Ex-Post and Ex-Ante Analysis Consultant (local candidates only)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all qualified candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF’s office is accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

The Republic of Serbia has invested significant efforts in the process of implementing comprehensive reforms of its social welfare and justice systems, increasing their efficiency and harmonizing them with international and EU standards. As part of this process, significant legislative changes have been carried out with the aim of advancing both systems in areas that concern realization of the rights of the child. A core law regulating various aspects of the rights of the child is the Family Law, adopted in 2005. The Family Law recognises a number of individual rights of the child, some of them for the first time regulated as special and independent children’s rights, rather than the rights derived from parental duties.

Over more than 15 years since the adoption of the Family Law, significant obstacles have been observed in its practical implementation that require legal amendments. Also, important developments have taken place in international and regional arena since its adoption, requiring further revision and adjustment of its provisions in accordance with the CRC and other international and European standards.

The main identified areas that need further revision are related to operationalization of the core principles of the CRC, i.e., the principles of child participation and the best interests of the child, promotion of family oriented solutions based on international standards (in particular UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children), allowing for better protection of children from violence and explicit ban of corporal punishment of children in all settings, including in the family, and allowing for no legal exception that may lead to child marriage.

Work Assignment Overview:

The purpose of this assignment is to ensure evidence-based analysis to justify and inform the need for legislative advancements related to child and family matters. More specifically, the assignment includes conducting analysis of the effects (impacts) of the existing Family Law (ex-post) and analysis of the changes needed and their effects (ex-ante), with a view of advancing child and family-related legislative(s), its complementarity with other policy and regulatory documents, and compliance with related international standards.

The scope of the work includes working in close coordination with the Ministry of Family and Demography (MoFD), the Working group (WG) for amendments to the Family Law and UNICEF, as well as in close cooperation with the Republic Secretariat for Public Policies (RSPP).

Overall, the main components of the analysis are:

• Analysis of the current situation (effects/results) and identification of changes which need to be achieved,
• General and specific objectives and indicators for measuring results,
• Identification of options/measures and resources needed to reach objectives,
• Analysis of effects of options/measures and related risks for their implementation; identification of optimum option(s) and resources required for their implementation and monitoring.

The consultancy includes both desk-review of relevant documentation (law, reports, data) as well as consultancy with relevant stakeholders beyond the ones listed above, including representatives of other relevant government (ministries and institutions), non-government (CSOs representing the rights of beneficiary groups, professional associations, service providers, etc.) and other actors (such as think-thank organisations and academia).

Duration of the assignment: May – October 2022 (up to 50 workdays)

Detailed task description:

1. Create the overall work plan for both analysis, with methodology fully developed including the list of stakeholders to be consulted; finalize the plan to reflect inputs and suggestions from MoFD, UNICEF and RSPP;
2. Conduct desk-review and consultative process with stakeholders as per the approved work plan and time-line; realize bi-lateral consultations as needed and take active part in coordination meetings, including delivering presentations of (draft and final) documents to the WG for amendments of the Family Law;
3. Based on desk-review and outcomes of the consultative process (including particularly in close collaboration with MoFD and RSPP) create a draft version of the ex-post analysis;
4. Based on feed-back received from MoFD, RSPP and UNICEF, as well as relevant stakeholders included into the consultative process, revise and finalize the ex-post analysis;
5. In parallel with drafting and finalizing ex-post analysis, define key take-aways / features of the ex-ante analysis; realize consultative process with key stakeholders and draft ex-ante analysis;
6. Based on feed-back received from MoFD, RSSP and UNICEF, as we as relevant stakeholders included into the consultative process, revise and finalize.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• University degree in social, legal or human related sciences
• At least 5 years of work experience in the relevant field (preferably different policy issues – design, evaluation, monitoring)
• Experience with proven records in the preparation of at least two analyses/impact assessments related to policy and/or legislative documents
• Excellent understanding of policy, institutional and legal frameworks of relevance for child rights in the Republic of Serbia, including on related international standards
• Knowledge on the status of child rights in the Republic of Serbia Knowledge of the Law on the planning system and accompanying bylaws
• Experience in working with national (government and nongovernment) and international stakeholders (developmental partners)
• Good communication, analytical, writing and reporting skills
• Fluency in Serbian and English

How to apply:

The application must include a financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

1. Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. health insurance, usage of mobile phone).

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability.

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.