National Individual consultant to provide technical guidance in strengthening the child protection and care system in Uzbekistan

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, protect!

The purpose of the assignment is to support the Child Protection Team in the effective and efficient implementation of (a) activities aimed at enhancing child protection support in the Surkhandarya region (with a focus on the 18-month EU Action) and (b) to support the newly established National Agency for Social Protection with fulfilling its mandate in the area of child protection.

Scope of Work:

Engage with relevant Government stakeholders at national, regional and district levels, local authorities and NGO partners to ensure optimal coordination of relevant activities, and promotion of quality child protection support, including inter-agency collaboration and data collection and analysis.

Monitor timely implementation of relevant project activities by UNICEF’s partners and evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of relevant activities in achieving the desired results, and make recommendations for any needed changes in the project design.

Capacity-building, including training and supervision, of Children's Commissions and Child Protection Specialists (online and offline) in identification, referral, and support to children at risk and/or victims of violence, abuse and exploitation.

Technical advice and support to the National Agency for Social Protection, specifically the Department for Development and Monitoring of Services for Children, in the development of programmes aimed at the protection of children from violence, abuse, and exploitation.

Work Assignments Overview - Timeline

1. Engage with relevant Government stakeholders at national, regional and district levels, local authorities and NGO partners to ensure optimal coordination of relevant activities, and promotion of quality child protection support, including inter-agency collaboration and data collection and analysis - 8 days, July to December 2023.

2. Monitor timely implementation of relevant project activities by UNICEF’s partners and evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of relevant activities in achieving the desired results, and make recommendations for any needed changes in the project design - 8 days, July to December 2023.

3. Capacity-building, including training and supervision, of Children's Commissions and Child Protection Specialists (online and offline) in identification, referral, and support to children at risk and/or victims of violence, abuse and exploitation - 9 days, August to December 2023.

4. Technical advice and support to the National Agency for Social Protection, specifically the Department for Development and Monitoring of Services for Children, in the development of programmes aimed at the protection of children from violence, abuse, and exploitation - 30 days.

Deliverables/Outputs

1. Effective and efficient coordination of relevant activities and partnerships with counterparts/partners (Field trip reports; briefs on/minutes of meetings); 3 coordination and monitoring trips to Surkhandarya

2. Programmatic visit reports (in line with UNICEF requirements) for 3 partners; Regular updates on effectiveness and relevance of activities, including in bi-weekly section meetings

3. 3 training/supervision sessions (online/offline), Workshop agendas and materials (handouts, PPTs, assessment forms)

4. Regular participation in the meetings of the following two WGs: Launching a special 24/7 Call center (107), Improving the system of child adoption, guardianship and custody; Review of regulatory frameworks and programme designs.

Travel

Travel Local - 3 3/4-day trips to Surkhandarya in July, September, and November 2023.

Payment

Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

• University degree in Social Sciences.
• At least 5 years of practical experience of working programmes related to social work and child protection.
• Knowledge of national legislation related to child protection, functional responsibilities of state bodies and self-governing bodies dealing with child protection in Uzbekistan.
• Experience in project management, including monitoring and evaluation.
• Experience in delivering training (proven through training records).
• Excellent communication skills in English, Russian and Uzbek.
• Previous working experience with the UN/UNICEF considered a strong asset.

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.