International Child Protection Consultant to support “Sudan Free of FGM” programme, Sudan, 11 months (remote part-time consultancy with a couple of short visits to Sudan)

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, HOPE

Sudan, surrounded by the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Libya and South Sudan, positioned next to East, West, South and North Africa, is surrounded by complex conflicts in an unpredictable, volatile and rapidly evolving region. Sudan is by size the third biggest country in Africa, with a diverse population of around 42 million people. Sudan’s children make up half of the total population, and the past two decades have seen their lives significantly improve: fewer girls and boys are dying before their fifth birthday, primary school attendance is increasing, immunization coverage is high and the country remains polio free. Still, millions of children continue to suffer from protracted conflict in Darfur, the Kordofans, and Blue Nile, from seasonal natural disasters, malnutrition and disease outbreaks, and from under-investment in basic social services. More than three million of Sudan’s school aged children are not in the classroom. UNICEF has been in Sudan since 1952 and continues with a presence in 12 of Sudan’s 18 states. https://www.youtube.com/user/TheUNICEFSudan

How can you make a difference?

SFFGM2 is the second phase of the FCDO-funded UN Joint Programme 'Sudan Free of FGM'. It seeks to build on progress made during the first five years to end FMG, Child Marriage, and forms of violence and discrimination affecting women and girls in Sudan. The UN agencies participating in SFFGM2 include UNICEF, UNFPA, and WHO; with UNICEF acting as convening agency and hosting the programme partnership coordinator. Together with FCDO and implementing and strategic partners, they envision a Sudan where girls and women are protected against violence and their empowerment promoted to reach their full potential and participate in the decisions that affect their lives. They engage individuals, communities, activists, and institutions to end FGM/C and Child Marriage through transformative change of policy, legal, and social systems at all levels. SFFGM2 employs an end violence agenda and approaches that are aimed at creating positive shifts in harmful social norms that uphold and enforce FGM/C and Child Marriage and other forms of violence against children, and gender discrimination.

1. Support oversight over the programme, coordinate and work closely with all designated programme staff of participating agencies, ensure communication with FCDO focal points, report periodically to UNICEF Chief of Child Protection.

2. Ensure reporting and coordinate workflows for the programme with all three participating agencies.

3. Prepare, support and follow-up from recurrent programme meetings. Provide secretarial support to the Steering Committee, prepare presentations, and related activities as defined in the Steering Committee Terms of Reference. Prepare and follow up on Technical Committee and Working Group Meetings.

4. Advise UNICEF as Administrative Agent on any potential bottlenecks, mitigating measures, and the like, relative to the programme

Tasks and deliverables:

Task #1 Act as focal point between donors and UN partners in matters related to Sudan free from FGM 1 intiative and report to UNICEF as administrative agency Provide support to oversight and overall follow-up of the programme and Steering Committee guidance, to ensure programme remains on track for achieving the strategic plan and outcomes, working together with the Programme Partnership Officer in close cooperation with all participating UN organisations (PUNO:s).

Deliverable #1 Programme is coordinated with all participating agencies, programme documents are up-dated , and is on track.

Duration #1 Total of 146 days on part-time basis.

Task #2 Steering Committee Meeting and technical committees: In coordination with the Programme Partnership Officer, provide secretariat support to the Steering Committee and technical committee, including all related activities as defined in the Steering Committee Terms of Reference. Implement strategic guidance to programme.

​Deliverable #2 Steering Committee and Technical Committee meeting called, supported and documented; minutes and any documentation shared with stakeholders after SC meeting.

Duration #2 Total of 44 days on part-time basis.

Task #3 Ensure reporting: communicate about and coordinate workflows and templates for narrative reports, for quarterly up-date and mid-year reporting (as relevant) and support financial reporting (led by PPO). Compile, summarize, and analyze programme level inputs. Coordinate feedback for finalization. Ensure communication wth FCDO focal points as appropriate and in consultation with the chief, child protection.

​Deliverable #3 All recurrent programme reports compiled and submitted, in line wiht required standards. On demand communication with donors, in consultation with the chief, child protection.

Duration #3 Total of 58 days on part-time basis.

Task #4 Ensuring monitoring and quality control of results: plan and/or coordinate with monitoring and evaluation initiatives to establish benchmarks, performance indicators and other UNICEF/UN systems indicators. Assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to refer/resolve issues.

Deliverable #4 best practices and innovation are documented and promoted. Data collection and program monitoring mechamisms are improved. Synergies are established with ongoing evaluation initiative to measure the impact of the program. Recommendations and guidance provided for the evaluating the impact of the program.

Timeline #4 Total of 88 days on part-time basis.

**Payments will be made against a monthly report, outlining work performed under the above mentioned 4 areas

** Expected Travels: 2 trips, 2 weeks/trip, to Khartoum and other locations in Sudan.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in social sciences, law, education, or related field. A first university degree with a relevant combination of academic qualifications and experience may be accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree
• A minimum of 5 years of practical experience with the development and implementation of child rights and protection
• A minimum of 2 years of relevant professional experience in leading and coordinating large-scale multi-stakeholder/multi-partner programs.
• Ability to engage and form effective working relationships with sister agencies.
• Proven experience in managing an FCDO-funded program is a distinct advantage
• In-depth knowledge and experience on social norms and gender transformative programming highly desirable, notably in the fields of FGM and child marriage
• Experience in working with government counterparts such as NCCW, SCCW, MOSW, MOJ in Sudan is an asset
• Strong and effective communication skills and proven ability to negotiate and influence change.
• Excellent report writing skills.
• Fluent in English required; knowledge of Arabic is an asset.

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.