Home-based Consultancy for UNICEF ECARO office: Study on State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia and their relevance in achieving results for children)

Consultant Communications & PR

Overview

Conduct research on State Owned Enterprises to support children's rights.

You have:

• A Masters degree in disciplines such as International Law, Human Rights, or Sustainability is required.
• Minimum 5 years work experience is required.
• Demonstrated knowledge of the business landscape and SOEs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business and human and child rights in the region.
• Demonstrated understanding of relevant international conventions and standards.
• Proven ability to produce well-written and high-quality reports.
• Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders.
• Ability to communicate and write in English is required.
• Knowledge of Russian or other languages spoken in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is an asset.

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, results

UNICEF ECARO is seeking an individual consultant to assess the landscape and potential impact of State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) in Eastern Europe and Central Asia on children’s rights and understand the opportunities for potential engagement of SOEs to help achieve greater results for children. Research and evidence generation will be based on a comprehensive literature review and stakeholder engagement process. The evidence and research will result in a final report highlighting evidence-based recommendations, examples of good business practices and key recommendations for UNICEF related to SOEs. It will also serve as a solid basis for advocacy efforts to influence SOEs to contribute to UNICEFs efforts to achieve better results for children.

How can you make a difference?

The objectives of the research and the individual consultant are to:

•To understand the SOE landscape in ECAR: what the main characteristics of SOEs in the ECAR region are andhow these are regulated in national context, especially with regards to responsible business conduct

•To Identify the main sectors in which these SOEs operate

•To highlight the key impacts that SOEs have on children’s rights in the region

•Explore the opportunities and barriers to work with SOEs in the region on Children’s Rights, as part of private sector engagement

•Identify the main differences in incentives, drivers or barriers of SOEs vs. other private companies when it comes to engaging with UNICEF

•To identify some of the best practices of SOEs in the region and beyond

•Explore if and if so what kind of engagement would be possible, with particular regard given to the due diligence criteria and restrictions related to sensitive sector

•The study will seek to provide a sub-regional overview, with a deep dive into some specific countries, taking into account the presence of SOEs

To achieve these objectives, the consultant is expected to work closely with UNICEF ECARO and conduct:

•Comprehensive desk-based review of available literature and documentation related to the business landscape in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the presence of SOEs (history, corporate responsibility, activity areas)

•Study relevant reports, frameworks, and policies, including UNICEF’s internal guidance; policy reviews; evidence and systematic reviews; published case studies and evaluations; legislative efforts, due diligence criteria, etc.

•Build on existing Business Impact Studies in ECAR

•Key interviews with business representatives and relevant stakeholders (5-10 people).

Work assignment Overview:

Task/Milestone****Deliverables/Outputs****TimelineDiscuss the approach and methodology, conduct evidence generation, literature review, and interviews with relevant UNICEF ECARO offices working with SOEs, and submit an inception report, including an outline of the report, methodology and proposed stakeholders for interviewInception ReportApprox. 8 working days

Conduct research, mapping and documentation, and interview with key stakeholders, focusing on the objectives of the study, including documenting relevant case studies in the region.

Progress Report

Approx. 20 working days

Completing the analysis of the interviews with relevant stakeholders and country offices and finalising the drafting of the relevant points related to SOEs and their impacts on children’s rights

First Draft of the Report, including key messages & recommendations for review and consultation with key stakeholders

Approx. 15 working days

Integrate feedback and deliver final report and key messages and recommendations as well as provide presentation materials for wider dissemination

Final Report

Approx. 8 working days

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

• A Masters degree in the following disciplines is required: International Law, Human Rights, International Development, Political Science, Social Sciences, International Relations, Corporate Responsibility, Sustainability, Business and Human Rights. For this assignment a PhD would be considered an asset.
• Minimum 5 years work experience
• Demonstrated knowledge of the business landscape and SOEs in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
• Demonstrated knowledge of business and human and child rights, including mapping research on business and human rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
• Demonstrated understanding of relevant international conventions and standards, the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, and the Child Rights and Business Principles.
• Expertise in and capacity for leading comprehensive global research
• Proven ability to produce well-written, thorough, and high-quality reports and advocacy communications material.
• Ability to communicate professionally and effectively with a wide range of international stakeholders.
• Experience working with UNICEF, and/or other UN entities an asset.
• Ability to communicate and write in English a requirement
• Knowledge of Russian or other languages spoken in Eastern Europe and Central Asia an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

To Apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to apply online and duly complete the online profile by attaching required document (including a CV). Please provide a fee. Applications without a fee will not be considered.

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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Potential interview questions

Added 4 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org