United States of America: Consultant, Development of Child Protection Policy Paper on Violence against Children
Country: United States of America
Closing date: 03 Feb 2014
Terms of ReferenceConsultant, Development of Child Protection Policy Paper on Violence against Children
- Background:
Over the past three years, efforts have advanced to more effectively communicate the results and solutions UNICEF is supporting in alignment with its 2008 Child Protection Strategy, with a focus on strengthening the overall response to violence, exploitation and abuse of children. These efforts include: documentation of results in ICON and a publication of case studies of results in child protection programming. Further, UNICEF’s Child Protection Section developed an internal ‘Child Protection Advocacy and Communication Strategy’ and external ‘Concept Note for Leveraging Child Protection Globally’ to raise awareness, bolster fundraising, mobilize political will and position and prioritize child protection leadership and goals on the global agenda. In early 2013 work advanced on steps outlined in the concept note, with a particular focus on addressing violence against children.
On 31 July 2013, UNICEF launched the global ‘End Violence against Children’ initiative with support from a number of country and regional offices, several National Committees and New York Headquarters. The initiative aims to leverage and amplify efforts already underway by a growing number of organizations worldwide to protect children, and urges people everywhere to recognize violence against children, join global, national or local movements to end violence, and encourage action where none is taking place. The initiative not only serves as a platform for catalysing social change but also for strengthening national protective systems.
The End Violence against Children (EVAC) initiative has been identified as one of the four corporate priorities for UNICEF in 2014 given its relevancy and demonstrated impact in its first five months of implementation. The initiative will continue to build on existing programmes as well as the 60 countries that launched communication efforts in 2013.
The initiative has generated increased visibility of the issue, and additional resources and interest from governments, partners and the general public; and increased demand for better understanding of the phenomenon, the extent of problem and current approaches to addressing it. There is greater interest overall in understanding what constitutes violence against children, what organizations like UNICEF are doing to address the problem and how partners can engage in the process. EVAC has generated significant interest among the general public and key partners, and has been expressed in record-levels of engagement with UNICEF’s DOC portals.
- Purpose:
The purpose of this assignment is to meet the urgent demand for greater understanding of the issue of violence against children by developing a detailed policy brief that communicates in synthesized, concise, user-friendly manner what constitutes violence against children, how it manifests itself, the extent of problem from a global and regional perspective, approaches to addressing it, and examples of ‘what works’ in terms of programmatic responses and interventions. This paper will not only serve to inform the general public of the current situation of children facing violence but will also be forward looking in offering guidance to policy-makers and child protection practitioners in tackling the issue from a global perspective.
- Expected results: (measurable results)
This work will require 25 working days over the period of 10 February to 09 April and will involve the following tasks:
• Reviewing and synthesizing material provided by UNICEF on violence against children;• Participating in briefings, technical meetings and discussions on content with the Child Protection Section and the Division of Communication;
• Developing a draft annotated outline MS Word document; • Developing a draft and final policy paper with info-graphics, illustrations and photos in a MS Word document formatted for printing;• Developing a draft and final presentation of the results of the paper through MS PowerPoint or similar software that is suitable for internal and external audience; presenting to relevant UNICEF staff.
Specific deliverables are as follows:
• Draft annotated outline in MS Word document; • Draft policy paper in MS Word document;• Final policy paper;• Draft and final presentation.
Outputs/Deliverables Estimated duration (per working day) Time-frameReview; annotated outline 6 days From 10 Feb to 18 FebDraft policy paper 10 days From 25 Feb to 10 March Final policy paper 6 days From 24 March to 31 MarchDraft presentation 2 days From 02 April to 03 AprilFinal presentation 1 day 09 April
TOTAL
25 days From 10 Feb to 09 April
- Briefings, meetings and approval processes
Briefings and meetings
An initial briefing will take place on the 10th of February (first day of the contract)
Additional meetings will take place according to the following proposed schedule:o Meeting to discuss annotated outline – 19 February 2014o Meeting to discuss draft policy paper - 12 March 2014o Meeting to discuss draft presentation – 07 April 2014o Presentation of results to UNICEF staff – 09 April 2014.
All meetings will be held between the consultant and relevant staff from UNICEF NYHQ in the Child Protection Section and the Division of Communication. The meetings will either take place in person in the UNICEF office in New York or will be held through conference call or Skype, as necessary.
Approval processes
The consultant is expected to submit the draft annotated outline, policy paper and presentation for comments to relevant UNICEF staff from the Child Protection Section and the Division of Communication. The Child Protection Section will be responsible for compiling all comments and liaising directly with the consultant. The latter is expected to incorporate UNICEF’s comments/suggested into the final drafts, as per schedule below.
Output delivery date Time-frame for UNICEF CommentsDraft annotated outline 18 February 19 Feb to 24 Feb (4 days)Draft policy paper 10 March 11 March to 21 March (9 days)Draft presentation 03 April 07 April to 8 April (2 days)
UNICEF will be responsible for the final approval of the content and design of all products. UNICEF will follow its internal clearance process for external publication and dissemination.
- Skills, technical background and experience required:
• Advanced university degree in communication or relevant related discipline;• Experience having written and published high level strategic policy-level publications;• A minimum of over 15 years of relevant professional experience;• Knowledge of child protection and violence against children is a desirable;• Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills;• Skills in graphic design and developing info-graphics• Fluency in English.
- Location and expected travel
The consultancy is home-based and requires no travel.
General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
- Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Experts on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract , the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
- Obligations
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.
The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.
In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General's Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.
Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.
- Title rights
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.
- Travel
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.
- Statement of good health
Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.
- Insurance
The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.
- Service incurred death, injury or illness
If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF's expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).
- Arbitration
Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.
- Penalties for Underperformance
Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each instalment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.
- Termination of Contract
This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.
- Taxation
UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor.
How to apply:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV, and signed P11 form (which can be retrieved at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Consultant, Development of Child Protection Policy Paper on Violence against Children” by 03 February 2014. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily (or monthly) rate will not be considered.This consultancy is also being advertised to engage an institution. Please find tender notice at https://www.ungm.org/
