INTERNATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CONSULTANCY:Support the inter-agency PSEA working group in Turkey with the development of inter-agency PSEA Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and inter-agency U

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Background:

The Secretary-General in its 2017 Report on special measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, has confirmed and strengthened the United Nations’ commitment to take action for prevention, response and end of impunity for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by UN staff and related personnel. All forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are a violation of human rights and an abuse of a position of power over a vulnerable population that the United Nations and other humanitarian and development actors have pledged to protect. SEA can lead to serious, sometimes life-long, adverse consequences for the survivors, particularly for child survivors. Furthermore, SEA undermines the integrity and reputation of the UN and other humanitarian and development actors, which can threaten the security of their personnel and operations.

UNICEF is fully committed to improving protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and takes a leadership role in addressing challenges. Notably, as the Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)’s Principals’ Champion on SEA and Sexual Harassment for 2019/20, UNICEF’s Executive Director has focused on scaling up: (i) safe and accessible reporting mechanisms, (ii) quality, survivor-centered support, and (iii) accountability for every child and adult survivor in all humanitarian responses. Delivering on these commitments involves ensuring UNICEF and its partners have adequate safeguards and take appropriate action to tackle SEA. UNICEF Turkey country office has supported its civil society partners with capacity-building efforts which results in the majority of its partners being rated as low risk.

The in-country PSEA Network in Turkey was established under the UNCT in 2019 and it currently operates within the framework of the PSEA Network Action Plan for 2021 (attached to this ToR as a reference). The network is currently composed of all UN agencies (at the level of PSEA Focal Points) operating in Turkey and functions in close collaboration with the 3RP Protection working group and its GBV an Child Protection sub-groups as well as the Accountability to the Affected Population (AAP) Task Team. To date, the in-country PSEA Network has developed an Action Plan that include the development of key activities such as the development of PSEA Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs); inter-Agency SEA referral pathways; provision of referral pathway to survivors and training of PSEA focal points etc. The PSEA Network meetings are taking place regularly, chaired by UNFPA and RC Office, supported by the PSEA Task Team that is co-chaired by UNFPA, UNICEF and UNHCR.

To support the PSEA working group efforts, UNICEF Turkey, on behalf of the UN PSEA Network in Turkey, is seeking the support of an international consultant for the development of inter-agency PSEA Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and support to the roll-out of the UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol for the inter-agency PSEA Network in Turkey. The SOPs should provide technical guidance on how agencies can coordinate complaint referrals while operating an inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms (CBCM). The SOPs should cover how to receive, assess, refer, and follow-up on complaints between agencies in line with diverse confidentiality and data protection policies based on the best global practices. The inter-agency UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol should outline a common set of norms and standards based on existing frameworks to strengthen a coordinated, system-wide approach to the provision of assistance and support, which prioritizes the rights and dignity of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse.

Purpose of the Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to support the inter-agency PSEA Network efforts in Turkey with the development of inter-agency PSEA Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and inter-agency UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol.

Description of the Assignment:

Tasks:

The consultant is expected to complete the following tasks and submit deliverables in line with the work calendar below:

• Desk review: “IASC Global Standard Operating Procedures on Inter-Agency Cooperation in Community-Based Complaint Mechanisms”, “IASC Best Practice Guide for Inter-Agency Community-Based Complaints Mechanisms”, “UN Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Victims of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”, including the related Technical Guidance Note, and country specific inter-agency SOPs and Protocols on the Provision of Assistance to Survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse
• 1- Day Workshop: Present the best practices to the inter-agency PSEA network and hold consultations on the challenges and lesson-learned on community-based complaint mechanisms and provision of assistance to survivors
• Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs): Development of inter-agency PSEA SOPs for information sharing on complaints, based on available global best practices and experience. The SOPs should provide technical guidance on how agencies can coordinate complaint referrals while operating inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms (CBCM). The SOPs should cover how to receive, assess, refer, and follow-up between agencies on complaints and related support including psycho-social support to survivors, in line with diverse confidentiality and data protection policies based on the best global practices. It should distinguish complaints received by children vs. adults.
• UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol: Development of an inter-agency UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol for Turkey. It should outline a common set of norms and standards based on existing frameworks to strengthen a coordinated, system-wide approach to the provision of assistance and support, which prioritizes the rights and dignity of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse. Should distinguish between the provision of assistance to child vs adult survivors should be made.
• 1-Day Training and Orientation meetings: Provide a one-day training / orientation for inter-agency PSEA network members on the usage of the SOPs and Victim’s Assistance protocol as well as one session with the UNCT in Turkey and one session (webinar) for the wider PSEA audience in Turkey (including 3RP coordination groups).

TASKS

DELIVERABLE

TENTATIVE* PERIOD/DEADLINE

1

Desk review of global IASC standards on SOPs for Community-Based Complaint Mechanisms, Protocol on the Provision of Assistance to Survivors and country specific inter-agency SOPs and Protocols on the Provision of Assistance.

Q&A session with UNICEF and UNFPA PSEA team and members of PSEA Network as well as members of the inter-agency PSEA Task Team.

Report on findings (max. 10 pages)

September 2021

(4 days)

2

1- Day Workshop: Present the best practices to the inter-agency PSEA Network and hold consultations on the challenges and lesson-learned on community-based complaint mechanisms and provision of assistance to survivors.

Report on the outcomes of the workshop (max. 5 pages)

September 2021

(3 days)

3

Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) for information sharing on complaints.: Development of inter-agency PSEA SOPs for information sharing on complaints. The SOPs should provide technical guidance on how agencies can coordinate complaint referrals while operating an inter-agency community-based complaint mechanisms (CBCM). The SOPs should cover how to receive, assess, refer, and follow-up on complaints between agencies in line with diverse confidentiality and data protection policies based on the best global practices. It should distinguish complaints received by children vs. adults.

Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) (max. 15 pages), including generic /neutral email for referral claims on SEA among agencies

October 2021

(7 days)

4

UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol: Development of an inter-agency UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol for the Turkey. It should outline a common set of norms and standards based on existing frameworks to strengthen a coordinated, system-wide approach to the provision of assistance and support, which prioritizes the rights and dignity of survivors of sexual exploitation and abuse. Distinguish between the provision of assistance to child vs adult survivors should be made.

UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol (max. 20 pages)

October - November 2021

(7 days)

5

1-Day Training and orientation meetings: Provide a one-day training / orientation for inter-agency PSEA network members on the usage of the SOPs and Victim’s Assistance protocol as well as one session with the UNCT in Turkey and one session (webinar) for the wider PSEA audience in Turkey (including 3RP coordination groups)

SOPs Presentation / orientation for the PSEA Network and wider PSEA audience in Turkey

November 2021

(5 days)

6

Coordination:

Coordination meetings with UNICEF and PSEA Network chair (UNFPA) following each deliverable and also when deemed necessary

Meeting minutes and action points (via e-mail)

September November 2021

(4 days)

*Delivery dates are tentative. Detailed time plan is required together with the technical proposal.

Duty Station:

The international individual consultancy assignment will be home based, involving no travel, but the consultant will also be expected to work punctually from the UNICEF Ankara Office, if and when circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic permit.

UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide formats for reports, feedback and guidance on performance and all other necessary support in order to achieve objectives of the exercise, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the expert’s performance and quality of work.

Payment Schedule: UNICEF will issue a contract in USD. The payment for the entire consultancy will take place in USD, will be done in instalments upon deliverables as per contractual agreement.

All-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs.

Reservations: UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract without a prior notice and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF and the project partners are not followed, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

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

Competencies required to carry out the tasks are as per below:

• Advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, human rights, psychology, gender and women studies, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field
• At least of 7 years of relevant work experience, including in one or more of the following areas: Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Protection, Child Protection, Gender-based violence/Survivors assistance, Staff misconduct and discipline
• Proven record of and experience in conducting research and preparing reports.
• Familiarity with the UN system and global coordination structures, including those related to the PSEA (e.g. IASC)
• Relevant experience of working with UN agencies, including in the field, is a strong asset

• Experience in developing and facilitating training and capacity-building activities is a strong asset

• Fluency in spoken and written English

Ethical considerations

Consultants are required to clearly identify any potential ethical issue, as well as the processes for ethical review and oversight of the research/data collection process in their proposal. UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis can be found at: https://www.unicef.org/supply/files/ATTACHMENT_IV-UNICEF_Procedure_for_Ethical_Standards.PDF and should be consistently applied throughout the research process. The procedure contains the minimum standards and required procedures for research, evaluation and data collection and analysis undertaken or commissioned by UNICEF (including activities undertaken by individual and institutional contractors, and partners) involving human subjects or the analysis of sensitive secondary data.

APPLICATION AND SELECTION CRITERIA

Application Procedure:

Applications should be submitted in English and should include:

1. Financial proposal using the enclosed Financial Template.docx

2. P11 Form, where previous experience provided in detail. P11 Form.doc

3. Technical Proposal (that includes main objectives, workplan, explaining how the content mentioned in the Scope and Focus section will be addressed, risks and mitigating measures- max 10 pages)

All the documents should be sent to “[email protected]” with “Support the inter-agency Protection of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) working group in Turkey with the development of inter-agency PSEA Standard Operational Procedures (SOPs) and inter-agency UN Victim’s Assistance Protocol” (REF: EME/TURA/2021-A) in the subject line. After the technical evaluation, the financial proposals of qualified candidates will be evaluated accordingly.