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While in recent decades, Brazil has promoted inclusion of children and adolescents in public policies, a significant portion of the population remains excluded. Therefore, in its cooperation programme with the Brazilian Government for the period 2024-2028, UNICEF focuses its efforts on the most vulnerable and excluded girls and boys. These children and adolescents in situations of greater vulnerability are spread throughout Brazil, but they are more concentrated in the Amazon, in the Northeast and in large urban centers.  The current Country Programme Document (CPD) 2024-2028 concentrates on five key Goal Areas: Health and Nutrition; Quality Education; Protection from Violence; Water, Sanitation, Hygiene, Climate and Environment; and Child Poverty and Social Protection. UNICEF is the most decentralized UN agency in Brazil, with offices covering 21 states, and engages in flagship cooperation programs such as SELO UNICEF (covering half of the municipalities of Brazil, 2000+); through Urban Child Protection programmes such as #AgendaCidade in eight of Brazil’s major cities affected by Violence; and collaborates in emergency responses in the Amazon and Rio Grande do Sul.

Children and adolescents in Brazil face heightened vulnerability due to systemic gender, racial and ethnic disparities. Despite efforts to promote inclusion, Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous children often experience higher rates of poverty, limited access to quality education, and inadequate healthcare. The situation for girls has slowly improved in Brazil over the past 25 years, but this progress has been extremely uneven across regions, race and ethnicity. These disparities are exacerbated by historical and structural inequalities, often reinforced by social norms that exclude people due to their gender, race and ethnicity, leading to a cycle of marginalization. In regions like the Amazon and the Northeast, where these populations are more concentrated, the lack of infrastructure and resources further compounds their challenges.

The Consultant’s goal will be to support the mainstreaming of gender, race and ethnicity into UNICEF SELO and #AgendaCidade flagship initiatives, as well as in the Annual Workplans of each of the aforementioned Goal Areas in all of the Zonal Offices. Furthermore, the Consultant will conduct capacity building within the office to enhance awareness on issues of race and ethnicity as well as suggest practical ways to enhance race and ethnicity into programming, enhancing thus the quality of the Country Programme in the long term.

SCOPE OF WORK:

Under the supervision of the Deputy Representative, the Consultant will support UNICEF in the following:

1. Mainstream race and ethnicity, in the new edition of UNICEF SELO Systemic Result 6
2. Mainstream gender, race and ethnicity, in the 2025 End-Year Review process
3. Mainstream gender, race and ethnicity, in #AgendaCidade
4. Enhance capacity of the BCO to plan, monitor and evaluate race and ethnicity by developing and delivering Capacity Building for the CO staff
5. Enhance the capacity of the BCO to monitor and evaluate gender integration in programmes by developing and delivering Capacity Building for the CO staff based on UNICEF Gender Action Plan
6. Conduct Strategic Partners Mapping for the Equity Focus of the Country Programme 

DELIVERABLES

Deliverable 1: Technical Report on Race and Ethnicity Mainstreaming in UNICEF SELO Systemic Result 6.[1]

• Analyze how race and ethnicity are currently addressed within the methodology of Systemic Result 6 (RS6) of the UNICEF SELO strategy.
• Assess the inclusion of race and ethnicity, intersected by gender, in the existing SR6 methodology and propose adjustments to enhance integration.
• Support the RPM&E team in:
• Structuring indicators.
• Qualifying the baseline.
• Critically analyzing municipal deliveries with an ethnic-racial lens.
• Identify and validate indirect indicators that reflect progress in ethnic-racial equity using secondary data and contextual inference, taking into account those intersected by gender.
• Provide evidence-informed inferences on the impact of UNICEF SELO activities on racial and ethnic equity, especially in data-scarce contexts.

Expected Results

• A comprehensive Technical Report that includes:
• Assessment of current race and ethnicity integration (including their intersections with gender) in RS6 methodology.
• Recommendations for methodological adjustments to strengthen ethnic-racial inclusion.
• Identification and justification of indirect indicators linked to UNICEF SELO activities, even if not formally part of RS6.
• Mapping of relevant national datasets that:

• • • Allow disaggregation by race/ethnicity.
    • Serve as proxies for monitoring inequalities affecting Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, Quilombola, and other traditional communities.

• Development of a rationale for causal inference between UNICEF interventions and equity outcomes using public data and contextual knowledge.
• Case-based examples identifying indicators that can be used to interpret progress in equity-sensitive programming.
• An annex listing of at least 10 complementary secondary indicators, each with:

• • • A causal linkage to RS6 objectives.
    • Explanation of how it serves as a proxy for measuring ethnic-racial equity.

Deadline: October 30th, 2025

Estimated Budget: 25% of the contract value

 

Deliverable 2. Gender, Race and Ethnicity Mainstreaming Tools for the CO Annual Planning and Review processes

The Consultant will attend the End-Year Review 2025 in December 2025 with the aim of reviewing results achieved in collaboration with the Goal Areas and Zonal Offices, to identify corrective actions that will strengthen the integration of gender, race and ethnicity perspectives into the Annual Work Plans (AWPs). As part of this process, the Consultant will elaborate and facilitate one dedicated session of the End-Year Review, providing guidance for discussions between Goal Areas and Field Offices related to the integration and implementation of GRE activities, and the Consultant will review and refine proposed corrective measures to ensure they reflect gender, race and ethnicity aspects.   Based on discussions held during the EYR, and review of documentation available, the Consultant will develop a framework to support the annual review analysis of the gender, race and ethnicity dimensions. This framework will serve as a tool for monitoring progress and ensuring the consistent integration of these equity perspectives across the AWPs of all five Goal Areas. This framework must systematize the level of integration of racial and ethnic approach, categorizing its various types of integration, implementation modalities and analyzing how they can enable a systemic change in Brazil that could demonstrate equity progress through indicators markers. For that purpose, the framework must propose Race and Ethnicity markers, that should resemble the UNICEF Gender Action Plan methodology and markers. The consultant shall develop this product based on previous work done by GRE Working Group.

Furthermore, to ensure that UNICEF field work with civil society integrates gender, race and ethnicity perspectives; after reviewing a sample of 5 selected Programme Documents, the Consultant will develop a Programme Document Gender, Race and Ethnicity Checklist to ensure the integration of gender, race and ethnicity dimensions in each Programme Document.

Expected Results

• Framework for the annual review analysis of the gender, race and ethnicity dimensions
• Programme Document Gender, Race and Ethnicity Checklist

Deadline: November 30th, 2025

Estimated Budget:20% of the contract value

 

Deliverable 3. Mainstreaming gender, race and ethnicity in #AgendaCidade

After receiving the structure of results of AgendaCidade, the Consultant will review the structure of results, proposed indicators, and provide recommendations on gender, race and ethnicity aspects in #AgendaCidade, and disaggregation of data and data necessary to take place in case the data are missing. Identification of alternative data sources must be included, as well as triangulation of data from sources available through social media listening, big data and publicly available data at different levels.

Expected Results / Products

• A set of actionable recommendations on gender, race and ethnicity aspects in #AgendaCidade

Deadline: February 27^th, 2025

Estimated Budget: 15% of the contract value

 

Deliverable 4. Develop training methodology and materials

A one-day training methodology and materials should be produced for Chiefs of Goal Areas, Chiefs of Field Offices and CO relevant staff on gender, race and ethnicity to enhance awareness of presenting issues and their practical implications for the CPD as well as for the Workplan of the Gender, Race and Ethnicity Working Group. The materials should provide practical tools on how to implement key initiatives and monitor the country programme activities considering the perspectives of gender, race and ethnicity. The training shall consider and approach aspects of planning and implementing the Country Programme considering institutional prejudice and discrimination, or unconscious bias related to gender, race and/or ethnicity.  

Expected Results / Products

• A one-day training methodology and material for Chiefs of Goal Areas, Chiefs of Field Offices and CO relevant staff on gender, race and ethnicity in Portuguese in a form of PowerPoint (or similar) as well as other interactive material that the consultant will provide in a technical offer as response to these ToR

Deadline: April 24^th, 2026.

Estimated Budget: 10% of total budget estimated

 

Deliverable 5. Implement the training ‘Enhancing Awareness of Staff on Gender, Race and Ethnicity’

Conduct a training for UNICEF team (with use of PPT and other relevant materials and tools) on institutional prejudice and discrimination, and unconscious bias related to gender, race and/or ethnicity. Therefore, its impact on the Programmatic Implementation and Results. To perform this training the consultant must consider all the lessons learned so far with the consultancy, focusing on the main observed issues related to Programme Implementation. The training shall also consider capacity building event conducted by UNICEF Rio de Janeiro Office on racism as well as all materials presented as part of the capacity building.

The target audience of the training consists of Chief of Areas, Chief of Field Offices, and all participants of the Annual Review 2025.

The training shall pre-identify gaps in knowledge among staff on issues of integrating gender, race and ethnicity in planning, monitoring and evaluation, through an approach suggested by the Consultant in the Technical Proposal. It may consider pre-survey, or structured bilateral conversations with CO staff. 

The technical proposal of the Consultant shall elaborate a preliminary scope, breadth of the training, approach and methodology including measurement of knowledge before and after the training.

Deadline: May 30^th, 2026.

Estimate Budget: 5% of total budget estimated

Expected Results / Products

• 1 day training conducted 

 

Deliverable 6. Strategic Partners Mapping for the Equity Focus of the Country Programme  

The Consultant will conduct strategic partners mapping for all outputs of the Country Programme disaggregated by Goal Areas and field offices. To arrive at the Strategic Partners Mapping, the Consultant will conduct Key Informant Interviews with each of the Goal Area Chiefs as well as with each of the Heads of Zonal Offices and will consultant strategic government partners.

The consultant will also identify and systematize potential partners for UNICEF that work with the approaches of Gender, Race and Ethnicity, explaining how those partners could contribute to UNICEF Programme based on the consultant previous analysis on Programme.

The mapping will contain a set of actionable recommendations with a timeline (2-year framework) to complement the recommendations for the 5 Goal Areas and field offices.

The Table of Contents of the Strategic Partners Mapping will be agreed upon with the Contract Manager, including any possible annexes. 

Deadline: July 30, 2026.

Estimate Budget: 20% of total budget estimated

Expected Results / Products

• Strategic Partners Mapping - 15 pages, excluding Annexes

 

DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months 

TRAVEL PLAN: While no in-country travel is mandatory, a presence in Brasilia is critical for the deliverable 5 as well as for bilateral interviews in the office to prepare deliverables 1-4.  All unexpected travel costs must be included in the consultant’s financial proposal.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Academic background in social sciences, social work, sociology, political science, communication, or related fields is required. A master’s degree in any of the related fields will be considered an asset.
• Strong background in Race, Ethnicity and Gender approaches.
• Professional and academic experience in Monitoring will be considered an asset.
• At least 10 years of professional and/or academic experience in ethnic-racial relations.
• At least 10 years of professional experience working with international organizations, public institutions, and/or government bodies, and/or civil society organizations.
• Previous professional experience providing consultancy services to international organizations, public institutions, government bodies, and/or civil society organizations in facilitation, monitoring and evaluation, technical assistance, and document analysis will be considered an asset
• Prior professional experience working with Indigenous and afrodescendents communities is considered an asset.
• Prior experience with United Nations policies and programmatic approaches is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese is mandatory. Advanced reading and writing in English are required. Fluency in speaking will be considered an asset.

 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. 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. 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:  

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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 for ensuring 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.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.