International consultant –Industry engagement in prevention from and response to online child sexual exploitation and abuse, 8 months, Accra-Ghana (Home-based with in-country travel)

Consultant Programme & Policy

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

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide technical support for industry engagement in prevention from and response to online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) in Ghana. The assignment will focus on the development of the operational guidelines for industry on prevention from and response to OCSEA in line with the Cyber Security Act (2020), Act 1038 and the Legislative Instrument (secondary legislation), which is being finalized. It will entail capacity building support for industry to prevent and tackle online child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA)

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

Under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (Harmful practices, gender and adolescents), the consultant is expected to work closely with the Technical Working Group, chaired by the Cyber Security Authority (CSA) and composed of relevant government ministries, industry, INGO/CSOs, development partners and UNICEF, in supporting of the following tasks:

Conduct a capacity needs assessment with the full participation of industry:

It aims at identifying specific challenges and opportunities that the industry ecosystem encounter to prevent and tackle online CSEA in compliance with the Cyber Security Act (2020), Act 1038 and the Legislative Instrument, which is being finalized. It will look at the capacity at all levels, from individual to systemic/institutional levels, to improve the process flows and coordination. The assessment will entail a desk review and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) with the industry and key stakeholders at national, regional and global levels as required to understand how this is operationalized in other jurisdictions. It will help identify the most critical gaps and provide strategic advice on which industry group would benefit from clear operational guidance to keep the scope of the Operational Guidelines focused and practical. The assessment report will include recommendations in terms of the scope of the operational guidelines for industry on prevention from and response to OCSEA . Through this exercise, the consultant is expected to propose 5-10 companies to pilot the operational guidelines with, such as mobile operators, Internet Service Providers, Telecommunication and gaming companies.

Develop the operational guidelines for industry on prevention from and response to OCSEA:

Based on the outcome of the capacity needs assessment, the consultant is expected to develop the operational guidelines with the aim of providing practical guidance for industry to prevent and tackle online CSEA.

• Specific emphasis will be placed on facilitating coordination and linkages between law enforcement, industry and hotlines to fully and effectively report and respond to online CSEA. The hotlines include: the Child Online Protection Reporting Portal, run by the Internet Watch Foundation; the Points of Contact, run by the CSA; the database where the Child Protection Digital Forensic Lab receives referrals from NCMEC; etc.
• The scope can include: timely removal and blocking of CSAM and reporting online CSEA to law enforcement; content transmission to law enforcement while ensuring data protection; guidance on development and adoption of child protection and safeguarding policies for industry; due diligence and remediation that address online CSEA; reporting pathways for users with special consideration for children; guidance on the safety by design approach during the business operations ; etc.
• Consultation and co-creation workshop with the industry, specifically the ICT industry, will be organized to identify, reflect or develop any solutions/tools that could accelerate the Community of Practice
• d. It is critical to ensure alignment with the most recent global, regional and national frameworks and guidelines in the area of child online protection:
• The approach must be guided by/based on international human rights and children's rights law, including the United Nations Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and its Optional Protocols, the General Comment No. 25 (2021) on children’s rights in relation to the digital environment, and the UN Guiding Principles on Business & Human Rights.
• The work should build on existing related industry guidelines such as International Telecommunication Union (ITU) guidelines for industry on child online protection (2020) and other relevant guidance for business, such as the MoCRIA: Child Rights Impact Self-Assessment Tool for Mobile Operators, as well as other frameworks /guidance focused on OCSEA, such as the WeProtect Model National Response. Some other resources include specific modules for industry, such as the Agora course on Child Rights and Business in the Digital Environment: Training for Industry, as well as Legislating for the Digital Age.
• The operational guidelines will be developed based on the promising practices from other countries, such as the Cambodian Child Online Protection Guidelines for the Digital Technology Industry.

Deliver a sensitization and training workshop for industry to prevent and tackle online CSEA:

Based on the operational guidelines, the consultant is expected to develop training materials, including slide decks and any accompanying tools for interactive sessions, as well as measurement (e.g. pre- and post-tests or follow-up evaluation tools, namely a checklist for interviews with the participants after 3 months to understand their knowledge retention). Once training materials are finalized, the consultant will facilitate the sensitization and training workshop for industry and relevant stakeholders. The training will be delivered in the format of Training of Trainers (ToT) to create a cadre of master trainers at the national level. The participants will include, but not limited to, the selected industry staff, the TWG members, law enforcement officers and hotline staff

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in degree in social work, gender, human rights, laws, psychologies, sexual and reproductive health, or another relevant field. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in prevention and response to online child sexual abuse as well as demonstrated expertise in children's rights in relation to the digital environment
• Proven experience in carrying out capacity needs assessment, developing training materials, facilitating capacity building training and measurement and evaluation of capacity building
• Proven experience in the private sector engagement in the area of children’s rights and well-being

Knowledge and Skills:

• Demonstrated knowledge of online child sexual abuse and exploitation and children's rights in relation to the digital environment.
• Up-to-date understanding of models of technology industry engagement and regulation relating to children's protection and rights
• Proven knowledge and understanding of the Ghana context
• Good understanding of UN systems programming is an advantage
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, planning and coordination skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multi-cultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationship
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language 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.

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Added 1 day ago - Updated 7 hours ago - Source: unicef.org