Education and Child Protection, Belém, Individual Contractor

Contract

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BACKGROUND & RATIONALE

In 2017, UNICEF Brazil rolled-out an innovative new Country Programme Document 2017-2021, focusing on the need to reach every child and adolescent in Brazil. Its programme structure is organized based on population groups and its priorities are to enhance policies for excluded children; improve the quality of social policies for vulnerable children; prevent and respond to extreme forms of violence and engage citizenry and participation. UNICEF Brazil works to deliver the Country Programme at local level through its main territory-wide initiatives. These initiatives are the Platform for Urban Centers (PCU), present in ten Brazilian cities, and the Selo UNICEF, a certification strategy to acknowledge municipal achievements in local indicators for children, reaching out almost 2.000 cities in Brazil.

UNICEF Brazil continues to focus its attention on the importance of the right to quality education and access to school as a way to prevent and to protect children from extreme forms of violence. This assignment will contribute to the Education and Child Protection Sections and strengthen its capacity to respond adequately to the needs of UNICEF Country Office in the Amazon region.

Since early 2015, around 4 million Venezuelans continue to leave Venezuela, due to violence, insecurity and threats, and lack of food, medicine and essential services. This is the largest exodus in the recent history of Latin America. Of those, official figures estimate that approximately 117,000 Venezuelan asylum seekers and migrants are currently living in Brazil.

Para is the Brazilian state that has been experiencing the increased flow of migrants and refugees, specially Waraos indigenous people from Venezuela. Similarly, to the challenges faced in other cities, at the Belem and Santarem municipalities, Venezuelans also reported difficulties when accessing sustainable livelihoods. Many vulnerable groups of Waraos Venezuelan indigenous people were identified, being normally families under poor conditions and begging. Furthermore, more than a half of Venezuelan women reported risks of moral or sexual harassment and a lack of adequate WASH infrastructure (for hygiene purposes).

The individual contractor will contribute to the development of initiatives that UNICEF is conducting within Education and Child Protection integrated framework at the Amazon Territory and it will also contribute to the initiatives to reduce education exclusion and age-grade distortion in general aligned with Selo UNICEF strategy.

PURPOSE

Under the direct supervision of the Belém Chief of Field Office/Chief Amazon Territory and in close collaboration with the Chief Child Protection Brasilia and Chief Education Brasilia, the individual contractor will support the development and implementation of UNICEF Brazil Country Programme 2017-2021, specially on the education and child protection programme, at the Amazon Territory, contributing to two key related outcomes:

· OUTCOME #2: By 2021 boys and girls have increased access to quality and responsive health, education, and social protection programmes, and actively participate in the design, implementation and monitoring of these services OUTPUT 2.2: Education for all: Girls and boys have increased permanence in the basic education system, based on intersectoral policies addressing diversity, including contextualized education

· OUTCOME #3: By 2021, Brazil’s child protection system strengthened in its capacity to prevent and respond to violence against children Output 3.1 - Increased knowledge on violence: Families, communities, civil society, private sector and governmental agents in prioritized states with increased knowledge on the impact of violence on the lives of children.

In that purpose, the individual contractor will provide technical and operational support to the design, development, implementation and evaluation of activities related to specific strategies or programmes, which include among others: School Active Search and Successful School Pathways strategies, integrated framework Education that Protects against violence, as well as Education and Child Protection technical support to Selo UNICEF and Urban Centers Platform at Amazon Territory.

Complementarily, the IC will provide technical support for the implementation of UNICEF’s humanitarian response for migrant / refugees children and adolescents in Belem and Santarem, and contribute to the support the government authorities and partners (UNHCR, State and municipal governments and others) to position children’s and adolescents' rights in the humanitarian response with special focus on Education and Child Protection.

The incumbent could be requested to travel, to take part in collaborative work with other internal and external teams. Also, he/she will attend presential events, webinars and virtual meetings with colleagues and/or partners. Activities such as organizing meeting, conferences, workshops and training will be demanded. Production of reports, fundraising proposals, notes and audiovisual pieces for communications purposes, analysis, data gathering and systematization will be requested in Portuguese and/or in English. Social media interaction also will be requested.

EXPECTED RESULTS:

Result 1: Support the implementation of the methodology of Busca Ativa Escolar (BAE) at Pará, Tocantis and Amapá states and their municipalities prioritized, through Selo UNICEF and PCU (Belém city) territorial strategies, along with the state and municipal secretaries of education and other local partners.

Activities:

1. Development of a workplan with steps to be taken and key changes related to the implementation of Busca Ativa Escolar (BAE);
2. Generation and systematization of evidences and data/knowledge gathering to strength initiatives and public policies impacts of school exclusion and protection against violence;
3. Planning and organizing events, engaging with partners to mobilize for adoption of new practices, including among youth;
4. Provide technical support to a network of local partners in order to strength public services and to develop methodologies, concepts and practices to reduce impacts of school exclusion and all forms of violence;
5. Planning and taking part in regular meetings with UNICEF technical partners from municipal and state levels to implement the program priorities in São Luis and in other municipalities of the state;
6. Prepare reports, briefings, communication pieces, surveys, field visits, among others, on the progress of the initiatives developed for public awareness, donors’ reports, partnership/alliances building and fundraising support;
7. Advocate, systematize evidences and promote practices to integrate Child Protection and Education approaches to prevent violence against children and adolescents;
8. Participating in UNICEF technical teams along with other team members at state, regional or national level, providing technical and operational support to program planning, program development and program implementation, including on activities related to PCU and SELO strategies.

Result 2: Support the development of the strategy Successful School Pathways (Trajetórias de Sucesso Escolar - TSE) more focused on Amapá and Pará states, along with partners from the State Secretaries of Education and other secretaries of education from municipal level, and other partners.

Activities:

1. Development of a workplan with steps to be taken and key changes related to the implementation of Trajetorias de Sucesso Escolar (TSE);
2. Planning, developing and evaluating training activities, workshops and other events or technical moments related to Trajetorias de Sucesso Escolar (TSE) at the focused states as well as Amazon Territory and national initiatives regarding the strategy;
3. Produce and systematize data, information, analyses and recommendations related to key aspects related to Trajetorias de Sucesso Escolar (TSE);
4. Provide technical support to local partners related to the implementation of Trajetorias de Sucesso Escolar (TSE);
5. Prepare reports, briefings, communication pieces, surveys, field visits, among others, on the progress of the initiatives developed for public awareness, donors’ reports, partnership/alliances building and fundraising support;
6. Advocate, systematize evidences and promote practices to integrate Child Protection and Education approaches to prevent violence against children and adolescents;
7. Participating in UNICEF technical teams along with other team members at state, regional ou national level, providing technical and operational support to program planning, program development and program implementation, including on activities related to PCU and SELO strategies.

Result 3: Provide technical support for the implementation of child protection interventions within the framework of Territorios pela Paz/ PCU in coordination with the protection network.

Activities:

1. Development of partnerships with government counterparts and local stakeholders to facilitate program implementation and to achieve results on the reduction of violence against children;
2. Participate in UNICEF child protection technical teams, providing technical and operational support to program planning, program development and program implementation, including on activities related to PCU in support of TAM initiatives;

Result 4: Provide technical assistance and management of child protection interventions at Ilha do Marajó/ MPT alliance/ UNICEF Seal, focused on sexual violence and child labour related issues.

Activities:

1. Elaboration of project proposal. Provision of technical support to local child proteccion system, strengthing public services and designing of innovative interventions to reduce the impact of sexual violence and child labour in Ilha do Marajó.
2. Monitor child protection interventions at Ilha do Marajó including the elaboration and management of PCAS, SSFAs along technical assistance to implementing partners. Financial Grant monitoring and elaboration of donor's reports.

Result 5: Support the implementation UNICEF´s humanitarian response Plan in Belem and Santarem according to the HAC, both, for migration and for Covid19 pandemic; ensuring technical support, monitoring and evaluation for humanitarian action for children undertaken by UNICEF and its partners in the areas of Education and Child Protection.

Activities:

1. Ensure the articulation process among governmental bodies, non-governmental organizations (national and international) and UN agencies, working in the territory by supporting the creation of intersectoral working groups and information sharing;
2. Establish mechanisms for a consistent flow of information of the humanitarian situation and its impact on children and adolescents;
3. Support the UNICEF coordination of the Education and Child Protection working groups within the RMRP and provide technical support to the plan and data monitoring;
4. Work closely and collaboratively with internal and external colleagues, partners and authorities to discuss operational issues, solutions, and recommendations.
5. Keep record of reports and assessments for easy reference and/or to capture and institutionalize lessons learned;
6. Prepare required documentations/materials for key reporting requirements (including UNICEF’s bimonthly/ monthly sitreps, R4V platform monthly reports).
7. Provide technical support to the implementation of OFDA´s project child protection component in indigenous communities, and the DFID´s project regarding ¨back to school campaigns¨ in PA and Belém.

DELIVERABLES

The services included in the contract will be delivered continuously through the following deliverables and respective monthly payments:

Monthly reports on (8,85% per oanth): (1) the activities taken, products developed, results and achievements, challenges and measures taken to face them related to each one of the three results foreseen in this contract; (2) the progress with evidence of partners engagement in the activities and impacts achieved on the key changes in children’s lives on the results foreseen in this contract.

Final report (2,25% per month): on program initiatives and strategies on busca ativa escolar, trajetórias de sucesso escolar, armed violence framework, Selo UNICEF and Plataforma de Centros Urbanos (PCU) implemented, finalized and approved according to the designed workplan, with results systematized and reported.

Percentage of payments to be provided at the 28th day of Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec 2020; and at the 28th day of Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, July and Aug. 2021

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines
• Quality of the content produced
• Timely provision of the deliverables,
• Full adherence to the monthly workplans and diligences as agreed with Supervisor,
• Satisfactory quality level of reports and actions (quality of inputs, analysis, register of activities, recommendations, etc).
• In accordance with UNICEF priorities, the supervisor and consultant will discuss and consolidate the Work Plan, establishing the detailed content and index of the requested products and deliverables, which will be evaluated during and at the end of the consulting process. The periodic 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, minutes of meetings, 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.

KEY COMPETENCES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED DEADLINE

Education:

• University/bachelor degree or equivalent in Education, Human Rights, Law, Social Service, Psychology, Sociology or other social science field.

Professional experiences:

• A minimum of 3 years of professional work experience at national and/or international levels in Education, Human Rights and/or Social Protection relevant programs, especially focused on the most vulnerable children and adolescents.
• Multidisciplinary experience and good knowledge in education and social protection Brazilian public policies.
• Good knowledge on Child and Adolescent’s Rights, and the Child and Adolescents Statute (and its implications for Brazil).
• Basic knowledge in social communication.
• Knowledge of the local context and the main stakeholders within the urban territories.
• Basic knowledge of statistics, social indicators, primary and secondary data, as well as understanding of public databases.
• Knowledge of public policy management
• Experience in UN system agency or international organization is an asset.

Specific Knowledge Required:

• Accuracy and professionalism in children social protection and/or education programs, and project design, implementation, management and evaluation.
• Knowledge of international development and humanitarian issues.
• Knowledge of human rights and results based programming.
• General knowledge of administrative and financial guidelines of international organizations .
• Computer systems, including internet navigation, office applications with knowledge of social media, design of digital communications pieces;
• United Nations or other international organizations; good understanding of world affairs, current events and international development issues;
• Global human rights issues, specifically relating to children and women, and current UNICEF position and approaches;

Language abilities:

• Fluent in English and Portuguese.

Required competences and values:

• Integrity and professionalism: demonstrated expertise in area of specialty and ability to apply good judgment; high degree of autonomy, personal initiative and ability to take ownership; willingness to accept wide responsibilities and ability to work independently under established procedures in a politically sensitive environment, while exercising discretion, impartiality and neutrality; ability to manage information objectively, accurately and confidentially; responsive and client-oriented;
• Accountability: mature and responsible; ability to operate in compliance with organizational rules and regulations;
• Commitment to continuous learning: initiative and willingness to learn new skills and stay abreast of new developments in area of expertise; ability to adapt to changes in work environment;
• Planning and organizing: effective organizational and problem-solving skills and ability to manage a large volume of work in an efficient and timely manner; ability to establish priorities and to plan, coordinate and monitor (own) work; ability to work under pressure, with conflicting deadlines, and to handle multiple concurrent projects/activities;
• Teamwork and respect for diversity: ability to operate effectively across organizational boundaries; ability to establish and maintain effective partnerships and harmonious working relations in a multicultural, multi-ethnic environment with sensitivity and respect for diversity and gender;
• Communication: proven interpersonal skills; creativity; good spoken and written communication skills, including ability to prepare clear and concise reports; ability to conduct presentations, articulate options and positions concisely; ability to make and defend recommendations; ability to communicate and empathize with national and international staff, military personnel, volunteers, counterparts and local interlocutors coming from very diverse backgrounds; ability to maintain composure and remain helpful towards the staff, but objective, without showing personal interest; capacity to transfer information and knowledge to a wide range of different target groups;

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• UNICEF will provide the individual contractor all required core equipment and material for fulfilling his duty, including computer. UNICEF will provide office space when needed.
• Expenses related to travels are included in the consultant fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant or Contractor.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants and individual contractors are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

The payment will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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 diversity and inclusion within its workforce and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all religious and ethnic backgrounds, representing the diversity of Brazil, such as black and indigenous people, to apply to become a part of our organization. Candidates will be equally considered regardless of gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, social and HIV/aids status.