Consultancy - Child Participation Technical Expert, ECARO (Home-based)

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Provide senior technical expertise to UNICEF on child participation in Luxembourg

You have:

• Advanced university degree (Master's) in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, development studies or another related field
• Proven experience and knowledge in related to the ToRs areas
• Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization and experience in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships
• Demonstrated experience developing child and adolescent participation and gender related policies and/or research and piloting and rollout of capacity building in this area
• Understanding of adolescent participation and community-based interventions, channels of influence, and participatory planning and monitoring
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle and complete multiple assignments with competing deadlines
• Knowledge of the EU region especially on child rights policy cycle and child participation is an asset
• Demonstrated experience of working with a range of stakeholders including policy makers, practice-based organizations and non-governmental organisations
• Demonstrated experience of producing high-quality reports and other documents to specified deadlines
• Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines
• Excellent analytical and written skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English (oral and written) and working knowledge of French is a strong asset

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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, protection

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Department of Children’s Rights (Service des Droits de l’Enfant - SDE) of the Ministry of Education, Children and Youth of Luxembourg has partnered with UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office in a project funded by the Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission to strengthen monitoring and evaluation of children’s rights and establishing a sustainable consultation process with children and other stakeholders in Luxembourg. More specifically, the Project aims to support the SDE to:

1. Assess the current state-of-play of monitoring children’s rights and consultative practices and processes in Luxembourg; 2. Develop a set of high-quality indicators on child rights, child poverty and social exclusion and data collection methods; 3. Develop a proposal for a governance mechanism for systematic stakeholder and child consultations to inform policy planning and implementation on children’s rights; 4. Agree on a roadmap to monitor and evaluate children's rights and child poverty and social exclusion and for stakeholder/child participation.

The purpose of this assignment is to provide senior technical expertise to UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) in the implementation of the EU funded project on ‘Strengthening monitoring and evaluation of children's rights and establishing a sustainable stakeholder consultation mechanism in Luxembourg’. The technical support will be provided in the area of child participation and effective participation of other stakeholders to inform policy planning and implementation on children’s rights.

Scope of Work:

The lead technical expert will provide oversight, guidance, technical expertise and support in the area of child and stakeholder participation in policy planning and implementation of children’s rights in Luxembourg. She/he will be responsible to provide oversight in the design and implementation of the initial assessment that will inform the next steps in the project, on the development of a child/stakeholder participation policy with the aim to ethically, safely, effectively and meaningfully involve relevant stakeholders, with a particular focus on children, supporting SDE to implement such policy and ensure that there is a clear roadmap on the way forward.

More specifically, the selected consultant will:

1. Design, plan and carry out an assessment of the state-of-play of stakeholder/child participation practices and processes in Luxembourg. This will include:

• Desk review and analysis of existing child participation programmes, practices and processes.
• A review of other EU Member States or if justified third countries' experiences and good practices on children’s participation mechanisms, including costing of child participation activities, and support to identify 2 countries for bilateral exchanges;
• Organisation of a workshop with the Child participation technical working group;
• Consultation with children and young people
• Preparation of a draft and then a final report with inputs from the Project Advisory Committee.

2. Develop a proposal for stakeholder/child participatory policy including specific participatory governance mechanism and support the SDE in its implementation. This will include:

• Develop an organisational policy for SDE with the aim to ethically, safely, effectively and meaningfully involve relevant stakeholders, with a particular focus on children. The proposal will aim to address the effective participation of children and other stakeholder and identify the most relevant governance mechanism(s) in the key areas of the SDE’s work such as coordination and monitoring of various aspects of child rights, including in the implementation of the national Child’s Rights Strategy and European Child Guarantee National Action Plan.
• Consult the proposal with children and other relevant stakeholders
• Develop a guide for the implementation of the Policy
• Organise a capacity building workshop for the guide and policy

3. Provide relevant inputs to the development of a roadmap for future work to ensure that child participation in planning and implementation of child rights policies is strengthened in Luxembourg.

In addition to the products indicated in the key deliverables, the following reporting will be required:

• Inputs to a 1-year progress report on the implementation of the activities and log-frame (format/outline and exact timeframe will be provided by UNICEF ECARO),
• Summary reports from the key events/workshops organised in the frame of the project,

Finally, it is expected to have regular calls with UNICEF ECARO to review progress, challenges and next steps. Ad-hoc calls may take place as deemed necessary. All reports to be submitted in electronic format by email to UNICEF Regional Child Protection Specialist in English.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:Deliverables/Outputs:Timeline1. Design, plan and carry out an assessment of the state-of-play of stakeholder/child participation practices and processes in Luxembourg.

Assessment framework including methodology, tools, workplan and timetable for the assessment, as well as Plan and methodology for consultation of children with the support of the working group members. Quality and ethical approval.

Draft assessment report, including the key recommendations in relation to the model and the national standards/framework, Workshop with the Technical Working group; a short report on the main results of the workshop, including the agenda, list of participants and presentation. Final assessment report (based on inputs and comments of the PCG and feedback from the Steering Group) along with a final presentation (PPP) with the key findings, observations and recommendations

Review report (4-5 pages) of other EU Member States experiences and good practices on children’s participation and proposal for 2 countries to oranise bilateral exchange.

45 Days2. Develop a proposal for stakeholder/child participatory policy including specific participatory governance mechanism and support the SDE in its implementation.

Draft an organisational policy for SDE with the aim to ethically, safely, effectively and meaningfully involve relevant stakeholders, with a particular focus on children. Finalise the proposal with the input of the PCG.

A proposal for the most relevant governance mechanism(s) should be included in the policy.

Prepare and lead consultation of the draft with relevant stakeholders/Technical working group.

In coordination with the SDE and Technical working group members, plan and support consultation with children.

Develop a guide for the implementation of the Policy

Organise a capacity building workshop for the guide and policy.

Estimated 50 days3. Provide relevant inputs to the development of a roadmap for future work to ensure that child participation in planning and implementation of child rights policies is strengthened in Luxembourg.Draft proposals with key milestones and responsibilities of relevant stakeholders to effectively implement the stakeholder/child participation policy, with a view to facilitating implementation and coordination by SDE.Estimated 5 daysTo qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Minimum Qualifications required:

• Advanced university degree (Master's) in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, development studies or another related field
• Proven experience and knowledge in related to the ToRs areas
• Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization and experience in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience developing child and adolescent participation and gender related policies and/or research and piloting and rollout of capacity building in this area;
• Understanding of adolescent participation and community-based interventions, channels of influence, and participatory planning and monitoring;
• A minimum of 5 years of professional experience in the field of social/ adolescent development and participation programme planning, behaviour change communication and advocacy.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle and complete multiple assignments with competing deadlines;
• Knowledge of the EU region especially on child rights policy cycle and child participation is an asset.
• Demonstrated experience of working with a range of stakeholders including policy makers, practice-based organizations and non-governmental organisations.
• Demonstrated experience of producing high-quality reports and other documents to specified deadlines
• Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines
• Excellent analytical and written skills
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Fluency in English (oral and written) and working knowledge of French is a strong asset.

Administrative details:

Supervision

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist.

Workplace

This is a consultancy home-based. Candidates are required to have internet connection, IT and communication equipment.

Travel

This assignment involves occasional travel to Luxembourg.

Duration

The estimate duration of this consultancy is from March 2023 until May 2024 (estimated 100 days in 15 months).

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, if applicable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

*****

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.

Remarks:

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 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.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org