Cross Sectoral, Individual Contractor, Pacaraima, Roraima, Brazil

Contract

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Background & Rationale

Over 260,000 Venezuelan migrants and refugees arrived in Brazil since the onset of the migration crisis10. Some 50,000 (of which 30% estimated children) settled in the Northern States of Roraima, Amazonas and Para, where services and monitoring activities focus on 73 identified locations, including: 22 official shelters, 17 spontaneous occupations, church/civil society institutions, Operação Acolhida (OA) facilities (screening, reception, transit centres), and indigenous communities. The majority enter the country via the border in the northern State of Roraima, concentrating in the municipalities of Pacaraima and Boa Vista, where 13 official shelters and triage centers, managed by the Brazilian Army and UNHCR, host 5,536 people (1,562 children <15 years). The rapid surge of migrants has strained the capacity of local municipalities in Roraima, one of the most impoverished and least densely populated states in the country (522,636 inhabitants distributed in 13 municipalities and a per capita income of US$268). The population in Pacaraima, border municipality with Venezuela, is around 12,375 people according to the 2017 Census. IOM recorded in December 2020, 1462 Venezuelans living in spontaneous occupations in Pacaraima, 624 of which are children.

Among the migrant population, Venezuelan indigenous communities are amongst the most vulnerable. It is estimated that there are currently 4,654 indigenous refugees and migrants from Venezuela, mainly of Warao (81%), Pemon Taurepan (17%) and Eñepa (2%) ethnicities, with about half living in indigenous shelters in Roraima (900 individuals), Manaus (around 700) and Pará (around 500)[1], and moving in the states of Roraima, Amazonas and Pará.

The Brazilian Federal Government response, known as Operacao Acolhida (OA), was launched in February 2018 and is managed by Casa Civil at Federal level, with the Army providing the overall coordination of the response at field level. The operation is organized around three key pillars : (i) Reception and documentation, (ii) Emergency Assistance (food, shelter, emergency healthcare etc), and (iii) Federal Voluntary Relocation programme for Venezuelan refugees and migrants.

Since 2018, UNICEF initiated its interventions in Roraima and established an Office in Boa Vista. Building on its development programme to support the most vulnerable and disadvantaged in Brazil, UNICEF’s response to the needs of children and families in the context of the migration crisis focuses on ensuring access to essential services and programmes. UNICEF aims at strengthening the capacity of actors responsible for providing quality protection, education, health/nutrition, water and sanitation services (including Government, non-governmental and community organizations), so that they are fully equipped to assist children on the move and their families. UNICEF advocates for the rights and voices of children and women as an integral component of the response.

Since 2019, UNICEF has a dedicated response for children in Pacaraima, liasing with the local network and organizations part of the Operação Acolhida to create referral pathways and SOPs. With activities in all the shelters as well spontaneous occupations, UNICEF programming in the border expanded to cover all programmatic areas, guarantying the implementation of activities in Child Protection, Water /sanitation and Health/Nutrition and Education.

Purpose

Under the general guidance of the Chief Field Officer in Boa Vista, provide support and overall coordination of UNICEF programmatic response in Pacaraima. Main responsibilities:

Situation Analysis and Reporting

• Conduct regular assessment and analysis of the children situation in Pacaraima.
• When necessary, support and coordinate data collection of migrant and refugee populations with specific attention to AGD (age, gender and diversity dimensions), to feed into reporting requirements and to inform programming.

• Develop, manage and update on a weekly basis the UASC- IMS (online databank). Prepare monthly updates for stakeholder members of the IMS, in line with the IMS Protocol on Information Sharing.

  Inter-agency coordination and representation

• Represent UNICEF at meetings and working groups in Pacaraima, and provide technical contribution in the elaboration of interagency referrals mechanisms and other initiatives.

• Represent UNICEF during donor, partners and government missions to Pacaraima.
• Liaise and engage with key stakeholders in Pacaraima on children issues and concerns.
• With the technical support of the programme officers, engage with the local Network, and actively contribute to existing coordination mechanisms of Operação Acolhida in Pacaraima.
• Ccontribute to the cross border coordination with UNICEF Venezuela.

Sub-sector and working groups strategy development

• Support the timely and effective implementation of the agreed child protection sub-sector response strategy in the border, mainly the work with Unaccompanied and Separated Children, and indigenous population;
• With the support of the programme officers, engage and coordinate the working group in Education and WASH (Water, sanitation and hygiene) in Pacaraima

Project monitoring and technical support

• Monitor UNICEF projects, propose remedial actions and provide technical guidance to implementing partners to ensure the implementation pace and approach are in line with humanitarian principles and standards[2] and meet the project expected results.

Expected results: (measurable results)

• Rolling situation analysis of the children situation in Pacaraima with visible AGD considerations.
• Effective delivery and visibility of UNICEF prevention and response interventions in Pacaraima.

Deliverables

01 Month

Monthly report structured in 2 main parts: 1) update of the situation in Pacaraima, in a intersectoral perspective (education, child protection, health and wash) 2) gaps, key results, challenges, remedial action and priorities actions for the month ahead (for inter-agency coordination and project monitoring)

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 01 month from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

02 Months

Monthly report

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 02 months from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

03 Months

Monthly report

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 03 months from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

04 Months

Monthly report

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 04 months from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

05 Months

Monthly report

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 05 months from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

06 Months

Final report providing an analytical overview of progress under the 3 main areas of responsibilities (Situation Analysis; Inter-agency coordination and working groups strategy; UNICEF project implementation and technical support) together with a set of corresponding recommendations

Duration:30 days

Deadline: 06 months from the date of contract signature

Payment: R$ 14.000,00

N.B A standard monthly reporting format will be developed and agreed upon with the consultant.

Timeframe

6 months from the signature of contract

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• The monthly reports shall be subject to review and approval by UNICEF after delivery by the Individual Contractor. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil, will the payment be processed.
• Activity reports should be submitted with frequency lists of meetings and / or events, minutes of meetings with referrals agreed, photographic record with permission to use image according to UNICEF standard and life histories;
• If the product's delivery date is at the weekend or on a public holiday, it must be delivered on the next following business day;
• UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF and the partners are not followed, the performance is unsatisfactory, or work/deliverables are incomplete, not delivered or fail to meet the deadlines.

technical background and experience required

• university degree in psychology, law, international relations, social work, anthropology or other relevant field.
• Minimum 3 years progressively responsible professional work experience at the national or international levels in international/ civil society organizations
• Background and familiarity with international human rights and emergency response.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English (verbal and written), and fluent oral Spanish
• Good knowledge of State and municipal governments and civil society organizations
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, and proven ability to facilitating interagency processes to achieve a common goal.
• Experience in working with indigenous population is an asset.
• Computer and database literacy will be an asset

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Individual contractor will work from Pacaraima – dedicated UNICEF room in the Ptrig (Screening Center)
• Expenses related to travels will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the Individual contractor as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and individual Contractor
• Individual contractor will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

Restrictions

In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

[1] Approximate data collected in July, 2019 by the UNHCR Brazil.

[2] Including: IASC standards and guidelines, such as MH&&PSS; IASC GBV Guidelines; Inter-agency guiding principles on unaccompanied and separated children (2004), United Nations guidelines for the alternative care of children (2010) Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Emergencies (2012) etc.