National individual consultant on specific social protection services

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy contracts.

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

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The overall purpose of this consultancy is to provide support to the UNICEF North Macedonia office, in providing technical support to the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy on differentiating between different categories of counselling services[1] provided under the Social Protection Law, as well as to develop model programmes for different categories of counselling services.

Scope of Work:

Under the direct supervision of the Social Policy Specialist, and in close consultation with other consultant(s) contracted by UNICEF[2] the consultant(s) will be expected to carry out a range of tasks and activities:

Developing a model for delivery of counselling services

- Engage with relevant stakeholder representatives and examine comparative experiences from the country and abroad to determine different categories of counselling services under the Social Protection Law, and develop model programmes for such counselling services

- Assist the National individual consultant on costing/pricing/budgeting of specific social protection services – contracted by UNICEF – to engage with relevant stakeholder representatives and examine comparative experiences from the country and abroad to determine the need for introducing potential co-funding scheme by certain groups of beneficiaries of counselling services

- Engage with relevant stakeholder representatives to draft changes in the standards for the needed resources for different categories of counselling services[3] (with the assistance of the National individual consultant on costing/pricing/budgeting of specific social protection services, also engaged by UNICEF)

- Assess the annual quantity needed for different categories of counselling services.

Work Assignment Overview

Developing a model for delivery of counselling services (Counselling in particular on preparation for family life, preparation for parenthood, preparation for family planning, counselling during divorce, family mediation for families with broken family relationships, psycho-social support for victims of domestic violence, and other specialized types of counselling (e.g. children victims of violence, children at risk, etc.).

Deliverables/Output:

1) Proposal for categorizing counselling services under the Social Protection Law, and developing model programmes for such services

Timeline: By end of June (categorization proposal); end of August (model programmes), total 60 days

2) Assistance to the National individual consultant on costing/pricing/budgeting in determining the need for introducing potential co-funding scheme by certain groups of beneficiaries of counselling services – and if justified – proposal for such co-funding, while ensuring equity in service delivery

Timeline: By end of August, total 4 days

3) Draft changes in the standards for the needed resources for different types and groups of counselling services – especially in terms of differentiating between different types and groups of counselling services)

Timeline: By end of August, total 3 days

4) Assessment of the annual quantity needed for different categories of counselling services

Timeline: By end of August, total 5 days

5) Incorporating feedback from UNICEF and work group with representatives of relevant institutions

Timeline: By end of September, total 2 days

Total working days: 74 days

[1] Counselling in particular on preparation for family life, preparation for parenthood, preparation for family planning, counselling during divorce, family mediation for families with broken family relationships, psycho-social support for victims of domestic violence, and other specialized types of counselling (e.g. children victims of violence, children at risk, etc.).

[2] The other consultant(s) will have expertise in the field of costing/pricing/budgeting of specific social protection services.

[3] The standards are described in the Rulebook on the manner, scope, norms and standards for providing counselling services, and for equipment, funds, personnel and required documentation for counselling services (Official Gazette No. 21/2019)

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

▪ Degree in Social Policy, Social Protection, Social Work, Pedagogy, Psychology, Special Education and Rehabilitation, or other relevant social science; An advanced degree in relevant fields will be considered an asset. ▪ At least five (5) years of relevant professional experience in social protection, social work, or other basic social services; experience in organizing counselling services or preparing training/mentoring for counselling services will be considered an advantage ▪ Experience in developing or analysing or delivery of social protection services is desirable ▪ Experience in developing or analysing or delivery of counselling services, will be considered an asset ▪ Experience in development or analysis of laws, bylaws or other legal acts will be considered an asset ▪ Excellent analytical thinking skills ▪ Proven effective communication and interpersonal skills, and sensitivity to diverse cultural contexts and situations ▪ Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset ▪ Fluency in written and spoken Macedonian language is required, knowledge of another local languages will be an asset ▪ English language verbal and writing skills are desirable

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.