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

About the role

UN Women seeks a National Consultant/Psychologist to develop and deliver a practical training component focused on 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 in Kazakhstan.

The Consultant will report to the UN Women Project Manager and work under the overall guidance of the UN Women Programme Specialist, in close coordination with other consultants/trainers and designated representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA).

Responsibilities

• Review available information on the mandate, functions, and working context of specialized domestic violence units in Kazakhstan to adapt the training module to their professional needs and operational realities.
• Participate in consultations with UN Women, the MIA, and other experts to identify key occupational and psychological challenges faced by officers of specialized domestic violence units.
• Develop a practice-oriented training module and accompanying materials/tools on:
  • Prevention and early recognition of professional burnout and professional deformation
  • Management of occupational stress
  • Emotional self-regulation
  • Maintenance of professional boundaries
  • Strengthening psychological resilience
  Materials include 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 two-day training sessions in 2–3 pilot regions of Kazakhstan, using interactive adult-learning methods and practical exercises.
• Collect and analyze participant feedback and observations from the pilot trainings and develop concise practical recommendations to further support the occupational well-being and psychological resilience of officers.

Deliverables and Payment Schedule

• Practice-oriented training module and accompanying materials (session plan, presentation(s), practical exercises, case-based activities, and participant tools) developed and agreed with UN Women by 17 September 2026 – 30% of contract amount.
• Training module delivered as part of two-day in-person training sessions for officers in 2–3 pilot regions between 28 September – 9 October 2026 – 70% of contract amount.
• Finalized training materials and concise practical recommendations submitted, incorporating observations and participant feedback from the pilot trainings by 16 October 2026.

Workplace and Travel

This is a home-based consultancy with official travel within Kazakhstan required for the delivery of in-person training sessions. The Consultant will travel to 2–3 pilot regions between 28 September and 9 October 2026. Travel arrangements and costs will be covered by UN Women in accordance with its 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

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.

Requirements

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.
• 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.
• Demonstrated experience in developing and delivering practical training programmes on stress management, burnout prevention, emotional self-regulation, and/or psychological resilience.
• Demonstrated experience in developing practical psychological tools, exercises, guidance, or training materials for professional audiences.
• Previous professional experience with government agencies, UN agencies, and/or other international organizations.
• Candidates must 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.

Languages

• Fluency in Russian is required.
• Working knowledge of Kazakh and English is an asset.