Consultant - Incorporate child rights in Chinese infrastructure ESG framework, Beijing, China, 24 days (remote & onsite)

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, [Partnerships]

In April 2019, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) jointly launched the Declaration on Accelerating the Sustainable Development Goals for Children through Shared Development in the Belt and Road partner countries.

In October 2020, the Belt and Road Center of NDRC (BRC) and UNICEF China Country Office (hereinafter referred as “two sides”) established a partnership to promote the implementation of the Declaration. In November 2020, BRC and UNICEF signed the 2020 Work Plan to carry out joint research on impacts of connectivity infrastructure on children’s rights. The two sides established an expert group, interviewed representatives from Chinese enterprises and financial institutions, analyzed the laws, administrative regulations, policies and guidance issued by the Chinese government as well as the policies of the Chinese financial institutions concerning children’s rights protection in overseas infrastructure projects, facilitated a consultation session and developed a discussion paper. BRC developed a policy brief based on the discussion paper and submitted to senior government leaders.

According to the discussion paper, the development and operation of connectivity infrastructure under the Belt and Road countries can provide opportunities for children’s rights, including boosting economy of the host countries, providing more jobs for local families to improve livelihood, improving public health facilities, resources and services to health and sanitation condition for children, providing access to education and learnings for children and young people, etc. However, the construction and operation of connectivity infrastructure also have the potential to harm children. For example, improperly designed infrastructures might endanger children’s safety; the construction and operation might cause pollution; inappropriate land acquisition and relocation might cause negative impacts on children’s esp. child-headed households.

At present, it is not clear to what degree Chinese enterprises that participate in the construction and operation of the connectivity infrastructure projects have taken children’s rights protection systematically into account in their ESG framework. Nor it is clear if these enterprises have taken any measures to protect children’s right in the whole life circle and industrial chain of the infrastructure projects.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

• ● Develop a toolkit and guidance of how to use the toolkit to help Chinese connectivity infrastructure sector to incorporate children’s rights in their infrastructure projects.
• ● Strengthen the capacity of Chinese connectivity infrastructure through sharing and advocating the use of the toolkit and guidance.
• ● Provide reference for other sectors to include children’s rights protection into ESG framework
• ● Continue to influence government policies on incorporating child rights in outward investment related policies

Major Tasks, Deliverables & Timeframe:

Major Task & Deliverables

Timeframe

1, Pre****pare and present at 2 seminars and 1 advocacy event

1. a. Present the key findings of the Phase One Discussion Paper and the next steps of plans to develop the toolkit.
2. b. Introduce the toolkit, lead the discussions and consultations from stakeholders in the seminar organized
3. c. Present the finalized toolkit in the advocacy event to promote the toolkit

a. Oct/Nov, 2022

b. Jan/Feb, 2023

c. March/April, 2023

2, Toolkit development

1. a. Review the existing UNICEF toolkit – Children’s Rights in Impact Assessments and Children’s Rights and Mining Toolkit, and other relevant guidance and identify the key child right impact assessments indicators that are relevant to connectivity infrastructure and Chinese overseas investment.
2. b. Work with the BRC expert to finalize the child rights impacts assessments indicators and develop guidance of how to integrate the set of indicators to the identified ESG framework that connectivity infrastructure companies and projects commonly use.

a. Oct– Nov, 2022

b. Dec 2022 – Jan, 2023

3, Provide on-going consultancy to identified 2 companies

1. a. Work with the BRC expert, provide consultancy to the identified 2 infrastructures and projects
2. b. Support them to develop a plan to integrate the indicators including indicators of progress.

a. Feb – April, 2023

b. March – May, 2023

4, Provide advice and inputs for the policy brief (if available)

a. May, 2023

Methodology & Expected Output:

• ● 1 Presentation for the Discussion Paper findings and the phase 2 plan – based on the discuss paper and the policy briefing as well as other documents from Phase One of the project, the phase 2 plan and discussions with UNICEF and BRC
• ● 1 Presentation for the toolkit introduction – based on the toolkit, discussion with BRC experts, UNICEF and BRC and feedback collected from the kick-off seminar of phase 2
• ● 1 Presentation for the advocacy with the infrastructure sector – based on the stakeholder engagement and companies outreach led by BRC and discussion with BRC expert, UNICEF and BRC
• ● 1 toolkit and guidance of how to use the toolkit – based on the review of the existing UNICEF child rights impacts assessment toolkits and guidance as well as discussions with BRC expert of the identified infrastructure ESG framework and sector dynamics
• ● Consultancy to 2 companies through regular calls and meetings (if f-2-f meetings are possible)
• 1 input to the policy brief (if BRC can submit one)

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

• ● An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in law, social or political science, public policy, international development, or related fields. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• ● Minimum 10 years of work experience with one of the following is required: human rights/children’s rights and business with sectorial expertise (infrastructure or similar like mining, transportation) preferred. Prior experience in working with UNICEF on children’s rights and business is an advantage.
• ● A strong research background is required.
• ● Applicants must have a proven record of excellent writing and analytical skills in English.

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.