Job Description

The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) is the global organization of national parliaments with a membership of 181 Member Parliaments and 15 Associate Members. The IPU works to promote democratic governance, institutions and values, working with parliaments and parliamentarians to articulate and respond to the needs and aspirations of the people. It works for peace, democracy, human rights, gender equality, youth empowerment, climate action and sustainable development through political dialogue, cooperation and parliamentary action. A key strength of the IPU since its founding has been its ability to connect Member Parliaments with each other and leverage their collective political strength to accelerate progress on key global issues, including gender equality and women's rights and empowerment.


The IPU recognizes gender equality as a key component of democracy and works to achieve the equal participation of men and women in politics. It mobilizes parliaments and supports them to be more representative and inclusive institutions by increasing women's political participation and leadership, transforming themselves into gender-sensitive institutions that deliver on women's rights and advancing gender equality. Combatting and eliminating sexism, harassment and violence against women in politics and in parliament are at the heart of such mobilization and support.


In recent years, the IPU has placed a strong focus on addressing harassment and violence against women in parliament. In 2016, it published a global study on sexism, harassment, and violence targeting women parliamentarians. This was followed by a series of regional studies in Europe, Africa and most recently in Asia-Pacific aimed at deepening understanding of and enriching documentation on the issue. Additionally, in 2019, the IPU published the Guidelines for the elimination of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliament, offering a framework for action by parliaments to create safer and more inclusive institutional environments.


Since 2024, thanks to a UN Women grant, the IPU has been implementing one of the components of the European Union-funded Women and Youth in Democracy Initiative (WYDE). In this framework, UN Women, the IPU, the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), and United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), are implementing the WYDE/Women's Leadership component through a programme entitled: Advancing Women's Political Participation and Decision?Making through Social Norms Change, Networking and Global Advocacy.


Through WYDE/Women's Leadership programme (WYDE/WPP), the IPU will continue advancing knowledge on violence against women in politics and mobilizing action towards zero tolerance of such violence in and through parliaments.

Objectives

The IPU will develop a training methodology, modules and materials, and deliver trainings for members of parliament (MPs) and parliamentary staff on combatting VAWiP.


The overall goal of the training is to build capacities and promote action on combatting VAWiP by enhancing understanding of the prevalence, forms, causes and consequences of violence against women in parliament, building a sense of shared responsibility to address such violence, promoting collective and individual agency in preventing and responding to such violence, and by providing support on individual safety to ensure protection from such violence.


The training will benefit the following three target groups:

MPs, both men and women, and selected parliamentary staff, to ensure a shared understanding of VAWiP and build an institutional commitment to prevent and address VAWiP. Female MPs in all their diversity, including young women parliamentarians and their selected staff, with a focus on both individual and collective empowerment and safety. Male MPs, to promote individual and collective understanding of their role and allyship.

The training will aim to build capacity through knowledge building and the provision of guidance. It will use adult learning approaches including practical exercises, valuing participants experiences and leadership, and promoting peer-to-peer support.


The training course and materials should be designed for use in both in-person and online training formats.


The training will include three complementary components that can be delivered separately depending on specific needs and requests from parliaments and their members.


The three components will be adapted to the target groups of MPs: one component will be for all MPs, the second for female MPs and the third for male MPs. All three components will be designed to benefit parliamentary staff.

1) Training for all MPs

The training for all MPs will build capacities and promote action on combatting VAWiP by:

Enhancing understanding of the prevalence, forms, causes and consequences of VAWiP. Identifying measures and tools to advance an enabling environment for women's participation, leadership and influence in parliament, through legislation, policy and regulation, mobilization and advocacy, and other initiatives to prevent, combat, address, and respond to violence.[1] Building a sense of shared responsibility in preventing and responding to VAWiP. Encouraging individual and collective agency in preventing and responding to VAWiP.

2) Training for women MPs

The training for women MPs will be tailored to the needs of women parliamentarians in their diversity, including young women parliamentarians, and will aim at:

Building skills and practical knowledge on offline and online VAWiP. Identifying and understanding intersections related to violence against specific groups of women in politics, in particular young women. Accessing guidance to promote individual and collective safety online and offline. Sharing and learning from individual and collective experiences on how to respond to abuse and where to seek support.

3) Training for men MPs

The training for male MPs will aim at:

Promoting individual and collective understanding of their role and their allyship by exploring social norms, power structures and other elements that can impact VAWiP. Encouraging reflection on their roles in preventing and responding to VAWiP. Building knowledge and confidence to act as allies and active bystanders by intervening, supporting survivors, and challenging abusive behaviours. Providing practical tools and strategies to prevent violence, support affected colleagues, and advocate for policies that promote safer and more inclusive political environments.

The Consultant will apply the following principles and approaches[2] throughout the consultancy activities, tasks and deliverables:

Survivor-centred and trauma-informed approach, prioritizing safety and respect, and creating shared rules on confidentiality of survivors, their rights and needs, including identifying and using relevant guidelines in all activities. Non-discriminatory and participatory approach that is accessible and inclusive, and adapted to the needs of diverse groups of MPs. Relevant to MPs and political leaders approach, using content, exercises, and guidance pertinent to their needs and realities, and adaptable to different national contexts. Utilize existing resources, including IPU studies on sexism, harassment, and violence against women in parliament; the IPUGuidelines for the elimination of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliament*; findings and recommendations from consultations conducted by the IPU and its partners regarding tools MPs need to combat VAWiP; as well as other relevant materials, particularly those focused on assessing capacity-building needs.

Consultancy tasks and deliverables

The consultant will design a training methodology and deliver trainings for MPs and parliamentary staff on combatting VAWiP. The consultant will work under the supervision of the Manager of the IPU Gender Partnership Programme and will carry out the following tasks.


Based on the background and detailed objectives described above, the Consultant will be tasked to:

Develop a training methodology. Design the full content of the training and its three components, including the programme, modules, exercises, materials such as resources and case studies, the evaluation and follow-up. Test the training with each target group and finalize it based on feedback, findings and recommendations gathered from the test trainings. Train a small group of trainers. Deliver the trainings as needed until the end of 2026. Draft a report on the impact of the trainings with the key learnings and recommendations for improvement.

The Consultant will collaborate with other IPU consultants: the consultant developing training modules for MPs on social norms, and the consultant focusing on the diverse representation of women in parliament.

Timelines

Work plan: by 3 November 2025 Methodology: by 28 November 2025 Full content of the training and its three components: by 5 January 2026 Training for trainers: by 16 February 2026 Trainings delivered as needed: by December 2026 Evaluation and impact report from each training to be submitted within 15 days of the training's delivery Final evaluation and impact report: by 15 December 2026

Qualifications and competencies

University degree in social science, political science or law; specialization in gender studies an asset. An advanced degree is highly desirable. At least ten years of relevant professional experience related to gender equality and women's rights. At least five years of professional experience in combatting VAWiP required. Proven experience in designing and delivering trainings or capacity-building programmes for parliamentarians and/or political officials required. Demonstrated experience of work with parliaments and parliamentarians in different countries and regional contexts required. Experience with e-learning platforms and digital content development required. Excellent communication skills required. Excellent drafting skills in English required and working knowledge of French desirable.

Time frame and conditions

The Consultant will undertake this work over a period commencing on 20 October 2025 and concluding at the end of 2026. The consultancy will require a significant time commitment during the first six months for the development of the methodology and training modules. Thereafter, the engagement will be on an ad hoc basis, depending on the scheduling and delivery of trainings.


He/she shall be expected to work a maximum of 180 working days until the end of 2026.


In principle, the Consultant shall be home-based.


The IPU shall cover the expenses related to any missions that the Consultant may need to carry out for the purposes of the above assignments.

Employment conditions

The Consultant is an independent contractor, is not considered to be an official or employee of the IPU and is not subject to the IPU Staff Regulations and Staff Rules.


The Consultant is not entitled to recover from the IPU any income tax payable in respect of the fee provided under this contract and shall be solely liable for the payment of any national income tax due in respect of the emoluments payable under this contract.


How to apply
Candidates will provide the following documents and information:

Curriculum vitae. A cover letter with a brief description of why they are the right candidate for this consultancy, including details of their personal contribution to at least two relevant projects involving the design and delivery of training. The letter should clearly specify the Consultant's role in these projects and may include links to materials or documentation as evidence of the work performed. One sample of training methodology and modules on a related topic. Indication of a proposed daily rate or budget for the consultancy assignment. Information about availability to commence work on 20 October 2025 and to carry out the consultancy through to the end of 2026, in line with the time commitment outlined above.

Applications missing one or more of the required documents and information listed above will not be considered.


The deadline for applications is 8 October 2025 at 23:59 CEST (Geneva Time). Applications should be sent by email to job@ipu.org with "Consultancy to design and deliver training on combatting VAWiP" in the subject line. For further details about the consultancy, please contact postbox@ipu.org.


Applicants will be contacted only if they are under serious consideration. Applications received after the deadline will not be accepted.

Recruitment principles

Our guiding principle in selecting candidates is to secure the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity. We do not discriminate on any grounds and are committed to promoting diversity in our workforce.


Particular attention is paid to candidates from developing countries and to achieving gender balance. We strive to provide an environment where the contribution of each individual is valued.



[1] See the IPU's Guidelines for the elimination of sexism, harassment and violence against women in parliament. This document provides parliamentarians and parliamentary staff with practical advice and information to make parliaments gender-sensitive spaces, free from sexism and violence.


[2] See also: UNFPA, Australia's eSafety Commissioner and the Global Partnership, A Framework for TFGBV Programming, 2024.



Deadline:
Wednesday, 8 October 2025