Individual National Consultancy to Provide Technical Assistance and Coordination for Case Management of Children Affected by Emergencies in Central Provinces Affected by Floods and Storms, Viet Nam

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.

UNICEF Viet Nam is one of more than 190 offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund globally and part of the United Nations system in Viet Nam working in close collaboration with all UN agencies in the country. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF has a universal mandate to promote and protect the rights of all children, everywhere – especially those hardest to serve and most at risk.

UNICEF’s mission in Viet Nam is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s prosperity. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on what we do in Viet Nam is available at https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/

Background:

Since 6 October, the Central region of Viet Nam (Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Kon Tum and Binh Dinh Provinces) has experienced prolonged, heavy rains, storm surge and strong winds that caused severe flooding and landslides. Viet Nam Disaster Management Authority (VNDMA) has recorded 174 dead and missing as of 28 October and an estimated 7.7 million people live in the affected areas. It was estimated that about 1.5 million people have been directly affected and of whom, an estimated 177,000 people had already been vulnerable (poor or near-poor) and 36,500 children should be prioritized for urgent humanitarian assistance.

VNDMA reported that at least 75,000 households were evacuated. Evacuation sites were often public places (community houses or commune People’s Committee (PC) offices) or neighbor’s houses. These locations often did not have sleeping areas separated by gender. Adults and children shared overcrowded space with both family and non-relatives which limits their privacy and can lead to conflicts between families, harassment and intimidation, increase risk of violence, sexual harassment against women and girls and boys.

Although no official reported case on child abuse, it is believed that there would be an increased risk of stress/trauma/mental health to children in affected areas especially in evacuation sites due to hearing/experiencing the loss of lives of their loved ones/acquaintance and staying in crowded evacuation sites. In addition, the situation also increases the risk of children facing neglect, abuse, violence and injuries.

Under the Response Plan to this emergency situation UNICEF Viet Nam plans to collaborate with the Department of Children’s Affairs (DCA), Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) to support the children affected by the disasters in Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Quang Tri, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, and Kon Tum provinces through introduction of case management to assess the needs, develop case plan and refer children to related, protected and support services. In order to do that frontline workers in these provinces need to be quickly trained on case management and coached in their implementation and reporting of case management.

DCA is therefore planning to deploy a group of trained social workers to the affected provinces to conduct short training and coaching to frontline workers for their work in case management of affected children.

Objectives:

In close cooperation with UNICEF, the consultant is expected to provide technical assistance to MOLISA, DOLISAs and selected social workers to ensure quality case management of children affected by floods/storms in affected provinces to meet their needs for protection, support and recovery.

Specific objectives are:

1. To develop a guideline and forms for case management on child protection in natural disaster emergencies in line with government legislations and system.
2. To strengthen capacity of DOLISAs and selected social workers in providing coordinated case management for children affected by floods/storms in affected provinces.
3. To develop and provide training on standard reporting of all children cases undergone case management in targeting provinces.
4. To develop a draft national guidelines and standards on CM for CPiE

Tasks:

In consultation with UNICEF and MOLISA, the consultant shall perform the following tasks:

Task 1: Develop a guideline and forms for case management for child protection in disaster emergencies, a one-day training programme on case management (CM) for child protection in emergencies (CPiE) for frontline workers and its presentation. Develop a reporting template and a short guideline for use in the field.  (10 days)

Task 2: Facilitate a consultation with concerned stakeholders on the CM for CPiE guideline and forms, reporting template and finalise those documents. Facilitate one day training for selected social workers (who will be deployed to the fields for supporting case management). (8 days)

Task 3: Provide regular coaching to selected social workers while they are on the field, with 2 days travel to each province and distance coaching, to ensure CM for CPiE is correctly implemented in all targeting provinces. (15 days)

Task 4: Conduct a quick assessment on results of CM in two selected provinces and consolidate report on CM from all social workers who are deployed to targeting provinces to provide an analysis on child protection issues in emergencies, how CM has been implemented and how children have been supported through CM. (10 days)

Task 5: Analyse experience and feedback on the implementation of CM for CPiE and develop a guidelines and standards on CM for CPiE. (5 days)

Total: 48 days

Methodology and deliverables:

The consultant is required to work closely with UNICEF and MOLISA Department of Children’s Affairs to get technical guidance and exchange information on the implementation of the consultancy. The consultant is reuired to work in collaboration with selected social workers to implement the consultancy.

Full TOR and deliverables:  Consultancy Notice CM.docx

Reporting:

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist Alternative Care and under overall guidance of the Chief of the Child Protection Section. 

Performance indicators for evaluation:

Timeliness, inclusion of and response to UNICEF and MOLISA comments, quality of services rendered.

The performance evaluation is conducted upon the completion of deliverables according to timeline as mentioned above.

Qualification/Specialized Knowledge and Experience:

The consultant should have the following qualifications to effectively carry out the proposed tasks:

• Advanced Degree in social work and/or related field;
• At least 5-year experience in working with the Governments and Organizations in improving social work;
• At least 10-year experience in developing and facilitating training programme in social work; and in implementation of case management
• Excellent knowledge on and understanding of the roles and functions of social workers and social work services in various fields especially on child protection in emergencies
• Strong knowledge on the community-based child protection system
• Good working experience and familiarity with UNICEF vision, mission and programming on child protection;
• Good written, communication skills and computer skills;

Applications will be evaluated technically and points are attributed based on how well the application meets the requirements of the Terms of Reference using the guidelines detailed below.

Technical Evaluation (70%):

Advanced Degree in social work and/or related field: 10%

At least 5-year experience in research and study on relevant areas such as social work, sociology, child protection, child welfare: 15%

At least 10-year experience in developing, facilitating trainings in social work and in implementation of case management: 20%

Good working experience and familiarity with UNICEF vision, mission and programming on child protection: 15 %

Excellent writen and communication skills: 10%

Financial Evaluation (30%).

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 one-page document expressing how to undertake respective assignment;
2. Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments (if available)
3. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee, travel and any other costs for this assignment.
4. CV/P11 form (UN Personal History Form)

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.