National Individual Consultancy: Protection of Children with Disabilities (11.5 months), Chisinau, Moldova

Consultant Programme & Policy

Contract

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1. Background

In late February 2022 in the Republic of Moldova (hereinafter Moldova) an emergency response was launched following an intensive flow of refugees from Ukraine caused by the conflict. As of 22 June, 2022, over 500,000 refugees arrived from Ukraine through official border crossing points with Ukraine with over 82,000 remaining in the country.

The majority of the refugee population are women (62%) and children (51%) faced with high protection risks while transiting, but also those who remain in the country. Additionally, more efforts are needed to improve the refugee registration and tracking systems, improve the living conditions in Refugee Accomodation Centers (RACs), and strengthen the overall child protection (CP) system which is overstretched and weak, while the provided support is still insufficiently coordinated.

The Government of Moldova has shown leadership in responding to the protection needs of individuals fleeing the war. While the Government continues to scale up to address the challenge, it is complemented and assisted by the efforts of partners, including UNICEF.

UNICEF is supporting the child protection refugee response at several levels, including the overall national level child-protection coordination through co-leading the CP sub-working group formally established in collaboration with UNHCR and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. In partnership with UNHCR, UNICEF leads the establishment of Blue dots across the country, operated with the support of implementing partners like CCF Moldova, Terre des Hommes Moldova, Partnerships for Every Child, national and local authorities, and others, in order to address the urgent needs of refugee children and families from Ukraine.

Among the identified priorities, UNICEF aims to expand the Blue dots network to increase access of families and children to information, counselling and services that meet their urgent needs, including child-friendly spaces, psychological counselling and support, hygiene items, health and nutrition services, as well as basic legal advice and referral services for cases of violence. UNICEF’s Child protection in emergency (CPiE) response also includes support to strengthening the child protection system to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, abuse, neglect and harmful practices. This will be done mainly by strengthening the case management, expanding outreach capacity of service providers and capacity building of institutional and non-institutional stakeholders. Particular focus is placed on identification and protection of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC), including strengthening alternative care placement and psychosocial support. In parallel, UNICEF’s refugee response program aims also to engage in raising awareness of child protection risks such as violence against children, gender-based violence, trafficking, and ensuring that at-risk and affected populations have timely access to culturally appropriate, sex- and age-sensitive related information and interventions. Aiming at leveraging the national response to the refugee crisis, UNICEF plans to strengthen the national child protection and social services systems, including for the efficient implementation of the 2022-2026 National Program for Child Protection and the associated Action Plan.

2. Purpose of the assignment

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the capacities of the Ministry of Labor and Social Protection to respond to the refugee crisis and to child protection with a disability, in line with the provisions of the policy documents and National Program for Child Protection and the Action Plan for its implementation (2022-2026).

3. Objectives of the consultancy

Assisting MLSP in developing normative acts to ensure the rights of children with disabilities, including refugee children.

4. Details of how the work should be delivered Specific tasks include:

• Plan activities in accordance with the priority directions in the field of protection of children with disabilities, including refugee children, in close coordination with UNICEF and the MLSP Department for the protection of persons with disabilities. • Draft relevant amendments to Government Decision no. 800/2018 on the approval of the minimum package of social services. • Draft the methodology for costifying social services for people with disabilities; • Draft relevant amendments to Government Decision no. 333/2014 on the approval of the Regulation on the provision of communication services by using sign language interpretation. • Draft relevant amendments to the Government Decision no. 474/2016 on the approval of the Regulation on use of fiscal and customs facilities for the import of means of transport with special destination. • Review and update the nomenclature (classification) of social services for people with disabilities; • Draft the children with disabilities component of the Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Child Protection Information System; • Liaise with the territorial structures of social assistance and monitor the employment of personal assistants for children with disabilities; • Participate in the meetings of the Working Groups of the National Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (education, rehabilitation, statistics, accessibility, disability determination and social services).

5. Deliverables

Based on detailed monthly work-plans agreed with the supervisor, specifying activities to be realized and documents/outputs to be produced, a consultant will submit monthly reports with overview of completed tasks and outputs attached.

All the tasks are to be performed continuously throughout the engagement, with indicative deadlines for specific outputs as included bellow:

Activity plan developed

Each month, by end July 2023

Draft amendments to the Government Decision no. 800/2018 for the approval of the minimum package of social services

August 2022

Draft amendments to the Government Decision no. 333/2014 for the approval of the Regulation on the provision of communication services

September 2022

Draft amendments to the Government Decision no. 474/2016 for the approval of the Regulation on the application of fiscal and customs facilities to the import of means of transport with special destination

October 2022

Draft methodology for costing social services for people with disabilities

Mach 2023

Draft amendments of the Nomenclature (classification) of social services for people with disabilities

May 2023

Draft Regulation on the organization and functioning of the Information System in the field of Child Protection, the component of children with disabilities

December 2022

Number of consultation meetings organized ad held

Continuously throughout the engagement

Number of consultations with territorial structures of social assistance regarding the social service "Personal assistance"

Relevant data collected and analyzed and submitted

Continuously throughout the engagement

Number of meetings of the Working Groups of the National Council for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (presentation of proposals, participation in the elaboration of normative acts, methodological acts)

Continuously throughout the engagement

6. Reporting requirements All activities and deliverables undertaken by the consultant shall be discussed and planned in consultation with MLSP and UNICEF. The consultant is expected to deliver monthly reports (in Word format) in English, which indicates the achievement of objectives, indicators, and results based on the approved monthly plans. The activity report is coordinated by the head of the Department for the protection of persons with disabilities at MLSP and is approved by the State Secretary of MLSP. The approved and coordinated report is submitted to UNICEF. The Child Protection Specialist and the head of the Department for the protection of persons with disabilities at MLSP, regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback and guidance on his/her performance and all other necessary support to achieve the objectives of the consultancy, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to consultant’s performance and quality of work.

7. Performance indicators for the evaluation of results: The performance of work will be evaluated based on the following indicators:

• Completion of tasks specified in ToR and detailed agreed on monthly work-plans; • Compliance with the established deadlines for submission of deliverables; • Quality of work; • Demonstration of high standards in cooperation and communication with UNICEF and counterparts.

Evaluation criteria for selection

The candidate is expected to reflect in the submission the qualifications, knowledge and experience related to the requirements listed above. Technical evaluation will be performed through a desk review of applications, evaluation of technical proposals, and if necessary, may be supplemented by an interview.

Technical evaluation criteria for selection

Evaluation scale points

Advanced academic degree in political science, social policy, economics, law or other relevant fields;

5

A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in the field of child protection, people with disabilities protection, social protection, social work and/or social assistance, or human rights;

20

Excellent knowledge of international child rights standards and national policy and regulatory framework, including in emergency contexts;

15

Excellent knowledge of the national child protection system, services and stakeholders;

20

Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills;

5

Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required.

5

Total score (minimum 50 points required for technical qualification)

70

The total amount of points to be allocated for the price component is 30. The maximum number of points (30) will be allotted to the lowest price proposal of a technically qualified offer. Points for other offers will be calculated as Points (x) = (lowest offer/ offer x) * 30.

The selection process is aimed at selecting the applicant who obtains the highest cumulative score (technical evaluation + financial offer evaluation points) following “best value for money” principle

Content of technical proposal

• CV;
• Cover letter, outlining relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).

Content of financial proposal

The applicant should fill in the Financial Offer Template and specify an all-inclusive consultancy fee in MDL for full month of work, requested for the tasks described in the Terms of Reference.

This contract does not allow payment of medical insurance, taxes, and sick leave.

The final selection will be based on the principle of “best value for money” i.e. achieving desired outcome at lowest possible fee.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

Payment schedule

The payment will be linked to the monthly reports and attached outputs and upon satisfactory completion and acceptance by MLSP and UNICEF.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered for failure to meet deadlines.

Definition of supervisory arrangements

The consultant will work under the oversight of the head of the Department for the protection of persons with disabilities at MLSP and Child Protection Specialist of UNICEF Moldova. Payments will be rendered upon successful completion of tasks, as per the monthly schedule outlined above.

Work arrangements and official travel involved

<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Location:</strong> The consultant will work within MLPS with the team of the Department for the protection of persons with disabilities at MLSP. The Individual Consultant will have to make themselves available online from their own computer with access to internet. UNICEF will not cover any costs incurred by the contractor for setting-up and maintaining a working space outside, in order to perform the tasks of this TOR.</span>

<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>PTO:</strong> The Individual Contractor will be entitled to Paid Time Off (PTO) credit at the rate of one-half days (1.5 days) for each full month of service, to be credited on the last calendar day of the month.</span> 

Travel: The work will require local travels in order to conduct in-person meetings, consultations and field-monitoring. MLSP will facilitate introductions to key stakeholders.

Support provided by UNICEF

MLSP and UNICEF will regularly communicate with the consultant and provide feedback and guidance and necessary support so to achieve objectives of the work, as well as remain aware of any upcoming issues related to the performance and quality of work. MLSP and UNICEF will provide an initial package of relevant documents, and an initial list of relevant stakeholders and counterparts to work with.

Ethical considerations

As per the DHR PROCEDURE ON CONSULTANTS AND INDIVIDUAL CONTRACTORS, together with the Notification letter, the contractor will be sent the link on UNICEF’s learning platform, Agora, containing UNICEF policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption; Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgment. The selected candidate must complete the applicable mandatory online courses on UNICEF’s learning platform prior to signature of contract. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.

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

• Advanced academic degree in political science, social policy, economics, law or other relevant fields;
• A minimum of 3 years of professional experience in the fields of child protection, people with disabilities protection, social protection, social work and/or social assistance, or human rights;
• Excellent knowledge of international child rights standards and national policy and regulatory framework, including in emergency contexts;
• Excellent knowledge of the national child protection system, services and stakeholders;
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills;
• Fluency in Romanian and working knowledge of English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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 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.

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Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org