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For every child, care.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

Mental health, encompassing well-being across various aspects, plays a vital role in children's development. Addressing mental health issues among children within the public child protection system is of paramount importance, given their vulnerability. Research underscores the profound impact of these early years on a child's development, emphasizing the long-lasting benefits of investing in their mental health. However, in 2021, there was a notable surge in mental disorders and behavioral issues among children in Andalusia, largely attributed to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictive measures. Children in the childcare protection system often come from backgrounds marked by trauma, neglect, abuse, or other adverse experiences, which significantly affect their mental well-being. Without adequate support and intervention, these challenges can endure into adulthood, perpetuating cycles of disadvantage.

Andalusia's government is determined to enhance mental health support for this vulnerable group. They've established robust legal and policy frameworks at both national and regional levels. Nevertheless, there are challenges in effective coordination among sectors and professionals, leading to inadequate access to comprehensive mental health and psychosocial support services for children in the care and protection system.

The regional government of Andalusia, in Spain, has sought support from the European Commission under Regulation (EU) 2021/240, known as the Technical Support Instrument, which serves as a vehicle for providing targeted assistance to regions facing specific challenges. The Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support (DG REFORM) of the European Commission, has contracted UNICEF’s Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia (UNICEF ECARO) to provide technical support to Andalusia. The overarching goal is to enable the regional authorities in Andalusia to establish and execute an integrated Collaboration framework, designed to address comprehensively the mental health and psychosocial support needs of children and adolescents within care and protection systems. The main beneficiary authorities of this support are the Regional Ministry of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families and Equality of Andalusia and the Regional Ministry of Health and Consumer Affairs of Andalusia.

To successfully achieve the objective of the EU funded project (Action), UNICEF ECARO intends to engage a national consultant to guide and advise the team of international experts and Andalusia stakeholders during the implementation of the Action (as described in the scope of work below). The current terms of reference (ToRs) set out tasks, responsibilities and deliverables to be achieved by the national consultant.

There will be a core group to lead the implementation of the project (Action), formed of two UNICEF ECARO child protection specialists that will serve as project managers and operational leaders to oversee and guide the technical implementation of the project and ensure that the project activities are in line with UNICEF requirement for quality and effectiveness. The Action will be further supported by two UNICEF international experts focused on providing technical expertise for the assessment, framework development and the pilot phase. In addition, UNICEF is looking for a national consultant (to be based in Andalusia) to support the development and delivery of the key activities, and the implementation of the Action on the ground. The current ToRs cover the scope of work of the national consultant.

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the second phase of implementation of the Action in Andalusia and maintain the vital local interface established during the first phase. This role is essential to facilitate framework development and piloting as well as capacity building activities and to continue to bridge coordination between UNICEF ECARO, international experts, and the local Andalusian authorities. The consultant will lead on local implementation of research and capacity building activities and ensure effective communication, understanding, and adaptation of project activities to the specific context and needs of Andalusia. The ultimate aim is to enhance mental health and psychosocial support for children in care and at risk in Andalusia, contributing to their overall well-being.
In addition, it is expected that the national consultant will provide administrative, technical and implementation support directly to the Beneficiary authorities in Andalusia in line with the project’s activities and expected deliverables.

This consultancy requires a proactive and adaptable professional, with relevant expertise in social work and care research and practice in Andalusia, who can navigate the complex landscape of child protection and mental health and psychosocial support in Andalusia. The consultant will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the project's outputs and activities are well-aligned with local needs, thereby contributing to the enhancement of mental health and psychosocial support for vulnerable children in the region.

Scope of Work

The scope of work encompasses different areas of responsibility outlined here as per the main outputs of the Action. The specific tasks expected from the national consultant will be discussed in more detail with the selected candidate. All activities will be implemented in close collaboration with the beneficiary authorities.

Specific objectives include:

• Technical Support and Project Development: Provide advanced technical support in the development and implementation of the remaining project phases. Work closely with the Project Manager, international experts, and local authorities to facilitate seamless integration of technical components and maintain project alignment with overall objectives.
• Facilitation: Act as a facilitator to enhance communication and cooperation between UNICEF ECARO, international experts, and local authorities in development and piloting of the framework and in capacity building activities.
• Support: Provide essential support to the Project Manager in the day-to-day project activities.
• Local insight and cultural sensitivity: Offer local insights, knowledge, and understanding of Andalusian context and culture, which are critical for the project's success. Offer cultural insights to international experts to ensure that project activities are culturally sensitive and respectful. Facilitate cross-cultural understanding among project stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

1. Liaison and communication: Act as a central point of contact between UNICEF ECARO, international experts, and the Andalusian authorities, ensuring that information flows efficiently among all parties.

2. Stakeholder engagement:

• Maintain strong working relationships with local Andalusian authorities, including government agencies, child protection services, mental health institutions, and relevant NGOs.
• Support and advise the project manager and international consultants on the planning and implementation of an effective and inclusive consultative process.

3. Integrated Collaboration framework development:

In close collaboration and coordination with UNICEF experts and Andalusia partners:

• Facilitate the publication of the assessment report on the current mental health support systems for children in care and support in Andalusia.
• Analyse the findings of the assessment and provide technical input into the development of an integrated Collaboration Framework to address the challenges identified in the assessment.
• Coordinate the organization of consultations, documentation of inputs, analysis for integration and provide feedback to partners.
• Lead the local coordination of piloting, feedback and research required for testing and adjusting the integrated Collaboration Framework, and provide support, including technical support to the lead UNICEF expert.
• In coordination with the UNICEF lead expert and project manager, provide technical input, coordination and support for:

1. Preparing the piloting of the integrated Collaboration Framework
2. Organising interviews and meetings as well as consulting and compiling feedback and comments by different stakeholders during the piloting process.

• Coordinate the production of English and Spanish versions of the Collaboration Framework – pre- and post-piloting including consultation with the Project Advisory Committee members as required and the final presentation to all stakeholders at the end of the project

4. Capacity-building:

• Coordinate the planning and organization of joint training programs and sector-specific training based on the Collaboration Framework, collaborating with UNICEF experts, beneficiary authorities, academic or training institutions.
• Ensure that technical aspects relevant to the project's final phases are incorporated into the training programs. Provide technical guidance and collaborate with stakeholders to develop curricula that address project challenges and enhance implementation strategies.

5. Communication and dissemination:

• Plan and organize dissemination activities to share project progress and outcomes with local authorities and stakeholders.
• Collaborate in the coordination of the implementation of the closing meeting as well as other working meetings/workshops in Andalusia related to the Action’s activities.

6. Project Support:

• Assist the Project Manager in coordinating project activities, including meetings, workshops, and training sessions. Help prepare meeting agendas, materials, and reports. As per agreement with the Project Manager, the consultant is expected to organize related activities such as translation, editing, designing and publishing for selected outputs to achieve key deliverables and logistical support as needed. Providing inputs into summary reports and reports to the European Commission.
• Guide and advise the project team on any other activities necessary to complete the project activities in a timely and qualitative manner.

This consultancy is home-based in Andalusia, preferably in Seville. As one of the key deliverables is to coordinate with and provide guidance and support to the beneficiary authorities, the consultant is required to be in regular contact with the key focal points in the 2 lead regional ministries. This may include, if possible and needed, being present in the office on a schedule to be agreed with the 2 Ministries. For the remainder of the time, the consultant is expected to work from home. The consultant is expected to participate in all the workshops and/or key meetings online or in person as required. The consultant may need to travel within Andalusia to support the piloting activities and data gathering and to support organization of capacity building activities.

The consultant will be responsible for providing logistical and administrative expertise to facilitate the Action in Andalusia, in compliance with the rules and regulations of UNICEF. Hence, before a final commitment is made with a third party for delivery of specific service, the national consultant will have to get approval/clearance from UNICEF ECARO.

Finally, it is expected to have regular calls with UNICEF ECARO to review progress, challenges and next steps. Ad-hoc calls may take place as deemed necessary.

Payments will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the deliverables. At the beginning of each month the supervisor will agree with the consultant on the specific products to be delivered including the corresponding number of days to be allocated and targeted delivery dates.

Work Assignment Overview

Estimated Duration of the Contract

200 working days between March 2025 and January 2026.

Consultant's Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based in Andalusia, Spain.

As part of this assignment, some local travels are foreseen. The consultant will arrange her/his travel as and when they take place, and related costs will be reimbursed per UNICEF travel policy.

Travel Clause

• All UNICEF rules and regulations related to travel of Consultants apply.
• All travels shall be undertaken only upon the prior written approval by UNICEF.
• The consultant must be fit to travel, be in a possession of the valid UN BSAFE certificate, obligatory inoculation(s) and have a valid own travel/medical insurance and an immunization/vaccination card.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs are incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines. All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

Please submit a professional fee (in EUR) based on 200 working days to undertake this assignment, without travel fees as these will be reimbursed as and when they take place.

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

• Master's in international relations, political or social sciences, statistics, human rights, or comparable academic qualifications or equivalent work experience
• At least 4 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in child rights/ child protection/MHPSS is required.
• Proven experience and knowledge related to the ToRs areas is desirable;
• Proven experience in successful coordination of similar projects and project management is required;
• Strong understanding of the Andalusian culture, society, and governance is required.
• Good knowledge/understanding of the local environment of different stakeholders and service providers (key ministries engaged in child rights, designers/publishers, catering/translators, etc.) is desirable;
• Proven networking skills required;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (in Spanish and English) are required;
• Excellent written skills in English and Spanish are required;
• Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines is required;
• Excellent skills of using Microsoft Office applications is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most marginalized children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family 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:

Please submit a full CV and a Cover Letter in your application. Additionally, indicate your availability and professional fee (in EUR) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a professional fee will not be considered. 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.