National consultant - Technical assistance in development of training programme modules and annual work plans/programs for the Foster Care Support Centers

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, wellbeing

Following the successful deinstitutionalization of children from the large-scale institutions, UNICEF provides continuous support in the process of further strenghtening the child-care system, with focus on the foster and kinship care. In that process, the Government redirected resources including for the establishment of two foster care support centers (FCSC), the first one being established in July 2021. This type of support was introduced in the child protection system for the first time, as regulated by the Social Protection Law from 2019, stipulating that the FCSC will be responsible to promote the family foster care service, evaluate and educate future foster families, and observe and provide support to the existing foster families. Its staff reports to the center for social work on the work with the foster families and proposes measures for the improvement of foster care. UNICEF contributed to the foster care system strengthening by providing technical assistance for development of standards, procedures, toolkits, training materials and specialized modules, and by supporting the capacity development component for the professionals working in the foster care system. In 2019 and 2020, UNICEF supported development of the Manual with Guidance and Standards for Foster Care, and other supporting materials on the functioning of the centers. UNICEF also supported the training of trainers’ delivery, participated by professionals from the CSWs, residential institutions, Institute of Social Activities, and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy.

Despite significant progress, foster care professionals require additional support with regards to the operationalization and synchronization of their work. Furthermore, the training programme already developed needs upgrade with additional modules on specialized foster care. UNICEF, in the frame of the Workplans with the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, in close collaboration with the Institute for Social Activities, provides continuous technical support in capacity development, to ensure children in the care system are provided with care and support in a family environment, in line with their best interest.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose and objectives of the Individual Consultancy

UNICEF is seeking to engage a national consultant to provide technical support to contribute to strengthening the foster care in North Macedonia. Under the general supervision of the Child Protection Officer, the consultant will be expected to perform the tasks described in the Work assignment overview below, aimed at achieving the following specific objectives:

• Support the operationalization and synchronization of the Foster Care Support Centers by development of annual programs including implementation plan and budget
• Train professionals at Foster Care Support Centers in the already-developed specialized modules for fostering: 1) babies, 2) adolescents, 3) children with disabilities and 4) in times of emergencies such as Covid-19
• Create a specialized module for unaccompanied and separated children on the move for Foster Care Support Centers

The consultant will be expected to collaborate closely with Ministry of Labor and Social Policy, professionals of the Institute for Social Activities, the Foster Care Support Centers’ staff and the UNICEF Child Protection Officer.

Work assignment and deliverables:

1. Synchronized annual programs of the Foster Care Support Centers developed

- Review relevant documents, legal framework and policy related to the functioning of the foster care support centres in R. North Macedonia

2. Key segments to include: Recruitment strategy and campaign, Annual budget, Quality assurance policies, Assessment methodologies, Data collection and management policies, Capacity building and continuous learning plans etc

- Organize consultative meetings with Institute for Social Activity and Foster Care Support Centres to assess the needs and define priorities regarding the development of a synchronized annual program for the functioning of the Foster Care Support Centres - Support Foster Care Support Centres to develop annual programs which identify the budget, key work strands, activities, accountability, timelines, resources, team member responsibilities, metrics for success of the wider support program - Create and facilitate a working group to review the proposed Annual Programs and submit them to the Institute for Social Activity for their review and approval

3. Training to all professionals at Foster Care Support Centers and selected professionals at the Institute for Social Activity conducted

- Review existing specialized modules on fostering for: 1) babies 2) adolescents 3) children with disabilities and 4) in times of emergencies such as Covid 19 - Adapt the materials to one-day training for each specialized module - Organize a consultative meeting with Foster Care Support Centers, Institute for Social Activities and MoLSP to agree on suitable training days - Conduct four one-day trainings for each of the Foster Care Support Centers (one in Bitola and one in Skopje): one day per each specialized module

4. Specialized module for unaccompanied and separated children on the move for Foster Care Support Centers developed

- Review existing materials on dealing with a child who has survived trauma and stress, specific needs of unaccompanied children on the move, cultural and linguistic heritage, guardianship and care, procedures and competences between the CSW and the FCSC etc - Develop content for a specialized module, including topics of relevance and recruitment of foster families for UASC - Conduct consultative meetings with MoLSP, UNHCR and ISA to review and validate the module - Conduct one in-person training for trainers to professionals from FCSC Skopje and Bitola - Create success indicators for the period of 6 and 12 months and evaluation tools for ISA for supervision and evaluation

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

• Advanced university degree in the social sciences, or related field
• At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in child protection with focus on foster care
• At least three (3) years of professional experience in capacity development
• Knowledge and experience in protection of unaccompanied and separated children on the move is considered a strong asset
• Excellent analytical thinking and strategic planning skills, communication skills, and facilitating skills
• Effective communication, interpersonal skills and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations
• Excellent knowledge of Macedonian language, knowledge of other local languages is an advantage
• Verbal and writing skills in English are desirable
• Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset

How to apply:

Please submit:

• Motivation letter
• An example of similar work.
• Curriculum Vitae.
• Financial proposal - indicate daily gross fee in MKD

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.