National Individual Consultant - Testing of Indicators from the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia, UNICEF Sarajevo, April – July 202

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, Protection

UNICEF has a mandate to safeguard the rights of all children, which is rooted in the 1989 Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), applicable to every child, and since 2015 in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). UNICEF works in Europe and Central Asia to ensure that no child is left out of progress and plans to fulfil their rights and potential of development, that every child has a supportive family environment, access to justice and is protected from violence, abuse and exploitation. An important area of work of UNICEF consists of strengthening child protection systems to safeguard all children and their families from a full spectrum of risks.

UNICEF is leading the preparation of the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia (not for wider circulation, to be shared upon request) that offers National Statistical Offices (NSOs), line Ministries and other child protection authorities and stakeholders, the practical guidance and tools for the collection of child protection data that is essential for monitoring the overall functioning and strength of child protection systems in countries across the region of Europe and Central Asia. The data and information generated by the proposed child protection indicators should be used by national governments, academia and civil society actors to identify the priority protection needs of children and the necessary prevention and responses to those needs, provide information to guide the national response including programme development and budgeting, and support advocacy to improve laws, policies, systems and services for children in need of protection. The data should be considered with available survey data (for instance from MICS, DHS or other surveys) and combined with qualitative data and information from key child protection stakeholders, including children themselves.

The first draft of the manual builds on the TransMonEE database indicators and manual, and is the result of an extensive desk review, and several consultations within UNICEF, governments and NSOs in the region, and with some external partners. During the TransMonEE meeting held in Vienna, 26- 27 November 2019, it was agreed among all the countries, that the first edition of the manual will be published in late 2020, upon the completion of in-depth testing of indicators that have not been collected in the TransMonEE database, so this will serve to validate the feasibility for countries to provide quality and timely data for those indicators and to fill in the gaps for those indicators that are not methodologically complex. The work on gaining greater methodological consensus or clarity on some complex indicators that have not been collected yet in the TransMonEE database, will require more time to resolve and will be pursued in parallel, within UNICEF and with other partners.

UNICEF in BiH will support key stakeholders from Government, in particular line ministries, as well as the BiH and entity statistic agencies, to strengthen Child Protection Data Systems through enhanced collection and use of Child Protection data, in areas of Access to Justice, Children in Residential and Family-based Care, Adoption and Violence Against Children. UNICEF will support the testing and shaping of a selected number of indicators described in the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of the assignment

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer (NoA) the consultant shall provide technical guidance and support to UNICEF and the BiH Agency for Statistics in developing a road map for the testing/roll-out of the Statistical Manual for a Core Set of Child Protection Indicators in Europe and Central Asia [hereafter referred to CP Indicator Manual].

Major tasks to be accomplished

I. Conduct a scoping assessment on the readiness of BiH to test/roll-out the CP Indicator Manual. This will entail the following tasks:

a. Assess existing child protection (relevant) data collection and information management mechanisms and the readiness to produce data in line with the CP Indicators Manual (e.g. which data is already being collected /consolidated/reported; which data could be easily collected/consolidated/ reported; which data cannot easily be collected/consolidated/reported – and in this case, what are the key bottlenecks and proposed recommendations to ensure this data can be collected as well).

b. Identify key stakeholders for the testing/roll-out of the CP Indicator Manual at state, entity, district, cantonal, municipal levels (Government institutions, Entity Statistics Agencies, CSOs, private sector), their specific roles and responsibilities in regard to the proposed testing/roll-out, and organizational and staff capacity for the required data collection and analysis.

II. Based on the findings of the scoping assessment, the consultant will develop the roadmap for the testing/roll-out of the CP Indicators Manual in BiH, including but not limited to estimated timeline, roles of stakeholders, and resources needed.

The assignments should be completed in a participatory way, including consultation of all relevant stakeholders.

Estimated duration of the contract and tentative dates:

1 April 2021 until 31 July 2021, the total number of days estimated to complete the assignment is 50 days.

Duty station

Home-based consultancy in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The consultant will need to use his/her own computer.

Official travel involved

Travel within BiH required (if the COVID-19 situation permits). Travel plans will need to be approved by UNICEF and UNICEF will cover for related costs outside the contract.

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

• University degree in social science, law, social work, statistics, or related field; Advanced degree is an advantage;
• Minimum five years of professional work experience in data collection on children, child protection related topics and analyses;
• Excellent analytical and writing skills;
• Substantial knowledge of methodological approaches and techniques used in data collection mechanism (national and international);
• Ability to take initiative, work independently and welcome guidance;
• Strong analytical and writing skills;
• Knowledge of the UN/UNICEF mandate an asset;
• Excellent computer skills;
• Fluency in local languages (oral and written) and good English language skills required

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are:

• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)
• Works Collaboratively with others (1)
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)
• Innovates and Embraces Change (1)
• Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)
• Drive to achieve impactful results (1)
• Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

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:

Please submit your application along with lump sum financial offer stated in BAM or USD.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For further details please contact Human Resources at UNICEF Office in Sarajevo, Ms. Marina Kadic mkadic@unicef.org

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.