Consultant- TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE OFFICE OF THE DEPUTY OMBUDSWOMAN FOR CHILDREN TO DELIVER AN IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF COVID-19 MEASURES ON CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Athens, Greece

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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,

The COVID-19 pandemic has confronted us with an unprecedented situation that has affected and will continue to deeply affect children’s lives worldwide, far beyond any health risks. UNICEF has been closely monitoring the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children, noting that disruptions to families, friendships, schooling and the wider community can have negative consequences on children’s well-being, development and protection. On the other hand, measures used to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19 virus can expose children to additional protection risks.

The European Network of Ombudspersons for Children (ENOC) is a membership body made up of 43 independent children’s rights institutions in 34 countries within the Council of Europe, whose main objective is to safeguard and promote children and young people’s fundamental rights. Its mission is therefore to closely monitor the situation of all children throughout the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as responses from local, national and European authorities during and after the end of isolation measures; to share critical information, good practices and experiences in order to keep children and their families safe; and to guarantee respect of children’s rights under the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant European and International Human Rights instruments.

In this context, ENOC and UNICEF have initiated a collaboration around the issue of COVID-19 and children’s rights, since May 2020 through the launch of a short online survey on Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Children’s responses to the new challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by an online discussion in June on the impact of COVID-19 on the work of over 60 Ombudspersons for Children’s Offices and on children’s rights in their respective countries.

Following up on this ongoing collaboration, UNICEF ECARO has decided to further support ENOC to provide direct technical assistance to a number of Ombudspersons for Children’s offices in Europe and Central Asia for the undertaking and completing of specific Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) related to COVID-19, looking at key identified areas and specific vulnerable groups of children including those in institutional care, in detention/closed institutions, affected by violence, involved in child labour or caught in migration.

In this context, ENOC will develop a Common Framework of Reference (CFR) and will train and guide the National Ombudspersons, on the methodology of the Assessment and assure the quality of the reporting.

The Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children in Greece, is mandated to monitor and follow up on the implementation of international conventions for child rights, and based on these observations, develop and submit proposals to the Government for regulatory changes that aim to reinforce provisions for improved child rights implementation. As part of this mandate it is required to report on the situation and implementation of the rights of all children in Greece. The Office works in cooperation with the European Network for Ombudspersons (ENOC) which this year is Chaired by the Greek Deputy Ombudswoman and will actively participate in the assessment.

How can you make a difference?

Major Duties and Responsibilities:

Under the overall supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, and in close collaboration with the Deputy Ombudswoman for Child Rights the consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Propose to and support the Deputy Ombudswoman’s Office to adapt the Common Framework of Reference developed by ENOC to the Greece context and needs;

2. Provide technical assistance to the Deputy Ombudswoman’s Office in collecting and analysing data and conducting the CRIA in three areas affecting child rights: social protection, criminal justice for children and education;

3. Support the Deputy Ombudswoman’s Office to draft the CRIA Report as per the format suggested by ENOC;

4. Support in launching and communicating the findings and recommendations stemming from the CRIA, in formats appropriate for various audiences.

Key Deliverables:

1. Adapted CFR and CRIA tools to Greece’s context and needs

Tasks:

• Attend the training sessions organised by ENOC on CRIA in the COVID-19 context, as part of the ENOC-UNICEF ECARO partnership;

• Examine the proposed CFR, developed by ENOC, and raise any issues /clarifications that may be required with the ENOC expert;

• Identify together with Deputy Ombudswoman’s Office and UNICEF the most appropriate methodological options for Greece;

• Propose adapted tools for the COVID-19 national CRIA

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Due: April 16th

2. Data collection and CRIA analysis

Tasks:

• Conduct desk review of state-issued normative acts in response to the COVID-19 challenges, particularly in the three identified areas: social protection, criminal justice for children and education;

• Conduct field data collection from key informants, service providers and other stakeholders;

• Analyse findings and prepare first draft of the national CRIA report

Due: mid June, 2021

3. Final national report and other write ups adapted to various audiences

Tasks:

• Reflect in the second draft and in the final report the respective 1st and 2nd rounds of feedback by UNICEF and ENOC;

• Prepare additional short versions of the report for advocacy and information purposes, particularly: a) for decision-makers; b) for the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the EU Delegation and other international partners; c) for the general public and d) for children;

• Review the English translation(s) of the report and other written materials and ensure that they correspond adequately to the Greek originals developed for this exercise.

Due: mid July, 2021

4. Launch and dissemination of COVID-19 CRIA (findings and recommendations) for Greece

Tasks:

• Prepare a draft concept note, agenda, list of participants, summary presentation for the official launch of the Greece COVID-19 CRIA;

• Contribute to drafting of write-ups for media communications;

• Advise on a list of recipients for the dissemination of the report;

• Support the office of the Deputy Ombudswoman in organizing the national launch event of the report as well as for the ENOC launch of the main, multi-country COVID-19 CRIA report.

Due: end October, 2021

5. Consultancy report

Including:

• Expertise and advice offered to counterparts;

• Describe the meetings and workshops conducted or facilitated;

• Describe own contribution as well as any challenges encountered during this consultancy;

• Any recommendations for future similar exercises that may be conducted by the Ombudsperson and/or UNICEF.

Due: 15th November, 2021

Supervision and Reporting

• The Consultant will be appointed by UNICEF and seconded to the Office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Child Rights in Athens. The incumbent will be supervised by and will report directly to the Deputy Ombudswoman for Child Rights.

• The Consultant might need to travel within Greece as required for the field data collection process.

• The Consultant will be supported by the UNICEF Country Office, Greece and the UNICEF Regional Office for CEE/CIS– the Child Rights Monitoring and Child Protection Specialists.

• The Consultant will produce brief monthly progress reports in English to UNICEF, by the first Friday of every new month, outlining key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, as well as key recommendations and findings of report.

• Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on deliverables and submission of monthly progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant

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

• Master’s degree in social sciences or humanitarian studies, law or other related field

  • At least 5 years of professional experience in research preferably related to human/child rights or relevant field

  • Knowledge and understanding of human rights/child right’s protection (preferably with a focus on child protection)

  • Knowledge and understanding of information management process (data collection, analyses and reporting)

  • Experience and understanding of monitoring and evaluation processes and tools, preferably with experience in child or human rights monitoring and reporting

  • Previous experience in assessing impact of laws or government policies over human rights is considered a strong asset.

  • Analytical, writing, sensitive communication and organisational skills.

  • Fluency in Greek and English.

F****or 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.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remuneration and Payment Schedule

Consultancy fees: Candidates are asked to indicate their required all-inclusive fees for the services to be provided. However, the UNICEF Office in Greece applies a standard remuneration scale for Individual Contractors/Consultants providing technical support to Government Institutions and National Authorities, taking into consideration the professional and academic experience of the incumbent, the functions that the consultant is tasked to carry out, as well as the local labor market

(including the salary scale of the public sector). The final rate will be negotiated with the candidate upon recommendation by the selection panel.

Payment schedule: Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on agreed deliverables and a submission of monthly progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant, upon approval by the direct supervisor. Monthly progress reports will be brief, produced in English and summarize key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, priorities for the next reporting period, highlighting any support needs from or recommendations for UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Contractual arrangements:

• Duty Station and Travel: The consultant will be seconded to support the office of the Deputy Ombudswoman for Children Rights Greece. S/he may be expected to travel.

• Estimated duration of the contract: The consultant is expected to work for 9 months between April and December 2021.

o Travel Clause: All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.

o All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.

o The eligible maximum amount for travel will be specified in the contract.

o The consultant is responsible for his/her for travel arrangements, via the most economic and direct route.

o Travel costs will be reimbursed after the completion of mission. UNICEF will pay the applicable DSA rate and other travel related expenses upon submission of the invoice together with the supporting documentation.

o The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSafe certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

How to apply: Applicants are invited to:

1. Attach the Letter of interest, including a plan describing the approach to the assignment, and availability

2. Complete their UNICEF profile

3. Attach latest P-11 History Form, CV and Motivation Letter (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.htm))

4. Indicate monthly fees

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.

Remarks:

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.

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Added 3 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org