TERMS OF REFERENCE (TOR)

I. Background

In response to EU action on Challenging Gender Stereotypes and Practices in the EaP countries, UN Women
and UNFPA regional offices for Europe and Central Asia developed a three-year Joint Programme to be
implemented in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine at the national and regional
levels. The programme is aimed at shifting societal perceptions around gender stereotypes and patriarchal
norms limiting women’s rights; improve men’s involvement in care-taking of their children and participation
in father’s programmes; and spur the adoption of best practices in perpetrator’s programmes among the
ministries of social affairs and Programme for perpetrators in the respective countries. Specifically, the
regional component collates global and regional experiences to coordinate activities that will have an impact
across all six countries within the programme.

Key trends in Eastern Europe illustrate that elimination of gender inequality and the push towards the
empowerment of women and girls represent both a driver of progress towards the Sustainable Development
Goals (SDGs) and a solution for the sustainable development of the whole region. In the six countries included
in the programme (Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine), a number of efforts have
been undertaken in recent decades to advance gender equality and promote women’s rights. While
considerable progress has been made in several areas, a broad range of challenges persist. All six countries
show evidence that cultural beliefs around the roles of men and women persevere. Norms, culture and
stereotypes perpetuate gender inequalities that can be expressed through violence and discrimination
against women.

According to the data from many countries there is a significant increase in domestic violence, gender-based
violence cases, particularly among marginalized populations during the current period with regard to COVID-
19 pandemic. The global crisis of COVID-19 first identified in China in December 2019 affects all aspects of
life. In Armenia, the first imported COVID-19 case was registered on 1 March 2020 and then the local
transmission has been registered since 11 March 2020. All regions are currently affected, with more than
4,500 confirmed cases in the nation as a whole1.

The COVID-19 crisis is deepening pre-existing inequalities, exposing the extent of exclusion and highlighting
that work on disability inclusion is imperative. People with disabilities are one of the most excluded groups
in our society and are among the hardest hit in this crisis. Even under normal circumstances, persons with
disabilities are less likely to access health care, education, employment and to participate in the community.
They are more likely to live in poverty, experience higher rates of violence, neglect and abuse, and are among
the most marginalized in any crisis-affected community. COVID-19 has further compounded this situation,
disproportionately impacting persons with disabilities both directly and indirectly.

The Government of Armenia has taken decisive steps to contain and suppress the epidemic, declaring a state
of emergency on 16 March, followed by a full lock-down between 24 March and 18 May2.

1As of 17 May 2020.

2People are only allowed to leave their homes to buy food, receive medical care or exercise. However, the Government is considering a further
gradual opening of considering a further gradual opening of economic sectors

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COVID-19 is already having far-reaching impact on global, national and local socio-economic systems. Like
elsewhere in the world, Armenian businesses are being shuttered and people are losing their jobs, causing
additional stress on already vulnerable persons, and the people with disabilities are at the high task.

Though the Government of Armenia has undertaken and started the implementation of an “Action plan to
offset the adverse economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic”3, there is need for implementation of
targeted projects at the regional level to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on most vulnerable groups, such
as people with disabilities. Currently, the Government is also looking at additional assistance programmes
aimed at individuals that are especially hit hard by the spread of COVID-19, including those who do not have
regular employment4, that is the case in terms of people with disabilities.

In order to successfully meet this challenge and comply with the 2030 Agenda, persons with disabilities must
be included in all plans to manage the current COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. This implies that the
information provided by governments and institutions both to prevent infection and to know how to act in
case of illness must be available in accessible formats.

Additionally, it is important to remove the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing health
services and hygiene products, as well as to consider reasonable accommodation measures to allow them to
work from home, that will give the possibility to have income while at the quarantine. It is also extremely
important to provide psychological support as per need.

In the battle against COVID-19, it is also essential to follow the motto of the United Nations’ Convention on
the Right of Persons with Disabilities: “Nothing about us, without us”. Persons with disabilities, through their
representative organizations, are the ones who can better advise how successfully and purposefully
implement mitigation measures related to COVID-19. “Leaving no one behind” is more than imperative now,
that the world has faced the global crisis with regard to COVID-19.
Taking into account all above-mentioned, UN Women and UNFPA are seeking to contract the services of a
national organization/company from the EU target regions, such as Shirak, Tavush or Lori, to implement the
listed below set of activities aimed at improving the well-being of people with disabilities and supporting
employment opportunities for women affected by COVID-19, including those most vulnerable and
disadvantaged.

II. Scope of Work/Duties and Responsibilities

The overall objective is to design and implement targeted activities in one of EU target regions (Shirak, Tavush
or Lori regions) for people with disabilities aimed at improving their well-being, mitigating the impact of
COVID-19 on their health and supporting/expanding employment opportunities through:
1. Conducting capacity building training for up to 30 people with disabilities to be able to find work/or work
from home. Taking into account the current situation with COVID-19 pandemic, the training should be
conducted in online regime. There is a need to ensure sign language online interpretation for deaf
persons while conducting capacity building training.

3 See: https://covid19.gov.am/en/business_and_coronavirus
4
Government press conference with the PM’s assistance on 20 April 2020

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2. Expanding opportunities for people with disabilities to find job and to work by creating a special space5
where they can get information on state employment programs, sexual and reproductive health services
for women with disabilities, and other topics of priority to people with different types of disabilities. This
can be done via providing counselling and resources for independent living, as well as a range of services
not only to people with disabilities, but also their family members.
3. Procuring necessary supplies and equipment for the resource centre:
• PPE and hygienic supplies for 30 people with disabilities. The PPE shall include: 1000 regular
medical masks, 1000 gloves, 200 sanitizers (Alcogel), 200 wet disinfectant napkins.
• 24 laptops for online trainings (Intel Core i3 8130U; Memory: 4GB or more, DDR4 2400; HDD: 1TB
or SSD 256GB; Graphics Card: NVIDIA 2GB (Optional); Screen Size: 15.6"; Screen Resolution: 1920
x 1080; Wireless Connection: Wi-Fi: 802.11ac; Optical Drive: DVD-Writer; OS: Windows 10 Home)
4. Ensuring the sustainability of started initiative after completion of the project.
5. Provision of psychological support to women and men with disabilities.

III. Assignment Deliverables:

# Deliverables Payment amount Deadline

1. Workplan for the assignment with specified timeline 45% of the By 30 June 2020
contract amount
for procurement
and distribution
of necessary
equipment for
online training,
as well as PPE
and hygienic
supplies

2. Report on capacity building training submitted and cleared 20% of the By 15 August 2020
by UN Women and UNFPA contract amount

3. Report on establishment and operationalization of the 20% of the By 11 September

special space, sustainability plan submitted and cleared by contract amount 2020
UN Women and UNFPA

4. Final report on completion of the task submitted and cleared 15% of the By 25 September
by UN Women and UNFPA contract amount 2020

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The space will serve as a resource center that will provide an opportunity for people with disabilities to achieve and maintain independent lifestyle,
resolve employment and self-employment issues. The center is supposed to be created and run by NGO for women with disabilities.

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▪ All the deliverables should be provided in English language.

IV. Inputs
▪ UN Women and UNFPA will provide the Contractor with relevant technical support and advice during
the implementation of the tasks.

▪ The contractor will be expected to use their own computers.

V. Minimum requirements and eligibility criteria for the creative company

▪ Demonstrated experience of work in Armenia on areas related to the scope of the work is required.

▪ At least 5 years of experience in implementing gender-related projects with a focus on women and men
with disabilities, including experience on enforcement of civic, social-economic, educational rights of girls
and women with disabilities in Armenia.

▪ At least 3 years of experience on designing and conducting capacity building activities/trainings on

gender-related issues.

▪ Previous work on EU or UN programmes is considered an asset.