Individual National consultant to provide technical guidance in strengthening the child protection and care system in Uzbekistan

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.

For every child, support.

UNICEF has supported the Government of Uzbekistan in developing a Strategy on the Deinstitutionalization of the Childcare System for 2023-2030 and the State Programme on Integrated Social Services through a Case Management Approach. The strategy on deinstitutionalization is expected to be adopted in March/April 2023. One of the Strategy’s key priorities is to enhance compliance of the national legal regulatory framework with international standards related to child protection and care.

To support both the implementation of the strategy and the state programme (with a geographic primary focus on Surkhandarya region, as part of an EU supported Action), the consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks, in close collaboration with relevant UNICEF colleagues:

1) - Support the Government in revising and amending the existing regulation on the Commissions of Children’s Affairs in terms of supervisory and gatekeeping functions - Support the Government in revising and amending the existing regulation on the Child Protection Sectors/Secretariats and its functions related to case management with children and families - Provide guidance in the mapping of child protection and care services in each region (at the regional, district and community level) separation, children without parental care and children reintegrated into their families/communities of origin - Provide technical assistance in strengthening training curricula for foster parents - Support the development of quality standards for family strengthening and support services, and 3 online sessions to sensitize Commissions of Children’s Affairs and Child Protection Sectors in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya and Samarkand regions on these Standards - Support the development of quality standards for alternative care of children, and 3 online sessions to sensitize Commissions of Children’s Affairs and Child Protection Sectors in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya and Samarkand regions on these Standards - Support the Government in developing a decree/by-law on financing of family strengthening and support services (related to child protection and care) - Support the development of functions of the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment specialists and amending social work professional standards and qualifications to create clear pathways for uncertified personnel in various sectors, including social work positions, based on demonstrated competencies to achieve certification in a reasonable amount of time - Facilitate coordination between the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment to introduce the 4-months social work retraining course at their Ministry

2) - Provide online and offline supervision support to 80 women’s activists in Termez and Muxrabod districts (child protection and social work case management), in close collaboration with Surkhandarya regional supervisors (EU-supported Action for Surkhandarya region)

Work Assignments Overview Deliverables/Outputs Timeline:

1.1 Support the Government in revising and amending the existing regulation on the Commissions of Children’s Affairs in terms of supervisory and gatekeeping functions / 1.1 Proposed amendments to the existing regulation shared with UNICEF (Uzbek/Russian) / 3 days - May 2023

1.2 Support the Government in revising and amending the existing regulation on the Child Protection Sectors/Secretariats and its functions related to case management with children and families / 1.2 Proposed amendments to the existing regulation shared with UNICEF (Uzbek/Russian) / 3 days - June 2023

1.3 Provide guidance in the mapping of child protection and care services in each region (at the regional, district and community level) - 19 days

1.3.1 Draft a conceptual framework for the mapping of child protection and care relevant services (prevention, response, and rehabilitation) (Uzbek) - April 2023 (5 days)

1.3.2 Draft mapping framework presented to the inter-sectoral Working Group on Deinstitutionalization of Children and feedback from the Working Group members incorporated into the final mapping framework - May 2023 (2 days)

1.3.3 Provide guidance to the Child Protection Sector and the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment in carrying out the mapping in each region - June to November 2023 (12 days)

1.4 Provide technical assistance in strengthening training modules for foster parents 1.4 Training modules for foster parents reviewed and amendments made in line with best national and international practices 5 days - October 2023

1.5 Support the development of Standards of quality for family strengthening & support, in relation to child protection and care (strengthen parenting, respond to family crises, link families to services and opportunities, support parents and other primary caregivers, facilitate the social and emotional development of children, observe and respond to early warning sign of child abuse or neglect)

1.5.1 Standards of quality for family strengthening & support drafted (10-15 pages, Uzbek & Russian), covering the following five standards: 1) family centredness, 2) family strengthening, 3) diversity, equity and inclusion, 4) community building, 5) evaluation - March to April 2023 (17 days)

1.5.2 Draft Standards of quality presented to the inter-sectoral Working Group on Deinstitutionalization of Children and feedback from the Working Group members incorporated into the final Standards - May (2 days)

1.5.3 Facilitate 3 online sessions of each 3h to the Regional and District Commissions of Children’s Affairs in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya and Samarqand regions, introducing them to the standards 22 days - September (3 days)

1.6 Support the development of Standards of quality alternative care for children (patronage and guardianship, family-type small group homes, residential care), in line with the UN Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children and building on the Quality4Children Standards for Out-of-Home Care of Children in Europe

1.6.1 Standards of quality alternative care drafted (20-25 pages, Uzbek & Russian), covering the following standard areas: 1) Decision-making and admission process; 2) Care-taking process; and 3) Leaving-care process, and consisting of standard description, responsibilities of all relevant stakeholders, requirements related to the implementation of the respective standard, and description of what must not happen if the respective standard is implemented - June to July 2023 (17 days)

1.6.2 Draft Standards of quality alternative care presented to the inter-sectoral Working Group on Deinstitutionalization of Children and feedback from the Working Group members incorporated into the final Standards - August 2023 (2 days)

1.6.3 Facilitate 3 online sessions of each 3h to the Regional and District Commissions of Children’s Affairs in Surkhandarya, Kashkadarya and Samarqand regions, introducing them to the standards 22 days - September (3 days)

1.7 Support the Government in developing a decree/by-law on financing of new family strengthening and support services (particularly related to child protection and care) 1.7 Technical guidance provided in the development of the decree/by-law 10 days - November 2023

1.8 Support the development of functions of the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment specialists and amending social work professional standards and qualifications to create clear pathways for uncertified personnel in various sectors, including social work positions, based on demonstrated competencies to achieve certification in a reasonable amount of time

1.8.1 Technical guidance provided in the development of related functions 5 days - March to May 2023

1.9 Facilitate coordination between the Ministry of Poverty Reduction and Employment and the National University in introducing the 4-months retraining course on social work for employees in the Ministry / 1.9 Technical guidance provided in the introduction of the 4-months social work retraining programme at the Ministry / 3 days - August 2023

2.1 Provide online and offline supervision support to an approximately 50-60 women’s activists in Termez and Muxrabod districts (child protection and social work case management), in close collaboration with Surkhandarya regional supervisors / 2.1 Monthly reports on supervision shared with UNICEF / 48 days - March to December 2023 (3 days/month between March and June and 6 days/month between July and December 2023)

Travel Local (please include travel plan)

4/5-day trips to Surkhandarya in April, June, August, October and December 2023

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

• Social Sciences, a master’s degree Social Work preferred.
• At least 5 years of practical experience of working programmes related to social work and child protection;
• Experience in providing training/supervision on social work and child protection;
• Excellent knowledge of the legal regulatory frameworks relevant to social protection and child protection and care.
• Excellent communication skills in Russian and Uzbek.
• Previous working experience with the UN/UNICEF considered a strong asset.

Payment:

According to UNICEF policy, the final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

The candidates are requested to submit their financial offer consisting of fee for the services to be provided. The Consultant will receive direct payment to his/her indicated bank account in Uzbek Sums based on the UN currency exchange rate.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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.

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:

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.