted to the professional context of specialized police units.
- Deliver the agreed training module as part of the two-day training sessions in 2–3 pilot regions of Kazakhstan, using interactive adult-learning methods and practical exercises.
- Collect and analyse participant feedback and observations emerging from the pilot trainings and develop concise practical recommendations on measures that could further support the occupational well-being and psychological resilience of officers of specialized domestic violence units.
| Deliverable | Expected completion time (due day) | Payment Schedule |
| Practice-oriented training module and accompanying materials developed and agreed with UN Women, including session plan, presentation(s), practical exercises, case-based activities and participant tools on professional burnout, occupational stress, professional deformation and psychological resilience. | By 17 September 2026 | 30% of contract amount |
| Training module delivered as part of the two-day in-person training sessions for officers of specialized domestic violence units in 2–3 pilot regions of Kazakhstan. | 28 September – 9 October 2026 |
70% of contract amount |
| Finalized training materials and concise practical recommendations submitted on measures to support occupational well-being and psychological resilience of officers, incorporating relevant observations and participant feedback from the pilot trainings. | 16 October 2026 |
Consultant’s Workplace and Official Travel
This is a home-based consultancy with official travel within Kazakhstan required for the delivery of in-person training sessions. As part of this assignment, the National Consultant will undertake travel to 2–3 pilot regions of Kazakhstan to deliver two-day training sessions between 28 September and 9 October 2026. The exact locations and travel schedule will be determined by UN Women in coordination with the MIA.
Travel arrangements and applicable travel-related costs will be covered by UN Women in accordance with UN Women rules and regulations.
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 occupational psychology, professional burnout, occupational stress and psychological resilience.
- Strong knowledge of psychological approaches applicable to law enforcement and other frontline professionals.
- Strong training and facilitation skills, including interactive and adult-learning methodologies.
- Ability to translate psychological concepts into practical tools and techniques applicable in professional settings.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
Education and Certification:
- Master’s degree or equivalent in psychology, clinical psychology, counselling psychology or a related field is required.
- A first-level university degree in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
- Relevant professional certification or specialized training in stress management, trauma, burnout prevention, psychological resilience or related areas is an asset.
Experience:
- At least 4 years of professional experience in psychology, including work related to occupational stress, professional burnout, psychological resilience and/or psychological well-being, is required.
- At least 4 years of experience working with or providing training/capacity development to law enforcement, security sector personnel, emergency responders or other frontline professionals exposed to high levels of occupational stress is required.
- Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering practical training programmes on stress management, burnout prevention, emotional self-regulation and/or psychological resilience is required (As part of the application, candidates are required to submit a brief technical proposal (maximum one A4 page) outlining a proposed approach to a two-day training programme, including key thematic areas, suggested training methods and examples of practical/case-based exercises).
- Demonstrated experience in developing practical psychological tools, exercises, guidance or training materials for professional audiences is required.
- Previous professional experience with government agencies, UN agencies and/or other international organizations is required.
Languages:
- Fluency in Russian is required.
- Working knowledge of Kazakh and English 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.