Individual Contractor to support programming and policy development for Roma children, Athens, Greece ( National)

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.

Background

The Roma are one of Europe’s largest and most disadvantaged minority groups. While some have escaped from poverty, millions live in slums and lack the basic services they need, from healthcare and education to electricity and clean water. Discrimination against Roma communities is commonplace, fueling their exclusion. Far from spurring support for their social inclusion, their poverty and poor living conditions often reinforce the stereotyped views of the public and affect policy-making. And far from receiving the support that is their right, Roma children face discrimination that denies them the essentials for a safe, healthy and educated childhood.

There is a general absence of adequate information on Roma populations in Greece relating to topics key to the rights of the child, including education, health and nutrition, and living conditions, resulting to Roma children being particularly vulnerable as they too often remain out of sight of Greek authorities. Roma settlements are often isolated and with poor sanitation and hygiene conditions, and Roma communities face multiple and inter-related segregation, educational deprivation, forced evictions and systemic discrimination, leading to poverty and exclusion.

Only a small percentage of Roma children in Greece complete primary, secondary and tertiary education, with Greece routinely ranking particularly poorly among European countries with Roma populations. Access to school and school attendance face several barriers, such as isolated settlement with no access to public transport, preventing school access and decreasing school attendance, cultural norms on education, and systemic segregation in schools.

The Government of Greece has made steps to address the needs of this marginalized population through the Action Plan for the Social Integration of the Roma population (2017-2021). The current Action Plan is focused on key areas of education, employment, healthcare and housing in geographical areas where there are concentrated numbers of the Roma population. However policies initiated and implemented tend to be generic and fail to adequately distinguish between the large socio-economic differences present, and the diversity in the education level of the targeted populations

In 2019, the EU adopted a resolution on a Strategic Framework for National Roma Inclusion Strategies. This has been followed by the development of a survey in 2020, led by the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, to collect and compare data in eight EU member states (and two accession countries). The survey will collect information about Roma socio-economic conditions and their experiences of discrimination, harassment and violence, including those motivated by racism, and serve as a baseline for the post-2020 inclusion agenda, with results expected in mid-2021. More recently, the European Commission adopted a EU Roma strategic framework for equality, inclusion and participation 2020-2030, a new 10-year plan, including a proposal for a Council Recommendation, to support Roma in the EU, for the next 10 years. With this framework in place, all EU governments should now start (or continue) to develop strong national Roma strategic frameworks.

Purpose and Objective

As part of a widened mandate following its establishment in 2020, the UNICEF Greece Country Office is seeking to expand its programing to include Roma children within its reach through identifying opportunities and needs for

action, as well as to support the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs in the development of an effective policy framework and in the design of appropriate responses for ensuring the full realization of the rights of Roma children.

The overall objective is to narrow the gap in multi-dimensional poverty and access to socio-economic rights between marginalized Roma and non-Roma Populations in Greece by 2026, by contributing to fact-based decision making and to more informed and focused policy debate on Roma inclusion.

This will be achieved through collecting and making available comprehensive quantitative and qualitative data as the basis for evidence based policy making, and to inform related budgetary allocations for interventions aimed at narrowing the gap between marginalized and non-visible (those with no personal documentation) Roma and non-Roma in several aspects of wellbeing, including but not limited to income, education, employment, health, housing, and access to civil registration/ personal documentation.

How can you make a difference?

With a view of improving understanding of the exacerbated vulnerabilities of Roma in Greece, supporting state actors in the design of adequate policies and programming, and strengthening the effectiveness of UNICEF support to this population group, the Consultant will contribute to the following key tasks: • Provide technical advice to the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Office of the Cabinet of the Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty) and other actors as relevant on the design of effective interventions, including actions in relation to community empowerment and engagement, to address the impact of poverty, deprivation and social exclusion amongst Roma children. • Quantitative and qualitative data available to stakeholders influencing Roma Inclusion policies and programmes resulting in greater ability of a range of stakeholders to assess the different possibilities of Roma and non-Roma populations to access, enjoy and fullfill their socio-economic rights. • Based on the recommendations of the actors’ mapping recently produced by UNICEF and subsequent consultative process with involved stakeholders, develop an action plan with the Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight against Poverty of the Ministry of Labour on the design, implementation and monitoring of joint actions targeted to address key vulnerabilities of the Roma population in Greece. • Following the series of webinars in the framework of the Southeastern European Roma Rights and Inclusion Knowledge Exchange Platform, coordinate the organization of the Southeastern European Roma Child Rights and Inclusion Consultation in Athens • Contribute to the development of strategies on the inclusion of Roma children to school in cooperation with the Education team of UNICEF.

Outputs/Deliverables

Tasks/Milestone:

Timeline

1. Analysis report of socio economic indicators (20 pages) for multidimensional poverty and inclusion of Roma population in Greece in comparison with other EU countries hosting Roma populations, including but not limited to: barriers to accessing personal documents; barriers to the employment of Roma and experience of labour market discrimination; gender roles and the experience of gender-based violence and early marriages; and the extent to which Roma communities experience environmental deprivation, i.e. live and work in hazardous and/or unhealthy environments.

The analysis shall include overall regional trends, country specific overview of trends and comparisons of main indicators.

First drafts by 30 September 2021 and finalizing within the first 3 months.

2. Coordinate the organization of the Southeastern European Roma Child Rights and Inclusion Consultation in Athens and draft meeting report with recommendations for follow up.

30 October 2021

3. Support UNICEF in Greece, especially the Programme, Operations and Communications teams, in strategies to promote diversity and Roma inclusion in UNICEF and its assets (website, FB posts, publications, UN Partner Portal etc.)

30 December 2021

4. Bilateral meetings and recommendations for the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Office of the Cabinet of the Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty) and other stakeholders as relevant, including representatives of Roma communities and members of Roma task forces, on the design of effective interventions for Roma children.

30 January 2022

5. Integration of key findings of the analysis under deliverable one on UNICEF’s programming areas for sustained and adequate access of Roma population to public services in Greece (education, child protection, health, social protection, youth engagement). In particular, efforts will be focused on:

• Child Guarantee Pillar 4 (with OAED): Training and job placement programme on Roma Intercultural Mediators in Education
• Child Guarantee Pillar 5 (with University of Thessaly): Bottleneck Analysis and Teacher Trainings for Inclusive Education
• Actions on nutrition, parenting support, youth and women empowerment (with SN): It takes a village to raise a child

28. Feb 2022

29. Lead a series of discussions with both UNICEF staff, UNICEF contractors and UNICEF partners around:

• National Roma inclusion and its impact (or lack thereof) on Roma children.
• Building more Roma inclusive environment (targeting UNICEF and partners itself).
• Participate in sub-regional discussions on Roma inclusion organized by UNICEF regional and country offices.

September 2021- February 2022

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, economics or relevant areas;

  ▪ At least 7 years of professional work experience in social policy, socio-economic children's rights, minority rights, child protection and/or education in Greece, including in applied policy research;

  ▪ Practical experience in working with Roma populations and settings is highly desirable;

  ▪ Excellent writing skills;

  ▪ Excellent analytical, communication and negotiating skills;

  ▪ Excellent team working skills and respect for diversity;

• Greece (native-level fluency) and English required.

F****or every Child, you demonstrate…

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

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Management -Reporting

The said Consultant will be contracted directly by UNICEF and will report to the UNICEF Social Policy Specialist in close coordination with the Education and Child Protection Specialists, and work in cooperation with the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs (Office of the Cabinet of the Secretary General for Social Solidarity and Fight Against Poverty).

The consultant will be based in Athens, Greece. S/he may be expected to travel occasionally at the expense of UNICEF.

All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants/ Individual Contractors apply.

Equipment

IT Equipment may be provided to the consultant, upon availability, to carry out the deliverables.

Timeframe and Payment Schedule

Fees:

Candidates are asked to indicate their required all-inclusive fees for the services to be provided. UNICEF Office in Greece applies a standard rate for Individual Contractors/Consultants providing technical support to Government Institutions and National Authorities, taking into consideration the professional and academic experience of the incumbent, the functions that the consultant is tasked to carry out, as well as the local labor market (including the salary scale of the public sector). The final rate will be communicated to the candidate upon recommendation by the selection panel.

Payment schedule: Payment will be made on a monthly basis, based on agreed deliverables and a submission of monthly progress reports to UNICEF by the consultant, upon approval by the direct supervisor. Monthly progress reports will be brief, produced in English and summarize key activities, achievements and challenges faced during the reporting period, priorities for the next reporting period, highlighting any support needs from or recommendations for UNICEF.

Deadlines regarding the deliverables are subject to revision depending on the date of recruitment.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

a. complete their UNICEF profile

b. attach latest CV and Motivation Letter (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.htm))

c. Indicate a monthly fee for the aforementioned deliverables (Full time deployment)

Remarks:

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

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.

All regulations for Consultants and Individual Contractors, including General Terms and Conditions, do apply for this contract. 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.

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.