Contract

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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.

Background

For the past 25 years, UNICEF has been a strategic and trusted partner of the Government of Turkmenistan, working closely to support the implementation of child rights and promote equity. In line with national development priorities, UNICEF has provided technical assistance to improve legislation and policies, capacity development of public institutions and support to families to better care for their children. Within the framework of the ongoing Turkmenistan-UNICEF Country Programme for the period 2016–2020, UNICEF supports the Government of Turkmenistan to accelerate the universal realization of child rights by aligning legal frameworks, policies and practices for children with international standards. Turkmenistan is a signatory to major treaties, conventions and declarations related to rights of children, including the Convention of the Rights of the Child. In recent years the country has made considerable progress in implementation and reporting of international treaties.

Turkmenistan ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child on 20 September 1993 and submitted its first report in 2006, in 2020 Turkmenistan has submitted its combined 5-6 periodic report. Taking into account that in 2017 in Turkmenistan was created the Office of Ombudsman (OO) and quite a number of information has been collected by the office, Office of Ombudsman decided to develop and submit to CRC its first alternative report.

The country made a very good progress regarding some recommendations, such as the adoption of the National Plan of Action for Realisation of Child Rights in 2018 and establishment of an independent human rights institution - Ombudsman. Discussions on the development of the first alternative report have started with the Office of Ombudsman in 2020 and it was agreed to pilot it in 2021.

Considering, that alternative report is submitted after the State Report, which was in October 2020, the expected deadline for the alternative report is to be identified, as per the https://tbinternet.ohchr.org/_layouts/15/TreatyBodyExternal/SessionsList.aspx?Treaty=CRC.

Ready to support the efforts of OO Turkmenistan to use the CRC reporting as a process of in-depth stock-taking and strengthening the national capacity to monitor and respond to child rights, and applying participatory approaches and innovative techniques for data collection on alternative report, UNICEF will provide technical assistance to support OO to plan and submit the alternative report.

Purpose of the assignment

Given the above context and taking into consideration the submission of the next regular state report in 2020 to the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child (UN CRC), UNICEF in Turkmenistan is going to engage an international consultant to support Office of Ombudsman in preparation of its first alternative report to the UN CRC.

Specific Tasks

1. Review periodic reports of the Office of Ombudsman and identify potential use for the alternative report on CRC
2. Review State Report to CRC and inputs of Ombudsman there, to avoid duplications in the alternative report and identify gaps, that could be covered in the alternative report of the Office of Ombudsman
3. Develop draft plan for the preparation of the alternative report and potential additional sources of information/data collection for the report
4. Review legislation review done for the State CRC report and suggest potential up-date or use for the alternative report
5. Review the matrix developed by UNICEF in 2017 for a quick assessment of the status of the 2015 CRC recommendations in consultation with the Government partner.
6. Develop plan of actions for additional data collection and relevant documentation (questionnaires for interviews, structure of focus group or any other, as deem necessary)
7. Support the facilitation of an initial workshop with the OO, CSOs, Private sector and Academia to provide up-to-date information on the alternative reporting requirements. The workshop will discuss identified gaps in information in the State CRC report and potential enrichment of this information through the alternative report.
8. Support with organisation of inclusive consultations and engagement of all the stakeholders, including CSOs and children.
9. Support with engaging children and children with disabilities into the alternative report preparation, develop questionnaires or apply existing. Conduct on-line sessions with children
10. Support the facilitation of a second workshop that will focus on the review of draft parts of the report and discussion on potential improvements
11. Help bring out interlinkages between the 2030 Agenda and human rights reporting and support the analysis of achievement of national child-related SDG indicators and country’s progress in terms of the ‘Leave No-one behind’ principle
12. Provide advice and technical support from distance during the report drafting stage, as needed.
13. Help UNICEF plan its further support to the alternative reporting process.

Qualifications and Skills Required

The consultant should meet the following requirements:

• An advanced university degree in Public Policy, International Development or other related discipline;
• A minimum of 10 years relevant professional experience, in human rights, (preferably) including experiences supporting the CRC reporting in Europe and Central Asia;
• Proven experience and knowledge in human rights, education and social and child protection, and with international frameworks for the realisation of children’s rights
• Demonstrated experience of developing tools and guidance, capacity building and mentoring of professional staff
• Excellent analytical, writing, communication and facilitation skills;
• Proven ability to manage multi-sector projects;
• Fluency and strong writing skills in English. Knowledge of Russian and/or Turkish is an advantage;

Technical Proposal

The technical proposal should include

• A cover letter, including
  • Assessment of suitability vis-à-vis the requirements of this ToR;
  • A summary of experience in similar assignments;
  • Links to/attachments of examples of similar work;
• Comments and suggestions on the ToR and proposed workplan and deliverables
• CV (including qualifications and experience)
• References

Financial Proposal

Candidates are expected to submit a lump sum financial proposal to complete the entire assignment based on the terms of reference. The lump sum should cover deliverables indicated above.

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Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.