Consultancy: Academic Coordination and Facilitation - Inclusive Social Protection and Care System, LACRO, Panama City (3.5 months Home-Based) Req

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, a Hero

UNICEF in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) is composed of 24 country offices that operate in 36 countries and territories. The main role of the regional office (RO) is to provide technical assistance, build capacity, and exercise quality control over the 24 country offices.

The Social Policy Unit (SPU) at UNICEF LACRO focuses on providing technical assistance, ensuring quality assurance, and generating evidence related to eradicating child poverty and strengthening social protection systems. This support is provided to Social Policy Officers and Specialists in UNICEF’s country offices.

Disability-inclusive social protection remains a priority area of work for 2024. This involves both generating evidence and building capacity in regional institutions to contribute to policy changes aimed at making social protection programs and systems inclusive of children and adults with disabilities.

In 2023, UNICEF, in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank, the Foundation Saldarriaga Concha, the University of the Andes, and Save the Children, launched the virtual course "Inclusive Social Protection for Persons with Disabilities in Latin America." The course aimed to develop participants' capacity to analyze inclusive social protection systems for people with disabilities, using a gender and life-cycle approach. Approximately 60 participants from governments, academia, international organizations, and civil society attended the course, which consisted of 10 virtual, simultaneous classes.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance and supervision of the Social Policy Regional Advisor, the purpose of this consultancy is to support the overall adaptation, coordination and lecturing of the second version of the certification on social protection and disability.

Scope of work:

The consultant will work within the UNICEF Social Policy team in the Regional Office and will have the opportunity to contribute to increase regional capacities among social protection experts and policy maker - within UNICEF but also from Government institutions and other relevant agencies and organizations - to better address the needs of people living with disabilities through inclusive social protection.

The consultant will have specific responsibilities, including: (i) supporting the design, adaptation, and overall coordination of the second edition of the social protection and disability course organized by UNICEF LAC and its partners; (ii) conducting the final evaluation of the course and recommending improvements for subsequent editions; and (iii) proposing adaptations of the course for virtual platforms.

Expected Results:

i. Finalizing the syllabus for the second edition of the disability and social protection course, based on the evaluation of the first edition and consensus among all stakeholders involved in organizing the course.

ii. Providing academic coordination for a 5-day certified course on social protection and disability, ensuring coherence and smooth delivery of course content, activities, and assignments.

iii. Delivering lectures for 2 modules of the disability and social protection course.

iv. Conducting the final evaluation, capturing lessons learned, and making recommendations for improvements.

v. Proposing adaptations for a non-simultaneous course format to be delivered through a virtual platform.

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

• An advanced university degree (master’s or higher) in Social Policy (Economics, Public Policy, Public Administration, Social Sciences, or related field). Holding a Doctoral Degree (e.g., PhD) will be considered an asset.
• At least 10 years of demonstrated experience in the production of rigorous knowledge in social policy.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience teaching about public/social policy at accredited universities.
• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in training and/or lecturing public officers, adapting technical knowledge to public administration officers, responsible of technical and managerial decisions at public sector, or staff at inter-governmental institutions.
• Experience in the design, implementation, evaluation/review and management of social policies (social protection, early childhood development and/or disability inclusion) at national and/or sub-national Governments.
• Excellent understanding of the Latin America and the Caribbean context, with proven experience in country-level analysis of social policies.
• Fluency in English and Spanish is required. Knowledge of Portuguese and/or French is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS)

UNICEF competencies: building and maintains partnerships, demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness, drive to achieve results for impact, innovates and embraces change, manages ambiguity and complexity, thinks and acts strategically and works collaboratively with others. Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Administrative details Supervision:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision and guidance of the UNICEF LACRO Social Policy Regional Advisor.

Workplace: The consultancy is home-based.

Duration: Estimated start date is August 15, 2024, for 3.5 months.

How to Apply: Application should be submitted online and should include: TMS application form duly completed, Cover Letter, University Degrees certificates/Diplomas and Financial proposal (Daily fee or deliverable fee).

Qualified candidates are requested to indicate an all-inclusive (lump sum) fee for the services to be including all associated administrative and travel costs.

Consultants must have their own equipment, tools and materials needed to perform their services. They will use their own laptops/computers, any application or system needed to complete the assignment. They need to provide the full service without using UNICEF resources. The access to UNICEF email and system is restricted to UNICEF staff therefore consultants should not be granted access unless it is imperative to complete the assignment.

Travel is not foreseen for this consultancy. Should travel is requested, it will be covered by UNICEF as per policy.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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 the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations, or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.