National Individual Consultant: Technical assistance in development of content and training modules for the social service workforce Digital Learning Platform (Skopje, North Macedonia)

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, opportunities.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

Background

The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognizes every child’s right to protection from violence, abuse, neglect and exploitation, to access justice and to quality care. In accordance with the Convention, states have the primary obligation to ensure that all children are protected and cared for, by establishing and supporting a strong child protection system to prevent and respond to all child protection risks and concerns.

UNICEF is the lead United Nations agency on child protection, supporting country efforts to protect children from all forms of violence, access justice, and receive quality care through effective child protection systems. A vital element of this system is a well-planned, trained and supported social service workforce to identify, prevent and manage risks, and respond to situations of vulnerability and harm. It includes a variety of professional and para-professional workers serving the social service system, with various titles, roles and functions, but with a common goal – to care, support, promote and empower vulnerable people. A well-supported, appropriately equipped, and protected social service workforce is essential also in mitigating the damaging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. To strengthen the national system to be able to ensure continuity of support to young children and their parents, even during crises and in post crisis situations, UNICEF encourages and supports using the benefits of digital technologies to build sustainable solutions to support social service workforce professional development and delivery of quality services that can respond to the needs of children and their parents .

UNICEF is working with governments and other partners to accelerate the support for the most vulnerable families and children in emergency. During and post COVID-19, supporting the immediate needs of essential social work and social service providers is crucial, so that they can continue to provide support to the most vulnerable. The study on social and economic effects of COVID-19 on children in North Macedonia indicates the need to further strengthen the social service workforce, particularly through: (i) capacity development in the area of outreach to timely identify and prevent violence, including gender based and child-related violence; (ii) development of a platform for the social service workforce offering a one-stop-shop for information and guidance on topics related to protecting children from violence; and (iii) develop targeted programs to address specific needs of the most vulnerable children.

In 2021, a Digital Learning Platform was developed for the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy (MoLSP), with UNHCR support and co-financed by European Union. The Digital Learning Platform supports the Institute for Social Activities in organizing training, testing, and licensing process of the social service workforce. At the same time, it corresponds to the needs of the MoLSP to continue implementing the social protection system reform started in 2019 and contributes to the digitalization processes of the Ministry and the social welfare system. Among other things, the Digital Learning Platform supports conference like-facilitation and provides a software platform for training modules delivery and exams organization.

UNICEF is committed to providing technical support to the MoLSP to enable online access to capacity development actions, by supporting and further developing a Digital Learning Platform for the social services, together with the Institute for Social Activities, UNHCR and other partners.

Purpose and objectives of the Individual Consultancy

UNICEF is seeking to engage a national consultant to provide technical assistance in development of content and training modules for the social service workforce Digital Learning Platform.

The main objective of the consultancy is to ensure a good quality in-service support materials and capacity development are provided online to the social service workforce, by supporting further development of the Digital Learning Platform content, in close collaboration with MoLSP, the Institute for Social Activities, UNHCR and other partners.

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:

(i) Support the process of defining additional features of the Digital Learning Platform for the social service workforce, and the types of services offered.

(ii) Develop and adapt targeted child protection and case management related resources for the use through the Digital Learning Platform. The content should be defined and prioritized based on the assessment process conducted with the social service professionals.

(iii) Provide capacity development for the social service workforce by developing online training modules on child protection and case management.

The consultant will be expected to collaborate closely with the IT professional engaged by the MoLSP in the Institute for Social Activities to technically support further development of the Digital Learning Platform, as well as with professionals of the Institute for Social Activities.

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 social and child protection  At least three (3) years of professional experience in social service workforce capacity development  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 Albanian language is an advantage  Verbal and writing skills in English are desirable  Previous experience with the UN will be considered an asset

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 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.

HOW TO APPLY The following should be submitted to UNICEF country office, by 06/06/2022, while the expected start date is the 15/07/2022: • Motivation letter outlining the approach and specific areas of experience and expertise relevant for the tasks (please indicate the position you apply for: Team Leader; Health; Education; Child Protection; or Finance expert). • An example of similar work. • Curriculum Vitae. • Financial proposal indicating the daily fee of the expert.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).