Home-based Consultancy: Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) Consultant (between Aug and Dec 2023) - Europe and Central Asia Regional Office (ECARO), Rome, Italy

Consultant Programme & Policy

Overview

Support UNICEF in developing SRH programs for children and adolescents in Italy.

You have:

• Bachelor’s level degree/s in Public Health, education, child development, Nursing/Midwifery gender equality, or any other relevant discipline.
• Demonstrated experience of conducting work in Sexual Reproductive Health (minimum 7 years).
• Demonstrated experience in programming and capacity building on SRH, specifically unmet needs and ASRH/Young People.
• Excellent facilitation skills and demonstrated experience of leading the development of technical resources, including training material.
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Italian SRH system, including community-based health services.
• Consolidated knowledge and foundation on cross-cutting themes such as equity, gender, and human rights.
• Full computer literacy, including knowledge of relevant software.
• Willingness and ability to travel within Italy at short notice.
• Proficiency in written and spoken Italian and English required.
• Previous experience with UNICEF or another UN agency.
• Previous professional experience in Child Protection and/or MHPSS programming.
• Familiar with the Italian protection and reception system for migrants and refugees.

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, Protection

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Supporting UNICEF in Italy on child protection programmes with a specific focus on SRH component for children and adolescents.

Background

UNICEF mandate is to ensure that children’s life, wellbeing, and rights are protected and supported. UNICEF works worldwide to strengthen institutional and governmental systems protecting children and adolescents, promoting their rights and supporting their development in a safe and conducive environment. UNICEF promotes community-based actions and programming to empower families and communities in attaining their needs fulfilled and caring for the most vulnerable groups. In a great variety of settings, from war-torn countries to disaster-affected areas, from low- to middle- and high-income countries, UNICEF commitment is to ensure that special attention is given to the most vulnerable children and adolescents so that their fullest potential can be achieved. In Italy an outposted team from UNICEF ECARO Regional Office is operational since 2016 to respond to the unique needs of migrant and refugee children, providing technical assistance to national authorities and civil societies and direct services when needed.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) is an institutional priority for the UN and for UNICEF and is critical for the achievement of the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 identifies MHPSS as a priority area, building upon existing programming through child protection, education, and health, shaped by actions and standards set out in the Child Protection Minimum Standards (CPMS), Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) and the IASC Guidelines on Mental Health and Psychosocial Support in Emergencies.

Protecting children and fostering their psychosocial wellbeing entails multiple actions that UNICEF carries out together with governmental counterparts, relevant institutions, and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs). In Italy, UNICEF work focuses on tailored programmes addressing the needs of the most disadvantaged children and adolescents, including migrant and refugee children and youth inside and outside the reception system, alternative and foster care for separated and unaccompanied children, including those of migrant background, children and adolescents at risk of protection risks and/or developing psychosocial distress, or whose mental health and psychosocial wellbeing is undermined.

Against this background, Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) is a fundamental component integrated within all preventive and supportive action directly engaging adolescents and youth. This includes health promotion and disease prevention and control, and increasing their awareness on biological and physical and sexual development, sexually transmitted infections and healthy practices, and sexual and reproductive health rights. SRH sensitization aims at increasing adolescents’ mental health wellbeing related to SRH and their knowledge concerning their needs and rights, existing risks and healthy behaviours and available SRH services and how to access them.

Scope of Work

Working closely with the Child Protection and Gender-based Violence in Emergency teams, and under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist in UNICEF, the consultant will lead the development of technical material on Sexual and Reproductive Health, with a focus on adolescent girls and gender-based violence as necessary. The consultant will be responsible for the development of technical guidance, SRH material to be integrated within the current UNICEF program and capacity building initiatives.

The SRH Consultant is required to undertake the following tasks and activities:

• Manage the elaboration of SRH technical material to support the integration of SRH within the UNICEF Adolescent Toolkit, which is currently in the process to be adapted to the Italian context. This implies revising the whole Toolkit, suggesting entry points for SRH integration and leading the development of targeted technical resources for the different entry areas identified.
• Prepare a training package of a 1-day session on Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health (ASRH) for UNICEF implementing partners, including a branded PowerPoint, Handouts and a facilitator Guide, based on the UNICEF Adolescent Toolkit.
• Rollout the Adolescent Toolkit, with a focus on ASRH, Training Package to two identified implementing partners. This should be done in-person as well as online based on the implementing partners’ availability.
• Developing SRH awareness raising materials on the guide "12 domande e risposte sui diritti e sulla salute sessuale e riproduttiva” developed with UNFPA and published on September 2022, with the objective to reinforce the capacity of the partners on SRH.
• Prepare a training package of a 1-day session on SRH for UNICEF implementing partners, including a branded PowerPoint, Handouts and a facilitator Guide, based on the developed awareness material.
• Deliver the Training Package on SRH to the identified implementing partners. This should be done in-person as well as online based on the implementing partners availability.
• Carry out a scoping study on how to further integrate Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights interventions within the scope of the current GBViE programme implemented in country, with a focus on engaging community-based health services, referred in Italy as consultori. The study should focus on one location, should include a clear mapping exercise, with a robust methodology, and provide concrete and actional recommendations to UNICEF.
• Contribute as needed to provide technical feedback to other relevant documents elaborated by the programme, including incorporation and prioritization of ASRH strategies in UNICEF programmatic documents.

Work Assignment Overview

*Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / Deadline*****Task 1: Integration of ASRH material into the Italian adapted version of the Adolescent Toolkit taking into account material already available.Revision of the Adolescent Toolkit, identifying entry points for ASRH3 working days;

By 20 August 2023

Report on desk review of existing UNICEF ASRH material available in Italy and globally3 working days;

By 28 August 2023

Technical resources to be integrated into the Toolkit5 working days;

By 1st September 2023

Task 2: Prepare an ASRH Training Package based on the ASRH component of the Adolescent Toolkit, including the already available booklet “12 domande e risposte sui diritti e sulla salute sessuale e riproduttiva”.Training material on ASRH, including a branded PowerPoint, Handouts and a Facilitation Guide5 working days;

By 15 September 2023

Revised training package based on its rollout (see task #3).3 working days;

By 15 September 2023

Task 3: Rollout the Adolescent Toolkit Training Package, with a focus on ASRH and already available booklet “12 domande e risposte sui diritti e sulla salute sessuale e riproduttiva”1-day ASRH training session to implementing partners3 working days;

By 30 September 2023

Key recommendations report to implementing partners as necessary2 working days;

By 30 September 2023

Task 4: Developing SRH additional information/sensitisation material on the booklet "12 domande e risposte sui diritti e sulla salute sessuale e riproduttiva”SRH awareness raising materials developed on the guide "12 domande e risposte sui diritti e sulla salute sessuale e riproduttiva”2 working days;

By 15 October 2023

Task 5: Scoping study on SRH integration in the community-based health servicesTerms of References of the Scoping Study and incorporating UNICEF feedback1 working day;

By 30 October 2023

Methodology and data collections tools for the study, including a SRH mapping exercise3 working days;

By 30 October 2023

Data collection in one agreed-upon location2 working days;

By 30 October 2023

Scoping Study report, which should include clear recommendations for the GBViE programme2 working days;

By 30 October 2023

Scoping Study preliminary findings presentation to the Child Protection and GBViE team1 working day;

By 30 October 2023

Final version of the Scoping Study based on feedback received.5 working days;

By 30 October 2023

Task 6: Providing Technical AssistanceRevising UNICEF documents as necessary and on a need-basis4 working days;

By 30 October 2023

Estimated Duration of the Contract

44 working days (between August and December 2023)

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The assignment will be home-based.

As part of this assignment, three (3) travels to the field are expected. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• 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.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please submit a financial proposal (in EUR) based on 44 working days to undertake this assignment. Consultants 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.

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

Minimum Qualifications required:

• Bachelor’s level degree/s in Public Health, education, child development, Nursing/Midwifery gender equality, or any other relevant discipline.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Demonstrated experience of conducting work in Sexual Reproductive Health (minimum 7 years);
• Demonstrated experience in programming and capacity building on SRH, specifically unmet needs and ASRH/Young People;
• Excellent facilitation skills and demonstrated experience of leading the development of technical resources, including training material;
• Demonstrated familiarity with the Italian SRH system, including community-based health services;
• Consolidated knowledge and foundation on cross-cutting themes such as equity, gender, and human rights;
• Full computer literacy, including knowledge of relevant software;
• Willingness and ability to travel within Italy at short notice.

Desired:

• Previous experience with UNICEF or another UN agency.
• Previous professional experience in Child Protection and/or MHPSS programming .
• Familiar with the Italian protection and reception system for migrants and refugees.

Languages:

• Proficiency in written and spoken Italian and English required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in EUR) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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Potential interview questions

Added 3 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org