Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA)-Consultancy for Non South Sudanese

Contract

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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for child safeguarding violations and sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by its employees, personnel, sub-contractors and implementing partners.

In South Sudan, a combination of various factors (i.e. high prevalence of Sexual Gender Based Violence, conflict, the high vulnerability of beneficiaries dependent on humanitarian assistance to meet basic needs, elevated presence of humanitarian staff and related personnel, weak rule of law…) makes the country a high-risk environment for sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA).

Following the endorsement of the United Nations Protocol on Allegations of SEA Involving Implementing Partners in February 2018, UNICEF has incorporated child safeguarding and prevention of SEA standards in contractual clauses of all partnership agreements signed between UNICEF and Civil Society Organisation (CSO) partners.

In addition to that, in February 2020, UNICEF South Sudan has started to roll-out UNICEF new global Procedure on Managing Risks of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in Implementing Partnerships which includes a more stringent assessment for all CSOs partners, as foreseen by the above-mentioned UN Protocol. The PSEA assessment rates organizational capacities to prevent/ respond to SEA and covers six core standards: Policy, Management and Human Resources systems in place, Mandatory training, Reporting, Assistance and referrals for survivors and Investigations. The organizational capacity rating converts to a SEA risk rating (High, Moderate, Low); the principle being that UNICEF cannot enter in a partnership with a CSO with a High SEA risk rating. All current UNICEF partners rated at Moderate and High risk of SEA are invited to develop an action plan to identify and address the organizational gaps identified during the assessment.

In parallel, UNICEF PSEA Toolkit has been launched in April 2020. This comprehensive tool is used by partners to develop additional PSEA policies, procedures and systems within their respective organisation.

Main Duties and Responsibilities:

The purpose of the consultancy is three-fold:

I. Facilitate 2 trainings of 6 Modules each to support CSOs partners to elaborate and establish the necessary measures and structures required to by each of the six core PSEA standards as outlined below:

Introduction: Basic introduction to PSEA.

1. Core Standard 1: Organizational Policy

Required 1: An organizational policy on PSEA exists and describes appropriate standards of conduct, other preventive measures, reporting, monitoring, investigation and corrective measures

2. Core Standard 2: Organizational Management and HR Systems

Required 1: The organization’s contracts and partnership agreements include a standard clause requiring contractors, suppliers, consultants and sub-partners to commit to a zero-tolerance policy on SEA and to take measures to prevent and respond to SEA

Required 2: There is a systematic vetting procedure in place for job candidates (e.g. reference checks, police records, Google searches) in accordance with local laws regarding employment, privacy and data protection, including checking for prior involvement in SEA

3. Core Standard 3: Mandatory Training

Required 1: The organization holds mandatory trainings for all personnel on the organization’s SEA policy and procedures and the training includes 1) a definition of SEA (that is aligned with the UN's definition); 2) a prohibition of SEA; and 3) actions that personnel are required to take (i.e. prompt reporting of allegations and referral of survivors).

4. Core Standard 4: Reporting

Required 1: The organization has mechanisms and procedures for personnel, beneficiaries and communities, including children, to report SEA allegations that comply with core standards for reporting (i.e. safety, confidentiality, transparency, accessibility) and ensures that beneficiaries are aware of these

5. Core Standard 5: Assistance and Referrals

Required 1: The organization has a system to ensure survivors of SEA, including children, receive immediate professional assistance, referring them to qualified service providers

6. Core Standard 6: Investigations

Required 1: The organization has a process for investigation of allegations of SEA and can provide evidence that it has appropriately dealt with past SEA allegations, if any, through investigation and corrective action.

The training material – already developed and available – is based upon existing UNICEF PSEA Toolkit as well as other existing material such as IASC Learning Package on Protection from Sexual Misconduct for UN partner organizations “Say no to Sexual Misconduct”. The trainings will initially be delivered directly by the consultant to UNICEF and implementing partners. However, they will include a “Training of trainer” approach to enable trainees to replicate the sessions later as needed

II. Facilitate 2 trainings to support CSOs partners to conduct investigations into Sexual Exploitation and Abuse allegations, using the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) Alliance beginners’ investigations training material.

III. Set up and manage a virtual helpdesk.

The purpose of the virtual help desk is to provide technical guidance to UNICEF partners after the training, in order to support them in the development or improvement of procedures/tools to improve their organizational capacities to prevent and respond to SEA.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will:

1. Facilitate the 2 trainings of six modules each aligned with the above-mentioned introduction and the 6 Core Standards, using the existing UNICEF PSEA Toolkit, UNICEF guidelines and protocols and any other relevant material.

2. Facilitate 2 trainings to support CSOs partners to conduct investigations into Sexual Exploitation and Abuse allegations, using the Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS) Alliance beginners’ investigations training material

3. Set up and manage a virtual helpdesk in order to provide technical guidance to UNICEF partners after the training, in order to support them in the development or improvement of procedures/tools to improve their organizational capacities to prevent and respond to SEA

Work Assignment Overview

Deliverable 1 – Facilitate 2 trainings of 6 Modules each for UNICEF CSOs partners. Due to COVID-19, the training is planned to take place remotely through virtual sessions

The training material – already developed and available – is based upon existing UNICEF PSEA Toolkit as well as other existing material such as IASC Learning Package on Protection from Sexual Misconduct for UN partner organizations “Say no to Sexual Misconduct”.

Deliverable 2 – Facilitate 2 trainings to support UNICEF CSOs partners to conduct investigations into Sexual Exploitation and Abuse allegations

Deliver 3 – Set up and manage a virtual helpdesk for UNICEF partners

Minimum Qualifications required:

An advanced university degree (Masters and above) in one of the following areas is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science field

A minimum of 10 years of relevant professional work experience in Child Protection, Safeguarding, Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) and/or Gender Based Violence is required, including very good knowledge of the technical area.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

Familiarity with the latest development in PSEA and inter-agency PSEA responses

Experience working in South Sudan is an advantage

Experience working in a context similar to South Sudan is required.

Experience in conducting trainings, capacity building and systems strengthening in the area of Safeguarding and/or PSEA is required (including on investigations)

Experience of conducting similar training in humanitarian settings.

Very good organizational and facilitation skills required.

Language Requirements:

• English

All applications must be submitted with detailed financial and technical proposal

Payment Schedule

Payment will be done monthly upon delivery of key task and submission of all necessary reports as stipulated in the detailed Terms of Reference.

https://www.unicef.org/southsudan/

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.

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.