National consultancy - Assist Child Protection Programme to implement School gender-based violence prevention interventions within the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) supported COVID

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, health

The spread of the COVID-19 outbreak in Guinea-Bissau has led to a significant interruption of the physical, economic, and social life in the country. With the reopening of schools, it is crucial to strengthen awareness among the community schools and strengthen their resilience as well as their capacity to respond. The closure of schools and mandatory social confinement in 2020 posed great challenges., According to Mics 5 only 25% of women and 54% between 15-24 years old are literate in the rural areas. This data shows the constraints that children, mainly in rural areas faced in situations of mandatory social confinement. The COVID-19 situation will increase the number of school dropouts and consequently increase the cases of child marriage and other forms of gender-based violence. The rate of out of school children for girls especially will see an increase.

In Guinea-Bissau, violence against children is prevalent and not effectively outlawed. Violence in school, and sexual and gender-based violence (GBV) affects children, particularly girls. FGM (52%- MICS 2018/19) and child marriage (26%- MICS 2018/19) persist as gender-based violence, especially in rural areas, where harmful social norms are hampering efforts for gender equality. Although community-based interventions promoting dialogues around human rights and interventions targeting adolescent’s girls have yielded positive results, these interventions remain small in scope. Additionally, abusive and violent discipline practices at home is a persistent practice (76%- MICS 2018/19). The most affected are children between 5 to 9 years old and disparities among girls and boys are almost inexistent (75% boys and 76% girls). 23% of them are suffering from severe forms of physical punishment in the hands of their caregivers (21% boys and 19% girls).

In light of this, UNICEF, under the GPE COVID-response and recovery Project, will contribute to the National Education COVID response plan, to reduce the risks of the social impact of coronavirus on the education of children and ensure safe school operations and continuity of learning and well-being for children and youth, especially for the most vulnerable. One of the key components of the project is to expand and strengthen psychosocial support and protection services in and around schools.

In line with the above presented, the UNICEF Child Protection programme is looking for a consultant to assist child protection partners and the Ministry of Education in implementing the planned intervention of the project, as per tasks described in this term of reference. The consultant will also be expected to assist the child protection programme in the implementation of GBV prevention activities of the 2021 workplan.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this consultancy is to provide direct support to the implementation of planned activities on gender-based violence prevention to children within the Child Protection Programme workplan for 2021, especially the Child protection component under the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) supported COVID-response and recovery Project.

How can you make a difference?

ACTIVITIES, TASKS, DELIVERABLES AND TIMELINES

The consultant will work under the guidance and direct supervision of the Child Protection Manager in collaboration with the GPE programme specialist.

1. Support the CP programme in the implementation of the Gender-based violence (GBV) component of the GPE Covid-19 project by:

• Working with the Ministry of Education and Child Protection partners in the development, printing, and dissemination of Child Protection messages and materials to schools and children and ensuring full involvement of UNICEF Communication and GPE Specialist in all phases.
• Providing appropriate guidance to partners (Ministry of Education, Comite Nacional Para o Abandono das Praticas Nefastas -CNAPN-, Instituto da Mulher e Criança -IMC- and Civil Society Organization, including child and youth associations) on the implementation of teacher trainings on psychosocial needs, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation and referral, and ensuring a close follow up of the training’s preparation and implementation.
• Organizing two (2) trainings to implementing partners on psychosocial support, assistance and care for children referred by school and families to child protection services and report cases.
• Working with the Ministry of Education and Child Protection partners, in the development of a follow-up mechanism to be used by schools and implementing partners to report cases of violence against children in school settings and ensure monthly compilation of information and data on the support provided (psychosocial support, assistance and care for children referred by school and families to child protection services).
• Working with Ministry of Education, Comite Nacional Para o Abandon das Praticas Nefastas (CNAPN), Instituto da Mulher e Criança (IMC) and Civil Society Organization, including child and youth associations, in the elaboration and implementation of a pilot approach to promote complaints and feedback mechanisms favorable to children in schools.
• Engaging with UNFPA, World Bank and other development agencies working on the education and protection sectors to coordinate interventions on gender-based violence prevention in schools’ settings.
• Working closely with UNICEF Education, Wash, Communication and Social Policy focal points for the GPE project and the project coordinator, to ensure harmonization of interventions, especially data management, communication and visibility.
• Attending regular planning working meetings with key implementing partners.
• Undertaking any other related tasks as may be required or assigned by the supervisor.

2. Support the CP programme in follow-up the implementation of the FGM/ Plan international project, in Gabu and Bafata regions, by:

• Conducting monthly visits to the project sites to monitor project implementation, in coordination with project coordinator.
• Working with UNICEF and Plan International communication teams to ensure timely implementation of communication and visibility activities.
• Reporting monthly on project implementation, including indicators.
• Attending regular planning working meetings with key implementing partner.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have

QUALIFICATIONS, SPECIALIZED EXPERIENCE AND ADDITIONAL COMPETENCIES

• The selected consultant will have to possess:

  (1) Education

• University degree in Education, Law, Social Service, Gender Studies, Social Science or field of study related to the programme scope.
• Knowledge of Gender-based violence prevention, community engagement strategies/practices
• 2) Work experience
• At least 2 years of professional work experience at the national and/or international level in Child Protection and Education: prevention of violence against children in schools and communities, harmful social norms- FGM, child marriage, referral and case management mechanism and, data management on violence against children.
• Experience in working with the education system, civil society organizations or NGOs operating at community level is an asset, as is experience working in the UN or other international development organization;
• Technical knowledge on data gathering, management and reporting is an asset.
• Good oral and written communication skills;
• Excellent interpersonal skills; culturally and socially sensitive; ability to work inclusively and collaboratively with a range of partners, including grassroots community members, children, and authorities at different levels;
• Ability to work and adapt professionally and effectively in a challenging environment; ability to work effectively in a multicultural team of international and national personnel;

Familiarity with UNICEF mission and mandate is an asset

3) Language

• Fluency in Portuguese and good working knowledge of English is desirable.

DELIVERABLES

1. Support the CP programme in the implementation of the Gender-based violence (GBV) component of the GPE Covi-19 project (85% of dedicated time of consultancy):

• Monthly work plan of activities presented and agreed with supervisor.
• Monthly progress report (including indicators)
• Field trip reports.
• Child Protection messages and materials on GBV prevention in schools developed and disseminated in all 1,500 target schools.
• Teacher training on psychosocial needs, prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse, gender-based violence (GBV) risk mitigation and referral completed, and report shared.
• Two (2) trainings to implementing partners on psychosocial support, assistance and care for children referred by school and families to child protection services and report cases, organized and reports shared.
• Follow-up mechanism to be used by schools and implementing partners to report cases of violence against children in school settings developed and tested in selected schools.
• Pilot approach to promote complaints and feedback mechanisms favorable to children in schools elaborated, approved and implemented in selected schools.
• Coordination meetings reports shared.

2. Support the CP programme in follow-up the implementation of the FGM/ Plan international project, in Gabu and Bafata regions (15% of dedicated time of the consultancy):

• Monthly work plan of activities presented and agreed with supervisor.
• Monthly progress report (including indicators).
• Field trip reports.

METHODOLOGY AND ORGANIZATION OF WORK

Duration: The contract will be for a total of 8 months, (May to December 2021).

Management and implementation arrangement: The overall management of this contract will be done by UNICEF. Within UNICEF, Protection Section will supervise the contract.

Budget and Remuneration: The consultancy, on an SSA type contract is at the NOB level. The applicants should send a technical and financial proposal along with the application. The contract fee rate will be based on the current market value. The selected consultant will be remunerated according to his/her experience and the negotiations that will follow.

Payment Method: Monthly payment upon submission of the progress report, provided that the completion of planned tasks has been achieved.

Supervision: The consultant will be under the direct supervision of the Child Protection Manager of the UNICEF Guinea-Bissau office.

Data Management: The consultant must respect the total confidentiality of the data collected in the field, as well as specific documents of the project and of the analyses that will produced throughout the whole process. The consultant can only use documents and data sets for tasks related to these terms of reference.

CONDITIONS OF WORKING

The consultant will work in UNICEF premises and will have access to UNICEF email and UNICEF ICTs (computer, internet, and printer).

During the contractual period, the consultant will have to travel within the country. Travel cost will be covered by the UNICEF office in Guinea-Bissau.

The consultant will submit a financial proposal that will include daily or monthly rate (in USD $) to undertake the terms of reference.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables.

This contract does not allow payment of overtime, medical insurance, taxes, or sick leave.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or part of payments if performance is not satisfactory, work/productivity is incomplete or not delivered, or deadlines are not met.

All the products developed will be the property of UNICEF.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness
• Innovates and embraces change
• Builds and maintains partnerships
• Thinks and acts strategically
• Works collaboratively with others
• Understanding of United Nations systems and international organizations in general; field/country experience an asset
• Solid overall computer literacy, including proficiency in various MS Office applications (Excel, Word, etc.) and email/internet; familiarity with database management; and office technology equipment.
• Self-motivated, ability to work with minimum supervision; ability to work with tight deadlines.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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.