Consultant - LAC Menstrual Hygiene and Dignity Policy, LACRO, Panama City

Consultant Programme & Policy Medical & Health

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, Empowerment

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Background

UNICEF promotes the rights and welfare of all children and adolescents in everything we do. Together with our allies, we work in 190 countries and territories to transform this commitment into practical actions that benefit all children, especially focusing our efforts on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded, worldwide.

The UNICEF Latin America and Caribbean Regional Office is based in in Panama, operating in 36 territories, including 24 country offices. UNICEF works to put the rights and well-being of the most disadvantaged children at the heart of the social, political, and economic agenda, in line with our equity focus, working across our organization and with our partners in government, civil society and the private sector to support shifts in public policy, fuel social engagement, and increase investment for children.

For more information about UNICEF and its work. (www.unicef.org/lac)..)

Purpose of the Assignment

Under the overall guidance of the regional WASH Specialist and LACRO menstrual hygiene and dignity (MHD) focal point, and in coordination with Gender, Social Policy and ADAP, the consultant will review the public policy dialogue status for MHD for all countries in LAC, identifying opportunities for UNICEF’s engagement and advocacy for MHD policy formulation and implementation through a phased approach.

Secondly, the consultant will systematize UNICEF country offices (and other relevant organizations) experience with policy practice on MHD for women, girls, and menstruating people, drawing particularly from the experience of UNICEF Brazil, Ecuador and Peru country offices, to help guide other countries in this area of work. Recognizing the importance of adolescent and youth participation, as well as women’s organizations, in WASH policy, the consultant will develop a strategy for adolescent engagement in this topic.

Specific Tasks

Under the supervision of the regional WASH Specialist and regional focal point for menstrual hygiene and dignity (MHD), the consultant interview and gather information from UNICEF country office colleagues in WASH, ADAP, Social Policy and Gender sections, as well as government and civil society, including youth and adolescents.

1. Review and map the related available data and public policy dialogue status and entry points for UNICEF’s engagement on MHD for menstruating people, producing a regional policy review

- Desk review of key documents, data and key informant interviews focused on public policy dialogue space to define the status and identify entry points/opportunities for progress per country in LAC - Write a policy review with details of the mapping per country and overall for the region

2. Capture the experience of UNICEF Brazil, Ecuador and Peru CO (and any other relevant organizations) on MHD policy and produce a guidance/recommendations document to guide other UNICEF COs and LACRO

- Desk review and interview with UNICEF, partners and the wider WASH sector to map good practice, bottlenecks and lessons learnt, particularly Gender and WASH colleagues from UNICEF Peru, Ecuador and Brazil - Based on UNICEF’s MHD policy and WASH enabling environment guidance, produce a user-friendly guideline with recommendations to enable UNICEF LACRO and country offices to engage and contribute to MHD policy development, implementation and practice design and implement, recognizing the diversity of region, and considering a multi sectorial and integrated approach

3. In consultation with the Brazil CO WASH, ADAP, Gender and Social Policy staff, analyse gaps, bottlenecks, and good practices for guidance on operationalization of the MHD law, including a roadmap for local governments

- Recognizing the existing policy in Brazil, and the different levels of progress made nationally and at state and municipal level, analyse the progress and identify champions municipalities and states - Write an “operationalization of the law’ guidance that captures bottlenecks and good practices to be used to advocate and mobilize state and municipal governments with less progress, embedding the guidance within the Agenda Cidade UNICEF and the SELO program - Produce a roadmap that UNICEF can provide to local governments for the operationalization and implementation of the law at their level. These products should be useful for Brazil CO as well as applicable to other countries in the region

4. In consultation with key COs and relevant regional specialists, analyse the extent of adolescents’ participation on the policy dialogue for MHD, and produce a strategy and campaign pack for UNICEF to enhance adolescent participation in WASH related policy including MHD

- Consult UNICEF staff, youth and adolescents, and policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to understand the space and role that adolescents can have in WASH policy, particularly on MHD - Under the sector-wide approach and taking into consideration group ages (10-14 yrs. and 15-19 yrs.) as well as ADAP initiatives (i.e. NUCAs of SELO program in Brazil), produce a strategy with a campaign pack to guide LACRO and COs on adolescent participation and engagement in policy

5. Produce a fundraising concept note for UNICEF regional action, making an investment case for MHD based on the mapping and guidance produced to be presented to public and private donors

- Desk review of funding opportunitie, good practices and initiatives for WASH programme with focus on MHD and gender and adolescents in WASH - Write a concept note with detailed logframe and budget, capturing opportunities for UNICEF’s contributions for MHD policy development and practice

Expected Results

With the work delivered by the consultant, UNICEF LACRO and COs will have a phased approach to engage with countries in the region and influence policy for MHD to ensure women, girls and menstruating people have access to menstrual hygiene services and dignity, including in education centres and schools, allowing for the same opportunities as their peers.

This phased approach will draw from the existing experience of UNICEF Brazil, Ecuador and Peru with documentation of good practices, recommendations and guidance to UNICEF COs and a roadmap for local governments where policy practice exists.

A strategy for adolescent’s participation will also be developed to ensure their contributions are integrated in the policy work of WASH and Gender.

Deliverables

Description

Duration [in days]

Expected deadline

1. Regional LAC menstrual hygiene and dignity (MHD) policy review

18

26 December 2022

2. Guidance with recommendations for MHD policy engagement, targeted at UNICEF LACRO and COs

20

23 January 2023

3. Guidance on operationalization of MHD policy, including good practices and a local government roadmap that can be used by UNICEF Brazil CO and regionally

24

24 February 2023

4. Strategy and communication pack for participation and engagement of adolescents’ and women’s organizations with the WASH sector and on MHD policy

20

24 March 2023

5. Regional Concept Note making an investment case for UNICEF to support the MHD policy agenda in LAC

5

31 March 2023

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

Minimum Requirements and Qualifications

Education

Advanced university degree (master’s) in a subject area relevant to gender, social policy, public health, political science or economics is required. Holding a doctoral degree in public, public health, WASH related studies, public policy, gender studies or related fields will be considered an asset.

Work Experience

• At least 5 years of demonstrated experience in the design, implementation, evaluation or analysis of public policies - in particular social services - in Latin America and the Caribbean is required. Specific experience in WASH and menstrual hygiene and dignity programmes will be considered an asset.
• Excellent understanding of social sector and public policy issues, preferably related to menstrual and women’s rights, including comprehension of legislative processes, mobilization of civil society and mapping of relevant policy stakeholders.
• Experience leading or contributing to the implementation of WASH, public health, sexual and reproductive health and/or social policies, as well as coordinating with public and private stakeholders for programme implementation, will be considered an asset.
• Demonstrated experience in policy related research, including the application of mixed/qualitative and quantitative methods, and the production of sound research reports and policy recommendations.
• Demonstrated experience in the production of fundraising proposals is desirable.

Languages

Fluency in Spanish and English is required. Knowledge of French and Portuguese will be considered an asset.

Technical knowledge

• Experience working under sector wider approach
• Previous experience in working on guidelines and tools Knowledge of the work of UNICEF
• Experience working with the UN System and knowledge of UNICEF programmes is an asset

Other skills and attributes

• Excellent listening skills
• Demonstrated ability to plan.
• Ability to work efficiently under tight deadlines and multitask
• Ability to define objectives, plan activities and work independently
• Able to work effectively in a multicultural environment.
• Sets high levels of quality and productivity for self.

Administrative details

Supervision

The contractor will work under the direct supervision of the WASH Specialist and regional menstrual hygiene and dignity focal point, and in close collaboration with the Gender, ADAP and Social Policy regional colleagues.

Workplace

This is a home-based consultancy.

Duration

This contract is expected to start on 1 December 2022 with an estimated duration of 4 months.

How to Apply

Application should be submitted online and should include: Resume, Cover Letter and Financial proposal. Qualified candidates are requested to submit daily, monthly and total fees in their financial proposal.

Is travel involved

This consultancy may involved mission travels.

Travel will be covered by UNICEF as per policy.

• Travel costs will be estimated and added to the contract once they are determined based on UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.
• For agreed country visits, the contractor/consultant will be responsible in administering their own travel. UNICEF will reimburse travel related expenses based on actual costs or on the below criteria whichever is lower and upon presentation of receipts.
• Any travel involved should be budgeted according to UN Travel Standards as a ceiling.
• UN Secretariat Administrative Instruction on Official Travel, ST/AI/2013/3: Sect. 4, para. 4.2, numerals (d) and (e)
• For information on Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA), can be found on the International Civil Service Commission website (all countries and destinations can be found by navigating on the map).

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