National Consultant/Psychologist on Occupational Well-being and Psychological Resilience of Law Enforcement Professionals, UN Women Kazakhstan

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 pi