National Consultant (Based in the BiH Agency for Statistics, Sarajevo) Testing of Indicators from the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central A

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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, Protection

UNICEF has a mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, which is rooted in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), applicable to every child, and since 2015 in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNICEF works in Europe and Central Asia to ensure that no child is left out of progress and plans to fulfil their rights and potential of development, that every child has a supportive family environment, access to justice and is protected from violence, abuse and exploitation. An important area of work of UNICEF consists of strengthening child protection systems to safeguard all children and their families from a full spectrum of risks.

UNICEF is leading the preparation of the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia that offers National Statistical Offices (NSOs), line Ministries and other child protection authorities and stakeholders, the practical guidance and tools for the collection of child protection data that is essential for monitoring the overall functioning and strength of child protection systems in countries across the region of Europe and Central Asia. The data and information generated by the proposed child protection indicators should be used by national governments, academia and civil society actors to identify the priority protection needs of children and the necessary prevention and responses to those needs, provide information to guide the national response including programme development and budgeting, and support advocacy to improve laws, policies, systems and services for children in need of protection. The data should be considered with available survey data (for instance from MICS, DHS or other surveys) and combined with qualitative data and information from key child protection stakeholders, including children themselves.

The first draft of the manual builds on the TransMonEE database indicators and manual, and is the result of an extensive desk review, and several consultations within UNICEF, governments and NSOs in the region, and with some external partners. During the TransMonEE meeting held in Vienna, 26- 27 November 2019, it was agreed among all the countries, that the first edition of the manual will be published in late 2020, upon the completion of in-depth testing of indicators that have not been collected in the TransMonEE database, so this will serve to validate the feasibility for countries to provide quality and timely data for those indicators and to fill in the gaps for those indicators that are not methodologically complex. The work on gaining greater methodological consensus or clarity on some complex indicators that have not been collected yet in the TransMonEE database, will require more time to resolve and will be pursued in parallel, within UNICEF and with other partners. UNICEF in BiH will support key stakeholders from Government, in particular line ministries, as well as the BiH and entity statistic agencies, to strengthen Child Protection Data Systems through enhanced collection and use of Child Protection data, in areas of Access to Justice, Children in Residential and Family-based Care, Adoption and Violence Against Children. UNICEF will support the testing and shaping of a selected number of indicators described in the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia.

UNICEF will prepare, share and discuss with the BiH Agency for Statistics the methodology/ tools and time frames for the testing of indicators. Templates and tools to conduct the test will be shared by UNICEF Europe and Central Asia Regional Office and customized by the country with support from the UNICEF Office in BiH.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the assignment

Provide technical guidance and support to UNICEF and the BiH Agency for Statistics in testing/rolling-out the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia. The consultant will support the BiH Agency for Statistics in leading and coordinating the process in all stages, including identification of all the ministries and agencies that have a role in the production of information relevant to the indicators in the manual and their dimensions of disaggregation and mobilizing them to participate in this testing.

Major tasks to be accomplished

Major tasks for the consultant include:

I Planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting on the testing of the UNICEF ECA Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators (not for wider circulation, to be shared upon request). This will entail the following tasks:

a. Explain and discuss with the respective government counterparts the process and outcomes of the testing

b. Conduct consultative meetings with all stakeholders to review the indicators metadata and provide feedback on clarity of indicators, sources of data, methods for collecting such data and overall availability and quality of data to report and or monitor each of the proposed indicators in the manual

c. Review child protection data system(s) and tools that are in place for systematic collection analysis of the relevant data, data that are currently being collected and reported at national and subnational level by the different stakeholders (statistical agencies, ministries, universities / academia, regional and municipal authorities and others as appropriate)

d. Review the data flows, gaps, challenges and tools used to produce estimates for the key Child Protection indicators and to report and communicate them in a timely and user-friendly manner

e. Assess the capacity of the BiH Agency for Statistics and their role in coordination with line ministries to obtain, validate and publish yearly updates for the key Child Protection indicators

f. Assess the actual and potential capacities of other partners and organizations, including civil society and the private sector, to support different parts of the data system related to child protection

g. Collect and input into the manual guidance all the available data as per the guidance provided and note specific areas where data is currently not available and or what is available does not meet the specifications in the manual

h. As appropriate provide suggestions for improving such data systems to be able to capture data for all the areas covered in the indicator manual.

II Upon agreement with UNICEF and relevant government partners on the wider set of proposed child protection indicators, the consultant will assess and propose steps forward in strengthening and aligning data collection systems on child protection in BiH with international standards.

III Work closely with key stakeholders at State, entity, cantonal and local levels to build their capacity (through desk analysis, meetings/workshops/presentations) while coming to an agreement on:

a. A joint understanding of child protection and a relevant wider set of child protection indicators

b. Establishing and maintaining Child Protection Data Collection Systems

c. Use of quality data for evidence-based programming

Deliverables and deadlines

I By 21 June 2021: Effective and efficient support to the roll-out of the ECARO Manual testing, including coordination of the implementation, monitoring and reporting, in close collaboration with BiH and entity agencies for statistics, more specifically:

a. Supported the BiH Agency for Statistics to input the results of the in-depth testing of the indicators into a reporting matrix (the standard template of the matrix will be provided by UNICEF and can be adapted by the BiH Agency for Statistics), including detailed recommendations and actions to strengthen the CP Administrative data systems to regularly provide quality and timely data for core CP indicators;

b. Support the BiH Agency for Statistics to prepare a presentation on the results, lessons learnt and good practices for the 2021 TransMonEE meeting.

II By 15 March 2021: Analysis on child protection data collection systems beyond core indicators included in the ECARO Manual completed, including a set of recommendations proposing the ways forward. The paper will:

a. Identify a wider set of child protection indicators, in close collaboration with UNICEF and relevant government counterparts;

b. Identify data collection authorities, collection period, methodology and develop data collection tool/questionnaire;

c. Include a data collection summary calculation tool (disaggregated by agreed parameters)

d. Identify gaps and obstacles in collecting quality data on child protection

e. Provide concrete recommendations on overcoming the gaps and obstacles to strengthen child protection data collection and management systems in BiH (general and specific)

III By end of May 2021: Identification of learning needs, development of training materials and methodologies and organisation of at least 3 online workshops with government counterparts aimed at strengthening their capacities on child protection data collection and management (March, April and May 2021)

IV Any other tasks assigned by UNICEF as relevant to enhancing child protection data in BiH.

Estimated duration of the contract and tentative dates

15 December 2020 until 30 June 2021 (5 days per week, full-time, office-based consultancy in the BiH Agency for Statistics).

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

• University degree in social science, law, social work, statistics, or related field; Advanced degree is an advantage
• Minimum five years of professional work experience in data collection on children, child protection related topics and analyses
• Excellent analytical and writing skills
• Substantial knowledge of methodological approaches and techniques used in data collection mechanism (national and international)
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and welcome guidance
• Strong analytical and writing skills
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate an asset
• Excellent computer skills
• Fluency in local languages (oral and written) and good English language skills required

For every Child, you demonstrate:

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

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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.

For further details please contact Human Resources at UNICEF Office in Sarajevo, Ms. Marina Kadic, [email protected]

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.