International Consultancy to Support the Expansion of Social Work Education in Abkhazia

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, Protection

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF has been supporting the development of social work for vulnerable children and their families in Abkhazia since 2016. UNICEF, in cooperation with local partners, developed a Conceptual Framework for Social Work Practice in Abkhazia as well as a Training Curriculum for Social Workers. A pilot social work programme was launched in early 2017 in three districts of Abkhazia. The first group of social workers were recruited, trained and began to support case management in their respective districts. In 2019, the social work programme was expanded to all other districts and in 2020, the Child and Family Social Service was established which manages the social workers and coordinates their functions.

UNICEF currently continues to provide operational support and training to social workers who are working with child protection cases in Abkhazia. However, there is a need for further efforts to develop local social work education and training capacities. Thus, when new staff join the Child and Family Social Service and require training, local partners rely on the assistance of international social work experts engaged by UNICEF. With the support of UNICEF, a social work course has been incorporated into the curriculum for students of the pedagogical department at Abkhaz State University. However, other students and interested stakeholders do not have access to this course. Furthermore, some of the materials used in the previously developed training course have become outdated. In view of this, UNICEF intends to further enhance social work education in Abkhazia and support its sustainable development. To achieve this, there are two focus areas: strengthening the training skills of local specialists and diversifying the training modalities, through the development of a self-learning package that can be accessed by a wider audience. The course should include a range of interactive materials, such as webinars, presentations, and reading modules, with comprehensive, up-to-date, and relevant content to the context of Abkhazia. The course should be accessible anytime and anywhere, providing flexibility and convenience for learners. Furthermore, some of the materials included in the previously developed training course are outdated and require revision. The revised materials should be incorporated into the self-learning package and other training modalities to ensure they reflect current best practices in social work and most recent developments in Abkhazia.

Scope of Work:

UNICEF seeks to engage an international consultant or a group of international consultants to support the development and expansion of social work education in Abkhazia in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders. Interested individual experts should apply for the whole scope of the consultancy indicating the fee in the Cover Letter. In case of groups of experts, each group member should apply individually referencing all other members of the group in the application and specifying which components of the TOR each of the members of the group will be covering (with estimated number of days), so that together they cover the entire scope of the TOR. Daily fee and the lump sum (including travel costs) for relevant components should be indicated. The estimated total number of working days is 58. Most of the work will be implemented remotely. A 7-day visit to Abkhazia will be considered depending on the situation with entry procedures.

1. Work Assignments Overview

Review, revise and update, in close consultation with UNICEF, materials for a training course on social work

The previously developed Training Curriculum for Social Workers in Abkhazia is divided into 4 units consisting of 18 modules and includes 1 additional unit for social work supervisors. In preparation for the pre-service training of the first group of social workers carried out in 2017, a training session plan and materials (including PPTs and additional reading materials) were developed by a group of international experts.

The selected consultant(s) will be tasked to review, revise and enhance – in close consultation with UNICEF – the previously developed training plans and materials. Adjustments and updates will be made based on the social workers’ training needs and priorities identified. This activity will also address the need to strengthen gender mainstreaming within the project, which includes the provision of gender-sensitive training materials.

Also, the training materials included an overview of local child protection mechanisms and social service networks, which should be updated to reflect changes and developments that took place in the recent years.

Deliverables/Outputs

Adapted, enhanced and updated training materials

Delivery deadline

20/12/23

2. Work Assignments Overview

Design a module and deliver a TOT on social work

Based on the updated and adjusted training materials, the consultant(s) will also be required to design a comprehensive TOT module on social work with children and families and deliver it to a group of minimum 10 social workers. The international consultant(s) will work closely with the local social workers to understand their specific needs and tailor the training programme accordingly. UNICEF will organize the logistics for the training.

In addition to covering various topics related to social work, the TOT module will include sessions on adult learning principles, instructional design, facilitation skills, and assessment techniques. The sessions (approx. 30 hours) will help participants understand how adults learn and how to deliver effective training programmes that meet the needs of their target audience. Participants should also have the opportunity to practice these skills through interactive sessions and role plays. Upon completion of the TOT module, the local social workers are expected to have the necessary knowledge and skills to train others in social work and provide supportive supervision. They should be able to adapt and deliver training programmes that are relevant, engaging, and effective, thereby contributing to the continuity of social work training within the Child and Family Social Service and beyond.

Deliverables/Outputs

TOT module designed and delivered;

Delivery deadline 25/01/2024

3. Work Assignments Overview

Develop self-learning training package on social work

Based on the updated and adjusted training materials, the consultant(s) will also develop a self-learning (e-learning) training course on social work with children and their families. Unlike the training materials discussed under tasks 1 and 2, this package will be designed for self- learning and will incorporate various components such as webinars, presentations, reading modules, and other interactive materials. The consultant(s) are expected to carefully structure the content to ensure it is engaging, informative, and easy to follow. Throughout the development process, the consultant will collaborate with subject matter experts in social work to ensure accuracy and relevance. Local social workers and other child protection experts might be engaged for webinars which should be part of the package. To enhance the learning experience, the consultant(s) may also include quizzes and self-assessments to test participants' understanding of the concepts covered.

New staff joining the social service as well as students or any other interested child protection actors, including volunteers, should be able to use this course for self-learning independently and at their own pace, when attending a training led by trainers is not possible or when there is a need to refresh knowledge on certain topics.

Deliverables/Outputs

e-learning training course developed

Delivery deadline

25/01/2024

4. Work Assignments Overview

Carry out consultations with stakeholders in Abkhazia on ways to promote social work education and professional development

The consultant(s) in cooperation with UNICEF will facilitate discussions and gather input from social workers, their supervisors, university teachers and other key stakeholders to understand their perspectives, needs, and aspirations regarding social work education and profession development in Abkhazia. They will explore potential initiatives that could be implemented to enhance the sustainability of social work education and create opportunities for advancement in the field. This may include recommendations for curriculum development, accreditation processes, networking opportunities, and advocacy efforts. The consultant would also provide guidance on best practices from other countries that have successfully developed their social work education systems and professional frameworks. They should consider gender, cultural, social, and economic factors specific to Abkhazia while formulating recommendations to ensure their feasibility and relevance within the local context.

Deliverables/Outputs

Quality advice and expertise provided during at least 2 meetings with stakeholders; brief report with recommendations.

Delivery deadline

25/01/2024

Duration: 20.11.2023 to 25.01.2024

Location: Home-base

Travel is anticipated.

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

• A Master’s degree in social work, psychology, law or other related field; • At least 8 years of experience in the field of social work; • Deep understanding of child protection systems and knowledge of UNICEF approaches and recommendations regarding child protection, child care and social work; • Proven experience in developing and delivering training on social work, including e-learning materials; • Excellent communication skills; • Working knowledge of English is required. • Ability to develop training materials and deliver trainings in Russian 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.