International consultant – Support the Government to draft the Action Plan on implementation of the recommendations of the Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabili

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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, a chance for life!

Within the United Nations Development Assistance Framework, the United Nations in Montenegro is embarking on a two-year programme to promote the rights of persons with disabilities in the country. The programme, which is funded through the UN Partnership on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNPRPD), was preceded by an Inception Phase in 2021, in which different governmental stakeholders, persons with disabilities and their representative organizations, Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) were consulted on priority areas. Based on their inputs, the Resident Coordinator’s Office (RCO), UNDP and UNICEF developed the two-year programme to support the country to promote and protect the rights of persons with disabilities. The Programme aims to support State institutions and OPDs to advance implementation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and disability inclusive Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular the pre-conditions for disability inclusion, non-discrimination, equitable service delivery, CRPD compliant budgeting, and accountability. Under Goal One, it will a) support Government to prevent institutionalization and to take key steps to facilitate the transition of persons with disabilities from institutions to family and community-based services and b) facilitate closer engagement between OPDs and the National Human Rights Institution (NHRI) - The Protector for Human Rights and Freedoms - to monitor implementation of CRPD. Under Goal Two, it will assist the UN to ensure strong disability inclusion in the new UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (SDCF) for the period 2023-2027 and the Common Country Analysis (CCA) on which the SDCF is based. The program will ensure meaningful participation of persons with different types of disabilities, both women and men, and of children with disabilities and parents in all activities, at all stages. Deinstitutionalization and development of community-based support services are one of the highest priority issues identified by persons with disabilities in Montenegro. While the 2013 Law on Social and Child Protection set preconditions for deinstitutionalization and for a shift from institutional to family and community-based care, overall, the legal and policy framework in force continues to allow institutionalization and is not in line with CRPD. A considerable number of adults and children reside in institutions, some of whom for decades while others are at risk of institutionalization as community-based services are yet inadequate and insufficient. Currently, the minimum package of such services doesn’t exist. Even though the country has ratified the UN Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, understanding that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinders their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others is still in its infancy in Montenegro. Currently, Montenegro’s national policies and legislation are predominantly based on a medical model, and differences in the definitions of disability remain an obstacle to the implementation of the integrative model that the UNCRPD aspires to. The equity gaps in the realization of the rights of children with disabilities are linked to barriers that these children face in the access to health, education, and social and child-protection services. Generally, there is a lack of relevant statistics and quality data on children with disability, insufficient inter-sector cooperation, gaps in the provision of services or their overlapping, uneven coverage of inclusive education for children with disabilities, insufficient territorial coverage and coverage of children regarding child and social-care services, unequal access to justice, etc. There is room for improvement in the quality of services provided in all domains. In 2021 the UNDP started Reform of the national disability determination. This three-year project (2021-2023) aims to modernize the national disability determination system in a comprehensive and fundamental way by focusing on human rights model. The overall goal is to completely reform the national disability determination system so that persons with disabilities have more just, equal, and easier access to all types of cash benefits and services, in accordance with national positive legislation and the ratified UN Convention on Persons with Disabilities. 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families was foreseen to provide a knowledge base for professionals and decision makers from different sectors on how to apply effectively and efficiently consolidated interventions and multisector system support and response throughout the lifecycle of children with disabilities in order to achieve important improvements in the situation and realization of rights of children with disabilities and their families. The general objectives of the analysis were to assist the Government of Montenegro, i.e. the Council for Child Rights, as well as respective CSOs, to achieve: a) Improvement of the policy and legal framework for children with disabilities across sectors; b) Improvement of the system of data collection and analysis across sectors and its consolidation; c) Improvement of multi-sector coordination in working with children with disabilities through consolidation of multi-sector efforts and the provision of integrated support to children with disabilities throughout their lifecycle. The Analysis has shown that the Council for Child Rights, as the highest inter-sector body in the country dealing with the promotion and protection of children’s rights, has not sufficiently used its mandate and capacities to ensure the implementation of laws and policies, and to foster inter-sector cooperation in the protection of the rights of children with disabilities and their families. Despite the existence of cooperation procedures at the national level that are strategically planned between the health, social and education sectors, in practice the coordination of professionals is a challenge. There is a need for stronger intersectoral cooperation, and that is why this initiative represents an exceptional opportunity to advance policies and practices in this domain. A situation analysis of early childhood intervention is under way, and is expected to be completed in September 2022. The Government of Montenegro has also committed to developing and Early Childhood Development Strategy in 2022, a process which will be supported by UNICEF and funded by the European Union. Therefore, UNICEF Montenegro is seeking technical expertise to support the Council for the Rights of the Child/and/or other responsible body (parliamentarians, Protector, OPDs, etc.) to draft an Action Plan to implement recommendations from the 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families, which refer to improved coordination, data collection and analysis, budgeting, multi-sectoral cooperation and financing, decentralization of services and resources, and definition of a minimum package of services.

How can you make a difference?

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Montenegro Child Rights Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist (CRMES), the Individual international consultant is expected to undertake the following tasks:

  • Support the Working group consisting of government representatives, parliamentarians, Protector, OPDs, etc, and chaired by the Council for the Rights of the Child/and/or other responsible body by overseeing and providing technical guidance to develop the draft of the Action plan for implementation of recommendations from the 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families, referring to improved coordination, data collection and analysis, budgeting, multi-sectoral cooperation and financing, decentralization of services and resources, development of a minimum package of services, etc. (20 days).
  • Present the draft document to the working group and other stakeholders in online format (1 day).
  • Incorporate comments and feedback from the working group and other stakeholders in the draft document (5 days).
  • Submit final Action plan for implementation of recommendations from the 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families (1 day).
  • Present the final Action plan to the working group and other stakeholders (1 day).

Slight changes in the timeline are possible and, if needed, will be agreed with UNICEF Montenegro.

It is expected from individual consultant to deliver the following within the below indicated timeframe:

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone: Deliverables/Outputs: Timeline

Support the Working group consisting of government representatives, parliamentarians, Protector, OPDs, etc, and chaired by the Council for the Rights of the Child/and/or other responsible body by overseeing and providing technical guidance to develop the draft of the Action plan for implementation of recommendations from the 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families.

First draft of Action plan

By 30 September 2022

Submit final Action plan for implementation of recommendations from the 2019 Analysis of cross-sectoral system support to children with disabilities and their families and present it to the working group and other stakeholders.

Final Action plan submitted, and presentation organized

By 30 November 2022

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

Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in social sciences, economics or other relevant fields.
  • Master’s or equivalent diploma will be considered as an advantage.

Experience:

  • Proven experience of ten (10) or more years in human rights including child rights in general, and rights of children/adults with disabilities.
  • Experience in developing action plans, strategies, research papers and analysis related to child rights, and rights of children/adults with disabilities.
  • Familiarity with the context of Montenegro in particular with child rights, and rights of children/adults with disabilities will be considered as an advantage.

Previous work experience with UN/UNICEF or other international organization will be considered as an advantage.

Language:

  • Excellent command of English and Montenegrin.

Other:

  • Excellent writing skills, presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills.
  • Ability to work with different stakeholders.
  • Demonstrates tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion.
  • Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards.
  • Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Payments schedule: The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Mandatory e-learning: Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract. 1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF 2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA) 3. Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF. • BSAFE security training Any consultant or individual contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract: • Fraud Awareness • Information Awareness Security Course (only for consultants/individual contractors with a UNICEF email address) The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: Summary of Mandatory Learning for UNICEF Staff . Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

Selection method: All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below.

The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process / Maximum points: 70 1. Technical Criteria – Interview/Written test -70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

  • Education: 20 points;
  • Previous experience: 20 points;
  • Technical questions at the interview: 30 points

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points: 30 The applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal consisting of a professional fee only for the services to be provided.

  • Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30]. Costs indicated are estimated. 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.
  • 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.

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.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org

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