National Consultant - Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, Accra-Ghana (ONLY Ghanaian Nationals are eligible to apply)

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.

In Ghana, UNICEF cooperates with the Government and other partners to defend the rights of children and help them fulfill their potential. With offices in Accra and Tamale, the UNICEF team seeks to achieve results in strategic programme areas. The overall goal is for every child to survive and thrive, to live in a safe and clean environment, to learn, to be protected from violence and exploitation, and to have an equitable chance in life. The current Country Programme of cooperation is aligned with the Government priorities, the UN Sustainable Development Partnership (UNSDP) and Key Results for Children (KRCs) in the West and Central African Region (immunization, nutrition, learning outcomes, ending child marriage and ending open defecation). UNICEF main strategies include evidence-based advocacy, system strengthening, integrated programming across sectors, emergency preparedness and response, and innovation

And we never give up

For every child,

Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) inflicts serious harm on the population that is meant to be served and protected by the same persons exploiting them. It goes against all the principles of UN work, and its repercussions are disastrous not only for the persons who directly experience exploitation and abuse but also for the community we serve. In 2002, there was a realization that SEA needed to be addressed through systematic change at various levels - from global through to local levels. Since then, several commitments at global and inter-agency levels have been made.

In 2003, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General’s Bulletin on SEA integrated the Inter-Agency Standing Committee’s (IASC’s) six principles on the Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA). The bulletin outlines a zero-tolerance policy toward SEA, obligates humanitarian personnel to report incidents of abuse. It is binding on all UN, Intergovernmental Organizations (IGO) and Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) staff, including all agencies and individuals who have cooperative agreements with the UN, IGO & NGO. Mechanism was established to foster inter-agency cooperation on ensuring protection from SEA.

In Ghana, under the leadership of the UN Resident Coordinator, an inter-agency network on PSEA was established in 2019. It is chaired by the Director of the United Nations University for Natural Resources in Africa. The PSEA Network comprises focal persons from all the UN agencies present in the country, including UNICEF Ghana. The inter-agency coordination on PSEA is guided by an action plan, which provides the overall framework for coordinated actions across agencies/organizations in the country.

Recognizing significant needs for robust PSEA, in 2019, UNICEF Ghana set up its PSEA taskforce, chaired and coordinated by the office PSEA focal point (Child Protection Specialist). It is composed of focal points from all programme and operations sections within the country office. The UNICEF Ghana Office’s Action Plan on PSEA has been developed by the PSEA task force and endorsed by the UNICEF Ghana senior management to strengthen the PSEA capacity of UNICEF staff, partners and consultants, including improving the reporting and complaint mechanisms at the community level, as well as institutionalizing PSEA mechanisms more solidly across sectors and within the organization. The PSEA task force plays a crucial role in implementing the action plan in a coordinated manner, tracking the progress and developing/updating the action plan on an annual basis.

Under the technical guidance of the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point, the PSEA Consultant will support the country office to roll out the UNICEF Ghana PSEA Action Plan and support the PSEA inter-agency coordination efforts in Ghana. In addition, the PSEA Consultant will be working closely with the UNICEF Ghana PSEA task force and the inter-agency PSEA network in the country. The PSEA Consultant will also provide technical assistance to put in place systems for the affected populations to respond to incidents, including complaint mechanisms, investigations, victim support and referrals.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the consultancy is to provide technical guidance and coordination support for ensuring effective, timely and robust prevention of and response to SEA.

The PSEA Consultant will coordinate the implementation and track the progress of the UNICEF Ghana Office’s Action Plan on PSEA; enhance UNICEF and partners’ capacity to prevent and respond to SEA; support the country office in managing and coordinating SEA concerns and allegations; support partners to implement internal complaints and investigation procedures and to ensure appropriate victim support, including referrals; establish and operationalize Community-based Complaints Mechanisms (CBCM); coordinate with the UNICEF Ghana PSEA taskforce and the inter-agency PSEA network in Ghana as well as relevant UNICEF colleagues at regional and global levels; and together with the UNICEF Ghana Communication for Development (C4D) and External Communication teams, and in liaison with its PSEA taskforce, develop awareness raising materials for UNICEF and partners.

Specific Tasks

Preparatory work

• • Review relevant documents to PSEA available on the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office and the Ghana country office Shared Drive and conduct consultations with the UNICEF PSEA taskforce members
  • Develop an inception report, which includes, but is not limited to: i) the detailed descriptions of each task with a specific timeline and deliverables prescribed in this ToR (Any adjustments can be proposed at this stage if necessary); and ii) any recommendations regarding operational approaches, plans, methods and procedures

Internal and inter-agency coordination support for PSEA

• Support the UNICEF Ghana country office to institutionalize PSEA efforts within its programmes across sectors and mainstream PSEA during programme development, planning, management and monitoring, including technical inputs into the Ghana country office’s Annual Management Plan, responses to the Strategic Monitoring Questions (SMQ) and the mid-year and annual reports on PSEA
• Support the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point to lead the office PSEA taskforce meetings and events, including preparation of materials and resources and minute taking
• Share up-to-date information on PSEA across the task force members and establish/keep updated Shared Drive for office staff to access PSEA policy and guidance materials
• Provide technical support to coordinate the implementation and monitoring of the UNICEF Ghana Office’s PSEA Action Plan and ensure the action plan is operationalized at all levels and with all sectors
• Maintain regular contact with the UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office and Headquarters on regional and global developments on PSEA, and to provide updates to the UNICEF Ghana taskforce members, as required, on the implementation of PSEA measures in-country
• Support the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point to coordinate with the inter-agency PSEA network to strengthen inter-agency PSEA capacity at the country level, including technical support for the effective and timely implementation of the inter-agency PSEA Action Plan

Risk assessment and capacity building

• Participate in coordination meetings with the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point and Harmonized Approach to Cash Transfers (HACT) team, and familialize her/himself with its implementing partners who may require risk assessment evaluations as well as with the PSEA eTools and the PSEA toolkit
• Liaise with the UNICEF Ghana HACT team to conduct individual PSEA risk assessments of all active implementing partners, considering those who have Programme Cooperation Agreements (PCA) and Small-Scale Funding Agreements (SSFA), including completing questionnaires and uploading necessary documents and proof of evidence in eTools
• Conduct feedback sessions and meetings for the presentation of the PSEA risk assessment results to relevant colleagues within UNICEF for their respective partners
• Develop a (time-bound and budgeted) capacity development plan on PSEA for staff, consultants and volunteers from UNICEF as well as implementing partners (Government ministries and civil society organizations) and, if needed, develop contextualized PSEA training modules and materials based on global and regional resources
• Liaise with the UNICEF Ghana HACT team to conduct PSEA training and sensitization workshops for implementing partners, assess the PSEA capacity of eligible trained CSOs, and support high risk CSOs to institute mitigation measures to lower their SEA risks as well as enhance internal capacity for further trainings within the partner organizations in accordance with the above capacity development plan
• Liaise with the UNICEF Ghana HACT team to support implementing partners to ensure compliance with the PSEA policies and use of PSEA toolkit in alignment with international standards and UNICEF systems
• Consult and follow-up with implementing partners, and provide technical review and support as required by partners, to develop and strengthen codes of conduct, safeguarding policies (including beyond PSEA) and risk mitigation plans

Prevention

• Identify opportunities across UNICEF programmes for community sensitization, risk assessment and capacity building on PSEA
• Develop and enhance SEA prevention strategies, including collecting and analyzing actual/potential vulnerability risk factors for SEA and elaborating measures to address them
• In close collaboration with the UNICEF Ghana C4D and External Communication teams, and in liaison with its PSEA taskforce, develop and carry out outreach and sensitization activities on SEA in the communities, including development and dissemination of Information Education Communication (IEC) materials to all UNICEF-supported sites
• Contribute to the inclusion of PSEA in other UNICEF’s assurance activities, such as programmatic visits, spot checks and Moniotring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning (MEAL) activities

Reporting and response

• Support and advise the Head of Office on the reporting of SEA allegations through the internal Notification Alert
• Support the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point to receive complaints and reports about alleged SEA (from staff, partners, community members and others) and maintain tracking of reported cases
• Once a complaint is received, support the UNICEF Ghana PSEA focal point, while ensuring confidentiality and observing all child safeguarding measures, to:
  • Ensure that all information pertaining to complaints is handled and referred strictly in line with agreed protocols: the internal UNICEF Notification Alert and inter-agency information sharing procedure agreed with the inter-agency PSEA network
  • Ensure that information gathered on SEA allegation is reported to investigators for verifications and alleged victims are interviewed in line with the interviewing protocols
  • Immediately refer victims to appropriate service providers so that they receive the medical, psychosocial, legal and material support they may need
  • Ensure that child survivors of SEA access adequate victim assistance and support, including coordinated referral services
  • Monitor the quality of assistance and follow up provided to child survivors of SEA by service providers, including UNICEF partners
• Review existing internal reporting mechanisms and develop guidelines to support the country office in strengthening its PSEA reporting, risk mitigation and complaints handling mechanisms in line with UNICEF and international best practice standards
• Establish and operationalize CBCM and/or Community Feedback Mechanisms (CFM) on SEA in UNICEF-supported sites and develop common protocols for complaint handling and referring SEA allegations for follow-up, investigations and victim assistance, working with beneficiaries to ensure relevance to the local community and do no harm
• Support inter-agency responses to SEA, including the development of inter-agency Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on PSEA in alignment with international standards and the establishment of coordinated referral mechanisms for victim assistance

Monitoring

• Develop and submit a total of three quarterly reports, including key achievements for each quarter, challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations
• Develop and submit one final report, including key achievements during the contract duration, challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations

1. Expected Deliverables

Deliverables

Timeframe

Deliverable 1: The submission of:

• Inception report

July 2021

Deliverable 2: The submission of:

• Quarterly progress report
• Capacity development plan on PSEA for UNICEF and implementing partners
• SEA prevention strategy across UNICEF programmes

August-September 2021

Deliverable 3: The submission of:

• Quarterly progress report
• Guidelines for the implementation of the UNICEF Ghana PSEA reporting, risk mitigation and complaints handling mechanisms

October-December 2021

Deliverable 4: The submission of:

• Quarterly progress report
• Common protocols for the operationalization of CFCM and/or CBCM
• Inter-agency SOP on PSEA

January-March 2022

Deliverable 5: The submission of:

• Final report

April-June 2022

2. Reporting/Supervision

The consultant will report to the UNICEF Ghana Child Protection Specialist (Office PSEA focal point). In addition, s/he will be working closely with the UNICEF Ghana PSEA taskforce and the inter-agency PSEA network in the country.

3. Proposed Payment Schedule

• 10 per cent of the total fees upon the submission of the deliverable 1
• 20 per cent of the total fees upon the submission of the deliverable 2
• 20 per cent of the total fees upon the submission of the deliverable 3
• 20 per cent of the total fees upon the submission of the deliverable 4
• 30 per cent of the total fees upon the submission of the deliverable 5

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

• Masters degree in international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field .
• A minimum of 5 [five] of relevant professional experience in the areas of PSEA, protection or gender-based violence programming, women/children’s rights and gender mainstreaming
• Experience working with the UN and/or international NGOs
• Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA and inter-agency PSEA responses
• Proven training experience for adults, and particularly, for professionals/government officials working in the area of child protection
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.

Skills:

• Good interpersonal and communication skills
• Proven ability to work independently and manage multiple tasks while meeting strict deadlines
• Excellent facilitation, training, networking and advocacy skills
• Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organization
• Highest level of ethical standard including confidentiality
• Strong commitment and passion for working with children and the vulnerable
• Computer and database literacy
• Fluency in English is required with the ability to write clear and concise texts in English

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.