National Consultancy: Conversations on Anti-Racism & Anti-Bias and Prevention against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Sexual Harassment Awareness Raising and preparation of Children’s Sum

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, free of discrimination

Background and Justification

Many recent reports confirm that racism and discrimination, a persisting problem across every area of society and achieving diversity at work, is a challenge for all sectors, including in the wider UN and within UNICEF. Building on investment made on children's parliament in the past three years, UNICEF NCO proposes to convene the first ever Summit on Children to showcase best practices and emerging issues on children in Namibia as part of its key event marking UNICEF @ 75.

As a follow up to the current global movement on anti-black racism, Executive Director Fore has established a Task Team on Non-Discrimination to listen, explore and find solutions to issues of discrimination within UNICEF. This started with a series of regional conversations about racism, specifically anti-black racism, within the UNICEF workspace. This reflections and respectful exchanges between colleagues helped us to reaffirm that these issues matter and impact all our wellbeing.

As UNICEF is celebrating 75 years being the voice for children, there is a need to both look back at past achievements and to position the organisation in Namibia to meet the new challenges of recovering from the pandemic and drive ahead with a positive thrust. The Children’s Summit bringing together children from all socio-economic background across Namibia, child experts, advocates, researchers, academia and private sector among others is deemed important at this juncture of the Country Programme. At the same time, it is also important for the Country Office to explore ways in which we can continue the conversations to promote and enhance the 'Speak Up' culture we are creating, and ultimately contribute to the overall organizational culture change agenda that UNICEF is embarking on.

It is against this background that the UNICEF Namibia Country Office seeks to engage a technical expert in social and behavioural issues and a child right advocate, to prepare and lead the office in holding a series of supportive conversations about racial discrimination and biases and to furnish NCO with tools and techniques to assist staff in finding positive ways to 'Speak Up' about these important issues and to act as a resource person on Prevention against Sexual Exploitation, Abuse (PSEA) and Sexual Harassment Awareness Raising. At the same time the consultant will act as a resource person by engaging UNICEF's partners, audiences, and especially children, ensuring that their voices are not only heard, but also taken more seriously when it comes to decisions that affect their future. Furthermore, the consultant will lead the preparation of the Summit on children expected to take place in the third-last quarter of 2021 in commemoration of UNICEF@ 75.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work

Objectives

The objective of the consultancy is to:

• Provide/equip the Country Office with the appropriate tools/packages that will enable staff to 'Speak Up' about racial discrimination and biases in the workplace to achieve a more inclusive, less discriminatory workplace.
• Provide technical assistance by acting as a resource person for the Prevention against Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and Sexual Harassment Awareness Raising and during the Children's Summit.
• Assist in leading the preparation of the Summit on Children in coordination with UNICEF Heads of Section (Summit Reference Group); key Government child-focus line ministries, UN and any other relevant partners.

Tasks and Desired Outcomes

The consultant will work under the general supervision of the Staff Development Committee Chairperson and the Anti-Racism and Discrimination focal point and in close coordination with the Senior Management Team. Using a participatory approach, the Consultant is expected to focus on the following:

• Make staff understand the various types of discrimination.
• Use different methods to help staff explore and understand how beliefs, values and attitudes drive behavior and make them recognize the benefits of embracing difference.
• Make staff aware of employer and employee duties in relation to equality and diversity, and inclusion and how they can challenge common stereotypes, unconscious biasness, misconceptions and prejudicial attitudes in the workplace using UNICEF rules and regulations.
• Explore the different types of bias, cultural/social and experience along with exploring the problems that they create.
• Create staff awareness of the consequences of discrimination and the effects on people.
• Make staff aware of the content and environment in which they operate.
• Develop an onboard package for new staff members focusing on 'Speak Up' culture, key social and cultural norms and the basic diplomatic communication culture in Namibia.
• Deliver remarks/talks for UNICEF partners during key (identified) events.
• Develop a concept note on the Summit in coordination with Heads of Section and GRN

Structure

• The consultancy will conduct a pulse survey to understand and measure the issues at hand in relation to racism and biases. This survey will be conducted at the beginning and end of the consultancy. The results of the surveys will be shared with staff and will inform the topics to focus on during sessions with the country office;
• The consultant will also deliver/hold four 1-2-hour knowledge management sessions/interactive workshop features a range of activities and thought-provoking discussions that will enable individuals to start a journey of self-reflection based on their current values and beliefs. The sessions will spread from March - November 2021. This will give the consultant ample time to adjust his/her tools and approach (based on previous engagement with staff) and to have enough time to consult internally with management, SAEC and other relevant internal structures on the way forward;
• The Consultant will also be required to deliver at least 4 talks on PSEA at meetings with Governors and Councilors, Parliament, Development Partners and the internal UNPAF annual review;
• Identify regional or global potential resource persons to participate during the Children's Summit and deliver 2 talks during the Summit;
• The consultant will discuss with Senior Management Team, the Staff Association and the Staff Development Committee to agree on any issues that should be covered and that will be addressed throughout the consultancy.
• Present the concept note on Children's Summit to CMT for endorsement
• Work with Heads of Section and GRN to propose thematic areas and resource persons for the Summit.

Deliverables & Payment

Deliverables

Number of days

Payment

1. Develop and submit a plan on how the consultancy will be approached
2. Develop questionnaires and conduct pulse surveys at the beginning of the consultancy.
3. Develop and present a concept note on Children's Summit

12 days

20%

4. Developing and submission of the developed tools to be used during the 4 Knowledge management sessions/training
5. Conducting virtual/in person session/training on racial discrimination and biases
6. Develop Summit Agenda based on feedback on the concept note

20 days for tools development and trainings

(one in first quarter, two in second and one in third)

40%

7. Deliver remarks at 4 scheduled meetings with meetings with Governors and Councilors, Parliament, Development Partners, UNPAF annual review;

8. Identify resource persons and deliver 4 talks during the Children's summit

   8 days as per annual plans

9. Submission of a developed and ready to print onboard package for new staff members focusing on key social and cultural norms and the basic diplomatic communication culture in Namibia.

18 days

40%

10. Writing and submission of final report detailing 1-4 above. The report should include Introduction, objectives, key discussions, recommendations, all presentations and all documents used.
11. Submit Report of the Summit

10 days

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

Desired profile

Required skills, experience and qualifications of the consultant:

• Minimum eight (8) years of relevant work experience
• Master's degree in law, social sciences, international relations or any relevant degree in development
• Proven record of working with the UN
• Fluency in written and spoken English
• Experience in organizational training
• Ability to express ideas and concepts clearly and concisely
• Possesses strong organizational and detail-oriented skills
• Knowledge and understanding of the global, regional and national Social and Political development issues

Administrative issues

Work relationships:

The consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Staff Development Chairperson and in close collaboration with the Anti-Racism and Discrimination Focal Point. He/she will have a meeting with the Staff Development Committee members for their inputs on the programme and content of the consultancy. Inputs will also be sought from the Senior Management Team.

When the need arises, the consultant is expected to organize the virtual knowledge management/sessions and delivery of remarks using Microsoft virtual tool or ZOOM.

He/she will not be provided any equipment, office space or other services by UNICEF. The consultant will use his/her own equipment to produce deliverables timely.

Travel:

Where necessary, all travel costs pertaining to this consultancy, will be covered by UNICEF Namibia, in line with UNICEF's travel rules and regulations.

UNICEF recourse in case of unsatisfactory performance:

Payment will only be made for work satisfactorily completed and accepted by UNICEF.

Note - UNICEF will cover the printing cost for the onboard package. All pictures and materials prepared/used will remain the sole property of UNICEF. The final deliverables should be presented in ready to print soft copy.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advanced payment is allowed unless exceptions against bank guarantees, subject to a maximum of 30 percent of the total contract value, in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel maybe necessary.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF's General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants and contractors.

Risks

Staff Development Committee notes the limitation of virtual training due to periodic poor network connections. This will be mitigated by ensuring recording of the sessions, which can be shared with staff after the sessions.

How to Apply

Please visit our careers page at https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ for details on the consultancy assignment and how to apply.

The search criteria are Namibia and Consultancy.

Qualified and interested individuals should submit technical and financial proposal together with:

• A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise
• A detailed breakdown of the proposed cost should include consultancy fee and other related costs excluding travel cost.

Applications without a financial proposal will not be accepted.

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. 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:

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.