National institutional consultancy on child rights business impact study

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, rights

UNICEF Turkmenistan has been collaborating with the Government of Turkmenistan since 1994 to support the country in meeting its commitments to respect, protect and fulfil the rights of children. In 2021, UNICEF and Turkmenistan will start the new country programme of cooperation for 2021-2025 focusing on governance for children; health, nutrition and early development; social and child protection; and quality and inclusive education.

Strategic partnerships with the government, civil society, international organizations, financial institutions, and the private sector play an important role in implementation of the UNICEF country programme. In preparation of the new five-year programme, UNICEF Turkmenistan is reviewing its partnership strategy to effectively support the priorities in the upcoming country programme and further develop existing partnerships, as well as identify new ones, especially with the private sector.

In partnership with private sector, UNICEF aims to promote positive business practices and corporate responsibility addressing impacts on human rights and children’s rights, based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP) and the Children’s Rights and Business Principles (CRBP).

To acquire better understanding of the business sector operations in Turkmenistan with regards to corporate responsibility and children rights, as well as to identify relevant stakeholders and their potential to improve the lives of children, and consequently outline possible areas for collaboration, UNICEF plans to conduct a business impact study, looking at the private sector and its impact on children’s rights.

How can you make a difference?

The primary objective of the study is to understand:

1. legislation relevant to the way business is conducted and its impact on children;
2. business landscape in Turkmenistan;
3. key stakeholders;
4. overall nature of the business sector impact (direct and indirect) on children´s rights;
5. level of awareness of the business sector with regards to corporate social responsibility and child focused corporate responsibility;
6. partnership potential, both in financial and non-financial terms, to address business impacts on children’s rights.

The study will provide a basis for:

• support of UNICEF’s agenda on child rights and business;
• promotion of positive business practices and child-focused corporate responsibility policy and practice in Turkmenistan;
• strategic decision-making on how to engage with business programmatically;
• integration of business as a stakeholder in all stages of the programming cycle: evidence and analysis, strategy planning, implementation, monitoring and reporting, evaluation;
• developing a resource mobilization strategy in support of the next UNICEF Country Programme in Turkmenistan.

The specific outputs of the study:

1. General overview of the current state of the business landscape and the economy - the most important sectors, leading companies, sectors´ GDP contribution, employment and geographical presence, identification of the main economic trends and potentials;
2. Normative and regulatory framework and requirements for companies, relevant to business and the situation of children, corporate responsibility and sustainability, children’ rights and human rights;
3. Overview of key stakeholders in the area of corporate responsibility and children’s rights (business sector, professional and industry groups, associations, CSR networks, public sector, state administration bodies, universities and research institutes);
4. Identification of specific sectors and companies that have a significant impact on the rights of children in Turkmenistan. The analysis shall produce industry profiles including a list of the main companies in the sector, which in turn provides a rationale for industry prioritization and engagement potential.

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

It is expected that research will be conducted by a multidisciplinary team of national researchers (team of individuals, company, organization or agency). The composition of the team should be gender balanced. The research team should be led by a research team leader, in order to ensure technical expertise at each point of the research.

UNICEF shall approve all members of the team upon receipt of individual CVs for the entire team.

• Adequate experience in designing and conducting research and surveys, quantitative and qualitative analysis and data analysis (minimum of 3 years);
• Good understanding of the economic situation and knowledge of the private sector landscape in Turkmenistan
• Good knowledge of enterprise functioning, including human resource management, marketing and communication, environment protection, regulation and legislation related to Labour Law and other areas of expertise related to Children´s Rights and Business Principles
• Good understanding of the corporate social responsibility
• Good understanding of human and child rights issues
• Excellent written and spoken English
• Excellent communication skills, ability to explain complex concepts in a simple manner
• Excellent skills in working with people and teamwork
• Excellent analytical report writing skills
• Excellent conceptual skills
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mission and mandate is an asset.

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.

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.