Technical Support to UAPI Social Assistance Consultant LVC, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Contract

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UNICEF Brazil has the qualification of early childhood care services as a key priority to guarantee children's rights and full development in the first years of life. In the current Country Program (2024-2028), the early childhood development (ECD) agenda is covered in a cross-sectoral way in the different programmatic areas (Health and Nutrition, Education, Child Protection, and Social Policies), as well as through core delivery strategies such as UNICEF Seal and #AgendaCidadeUNICEF.

One of the key ECD initiatives focused on urban centers is the UAPI – Unidade Amiga da Primeira Infância, a strategy created in 2019 by the municipal government of Fortaleza in partnership with UNICEF, that provides technical assistance, training, monitoring and certification to Primary Health Care Units (UBSs) and Municipal Early Education Centers (CMEIs). The main goal is to improve services delivery, offering adequate services to pregnant women, children under 6 years old and their families, by strengthening the skills of professionals and focusing on results-based management. Currently seven capitals signed a partnership with UNICEF to join the UAPI initiative under a 12-month cycle (jan-dec 2024): Belém, Fortaleza, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Luís.

Within the scope of this initiative, UNICEF supported the extension of UAPI methodology to Social Assistance field, focusing on qualifying the services to children and families in CRAS (Centros de Referência de Assistência Social) units, on articulation with the areas of Health and Education. The pilot was developed by the municipality of Rio de Janeiro and tested in CRAS Acari, defining key guidelines, systemic results, strategic results, and core indicators to strengthen the CRAS efforts through full child development. More details of the methodology can be found here.

To scale to another 9 CRAS units in Rio de Janeiro, UNICEF is looking for a social assistance worker specialist in early childhood development, capable of supporting UNICEF in implementing the UAPI Social Assistance methodology, as well as refining this methodology to the improvement of CRAS services offered to pregnant women and children aged 0 to 6 years and their families.

SCOPE OF WORK AND EXPECTED RESULTS

Selected consultant will:

1. Provide technical assistance to the UNICEF team in Rio de Janeiro in the development and implementation of the UAPI Social Assistance methodology, supporting the refinement of the methodology's guiding document, based on the best practices and lessons learned from the UAPI Social Assistance pilot project at CRAS Acari.
2. Support UNICEF in the articulation and mobilization of eleven (11) CRAS, holding meetings with partners in the territory for training on topics related to child development, positive parenting, and violence prevention in early childhood.
3. Provide technical expertise to UNICEF hold meetings with partners and the Scientific Committee, particularly concerning the monitoring and evaluation of the baseline, CRAS action plans and endline of the methodology.

The activities can be carried out from home but will require the consultant to be in presential meetings in Rio de Janeiro between the months of May and December 2024.

TRAVELLING

No travel outside Rio de Janeiro will be required. The values referring to displacements to and within the city of Rio de Janeiro are included in this ToR (at least twice a month).

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION REQUIRED

• Academic background in Social Assistance, Social Services, Social Sciences, Political Science and/or or related areas (bachelor’s, master's, or doctoral degree).
• At least 5 years of professional experience in Social Assistance field – experience at government/public service level and early childhood development is considered an asset.
• Proven experience in working with social assistance or social programmes at municipal level.
• Knowledge of the Unified Social Assistance System (SUAS) will be an asset.
• Knowledge on results-based management and early childhood development.
• Excellent writing skills.

Language Proficiency

• Brazilian Portuguese.

PAYMENT

Payment will be made upon delivery of two products:

1. Delivery of a report of UAPI Social Assistance methodology and best practices and lessons learned of the implementation in Rio de Janeiro (50%)
2. Delivery of a report of mobilization and training delivery in the eleven CRAS in Rio de Janeiro (20%)
3. Delivery of a report with an assessment of baseline, action plans developed and endline of UAPI Social Assistance (30%)

Payments will be processed within 15 days of product approval by UNICEF staff.

DURATION OF CONTRACT

Seven months

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS)

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 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.

GENERAL CONDITIONS: PROCEDURES AND LOGISTICS

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment 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.

INSURANCE AND HEALTH COVERAGE

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health, and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.

• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

  RESTRICTIONS

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract.

• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

REMARKS:

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.