Network Development Consultant

TERMS OF REFERENCE

Network Development Consultant

Eurasia Network to End Violence against Women

Period: 1 August 2026 – 31 July 2026

Number of consultancy days: 20  working days

Payment: 1st payment on or around 30 September 2026; 2nd payment on or around 31 December 2026.

Reports to: Equality Now Eurasia Representative

Location: Home-based / remote. The consultant should be based in one of the former Soviet Union countries and be able to work within the UTC+3 time zone to attend network meetings, with one possible trip  to attend  an in-person convening.  We strongly encourage applications from members of the Eurasia Network.

Languages: Russian and English (working proficiency in both is essential), and preferably one of the local languages of Eurasia countries. 

Contract Type: Individual consultancy (services contract) $6000

RESPONSIBILITIES

In coordination and consultation with the Equality Now Eurasia program and Eurasia Network member organizations the Consultant will run and  strengthen the Eurasia Network to address violence against women.  

1.  Background

1.1 About Equality Now

Equality Now is a worldwide human rights organisation dedicated to securing the legal and systemic change to end violence and discrimination against all women and girls. Since its inception in 1992, it has played a role in reforming policies and 135 discriminatory laws globally, positively impacting the lives of hundreds of millions of women and girls, their communities and nations.

 Its 2026-2030 strategy, “Securing Rights, Transforming Futures,” is built around five priorities: upholding international law and human rights; strengthening leaderful women’s movements; securing digital rights, safety, privacy and freedom; centring economic justice; and ending gender-based violence. 

1.2 About the Eurasia Network to End Violence against Women

In 2019, following the preparation and release of the report “Roadblocks To Justice: How The Law Is Failing Survivors Of Sexual Violence In Eurasia,” Equality Now established the Eurasia Network. The Network includes over 100 individuals and organizations from 14 countries across Europe and Central Asia: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan – all dedicated to combating violence and discrimination against women and girls

The Network is a space for shared strategy, joint advocacy to address violence against women, mutual support and collective resilience in a period of shrinking civic space and rising pressure on women’s rights defenders.

The Network held its first in-person convening in December 2023, which produced a collective action plan that defines the Network's priorities and framework for joint advocacy, cross-country collaboration, and the exchange of knowledge and good practices among members. Since then it has sustained connection between members through a regular newsletter, which contains information about Equality Now and members’ initiatives and achievements, recurring online meetings, joint work such as alternative (shadow) reporting to international human rights mechanisms, and sub-regional collaboration. A second in-person convening is planned for October 2026.

2. Purpose and Objectives of the Consultancy 

The consultant will be expected both to lead and strengthen the Network’s existing activities – including the newsletter, regular online meetings and one in person regional convening, member coordination and communication – and to bring a clear vision for its future development. This will involve proposing new ideas about what the Network could and should become, translating those ideas into action, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the Network’s development, including substantive operational growth.

The successful consultant will be a proactive and strategic thinking partner, not merely an implementer. The consultant will be expected to familiarise  with the Network, listen to its members, assess what is working well and what is missing, and develop a practical plan for its further development. The consultant will then support the implementation of concrete initiatives arising from that analysis.

The overall purpose of the assignment is to develop the Eurasia Network Against Violence into a stronger, more resilient, more genuinely member led network by the effective delivery of its core activities while also reimagining and expanding what the Network can achieve.

Objectives

1. Run and strengthen the Network’s existing activities (newsletter, online meetings, member coordination and communication) so they are consistent, high-quality and useful for the  members.
2. Develop original ideas and proposals for the Network’s development and growth, including  its activities, reach, governance, leadership and sustainability grounded in members’ needs and the regional context.
3. Create meaningful and inclusive opportunities for members to shape the Network’s priorities and development.
4. Co-design and help deliver the October 2026 in-person convening as a flagship moment for the Network.
5. Strengthen the Network's internal and external communications and visibility and deepen relationships and trust among members and between members and Equality Now, including welcoming and integrating new members and engaging members who are less active or less visible.
6. Strengthen the Network as an institution, including how it makes decisions, shares leadership across members and sub-regions, and resources itself sustainably, including by reviewing or developing its internal regulations, membership processes, and operational procedures.

3. Scope of work and responsibilities

The assignment has two equally important sides: running and strengthening what exists, and envisioning and building what comes next. The first keeps the Network active; the second is what makes this a development role rather than a coordination one. Candidates should expect to do both, and to devote significant attention to the second.

The consultant will develop proposals in consultation with Network members and Equality Now team.

Workstream A - Run and strengthen the Network (take over current activities)

Take ownership of the Network’s day-to-day life and raise its quality. This includes:

• Network Newsletter. Support the planning, producing and circulating the Network newsletter on a reliable schedule; support curating content from members; improving its format and usefulness.
• Regular Meetings. Organise and facilitate regular online meetings, including  agendas, invitations, interpretation, facilitation, notes and follow-up,  building on the formats used in recent meetings.
• Member coordination. Serve as a consistent point of contact for members; track members’ activities and areas of expertise; connect members with one another and with relevant opportunities; welcome, register and support the integration of  new members; conduct a survey on members satisfaction and expectations.
• Member engagement. Create regular and accessible opportunities for members to shape the Network’s priorities and activities.
• Internal and External Communication. Maintain clear, secure and regular communication channels appropriate to a network operating in restrictive contexts, as well as suggesting the updates to the LinkedIn channel (e.g.howcasing members’ work and collective achievements).
• Records and continuity. Keep the Network’s shared documents, membership information and institutional memory in good order, including records related to the Network performance measuring initiative.

Workstream B - Envision and develop the Network (bring original ideas and turn them into action)

This is the heart of the role. In consultation with Network members and Equality Now team, the consultant will be expected to think strategically about the Network’s ongoing work and future, proactively developing and new approaches and initiatives rather than relying on detailed direction.This includes:

• Partnerships. Identify and help strengthen strategic relationships with organisations, networks and other relevant actors that can expand the Network’s reach, expertise, influence or sustainability, while ensuring that partnerships remain aligned with members’ priorities and security considerations.
• Analyse. Develop an informed and independent assessment of the Network, including  its strengths, gaps, untapped potential and the needs of its members,  through listening to members and studying the context.
• Propose. Generate original and concrete proposals for the Network’s development, including new activities and formats, ways to increase value for members, opportunities for joint advocacy, and possible sub-regional or thematic working groups, and more.
• Pilot and deliver. Turn agreed ideas into practice by designing, testing and implementing new initiatives, learning and adapting as you go.
• Governance and leadership. Facilitate discussions with members on how the Network can make decisions and share leadership more genuinely across members and sub-regions; develop practical governance options; support agreement on a preferred approach; and assist with its initial implementation.
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• Sustainability. Develop ideas for resourcing the Network sustainably, including possible joint fundraising and shared infrastructure, in coordination with Equality Now.
• Network development roadmap. Bring the above elements together into a clear, concise and member-informed roadmap for the Network’s development that Equality Now and members can endorse and act on.

Workstream C - The October 2026 convening

The two days in-person convening is a flagship deliverable and a unique opportunity, as it is the one moment the whole Network is in one room. The consultant will:

• Co-design. Work with the Eurasia team to shape the agenda, participatory formats and facilitation plan, tailored to members’ real needs and the wider development objectives of the Network.
• Facilitation. Co-facilitate selected sessions and discussions where relevant, with a focus on participation, time management, group process and capturing decisions. Substantive expertise on gender-based violence is not expected.
• Documentation. Take clear and structured notes during the convening, including key discussion points, decisions, commitments and proposed next steps relevant for the Network Development.
• Feedback. Support the collection and synthesis of participant feedback through a short feedback form, closing reflection or other agreed methods.
• Follow-up. Work with Equality Now after the convening to translate the discussions, decisions and participant feedback into a practical follow-up action plan, including agreed priorities, responsibilities and indicative timelines.
• Reporting. Support the preparation of a concise post-convening summary or report covering the main discussions, outcomes, participant feedback and agreed next steps.
• Logistics. The consultant will contribute to coordinating the logistic processes, in consultation with Equality Now Eurasia and Admin teams, such as communication with the Network members,  coordination of distribution of information materials among the Network members,, visa-related planning/letters. 4. Management and Working Arrangements

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Eurasia Representative and in close coordination with the wider Eurasia team. Regular check-ins will be agreed at the beginning of the assignment. 

The consultant will be expected to work proactively and independently within the agreed scope of work. Major strategic proposals, new initiatives and external partnerships will be developed in consultation with Network members and Equality Now and will require agreement before implementation. The consultant will facilitate member input and collective decision-making rather than determine the Network’s direction independently.

Equality Now will provide access to relevant background materials, existing systems and records, and will support introductions to Network members and relevant internal colleagues. Equality Now will retain responsibility for substantive positions and technical content relating to women’s rights and gender-based violence, 

Confidentiality and data protection. The consultant will handle all Network and member information confidentially and in line with Equality Now’s data protection and security requirements, both during and after the assignment.

Safeguarding. The consultant is expected to uphold Equality Now’s safeguarding and code of conduct standards at all times.

Intellectual property. Materials produced under this assignment will belong to Equality Now and the Network unless otherwise agreed.

4. Key Deliverables

Specific deliverables and their timing will be agreed in an inception meeting and reflected in a workplan. Indicatively, they include:

Inception note and workplan, including the consultant's initial reading of the Network and proposed priorities — August 2026

Providing support in up to 4 Newsletter production and distribution — August–December 2026

Up to 4 Online meetings organised, facilitated and documented — August-December 2026

A set of original proposals for the Network's development, with rationale — September 2026

Co-designed convening package: agenda, facilitation plan and materials (RU/EN) — August–September 2026

Support in planning and logistics of the Network convening — August–September 2026

Delivery of the October 2026 convening and a post-convening outcomes report — October–November 2026

Updated Network action plan arising from the convening — November 2026

Network development roadmap (activities, membership, governance, sustainability) — October 2026

Final report summarising the consultancy, results and recommendations — December 2026

Payments will be linked to agreed deliverables and milestones, on terms set out in the consultancy contract.

5. Required profile

We are looking for an experienced, self-directed professional who combines reliable delivery with genuine strategic imagination.

Essential qualifications and experience

• Demonstrated experience in network or coalition development, movement building, or facilitation of civil society networks.
• A track record of generating and delivering original ideas, rather than only implementing plans developed by others,  ideally in women's rights, human rights or a related field.
• Strong knowledge of women’s rights and gender-based violence, and familiarity with the Eurasia region and its civil society context. The consultant will not be expected to serve as the lead substantive expert on gender-based violence but it is important for their work with the Network members.
• Proven facilitation skills, including designing and running participatory online and in person meetings
• Excellent written and spoken Russian and English.
• Awareness of digital security, confidentiality and safe organising practices in restrictive contexts.
• Ability to work independently, manage their own time, and deliver reliably with limited supervision.

Desirable

• Existing relationships with women’s rights organisations or activists in the region.
• Experience supporting fundraising, sustainability or governance for networks or coalitions.

6. How to apply

Interested candidates are invited to submit the following by July 27, 2026:

• A CV (maximum 2 pages).
• A short cover letter (maximum 2 pages) outlining their interest in the assignment and relevant experience, and demonstrating their understanding of network development, the women’s rights context and the Eurasia region, as well as their ability to propose practical approaches to the responsibilities described in these Terms of Reference.
• Contact details for 2 professional references.

We particularly encourage applications from Network members and from candidates who are based in, or deeply familiar with, the region.