Consultancy: Consultant, Preparation of the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child - Human Rights Unit, PD, NYHQ - 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, human rights.

Consultancy Title: Preparation of the Report of the UN Secretary-General on the Status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child

Section/Division/Duty Station: Human Rights Unit/Programme Division/NYHQ

Duration: 30 days (8 March- 30 June 2021)

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

General Assembly Resolution A/RES/74/133 on the promotion and protection of the rights of children adopted on 18 December 2019 requests the Secretary-General to submit to the General Assembly at its seventy-six session (2021) a comprehensive report on the rights of the child containing information on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and on the issues addressed in the resolution, with a focus on the rights of the child and the Sustainable Development Goals.

UNICEF is the lead agency tasked with drafting and compiling the report, in consultation with other UN agencies, departments, funds and programmes. The drafting process is conducted in close collaboration with OHCHR, who will be reviewing and submitting the report to the Executive Office of the Secretary General. Key contributions will include submissions by Member States, UN entities, and civil society organizations.

This year’s report provides an important opportunity for UNICEF and key partners to prominently feature children’s rights in the context of the 2030 Agenda and its pledge of Leaving No One Behind, and focus in particular on efforts applied to 1) ensure that a child-rights approach is central to the implementation of the SDGs, and 2) overcome the SDG implementation gaps and barriers affecting child rights realization, looking for examples at steps taken to:

• Strengthen accountability for children’s rights.
• Tackle all forms of discrimination against children including intersecting and overlapping forms of discrimination.
• Reach children who are left behind or at risk of being further left behind.
• Ensure children’s meaningful participation in matters that affect them.

Ultimately, the report should inform Member States and other relevant stakeholders of the significant progress, remaining challenges and existing opportunities for engagement and the ways forward on these issues and galvanize political and donor support.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The purpose of this consultancy is to assist UNICEF in drafting the Report of the Secretary-General on the status of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.

The report will be drafted by the consultant under the supervision of the designated staff in UNICEF Human Rights Unit, based on relevant research and incorporating inputs received from Member States, civil society organizations and relevant UN actors (including from different sections and divisions within UNICEF). There will be several stages of internal clearance of the report following which revisions needed will be made to the report as per comments received. The report will be prepared in compliance with UN study guides, including the Handy Guide for UNICEF Staff (Word document to be provided), UN Editorial Manual Online http://dd.dgacm.org/editorialmanual/ and http://untermportal.un.org/UNTERM/portal/welcome.

The main activities to be conducted for the preparation of the annual report to the General Assembly include:

• Conduct desk research/review on the main themes to be covered by the report, using as a basis the latest relevant publications (Deadline: 25 March);
• Draft the report based on research conducted and inputs received from Member States, civil society organizations, UNICEF and other relevant UN actors (Deadline 26 April);
• Revise and finalize the report based on the review and clearance process (18 June).

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master’s Degree in Social Sciences, International Law, International Relation; Political Science; or a relevant field.
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Outlook.

2) Work experience

• A minimum of five years of experience in the international development field, including with a UN agency; expertise and/or technical knowledge in relation to human rights, child rights, and the SDGs.

3) Competencies

• Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills
• Excellent writing skills with experience writing technical UN documents.
• Able to provide clear and specific technical inputs in English and to incorporate inputs from varying parties.
• Excellent written and verbal communication in English.
• Work effectively through email, phone, and other means of communications.

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, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds 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.