International Consultancy on Introduction of the international standards and best practices on application of foster care

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.

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For every child, care

Azerbaijan has made significant progress in economic and social development since independence which resulted in poverty reduction as well as improvement of the quality of education and health services. The reforms in social protection have been undertaken in parallel with the major developments in child protection system. As a result of continuous advocacy efforts and partnership of UNICEF with the key stakeholders in Government, State Programme on De-institutionalization and alternative care (2006-2015) was adopted and implemented. Although the implementation of the State Programme was not fully success in meeting the expectations and targets, there has been achieved certain results in terms of transformation of state institutions. As the result of the De-institutionalization Programme the number of state institutions has been reduced from 55 to 19, however number of children in residential institutions are still high comparing with other countries in Europe and Central Asia region.

The latest report of the Committee on the Rights of the Child welcomes the Government of Azerbaijan’s Programme on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care and its positive outcomes. However, it remains concerned that the majority of children are still placed in out-of-home care due to socio-economic hardship, divorce, or inadequate or lack of family support services, and/or at the specific request of their parents.  Lack of alternative family-based and community-based services, and inclusive education for children with disabilities are the factors that lead to institutionalisation of vulnerable children.

The recent social service reforms carried out by the Government of Azerbaijan intendes to reform childcare system, including adoption, support for reintegration of institutionalized children to their families, developing foster care system and strengthening social work services to establish fully functioning gate-keeping system. The Child  Strategy and the National Action Plan for Children (2020-2025) prioritized the development of a foster care mechanism to accelerate childcare reforms. The key stakeholder of the Government – the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of the Population (MoLSPP) committes to revitalize de-institutionalization process through the application of foster care model and strengthening gate-keeping measures.

An international consultant is needed to share international standards and best practices on foster care model.

The main purpose of the activity is building institutional capacity on application of foster care model in the framework of de-institutionalisation.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

Following tasks should be fulfilled for the assignment:

Stage 1. Developing an Inception report, including a brief overview of international standards and best practices on application of foster care and kinship care, covering legal aspects, social work with families, selection and training of families, payment schemes, monitoring of the services, and public promotion of foster care;           

Stage 2. Preparing a National Concept, including model regulations, monitoring tools on foster care;

Stage 3. Developing a training package for social workers on working with parents in foster care;

Stage 4. Conducting trainings for social workers and other relevant staff of the MoLSPP on foster care model.

Tasks/Milestone:	Deliverables/Outputs:	Timeline:
	Inception report, including brief overview of international standards and best practices on foster care.	5 working days, by 15 July
	First draft of the National Concept, including model regulations, selection standards of families, monitoring tools; A training module for social workers for working with parents in foster care.	10 working days, by 15 August
	Final draft of the abovementioned deliverables incorporated comments of UNICEF and MoLSPP.	2 working days, by 30 August
	Presentation of the draft National Concept on foster care and conducting training for the MoLSPP staff on working with foster parents.	3 working days, by 20 September

Supervisor of the consultancy is Child Protection Specialist. The consultancy will be home based.

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

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, Policy Analysis, Economics, or related field;
• An international consultant with 5-8 years of consultancy and/or working experience in childcare reforms (de-institutionalisation and alternative care);
• Strong proven expertise in international standards, principles and best practices in child protection, social work with children and families;
• Proven track record and knowledge of the regional developments, particularly the issues of child protection and childcare in Europe and post-Soviet countries;
• Strong experience and expertise in capacity needs assessment, legal and institutional review/assessment and development of policy documents, development of training packages/ programs for the mixed audience (in-service and pre-service)
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s mission and mandate;
• Fluency in English, knowledge of Russian and/ or Azerbaijani is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Application:

Interested individuals should submit the following documents:

– Updated CV

– Technical and financial proposals

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.

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.