Child Rights Monitoring Expert National Consultant, Athens, Greece, 6 months, Seconded to the Greek Ministry of Justice

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, results.

In 2017 the government of Greece established in the Ministry of Justice the National Mechanism for the Elaboration, Monitoring and Evaluation of Action Plans on the Rights of the Child. The National Mechanism is an inter-ministerial body coordinated and chaired by the General Secretariat for Justice and Human Rights of the Ministry of Justice, composed of representatives by 9 Ministries, the General Secretariat for Coordination of Governmental Work, the Greek National Commission for Human Rights, the Greek Deputy Ombudsman for Children (without the right to vote), and the Institute of Child Health. In 2021 (law 4786/2021) UNICEF Greece Country Office became a voting member of the said mechanism.

The main responsibilities of the National Mechanism are as follows: a) to elaborate National Action Plans on the Rights of the Child, taking into account decisions and recommendations by national and international Institutions for the protection of Human Rights and the Rights of the Child and define relevant indicators; b) to consult with civil society during the elaboration of Action Plans and ensure the participation of children; c) to promote and disseminate these Action Plans; d) to monitor their implementation through the elaboration of interim reports based on updated data, which will be made public; e) to evaluate the implementation of these Action Plans; such evaluation reports shall be submitted to the Ombudsman; and f) to prepare future Action Plans.

In mid-2021 the National Mechanism developed the National Action Plan on the Rights of the Child for the period 2021-2023 which takes account of the National Targets agreed in the Framework of the Country Programme Document (CPD) for Greece for the period 2022-2026. In this regard, MoJ is setting up mechanisms for the monitoring and evaluation of the National Action Plan with the support of UNICEF which will inform next steps from the Ministry of Justice and the members of the National Mechanism.

In addition, child friendly justice has been identified as an area of priority in the Country Programme Document for Greece covering the period (2022-2026), submitted and endorsed by the UNICEF Executive Board in March 2022. In preparation of the ground for interventions towards improving the child friendliness of the Greek justice system, UNICEF and the Ministry of Justice launched an assessment of the child friendliness of the justice system in Greece, the first assessment of this sort in Greece, the results of which are expected in June 2022.

The role of UNICEF is focusing on supporting the capacity of the National Mechanism to conduct the activities based on its mandate and support the Ministry of Justice in identifying priorities towards making the justice system friendlier for children. The goal and objective of the consultancy is to provide technical expertise to the Ministry of Justice and the National Mechanism and contribute to: a. the effective collection of information and further dissemination among its members, b. the monitoring and evaluation of the ongoing National Action Plan, c. the preparation of the National Action Plan for the next period (2024-2027) and d. the preparation of an Action Plan to improve the Child friendliness of the Greek Justice system

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of the Child Rights Monitoring Specialist and the direct supervision of the Ministry of Justice, the consultant will provide technical assistance to the National Mechanism on the areas of Child Rights Monitoring and specifically on the information collection, coordination, monitoring of the ongoing National Action Plan and preparation of the next period’s National Action Plan. The consultant, under the guidance of the Child Protection Specialist and the direct supervision of the Ministry of Justice will provide technical assistance for the development of an action plan on Child Friendly Justice, informed by the results of the aforementioned assessment.

1. Provide support to the overall coordination

▪ Liaise with the members of the National Mechanism to ensure their effective engagement and participation in the National Mechanism including collection and analysis of their contributions and inputs.

▪ Support the development of the agenda and any required technical background documentation ahead of the meetings of the National Mechanism.

▪ Support on any other coordination issues.

2. Support the monitoring, evaluation, and reporting on the National Action Plan on the Rights of the Child

▪ Provide technical support on the identification of monitoring and reporting needs on the National Action Plan.

▪ Develop a monitoring and evaluation framework for the National Action Plan including at sub-national level.

▪ Provide technical support for the interim monitoring of implementation of the activities in the National Action Plan based on their expiry date.

▪ Support the drafting of the interim and final reports on the implementation of the National Action Plan.

▪ Development of data and evidence collection and reporting tools on the implementation of the activities in the National Action Plan.

3.Support the preparation and the drafting of the next National Action Plan (2024-2027)

▪ Provision of technical support in the drafting of the next National Action Plan in line with international practices, national priorities, and findings from the evaluation of the National Action Plan.

▪ Provide recommendations based on the main observations and recommendations of national, regional, and international human and child rights instruments and mechanisms for the drafting of the next National Action Plan, particularly those of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child.

Provide recommendations based on policy documents for children at global, regional (EU) and national level as well as of sectoral action plans for the drafting of the next National Action Plan.

▪ Conduct analysis of the roles of various Government entities in terms of child rights implementation and ensures their reflection in the structure of the National Action Plan.

▪ Provide support for the consultations among various Ministries and Government entities, Civil Society, and children for the development of the next National Action Plan.

4 Support the drafting of an Action Plan on Child Friendly Justice

▪ Provide technical support for the drafting of the first Action Plan on Child Friendly Justice in line with international practices, national priorities, and findings from the assessment of the Child friendliness of the Greek Justice system, including a budget and indicators for its monitoring.

Provide support for the consultations among different stakeholders and children for the development of the first Action Plan on the Child Friendly Justice

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Creation of draft Monitoring framework for the National Action Plan

Draft Monitoring framework for the National Action Plan

1 month

Operationalization of the monitoring framework for NAP

Establish a system to collect, consolidate, analyse, and present data to stakeholders

2 months

Key recommendations in support to the revision of the National Action Plan, based on good practices, evaluation findings and feedback

Create a recommendations draft in support to the revision of the National Action Plan, based on good practices, evaluation findings and feedback

2 months

Draft document on Action Plan on Child Friendly Justice

Draft an Action Plan on Child Friendly Justice

1 month

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: Political Sciences, Social Sciences, Statistics, Law, Information Management, or another relevant technical field.
• A minimum of two years of professional experience in monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in Child Rights Monitoring and National Action Plans is considered an asset.
• Relevant experience working with Ministries, Civil Society organizations and UN system agencies or organizations is considered as an asset.
• Fluency in Greek and English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

Candidates are asked to indicate their required all-inclusive fees for the services to be provided. UNICEF Office in Greece applies a standard remuneration scale for Individual Contractors/Consultants providing technical support to Government Institutions and National Authorities, taking into consideration the professional and academic experience of the incumbent, the functions that the consultant is tasked to carry out, as well as the local labor market. The final rate will be negotiated with the candidate upon recommendation by the selection panel.

Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on agreed deliverables and a submission of progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant, upon approval by the direct supervisor. Monthly progress reports will be brief, produced in English and summarize key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, priorities for the next reporting period, highlighting any support needs from or recommendations for UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

a. complete their UNICEF profile

b. attach latest CV and Motivation Letter (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.htm))

c. Indicate a monthly fee for the aforementioned deliverables

Equipment

IT Equipment will be provided to the consultant, upon availability, to carry out the deliverables. Interested applicants are expected to have already the necessary IT equipment (lap top, mobile phone).

All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).