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Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The Uzbekistan Columbia Centre for Strengthening Communities and Social Well-Being was established in September 2024 as a collaborative initiative between the National Agency for Social Protection (NASP) and Columbia University, with technical support from UNICEF. The Centre was created to enhance research, policy development, and capacity-building in the field of social protection and child welfare, with a strong focus on community-based services and social service workforce development. It serves as a hub for evidence generation, knowledge exchange, and interdisciplinary collaboration, supporting Uzbekistan’s efforts to align its social protection system with international best practices. The Centre plays a key role in strengthening data-driven policymaking, advancing child protection and family support programmes, and promoting multi-sectoral approaches to social service delivery.

To implement its strategic roadmap for 2025-2027, the Centre has prioritized key research studies in 2025, focusing on analyzing social service system needs, strengthening the social service workforce, improving community-based service delivery. One of the prioritized areas is development of supervision standards and methodology for supervisors to streamline, standardize and improve the quality of services provided. The roadmap also aims to enhance support services for children and families, particularly those affected by violence, social vulnerability, or exclusion. Below is a summary of the research studies planned.

1. Needs Assessment of the Social Services System – This study aims to identify key gaps, challenges, and opportunities in Uzbekistan’s social protection and social services system. It will assess the system’s alignment with the State Strategy for Social Protection of the Population and propose long-term recommendations to enhance service efficiency, accessibility, and sustainability in line with international standards and best practices.
2. Assessment of the Social Service Workforce and Training System – This research will analyze the personnel system within the social protection and social services sector, focusing on the pre- and in-service training, professional development, and competencies of social workers. The findings will inform a long-term strategy to strengthen workforce capacity, improve professional qualifications, and ensure alignment with global best practices.
3. Study on the Needs of Mahallas (Local Communities) – This study will evaluate the current service delivery system at the community level, assessing the effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts, child protection services, domestic violence response mechanisms, and support for persons with disabilities. It will also analyze coordination mechanisms between mahallas and Inson district centers to develop recommendations for improving access to community-based services.
4. Conceptualizing Services and Developing Training Modules - Design and develop training modules for NASP professionals working with children and youth at risk, including those with emotional and behavioral challenges or at risk of conflict with the law. This process will be conducted alongside – or followed by – a review of the Centres for Social and Legal Assistance to Minors (CSLAM) to evaluate their services, staffing, referral mechanisms, and training systems. The review will ensure that training aligns with service needs and will inform recommendations to enhance support for at-risk children and families.
5. Assessing Supervision Structures and Strengthening Capacity – Evaluate existing supervision approaches and the role of supervisors in supporting community social workers and multidisciplinary teams at the mahalla and district levels, as well as cross-sectoral collaboration at Inson centers, particularly in handling complex cases. Based on the findings, the consultant will guide experts from NASP, UCC, and the In-Service Training Center in developing a competency framework, job profiles and descriptions for supervisors, and an in-service training curriculum to strengthen their capacity.

To support the successful implementation of these research studies, an international consultant is required to provide technical expertise in research methodology, and tool development to support the Centre in designing rigorous methodologies and research tools for these studies. The consultant will work closely with NASP and the Uzbekistan Columbia Centre to develop research methodologies, design data collection tools, and guide the local research team.

Scope of Work:

The international consultant will provide technical assistance to NASP and the Uzbekistan Columbia Centre (UCC) to enhance research, psychosocial support, supervision, and training for professionals working with at-risk children and youth and their families. This includes designing research methodologies, developing training curricula, strengthening supervision structures, and improving service provision through targeted assessments and capacity-building initiatives. The consultant's work will ensure that interventions are evidence-based, aligned with service needs, and contribute to more effective and integrated child protection and family welfare systems.

1-3: Development of the Study Design (Needs Assessment of the Social Services System, Assessment of the Social Service Workforce, and Study on the Needs of Mahallas)

The consultant will provide technical expertise in designing and structuring these studies by:

• Defining research goals, objectives, and approaches, ensuring the use of mixed-methods research that integrates qualitative and quantitative analysis.
• Developing a methodology for data collection that includes participatory approaches with local communities, particularly representatives from mahallas.
• Identifying key agencies, geographic locations, and respondent samples, ensuring comprehensive data collection across relevant sectors and mapping the interaction between mahallas and Inson district centers.
• Designing survey instruments, interview guides, and focus group discussion tools tailored to the objectives of each study.
• Providing guidance to the local research team on implementing the study design, ensuring methodological consistency and quality control during data collection.

4:  Strengthening psychosocial support and training for NASP professionals 

• Designing a comprehensive framework for psychosocial support tailored to children with complex emotional and behavioral issues, including those living in dysfunctional environments and exposed to conflict with the law, substance abuse, and violence.
• Providing technical support for a review of the Centers for Social and Legal Assistance to Minors (CSLAM) to assess services for children in socially dangerous situations, including staffing structures, referral mechanisms, and training systems. The review will ensure that the training curriculum aligns with service needs and informs recommendations for improving service provision.
• Engaging NASP leadership and key stakeholders to identify training priorities, review existing materials, analyze gaps, and assess current training programmes.
• Creating specialized training modules for different levels of service providers, including:
• (1) CSLAM staff (highly specialized) – Covering ethical principles, child rights and development, social work with at-risk families, interventions for children with emotional and behavioral challenges, trauma-informed approaches, suicide prevention, and substance use interventions.
• (2) Inspector-psychologists (National Guard)
• (3) Inson Centre staff (specialized psychosocial services) – Strengthening their capacity to deliver targeted mental health and psychosocial support interventions.
• (4) Makhalla social workers, chiefs and police officers (preventive role) – Equipping them with skills to identify risks early, provide community-based support, and strengthen family resilience.
• Supporting the delivery of a training of trainers and pilot training sessions with selected NASP staff, gathering feedback, and refining training materials for broader implementation.

5: Strengthening supervision support to the community and district social workers and multidisciplinary teams

• Map existing vertical and horizontal roles, functional responsibilities and referral pathways among community and district specialists and Inson centre divisions to identify and respond to complex cases, including violence against children and women
• Guide the NASP and Uzbekistan Columbia Centre experts in revising and updating the regulations, job description, referrals and standards for supervision.
• Support the NASP and Uzbekistan Columbia Centre experts in drafting supervision quality standards and in-service training curriculum.

Work Assignments Overview - Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline

1. Development of the Study Design (Needs Assessment of the Social Services System, Assessment of the Social Service Workforce, and Study on the Needs of Makhallas) - March 10 – June 9, 2025, approx. 21 days

• Research objectives, methodology, and mixed-methods approach (quantitative and qualitative) established for the core research components, including the assessment of the social services system, the assessment of the social services workforce, and the needs assessment of local communities (mahallas).
• Desk reviews conducted to inform research design and data collection methods, incorporating global and regional/local evidence in the field of social work and social services.
• Key agencies, geographic locations, and respondent samples identified to ensure comprehensive and representative data collection.
• Data collection instruments developed, including:
  - A survey (Qualtrics-based) assessing social services, workforce training, and mahalla-based support.
  - Interview and focus group guides tailored for in-depth qualitative research with key stakeholders.
• Leading and guiding the data collection process for the needs assessment, ensuring methodological consistency, rigor, and quality for further data processing and analysis, mapping existing social services and the social service workforce, identifying gaps, and providing recommendations.
• Providing technical guidance to the local research team for data collection, co-facilitating key informant interviews and focus group discussions with service providers, social work educators, and policymakers 

2. Strengthening Psychosocial Support and Training for NASP Professionals -  March 10 – June 9, 2025, approx. 21 days

• A framework for psychosocial support for children with emotional and behavioral challenges, conflict with the law, exposure to violence, and substance use developed, incorporating international best practices adapted to the local context.
• Technical support provided for reviewing and strengthening CSLAM services, including staffing, referral mechanisms, interagency collaboration, and training needs.
• Stakeholder consultations conducted to identify priority training gaps for professionals working with at-risk children and families.
• Development and delivery of a two-tiered training program (basic/foundational and specialized skills) for 60 professionals across different levels of service provision:
  - Mahalla-level frontline professionals, including social workers, school psychologists, and National Guard psychologists working with at-risk children and families.
  - District-level social service providers, including social workers, psychologists, and other specialists in Inson Centers assisting vulnerable children and families.
  - Specialized service providers in CSLAM centers, working with children in conflict with the law, children living/working on the streets, adolescents with behavioral and emotional difficulties, experiences of violence, and substance use issues.
• Training materials developed based on evidence-based methodologies and international social work standards, utilizing case studies, role-playing, and interactive teaching methods.
• Training-of-Trainers (ToT) sessions conducted to ensure sustainability and capacity-building within Uzbekistan’s social services system; pre- and post-training and training feedback gathered to update training programme if needed. March 10 – June 9, 2025, approx. 21 days

3. Strengthening Supervision Support to Community and District Social Workers and Multidisciplinary Teams - Mar 10 – June 9, 2025, approx. 21 days

• Existing roles, responsibilities, and referral pathways mapped for community and district specialists and Inson Centre divisions
• Guidance provided to NASP and UCC experts on revising regulations, job descriptions, and referral mechanisms for supervision.
• Supervision quality standards and in-service training curriculum drafted. 

Total: 63 days

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s or PhD) in Social Work. 
• Minimum of 8 years of relevant work experience in social services research, and child protection.
• Proven experience in designing and conducting research studies using mixed-methods approaches (quantitative and qualitative).
• Strong expertise in capacity-building, training curriculum development, and social service workforce strengthening, especially with a focus on child protection and supervision support.
• Experience in working with government agencies, UN organizations, NGOs, and academic institutions on social work, child protection and service delivery.
• Previous experience with UNICEF a strong asset.
• Previous experience in Uzbekistan a strong asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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. 

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.