Consultancy: Consultant, Development/Update of resources to support the systematic integration of a rights-based approach into UNICEF’s programming – Phase One - Human Rights Unit, PG, NYHQ

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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, hope.

Consultancy Title: Development/Update of resources to support the systematic integration of a rights-based approach into UNICEF’s programming – Phase One

Section/Division/Duty Station: Human Rights Unit, PGLT, NYHQ (remote)

Duration: 52 days (during the period of 15 November to 30 June)

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

In the UN Secretary General‘s Call to Action for Human Rights (2020)[1], he emphasized the centrality of human rights, requiring that human rights be fully considered in all decision-making, operations and institutional commitments within the UN. He stated in particular that, ‘Human Rights are the responsibility of each and every UN actor and a culture of human rights must permeate everything we do, in the field, at regional level and at Headquarters’. This Call comes in a context of growing inequalities, both within and across countries, and reminds all UN entities that a human rights-based approach is essential to addressing structural inequalities, discrimination and violations of human rights including child rights in a systematic manner.

This human rights imperative is also grounded in the 2030 Agenda and pledge to Leave No One Behind. As the Secretary General noted, ‘When we take a human rights-based approach[2] to development, the outcomes are more sustainable, powerful and effective. This is why human rights permeate the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’. The Quadrennial comprehensive policy review of operational activities for development of the United Nations system (QCPR) adopted in 2020 also makes explicit references to the critical role of UN entities to support the realization of human rights.[3]

The newly adopted UNICEF Strategic Plan[4] for the period 2022-2025 reflects the imperative of putting human rights and child rights principles and standards at the center of UNICEF’s work. It recalls UNICEF’s child rights mandate, and the need to “fight harder than ever to safeguard children’s rights”, referring inter-alia to a global pushback to human rights and the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on the rights of the most marginalized. Explicit focus on the human rights principles of non-discrimination, participation and accountability is also notable in this Strategic Plan.

To make a rights-based approach a reality, UNICEF has in recent years updated its corporate guidance, policies and procedures. For instance, it has updated the UNICEF Results Based Management (RBM) training to reconcile it with a rights- based approach, through the development of the “Rights and Results Based Management (RRBM)” modules; and also reflected human rights, child rights and a rights based approach In the recently established platform for programming policies and procedures (the PPPX).

However, it is evident that more should be done to ensure that capacity building, including through the provision of relevant materials, is systematically and comprehensively provided to UNICEF personnel at all levels, as well as UNICEF partners, on a rights- based approach. This is based on working consultations conducted across HQ divisions and with Regional Offices, on multiple requests from Country Offices for dedicated trainings on a rights-based approach received by the PGLT Human Rights Unit and based on the latest draft report of the 2020 institutional assessment of UNICEF conducted by the Multilateral Organization Performance Assessment Network (MOPAN).

In this context, and in relation to requests from across Divisions, and from Country Offices, the UNICEF PGLT Human Rights Unit proposes to recruit a consultant to 1) conduct a comprehensive mapping and review of existing materials to support a human-rights based approach and a child rights approach within UNICEF and their uptake, and to 2) develop Phase One of capacity building resources for the systematic integration of a comprehensive rights-based approach into UNICEF’s programming work. This would help ensure that all UNICEF interventions are deliberately and explicitly guided and informed by a systematic consideration and integration of human rights and child rights standards and principles.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The Consultant will work within, provide support to, and be supported by the PGLT Human Rights Unit. The Consultant will be required to work across all relevant UNICEF Divisions (especially DAPM), with UNICEF Regional and Country Offices, with UNICEF Natcoms and with partners from other UN entities, academic institutions, human rights and child rights NGOs, and civil society amongst others.

The main tasks of the Consultant are as follows:

• Develop a mapping of existing global, regional, country level resources from UNICEF and partners (such as training materials/guides/other material) on a human rights-based approach and a child rights approach;
• Identify, on that basis, gaps and needs to support UNICEF Country Offices;
• Under Phase One – develop updated, contemporary and standardised capacity building resources and guidance on a comprehensive rights-based approach for UNICEF personnel and partners, integrating human rights and child rights approaches.

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master’s in International law; International relations; Political science; or a related field.

2) Work experience

• At least 10 years of experience in the fields of human rights and child rights;
• Up-to-date knowledge of the international legal framework on human rights and child rights and concrete experience of its implementation;
• Demonstrated experience in applying a human rights-based approach to programming, and a child rights approach.
• Experience in research.
• Experience in facilitating consultation processes with a variety of stakeholders.

3) Competencies

• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
• Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

[1] The Highest Aspiration: A Call to Action for Human Rights.

[2] For more information on the HRBA, refer to the UNSDG page on Human Rights-Based Approach

[3] https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/75/233

[4] https://www.unicef.org/executiveboard/media/7331/file/2021-25-Strategic_Plan_2022-2025-EN-ODS.pdf