National Consultant (Communication for Development Specialist – Parenting Education); Dhaka;

Contract

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Background:

Bangladesh is a home of about 60 million children that constitute approximately 40% of the total population are under the age of 18 years (BBS, 2020 population projection). Evidence shows that Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) including traumatic events or abuse, neglect and other harmful practices faced by children below 17 years old—predict a range of negative outcomes throughout the lifespan[1]. As per MICS 2019, 9 out of 10 children experience some form of violent disciplining by their parents and there is an increasing trend of violence against children aged between one and 14 years. The same study showed that physical and psychosocial violent practices in 2019 was 88.8 percent, which was 82.3 percent in 2013. Violence against children and women further increased at 35%[2] due to lockdown for COVID-19. Besides, children are also victim of other harmful practices due to wide acceptability of certain social norms including child marriage, violent ways of disciplining children and intimate partner violence. Child marriage is prevalent with 51.4 per cent of women aged 20-24 years first married before their 18th birthday as per MICS 2019. A recent rapid assessment[3] on child marriage during COVID showed that a total number 13,886 child marriage been reported from 20,575 respondents and they mentioned that there is an increasing trend of early marriage due to school closure during COVID pandemic and multidimensional risks. The health service seeking for care and development of children and adolescents is also very poor in the country. Only 37% of pregnant women receive the recommended four ante-natal care visits, while just 65% of new mothers receive post-natal care. Among children 2-4 years, only 47% of mothers and 11% of fathers engage their children in learning. The situation is even worse among the marginalized and vulnerable people, particularly those with disabilities. Disability prevalence in total population is 9.1 per cent as per Household Income and Expenditure Survey 2010, while 2011 National Census found only 1.7 per cent prevalence and reliable data on disability in Bangladesh is limited. Stereotype belief system and discriminatory behaviour across all levels affects access to services and care, health, nutrition, education and participation.

Parent education programs focus on enhancing parenting practices and behaviors, such as developing and practicing positive discipline techniques, learning age-appropriate child/adolescent development skills and milestones, promoting positive play and interaction between parents and children, and locating and accessing services and supports. Evidence showed that parents and caregivers play a critical role in facilitating early experiences through the provision of nurturing care, to improve holistic outcomes for children, that constitutes five domains: caregiving, stimulation, support and responsiveness, structure, and socialization. The Gender and Adolescents: Global Evidence (GAGE 2019) results[4] reflected that parenting programmes reduced adolescent behaviour problems though improved communication of parents/caregivers and children/adolescents including reduced experience of violence and improved mental health indicators.

The first eight years of a child’s life are defined by changes, both physical and mental while most parents in Bangladesh are unaware of this scientific fact, which forms the core of Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD). Early childhood provides opportunities for positive parenting and family support to ensure that every child is able to have the best start in life. The belief system is heavily influenced by patriarchal structure which influences the socialization, beliefs, behaviour and practices of children, adolescents and their caregivers from their early stage of life. Bangladesh has a comprehensive national policy for ECCD, established in 2013 under the leadership of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs (MoWCA) and signed by 15 other Ministries. The policy is consistent with the nurturing care framework[5] for early childhood development within a lifecycle approach. Bangladesh Shishu Academy under MoWCA has already a plan to develop a comprehensive social and behavioural change communication plan on ECCD and ‘parenting education’ package is one of the priority activity to be implemented in collaboration with the ECCD national committee to ensure that it reflects the key elements of the Nurturing Care Framework.

UNICEF has prioritized some key actions to enhance parenting support for children in early and middle childhood and during adolescence that include, promoting safe and healthy environments for parents to engage with children; and support their education; support disability-inclusive education & accessibility; nurture and stimulate development by positive reinforcement, capacity building of parents to improve their skills for bonding and engaging with children; preventing and responding to violence and harmful practices; understanding their children’s emotions and social needs, and understanding of gender, including parents and care givers/children and adolescents beliefs linked to social practices.

Considering the multi sectoral/multi-dimensional nature of the positive parenting programming, there is an emerging need to develop an integrated and standardized communication package on positive parenting to address the need for positive and interactive care during early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence for their full development. The existence of an integrated and standardized parenting package would lend to an integrated and coordinated approach to parenting programming across different UNICEF programme sectors.

In line with the Annual Work Plan 2021, Communication for Development (C4D) section is proposing to hire one national consultant, NOD level, to conduct a mapping the existing resources, packages and tools of parenting ; mapping of the existing adolescent engagement platforms in Bangladesh and; to provide technical support for the development of context appropriate integrated and standardized Parenting Package . The hiring the consultant will follow a UNICEF standard competitive process.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The purpose of the assignment is to documents existing resources/ packages/ tools for parenting education through mapping in collaborate with programme sections of UNICEF and relevant partners followed by development of integrated and standardized parenting package; and to document adolescent engagement mechanism and tools through mapping.

The specific objective of this assignment will be to:

• Conduct a mapping of positive parenting packages (module/ tools/ job aids) in Bangladesh
• Conduct a mapping of existing and potential platforms/networks for adolescent participation and engagement at national and sub-national levels
• Review positive global/regional parenting packages to identify gaps in the Bangladesh existing packages and recommend focus and content coverage of package to be developed
• Develop parenting package/ module to cover early childhood, middle childhood and adolescence based on UNICEF global/regional guidance and tools

Key activities and outputs against the specific objectives mentioned below to be delivered in two phases:

PHASE – I

1. Desk review, consultation and interviews with government, non-government agencies and departments, UNICEF Sections and UNICEF partners working on parenting education;
2. Organise need based joint consultation with relevant UNICEF section focal and government counterparts and non-governmental agencies at the inception phase,
3. Mapping of positive parenting packages (module/ tools/ job aids)
4. Mapping of platforms/networks for adolescent participation and engagement

PHASE II

1. Identify gaps in the existing packages and recommend content coverage for the package to be developed
2. Consultation meetings/ workshops for content development of parenting package including framework and tools
3. Develop draft Parenting package in English including utlilisation guideline and share for review by all relevant sections in UNICEF and GO-NGO partners
4. Develop/ translations the of the Draft Package in Bangla based on the English contents and wider sharing with Government counterparts and development partners for final inputs
5. Technical support to guide modelling a field testing of the Package in select geographical that consist of roll out plan of the package for piloting and a capacity building plan
6. Finalisation of the Standardized Parenting Package based on field test findings

Deliverables:

PHASE I (3 months)

• An inception report along with action plan of the assignment
• Mapping report of Parenting resources
• An inception report along with action plan of the assignment
• Mapping report of Parenting resources
• Mapping report of platforms/networks for adolescent participation and engagement

PHASE II (8 months)

• Documentation on the identified gaps in the existing packages and recommendations for contents
• Content outline for the package based on the recommendations and partners inputs
• Draft parenting package developed covering ECCD, middle childhood and adolescence (English and Bangla) along with utilization guideline
• A piloting plan and capacity building plan developed
• One comprehensive parenting package developed covering ECCD, middle childhood and adolescence based on the existing UNICEF Parenting Guidance and Tips

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

Minimum Qualifications/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• An Advanced University Degree in social and behavioral science, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, communication, development studies or other related field.
• Sound knowledge on different social issues preferably Behavioural and Social Norms related issues and communication with communities, advocacy and multi-stakeholder partnership issues in the Bangladesh context.
• Relevant experience and expertise with comprehensive parenting programmes, communication package development on child rights, development and care work;
• Required understanding of gender equality and gender issues including current programming and research;
• Relevant experience in related areas in a UN system agency or organization and experience in managing multi-stakeholder partnerships.
• Demonstrated experience undertaking gender related research and the development, piloting and rollout of gender related training modules;
• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in the field of social development programme planning, behaviour change communication and advocacy.
• Experience working in any other country is considered as an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to handle and complete multiple assignments with competing deadlines;

Language Requirements

• Fluency in written and verbal Bangla and English

Other requirements

• High level of Integrity and commitment to responsibilities.
• Conceptual ability, negotiating, communication and advocacy skills.
• Familiarity with UNICEF systems is an asset.

[1] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Preventing adverse childhood experiences. https://www.cdc.gov/violenceprevention/aces/fastfact.html; https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanpub/article/PIIS2468-2667(21)00210-3/fulltext

[2] http://www.manusherjonno.org/mjf-newsletter-march-2021

[3] Summary Report of the ‘Rapid Analysis of Child Marriage Situation during COVID-19 in Bangladesh’ research conducted by Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) supported by UNFPA, UNICEF, Plan International Bangladesh & GNB, 2020

[4] What are the impacts of parenting programmes on adolescents? A review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries, GAGE, 2019

[5] The Nurturing Care Framework (NCF) is based on decades of research in ECCD and provides a conceptual framework for understanding the public policies, programmes, and services necessary to enable children to reach their developmental potential. The NCF has five components: good health, adequate nutrition, safety and protection, early opportunities for learning, and responsive caregiving. The NCF advocates for multi-sector integration of these 5 components.

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.

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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.