International Consultant to conduct Follow-up Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey on Violence against Children in Families in Kazakhstan

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International Consultant to conduct Follow-up Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey on Violence against Children in Families in Kazakhstan

Type of contract: Consultant contract Hiring unit: Kazakhstan Country Office Workplace: remote-based Duration: 33 working days, October 2020 – February 2021

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 fair chance

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Background

Over the last decade, recognition of the pervasive nature and impact of violence against children (hereinafter VAC) has grown both globally and in Kazakhstan. The 2019 Situation Analysis of Children in Kazakhstan and series of studies completed by UNICEF jointly with the Commissioner for Human Rights between 2010-2016 reported that abuse and neglect of children in Kazakhstan take place at home, in schools, in residential care institutions, as well as in the community. In 2015, the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child expressed concern about violent disciplinary measures applied in families, schools, and care institutions. It recommended to take immediate measures to explicitly prohibit corporal punishment in all its forms and take measures to foster positive, non-violent and participatory forms of child-rearing and discipline among parents, teachers, staff of residential care institutions and day care facilities, and other professionals working with and for children. Evidence suggests that cultural and social norms significantly influence and shape individual behaviour, including the use of violence (Hidden in plain sight: A statistical analysis of violence against children. UNICEF, 2014). In 2016, a Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey was conducted by UNICEF jointly with national authorities to gather baseline information on knowledge, attitudes and practices of general public and professionals with respect to violence against children in families in Kazakhstan. The baseline Knowledge, Attitude, Practice Survey helped to fill in the gaps in understanding of available knowledge, prevailing social norms, and existing practices among the general public and professionals working with and for children. The 2016 Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Survey on Violence against Children in Families in Kazakhstan (hereinafter KAP survey) demonstrated that existing social norms in Kazakhstan are supportive of violence against children. In total, 75% of general public adults and 46% of child protection and justice officials supported the use of corporal punishment in families. A general misconception of both physical and mental violence against children was observed: 38% of adults and 45% of child protection and justice officials did not consider slapping or hitting a child on the head, buttocks, or back as an act of physical abuse. At the same time, from 23% to 36% of general public adults did not perceive threatening to hit/beat a child, humiliating a child, or cursing a child as an act of mental abuse (Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey on Violence against Children in Families in Kazakhstan, UNICEF jointly with the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan, 2016) The consequences of violence against children are often intergenerational, with children who have been exposed to violence more likely to become violent adults themselves. There is significant evidence that children exposed to violence at home may suffer a range of severe and lasting negative effects on their social skills, academic achievement, mental and overall well-being. Yet, according to the 2016 KAP Survey, only 59.8% of general public adults and 73% of child protection and justice officials agreed that children who experience violence in the family are at-risk of developing long-term physical and mental problems. Similarly, only 58.4% of adults and 58.4% of professionals admitted the negative effect of household violence on children’s schoolwork. Even smaller proportions of adults (53.4%) and child protection and justice officials (43.8%) agreed that children who experience violence in the family are at increased risk of engaging in deviant or criminal behaviors. Over the past years, steps have been taken by the national authorities of Kazakhstan, in cooperation with UNICEF and other national and international partners, to raise awareness on different types of violence against children as well as educating the general public and professionals who work with children on non-violent disciplining and long-term mental and physical problems associated with childhood exposure to violence and abuse. To measure inter-mediate progress in this respect, UNICEF jointly with national authorities have agreed to undertake a Follow-up Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Survey on Violence against Children in the Families covering specific measures/indicators of the 2016 baseline survey.

The scope of the survey, planned approach and methodology and the specific tasks to be accomplished by the selected individual consultant.docx

How can you make a difference?

Given the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the safety measures introduced for preserving the well-being of the population, it was decided to change the baseline methodological approach for conducting the follow-up KAP Survey on violence against children in 2020. Therefore, the anticipated 2020 KAP Survey will be based on telephone-based survey of general public adults and child protection and justice specialists, to be conducted with support from the selected national research institute/company. The assignment shall be conducted in two phases. The first phase (Inception phase) will prepare and detail the conduct of the data gathering and analysis. The end of Phase I will result in a detailed Inception Report that presents the final survey scope, sample, work-plan, and methods based on information gathered during the first phase. The first phase should take no more than one month, including document review, consultations with UNICEF and national stakeholders and inception report including work plan submission and approval. The Phase II of the assignment will adhere to the approved workplan and methods detailed in the approved Inception Report. This will include the field test of the approved methodology, data collection, data analysis, draft report writing and finalization, including findings, recommendations and key messages.

Purpose of the Assignment

The overall purpose of the assignment is to provide UNICEF Kazakhstan and the national counterparts support in conducting a Follow-up Knowledge, Attitude and Practice Survey on Violence Against Children in Families in Kazakhstan for measuring potential change in knowledge, attitudes and practices of general public adults and professionals (child protection and justice specialists) in respect of violence against children (hereinafter VAC). The baseline for measuring the potential change is the ‘KAP Survey on Violence Against Children in Families in Kazakhstan’ conducted by UNICEF jointly with the Commissioner for Human Rights in the Republic of Kazakhstan in 2016. Monitoring the KAP survey measures/indicators on VAC among the general public adults and professionals is key for tracking any changes in social norms and practices around VAC in Kazakhstan. The baseline survey data was collected through survey of general public in households as well as interview of child protection, justice and media specialists. Additionally, children were surveyed in schools and in institutions. The following indicator – “% of general public adults and child protection and justice specialists who agree that children who experience violence in the family are at-risk of developing long-term physical and mental problems” has become one of the key indicators for UNICEF 2016-2020 Country Programme in Kazakhstan. Findings of the follow-up KAP Survey should inform on status of this indicator.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks and deliverables for 2020 Follow-up KAP survey VAC in the Families.docx

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… • PhD in Sociology, Social Work, Child Protection, Law, International Law, Social sciences • At least 7 years of experience related to research on Violence against children • Expertise in research protocols and methodologies applied to social development issues focusing on children • Proven experience (more than 5 years) in conducting surveys with the general public and professionals in the field of child protection • Proven experience with data management and data input into SPSS or other data input system • Skills in writing research reports in a comprehensive, focused and reader-friendly way • Excellent communication and analytical skills in the area of children’s vulnerabilities, child protection and child rights • Good knowledge of computer applications • Advanced user of research software • Experience in conducting large-scale surveys, including telephone-based surveys, and research for international/UN agencies will be an asset • Prior experience in communication research, study and evaluation will be an asset • Fluency in English (written and spoken) • Knowledge of Kazakh and Russian will be an asset • Competencies: - Communication; - Working with people; - Drive for results; - Technical competencies: 1) Planning and conducting research including development of methodology, data collection tools and analysis of raw data 2) Report writing and presentation 3) Designing and conducting of qualitative and quantitative research, KAP Surveys, household surveys, telephone-based surveys, opinion polls 4) Analyzing of collected data and making strategic observations and recommendations - Functional competencies: 1) Persuading and Influencing 2) Analyzing 3) Learning and Researching 4) Planning and Organizing 5) Adapting and Responding to Change

For every Child, you demonstrate… UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture) View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks: • Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the consultancy. • Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. • 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. • 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. • All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. • The Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures. • The successful candidate will be required to have medical insurance (at his/her own cost), covering the whole period of contract, including travel. • 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. • All submissions should be in electronic version. • 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 (fees reduced due to late submission: 20 days - 10%; 1 month-20%; 2 months - 50%; more 2 months – payment withhold). • Payment upon completion of each deliverable according to schedule • The selected international consultant will report to UNICEF and will work closely with the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist. Child Protection Specialist will interact with the consultant in negotiation and communicating through e-mail correspondence and through zoom calls. • Detailed scope of consultancy and division of responsibilities of international and national research institute/company will be jointly agreed with UNICEF. • UNICEF does not provide any equipment/software (e.g. computer equipment, software applications, software license, server, other related services) needed for conducting the study. Interested candidates should ensure availability of equipment and software necessary for conducting the study. • UNICEF is requesting proposals from qualified international individual consultants. It is expected that all the outlined in the present vacancy announcement tasks and deliverables will be implemented by the selected consultant. • The candidates are requested to provide the following documents and materials as part of the proposal: • International consultant’s CV including educational background and relevant experience. • Technical proposal outlining the proposed methodology for the follow-up KAP survey. Proposals will be judged based on understanding of the assignment, suggested methodology, strategic thinking, creativity, applicability. • Financial proposal (lump sum) for completing the assignment. • Detailed workplan and schedule will be agreed with the individual consultant. • Due to COVID19, consideration should be given to implementing the outlined tasks in online format including the planned training of the local research team.

Added 3 years ago - Updated 3 years ago - Source: unicef.org