Consultancy: Consultant, Strategy and Advocacy Specialist – Child Protection, PD, NYHQ/Home based – Req # 538775

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, hope.

 

Consultancy Title: Strategy and Advocacy Specialist

Section/Division/Duty Station: CP Section/ Program Division/ Home-based

Duration: 15 of April 2021 – 29 March 2022

 

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action (the Alliance) is a global network of operational agencies, academic institutions, policymakers, donors and practitioners that facilitates inter-agency technical collaboration on child protection in all humanitarian contexts. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) leads the Alliance with a rotating NGO, currently Plan International.  The Alliance sets standards and produces technical guidance for use by the various stakeholders, particularly field practitioners. Its mission is to support humanitarian actors to achieve high-quality and effective child protection interventions in humanitarian contexts, in both refugee and non-refugee settings.

This is a critical moment for the Alliance to solidify strategic partnerships and elevate its advocacy work for the centrality of the child in all humanitarian action. The purpose of the assignment is to support the Alliance Secretariat with strategic partnerships, donors’ engagement, and advocacy activities.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

The tasks under these terms of reference are to be delivered between April 2021 and March 2022

Under the supervision and guidance of the co-coordinators of the Alliance, the incumbent will deliver the following task:

Task 1. Support the overall implementation of the Alliance 2021-2023 Strategic and Work Plans

• Lead on the development of an implementation plan for the 2021-2023 Strategic Plan the Alliance
• Support the implementation of the 2021-2023 strategic plan based on the approved implementation plan
• Support working groups and task forces of the Alliance in the implementation of their respective workplans

Task 2. Contribute to the inclusion of Cross-cutting issues across the Alliance work

• In collaboration with the membership focal point, contribute to the localization initiative within the Alliance through support to local and national members of the Alliance. This includes significant support to partners on child safeguarding and prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation.
• Lead on the Alliance work on Humanitarian-Development-Peace nexus
• Support the coordinators in developing a position paper on Diversity and Anti-racism

Task 3. Support and participate to Advocacy efforts around the centrality of the child in humanitarian response

• Support Alliance’s donor engagement, including bi-laterals, foundations and private donors. This includes advocacy for increased funding for CPHA and working with donors to incorporate the CPMS and other technical guidelines from the Alliance in their grant making.
• Support the Advocacy Working Group co-leads in the development and implementation of the Advocacy Strategy and work-plan
• Map key donors’ humanitarian strategies and promote linkages between the strategic priorities of the Alliance and that of donors

Task 4. Strengthen existing and develop new strategic partnerships

• Support the establishment and management of partnerships with relevant sectors, such as health, social protection, livelihood, GBV and protection.
• Represent the Alliance in relevant initiatives of the Child Protection Area of Responsibility and the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, as well as other relevant networks and entities
• Support the Alliance partnership with INEE (CPHA-EiE initiative)
• Promote the uptake of Alliance products by donors and other relevant networks.

Task 5. Support the work of the Secretariat

• Support coordination across the different Working Groups and Task Forces, including the organization and follow up of the bi-monthly calls with working groups and task forces.
• In collaboration with the project manager, ensure timeliness and quality of donor reporting.
• Coordinate the prioritization of workplan activities, and support proposal writing to fund the priorities.
• Support the quality assurance of technical material produced by the Alliance
• Coordinate and supervise the interns of the Alliance.

Task 6. Support the organization of the Annual Meeting for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

• Lead on the consultation process leading up to the selection of the theme, date, location and format of the Annual Meeting
• Support the identification and contracting of a company/venue/team to support the organization, as required
• Support the launch and review of abstracts
• Lead on the formation of a facilitation team for the Annual Meeting
• Support the development, documentation and synthesis of technical content for the Annual Meeting, before, during and after.
• Lead on reporting and conclusion of the Annual Meeting

 

Qualifications

(1) Education

• Master degree in relevant field, preferably in Social Sciences, social work, public policy, international affairs/studies, or management
• The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, and MS Outlook.

(2) Work experience

• At least 8 years of relevant experience in Development/Humanitarian sector (s), ideally at country/field locations.
• At least 5 years of experience in the field of Child Protection;
• Experience in inter-agency coordination is an asset;
• Experience in working in a highly collaborative environment;
• Familiarity with existing networks within the humanitarian and/or development sectors;
• Strong writing and editing skills in English;
• Familiarity with the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action and other fundamental documents related to the CP sector is an asset;

(3) Competencies

• A commitment to and aptitude for attention to details
• Ability to work well and punctually under pressure
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with the ability to successfully interact with a diverse group of people and build consensus;
• Flexible work attitude, with the ability to follow direction and work independently across a virtual work environment;
• Excellent organizational skills, with the ability to independently track and follow-up on various tasks;
• Collaborative work style, with strong team-player attitude and ability to identify gaps and to take initiative to fill them;
• Ability and flexibility to operate remotely and across multiple time-zones
• Working proficiency in Arabic, French or Spanish is an asset.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
  • your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
• Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious and ethnic backgrounds 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.