Individual Contract, Early Childhood Development and Health, Recife, Brazil.

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, make a difference.

In Brazil, almost 27 million children and adolescents (49.7% of the total) are denied one or more rights. The most affected are black girls and boys, living in poor families, in rural areas of the North and Northeast regions. Around 13 million children live in the northeastern Semi-Arid region, 60% of whom are poor. With few exceptions, most of these children are in a situation of poverty, inequality, and a very high social deficit, while rural children, quilombolas and indigenous people are the most excluded by public policies.

For young children living in contexts of poverty and inequality, the lack of integrated care may have long term consequences in their lives, considering that they are at important stages of growth and development, considered a window of opportunity for health, learning and emotional well-being. Infant mortality, malnutrition, lack of access to early childhood education, and the high incidence of domestic violence and sexual abuse, have been identified as some forms of violation of the rights of young children in the region.

UNICEF works with governments, businesses, civil society and academia to strengthen their systems so that children receive the services required for their developmental needs. UNICEF’s work in Brazil is focused in the Semi-arid and Amazon territories, through the UNICEF Seal[1] and Urban Centers strategies, in which the Early Childhood Friendly Unit Initiative (UAPI) and the elaboration and implementation of Municipal Plans for Early Childhood (PMPI) are the main programmatic activities supporting systemic results for Early Childhood Development (ECD).  

The Early Childhood Friendly Unit Initiative (UAPI), implemented in five Brazilian capitals (Belém, Fortaleza, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and São Luís) aims to support the achievement of services of excellence for young children through the technical assistance, training, monitoring and certification of health (Primary Health Care Facilities) and education units (daycare centers and pre-schools). The initiative has the potential of promoting intersectoral work between different areas, gathering efforts from different institutions for the strengthening of services, improving monitoring and evaluation of services, and leading to the elaboration and implementation of a concrete plan of action for improvement of identified bottlenecks. The UAPI started in August and will be implemented during a period of 18 months. More information can be found at: https://www.unicef.org/brazil/relatorios/iniciativa-unidade-amiga-da-primeira-infancia.

The elaboration and implementation of the Municipal Plan for Early Childhood is the main ECD result proposed among the municipalities participants of the UNICEF Seal[2]. The Plan must cover an intersectoral approach, in which the implementation of the Active Vaccine Search, promoted by UNICEF, is a mandatory activity for achieving the Seal. Both programmatic activities are important in the post pandemic context, considering the high secondary impacts of the Covid-19 in children, including the decreased vaccine coverage, food insecurity, mental health, as well as the effects of the closure of health services and education units.

This Term of Reference aims to identify an IC that will be able to provide technical expertise and support for the strengthening of the UAPI initiative nationally as well as supporting its implementation in the Semi-arid territory. Also, the IC will facilitate and offer technical support to strengthen the ECD activities proposed in the UNICEF Seal in the semi-arid territory, working in close collaboration with UNICEF team in the territory and in Brasilia.

 

Purpose

In support of UNICEF RECIFE ZO Chief, working closely with the UNICEF health and ECD specialists, the purpose of this position is to provide an expert-level support on strengthening the ECD and Health initiatives, with focus on the strengthening of the UAPI innitiative nationally and its implementation in the Semi-arid territory, and strengthening the ECD component of the UNICEF Seal in the semi-arid territory.

 

Expected results: 

The following key end results will be supported by the expert during the period of six months.

1. –      Early Childhood Friendly Unit (UAPI) Initiative strengthened nationally and succesfuly implemented in the Semi-arid territory (Recife, Salvador and Fortaleza) – 70% of time dedication
2. –      ECD activities proposed in the Systemic Results 1 of the UNICEF Seal strategy strengthened in the Semi-arid territory – 30% of time dedication.

 

MAIN ACTIVITIES

Related to Result 1  – 70% of time dedication

-Participate in strategic meetings and discussions about the UAPI initiative nationally providing technical expertise and inputs for the strengthening of the initiative, identifying botlenecks and lessons learned as well as potentialities that must be taking into consideration for a solid and sustainable programme;

– Support the discussions about the UAPI incorporation in the context of the Urban Centers Initiative, with focus on the prevention of violence against children;

– Support the implementation of UAPI in Recife, Fortaleza and Salvador, including advocacy for the importance of the initiative and the continuation of the implementation in the registered Units; 

– Participate in the Scientific Committee of the UAPI in Recife, supporting the municipality in decisions regarding the need of specific trainings, diagnosis, definitions of targets and strategic plan of action;

– Advocate for the establishment of a workflow in health units for the promotion of integrated and humanized healthcare to children with development delay, deficiency and rare diseases.

 

Related to Result 2 – 30% of time dedication

-Participate in strategic meetings and discussions focused on the ECD results for the UNICEF Seal with implementing partners of Seal in the Semi-arid territory, with focus on the elaboration of strong Early Childhood Municipal Plans (PMPI) that follow an intersectoral approach;

– Advocate with stakeholders and partners for the importance of structured PMPIs in place for the strengthening of services aimed at Early Childhood, providing integrated care to young children;

– Support the implementation of PMPIs, with focus on the BAV implementation in the territory.

– Support the implementation of activities promoted by the Health Unit in Seal municipalities related to the ECD agenda. 

 

DELIVERABLES:

 The services included in the contract will be delivered continuously through the following deliverables and respective monthly payments:

 

1.1.  Deliverable: Detailed work plan containing the schedule of activities listed in the Term of Reference

              1.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

              1.3. Payment: 1/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

 

2.1.   Deliverable: Monthly report in accordance with the approved work plan.

              2.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

              2.3. Payment: 2/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

 

3.1. Deliverable: Monthly report in accordance with the approved work plan.

              3.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

              3.3. Payment: 3/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

             

4.1. Deliverable: Monthly report in accordance with the approved work plan.

              4.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

              4.3. Payment: 4/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

 

5.1. Deliverable: Monthly report in accordance with the approved work plan.

              5.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

              5.3. Payment: 5/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

 

6.1. Deliverable: Final report in accordance with the approved work plan.

6.2. Duration (how many days are needed): 30 days

6.3. Payment: 6/6 of contract fee (R$17,780.00)

 

In accordance with UNICEF priorities, the supervisor and consultant will discuss and consolidate the Work Plan, establishing the products and competencies, which will be evaluated during and at the end of the consulting process.

Payments shall be of R$ 17,780.00 (seventeen thousand seven hundred and eighty reais) monthly. The monthly reports shall be subject to review and approval by UNICEF after delivery by the Consultant. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil, will the payment be processed.

 

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Activity reports should be submitted with frequency lists of meetings and/or events, minutes of meetings with referrals agreed, photographic record with permission to use image according to UNICEF standard and life histories.
• If the product’s delivery date is at the weekend or on a public holiday, it must be delivered on the next following business day.
• UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the contract and/or withhold all or a portion of payment if the rules and the regulations regarding confidentiality, ethics and procedures of UNICEF and the partners are not followed, the performance is unsatisfactory, or work/deliverables are incomplete, not delivered or fail to meet the deadlines.

 

Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline

• Deep knowledge about Public Health and Early Childhood development, and technical issues to be able to: engage with sector participants; make full use of their experience and knowledge; guide strategy and plans; communicate and advocate on important issues.
• Knowledge and experiencie in working with different programme areas and intersectoriality at state and municipal level will be an asset.
• Capacity to communicate effectively to be able to engage with a wide range of actors, including primarily governments, the private sector, but also the academia and civil society organizations.
• Languages: Fluency in Portuguese and English.

Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a subject area relevant to the sector:  Public Health or Early Childhood Development (ECD) related-areas.
• Extensive work experience relevant to this consultancy may be considered as a replacement for formal qualifications.

Experience

• At least 5 years experience in the areas of public health or ECD.
• At least 5  years on position requiring multipartners coordination, networking, monitoring and evaluation.
• At least 3 years of experience in state or municipal public policies related to children in early years.

Skills

• Strong organizational and analytical skills.
• Strong project management skills.
• Capacity to work in a high paced environment and to deliver quality and timely results.
• High sense of confidentiality, initiative and good judgment.
• Ability to work effectively with people of different national and cultural backgrounds.
• Training and experience using MS Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other software such as SharePoint
• Experience on using Project Management tools

Key competences

Builds and maintains partnerships; Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness; Drive to achieve results for impact; Innovates and embraces change; Manages ambiguity and complexity; Thinks and acts strategically; Works collaboratively with others.

Core Values

1. Care
2. Respect
3. Integrity
4. Trust
5. Accountability

 General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Individual Contractor will work at Field Office (Recife) with possible travel to Alagoas, Bahia, Ceará, Paraiba and Pernambuco. Expenses related to travels, if any, will be covered by UNICEF and paid to the Individual Contractor as per UNICEF travel rules and regulations.
• UNICEF will provide the Individual Contractor equipment and stationery.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the Individual Contractor.
• Individual Contractor will not have supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• Any type of transportation that might be needed, except for the day-today dislocation, shall be provided by the UNICEF (for example, internal flight/road dislocation). Such movement shall be object of authorization by the contract supervisor in the UNICEF.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, 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.

Payment of fee

• 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.

 Restrictions

• Individual Contractors may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF.  Notwithstanding, Individual Contracts must complete the applicable mandatory trainings. 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​, or unless on leave without pay.

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 achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, race, nationality, and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.