Individual Consultancy Recruitment : PSEA Specialist

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, every right

Background

The prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse has, for decades, been at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by employees, personnel and sub-contractors of UNICEF and implementing partners. In December 2018, under the Championship of UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore, the IASC Principals laid out in a Plan for Accelerating PSEA at Country-Level. The plan outlines three main priorities:

1) safe, accessible and dignified reporting that is gender and child sensitive;

2)quality SEA survivor assistance; and

3) enhanced accountability, including through prompt and respectful investigations.

To demonstrate UNICEF’s commitment to advance the agenda on PSEA, ED Fore allocated US$11 million in 2018 to support 16 countries, where crises have created a spike in vulnerability. A Results Monitoring Framework has been developed and rolled-out at country level to measure progress and results at country and global level. Following the endorsement of the United Nations Protocol On Allegations Of Sexual Exploitation And Abuse Involving Implementing Partners (hereinafter referred to the UN Protocol) in February 2018, UNICEF has incorporated prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse standards in the General Terms and Conditions of partnership agreements with civil society organizations.

UNICEF has been leading and working with partners on the fight against sexual exploitation and abuse against children and beneficiaries, together with workplace discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority. Since 2020 UNICEF Madagascar country office (MCO) has been engaged in strengthening its efforts in this area, both within the office and as part of the joint PSEA task force composed by organizations members of the Humanitarian Country Team.

As part of the implementation of its PSEA workplan, UNICEF MCO trained an important share of staff (more than 230 persons) based in the capital and in the region, including 35 sector focal points; multiple trainings have been conducted for non governmental implementing partners (IPs); in compliance with global procedures, MCO started the process to evaluate the SEA risk rating of its IPs, training and launching the self evaluation exercise for around 90% of them.

Given the number of governmental and non governmental partners that work with MCO, and considering the importance of ensuring that PSEA is duly taken into consideration as a priority to prevent SEA cases, improve reporting channels and enhance the referral system for survivors, UNICEF is seeking a dedicated complementary expertise that will support the main PSEA focal point, MCO management and sector focal points in implementing the 2021 PSEA plan.

The incumbent of this post will help capacitate additional focal points on PSEA in the country office so that they can continue to perform the concerned responsibilities on a sustainable basis after the phase-out of the post.

The PSEA Specialist will be home-based but reporting to the main MCO PSEA focal point and to the office management,  based in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

The consultancy will build on the work of the current PSEA focal point, and will allow for the completion of PSEA risk assessment of all national CSO implementing partners (IPs), the adaptation of training materials, the follow up of risk reduction plans for the IPs and the improvement of MCO SEA reporting channels. Utilizing the PSEA Toolkit and Materials produced by HQ, the PSEA Specialist will also focus on strengthening the prevention, risk mitigation and investigation capacities of the IPs and the Country Office systems to monitor and support PSEA at IP level.

How can you make a difference?

The Purpose of the proposed assignment is to support for institutionalization of PSEA/Safeguarding best practice in UNICEF Madagascar CSO partners; strengthening the prevention, reporting, referral and investigation capacities of the partners and the country office systems to monitor and support PSEA at implementing partner level.

For every child, results

Specific Tasks

Under the supervision of the main MCO PSEA focal point and the guidance of the office Representative, the consultant will provide strategic advice and coordination around strengthening PSEA capacity and practice at implementing partner level in the Country Office.

Key tasks will include:

Strategic Advice and Coordination

• Support senior leadership in developing, implementing and monitoring PSEA partner capacity building and risk assessment plans;
• Support the country office in managing and coordinating responses to SEA concerns and incidents at IP level;
• Contribute to and ensure coherence with the work of the Madagascar joint PSEA Task Force, keeping the senior leadership updated on PSEA/Safeguarding developments and making appropriate recommendations on enhancing prevention strategies;

Monitoring and Strengthening Implementing Partner PSEA Capacity and Practice

• Supporting and monitor implementation of IP PSEA action plans, providing technical advice to strengthen capacity as required;
• Complete capacity assessments on new partners and repeat PSEA assessments where indicated, especially for those partners who have scored high risk in the initial assessment.
• Work with relevant focal points in the Child Protection section to support partners to implement internal complaints and investigation procedures, which are coherent with existing and planned community-based complaints mechanisms (CBCMs);
• Advise management of any concerns regarding IPs with persistent high PSEA risk levels, which could result in termination of the partnership;
• Advise management on any challenges with meeting the UNICEF PSEA standards in the Madagascar context.
• At the end of the assignment, provide senior management with a summary report of work completed with matrix of current partner PSEA capacity, highlighting challenges and risks identified and providing clear recommendations for future SEA risk management.

Training and Learning

• Deliver online PSEA training to implementing partners, utilizing the UNICEF PSEA Toolkit and materials adapted to the local context;
• Develop ToRs, train and support UNICEF Focal Points who will monitor IP PSEA practice, conduct capacity assessments and follow up on capacity gaps in future;
• Deliver PSEA training to wider UNICEF staff.
• Compile and support dissemination of PSEA learning within UNICEF and the wider Somalia PSEA network.

Expected Deliverables and Payment Schedule

Key Milestones		Period	CO and PM&E Support	Consultant Deliverables		Modality
	UNICEF PSEA New Focal Points identified, trained and monitoring implementation of IPs PSEA Action Plan	May to November 2021	CO F/Points available to engage in TOR development and participate in the training.	Training delivered by 31st May 2021 Monitoring of IPs – ongoing		Remote – online training and support (7 days)
UNICEF Madagascar Staff trained in SEA prevention and response.		June 2021	CO Staff available to participate in the training.	•	Training developed and delivered by 31st July 2021.	Remote – online training (4 half days)
Implementing partners trained in PSEA best practices		June to October 2021	CO support to mobilize the partners to participate in the training	•	Training pack adapted and delivered for all IPs (govt and non govt)	Remote – online training (15 days)
	Revised assessments completed and analyzed.	May /November 2021	CO support to mobilize the partners to participate in the assessments and submit supporting docs.	Revised assessments entered on E-tools by en May and November 30st 2021 and matrix provided to PM& E		Remote working (15 days)
	Summary report with matrix of current partner PSEA capacity, submitted.	July to November 2021	Inputs from CO staff to inform report and presentation for CMT	Report and Matrix delivered.		Remote working (3 days)
	An internal reporting system developed for MCO, including regional offices and presence outside of capital	June – September 2021	Inputs from CO focal points and staff, coordination with joint Task Force		Reporting system mapped and SOPs developed	Remote working, 15 days

NB: total estimated # of days is 57 days over 7 months from May  to December 2021.

Payment Schedule

A total fee of $22,800 shall be paid for this assignment, subject to satisfactory receipt of deliverables as follows:

Deliverable	Due date	Payment
Training of focal points Risk assessments completed for all current IPs	31 May	8,000 USD
Training of UNICEF Staff	31 July	4,000
SOP and structure of internal reporting system
Training pack adapted and all IPs trained	15 October	4,000
Risk assessment completed for all new IPs	30 November
Update on risk reduction implemented activities for IPs	30 November
Summary report	30 november	6,800

Reporting

The contractor will report to the main MCO PSEA focal point .

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

• 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 5 years of relevant professional work experience in child protection, or prevention or protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, or gender-based violence is required, including very good knowledge of the technical area. Experience in conducting trainings is an asset.. Experience in capacity building and systems strengthening is an asset.
• Very good organizational and facilitation skills required.
• Proficiency in French is required.
• UNICEF Core Values are Diversity and Inclusion; Integrity; and Commitment. UNICEF Core Competencies are Communication; Working with People; and Drive for Results. Applicants are required to have proficiency in all of these areas.

Policy both parties should be aware of:

• Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays.
• Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
• No consultant may travel without a signed travel authorization prior to the commencement of the journey to the duty station.
• Unless authorized, UNICEF will buy the tickets of the consultant. In exceptional cases, the consultant may be authorized to buy their travel tickets and shall be reimbursed at the “most economical and direct route” but this must be agreed to beforehand.
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budgets.
• Consultant will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, including Medical Evacuation.
• The Form ‘Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary’ must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.

**** Please consult with HR on entitlements as many are set by UNICEF rules.

Evaluation of Candidate:

The consultant will be competitively selected from a list of applicants based on their past experience of doing similar work (extensive experience in writing donor reports, in compiling and editing annual reports for various UNICEF offices).

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents to the assigned requisition in UNICEF Vacancies: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

1. Letter of interest and confirmation of availability;
2. Copy of highest academic degree;
3. Technical proposal which clearly explains the outline on how to deliver the tasks and deliverables (preferably less than 3 pages);
4. Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available);
5. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee (daily) for this assignment as per work assignment.

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  and to view our competency framework, please visit: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf,

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:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. This is an international level consultancy and competitive market rates should apply.

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.

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.