Consultant – Roma Inclusion (full-time, office-based)

This opening expired 2 years ago. Do not try to apply for this job.

UNICEF - United Nations Children's Fund

Open positions at UNICEF
Logo of UNICEF

Application deadline 2 years ago: Monday 19 Apr 2021 at 20:55 UTC

Open application form

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, opportunities.

How can you make a difference?

  1. Background

The Roma are one of Europe’s largest and most disadvantaged ethnic minority groups. While some have overcome, millions live in slums and lack access to the basic services they need, from healthcare and education to electricity and clean water. Discrimination against Roma communities is commonplace, fueling their exclusion. Far from spurring support for their social inclusion, their poverty and poor living conditions often reinforce the stereotyped views of policymakers and the public. And far from receiving the support that is their right, Roma children face discrimination that denies them the essentials for a safe, healthy, educated and protected childhood.

There is a general absence of adequate information and quality data on Roma populations in Romania relating to topics key to the rights of the child, including education, health and nutrition, and living conditions, resulting to Roma children being particularly vulnerable as they too often remain out of sight of the authorities. Roma settlements are often isolated on the outskirts of villages and towns, and with poor housing, sanitation and hygiene conditions, and Roma communities face multiple and inter-related segregation, educational deprivation, forced evictions and systemic discrimination, leading to poverty and exclusion.

When it comes to education, significant disparities are apparent across all ages. Only 3% of Roma children under 3 are enrolled in crèche/kindergarten compared to 22% of non-Roma children. For the age group 3-6 years, 39% of Roma children are enrolled in crèche/kindergarten compared to 86% of non-Roma. For the age group over 6 years old, 81.5% of Roma children are enrolled in school compared to 99.2% of non-Roma. There are also consistent inequities between Roma and non-Roma children in terms of learning outcomes and scores on critical competencies. Further, among the estimated 400,000 children that are out of school (2016), Roma children are overrepresented. Finally, Roma children are six times more likely than other children not to complete secondary education. We see similar trends in other areas of child rights, such as health, protection and participation.

The Government of Romania has made steps to address the needs of this marginalized population through the National Strategy on Roma Inclusion (2017-2021). The current strategy is focused on key areas of education, employment, healthcare and housing in geographical areas where there are concentrated numbers of the Roma population. However, policies initiated and implemented tend to be generic and fail to adequately distinguish between the large socio-economic differences present, and the diversity in the education level of the targeted populations.

In 2019, the EU adopted a resolution on a Strategic Framework for National Roma Inclusion Strategies. This has been followed by the development of a survey in 2020, led by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, to collect and compare data in eight EU member states (and two accession countries). The survey collects information about Roma socio-economic conditions and their experiences of discrimination, harassment and violence, including those motivated by racism, and serve as a baseline for the post-2020 inclusion agenda, with results expected in mid-2021. More recently, the European Commission adopted a EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation 2020-2030, a new 10-year plan, including a proposal for a Council Recommendation, to support Roma in the EU, for the next 10 years. With this framework in place, all EU governments should now start (or continue) to develop strong national Roma strategic frameworks.

UNICEF’s global commitment to equity – giving a fair chance in life to every child, everywhere, especially the most disadvantaged – is built on the conviction that it is right in principle and evidence that it is right in practice. In Romania, UNICEF focusses on the most vulnerable children – which include Roma girls and boys – across its programmes, communication and advocacy, with the aim to leverage their social inclusion.

UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children's rights as enduring ethical principles and international standards of behaviour towards children.

  1. Purpose and Objective

As part of a widened mandate UNICEF Romania is seeking to strengthen its programing towards Roma children within its reach through identifying opportunities and needs for action, as well as to support relevant National and Local authorities in the development of an effective policy framework and in the design of appropriate responses for ensuring the full realization of the rights of Roma children.

  1. Scope of work

With a view of improving understanding of the needs and vulnerabilities of Roma children in Romania, supporting state actors in the design of adequate policies and progamming, and strengthening the effectiveness of UNICEF support to this population group, the Consultant - Roma Inclusion will undertake the following key tasks:

  • Analyze and document results achieved in relation to Roma children from recent and current interventions implemented by UNICEF and its partners, and other UN agencies through the review of reports, documents and interviews with selected UNICEF staff, partners and other stakeholders.
  • As a member of the internal Situation Analysis working group, ensure that the UNICEF situation analysis, undertaken by a separate consulting agency, includes an analysis of the situation of Roma Children in the Country.
  • Support the development of the new UNICEF Strategy Note as part of the preparation of the new Country Programme 2023 – 2027 with a view to Roma inclusion.
  • Assist the UNICEF Office in planning a Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) with the aim to deliver quality disaggregated data by Roma and non-Roma.
  • Map actors and capacities engaged in advocacy, policy advisory and in delivering services to Roma populations and especially children, in Romania.
  • Support the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in the development of the new Child Rights Strategy focusing particularly on Roma Inclusion.
  • Organize a series of discussions with both UNICEF staff, UNICEF contractors and UNICEF partners around:
    • National Roma inclusion and its impact (or lack thereof) on Roma children.
    • Building more Roma inclusive environment (targeting UNICEF and partners itself).
    • Participate in sub-regional discussions on Roma inclusion organized by UNICEF regional and country offices.
  • Support UNICEF in Romania, especially the Operations and Communications teams, in strategies to promote diversity and Roma inclusion in UNICEF and its assets (website, FB posts, publications, UN Partner Portal etc.)
  • A plan for UNICEF staff to improve their competencies in planning, implementing and reporting results for Roma.

The Consultant will report to the Representative but will work in close coordination with the Head of the Advocacy and Partnerships team, the Deputy Representative, the Education and Child Protection Specialists, the Communications Manager and the Operations Manager.

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

  • Advanced university degree in social sciences or relevant areas;
  • At least 7 years of professional work experience in social policy, children's rights, minority rights, child protection and/or education in Romania, including in the provision of policy advice in the relevant areas;
  • In-depth understanding of Roma issues and underlying factors for their social exclusion in the country;
  • Excellent writing skills;
  • Excellent analytical, communication and negotiating skills;
  • Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity;
  • Computer skills, including various office applications;
  • Knowledge of Romani language. Fluency in Romanian and in English (written and oral).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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 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.

Important Remarks:

UNICEF’s active commitment towards diversity and inclusion is critical to deliver the best results for children. For this position, suitable Roma candidates will receive preferential consideration and selection, as long as they meet the eligibility requirements stated above.

The position requires a presence in Bucharest. Work location can be discussed, but will be a mix between in-office work, working-from home and field missions, as required.

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

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.

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.

Application procedure:

The application will be made in the dedicated UNICEF platform and it must include:

  1. an updated CV focused on the skills and experience requested by the current consultancy;
  2. a cover letter underlining the motivation for applying for the position and how the candidate’s experience, skills and experience match the requirements of the position ;
  3. a financial offer Financial bid_Roma Inclusion.docx, specifying the requested gross monthly fee in RON taking into consideration that the consultant will be responsible for paying all his/her due income taxes as per Romanian fiscal legislation.
Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org