National Consultant to support People’s Advocate to conduct a Country Impact Assessment of COVID-19 measures on child rights

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, Protection of rights

UNICEF Albania is a continuous partner to the People’s Advocate of Albania and particularly to the Child Rights Protection and Promotion Commissioner and Section. With UNICEF support, People’s Advocate has consolidated the capacities of its staff to monitor the implementation of child rights and to provide remedies for violations of these rights. The People’s Advocate of Albania is a full member of ENOC (the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children). In its Statement on Children’s Rights in the context of the COVID-19 outbreak, ENOC and its members pledged to closely monitor the situation of all children, as well as the responses from local, national and European authorities during and after the end of isolation measures, and to continue to share critical information, good practices and experiences to keep children and their families safe.

Similarly, UNICEF is aware that the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on children goes far beyond any health risks. Measures used to prevent and control the spread of the COVID-19 virus can for example expose children to additional protection risks. In this context, in May 2020, ENOC and UNICEF conducted a short online survey on Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Children’s responses to the new challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently organized an online discussion. The main issues raised in the survey and during the joint online session are summarized in the Report accessible here.

UNICEF ECARO partnered with ENOC again in December 2020 to support national child rights mechanisms in some countries of this region to assess key identified areas and specific vulnerable groups of children including those in institutional care, in detention/closed institutions, affected by violence involved in child labor, and affected by migration. Through this cooperation, UNICEF will support ENOC to provide direct technical assistance (through webinars, and bi-lateral quality assurance) to a number of Ombudspersons for Children’s Offices in Europe and Central Asia, including the People’s Advocate of Albania for the undertaking and completing of specific Child Rights Impact Assessments (CRIAs) related to COVID-19. ENOC will develop a Common Framework of Reference (CFR) and will train and guide the National Ombudspersons, including the staff of the People’s Advocate of Albania on the methodology of the Assessment and assure the quality of the reporting.  

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF in Albania will support the People’s Advocate in Albania to strengthen their capacities in conducting a CRIA as a contribution to the overall UNICEF ECARO-ENOC initiative. To this end, UNICEF Albania Office is looking for a qualified individual consultant to provide their professional expertise in support of the CRIA exercise. 

Under the overall supervision of the Justice for Children Specialist, and in close collaboration with the People’s Advocate, the Commissioner for Child Rights Promotion and Protection and their staff, the consultant will be responsible for the following:

1. Propose to and support the People’s Advocate to adapt the Common Framework of Reference developed by ENOC to Albania’s context and needs;
2. Provide technical assistance to the People’s Advocate in collecting and analyzing data and conducting the CRIA in three areas affecting child rights: social protection, criminal justice for children and education;
3. Support People’s Advocate to draft the CRIA Report as per the formats suggested by ENOC, and reflecting the views of People’s Advocate staff, and suggestions of UNICEF and ENOC;
4. Support People’s Advocate of Albania in launching and communicating the findings and recommendations stemming from the CRIA, in formats appropriate for various audiences.

The consultant shall report to the Justice for Children Specialist at UNICEF.

Expected Deliverables & Work Schedule can be accessed in the TOR document: TOR CRIA consultant – for distribution.docx

This consultancy is mainly home-based with frequent visits to the People’s Advocate, as well as to the UNICEF Albania Office. The consultant is expected to make use of own office facilities as may be required by the consultancy (computer, printer, etc.)

• The consultant will need to travel within Albania as required for the field data collection process. Expenses related to travel will be included in the consultancy contract.
• Starting period: the indicative starting date for the assignment will be February 2021.
• Foreseen end of contract:  November 2021, with 50 working days throughout the consultancy.
• Extension: In principle, this contract has a finite term. The contract duration may only be extended based on strong need presented by the Government counterparts.

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

1. High level education in law.
2. At least 10 years of direct experience, whether in Albania or internationally on human rights and/or human rights institutions, especially child rights, demonstrated through participation in advancement of human rights processes, through developing legislation and/or policy documents in the area, providing training programmes to professionals, through research and publications, etc.
3. Some knowledge in the area of criminal justice for children, social protection, education and/or risk preparedness.
4. Excellent knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the recommendations of the CRC Committee, and of ENOC work.
5. Previous experience in assessing impact of laws or government policies over human rights is considered a strong asset.
6. Analytical, writing, sensitive communication and organizational skills.
7. Have good command of English language.

The applicants must submit to the UNICEF Albania office for review:

• Letter of Interest specifying the relevant qualifications, experience with similar type of assignments and the time availability, as stipulated under the section 6 and 7 above (max 1 page);
• CV and Names/Titles/Contact details of three people who can be approached for references;
• List of publications

Financial proposal- The financial proposal shall be in Albanian Lek, specifying the consultancy fee and the workdays for each deliverable. While the consultant will be expected to travel to some localities in Albania with a view to collect information from various local stakeholders, the exact information on travel schedule will be shared at a later stage.

If you have any question with regard to the TORs for the consultancy don’t hesitate to contact Elvana Pernaska at [email protected]

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.

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 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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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.