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For every child,

Scope of Work:
Under the current Ministry of Health/UNICEF/WHO Peacebuilding Project, efforts are underway to enhance social cohesion by improving governance and management within Guinea-Bissau’s public health sector. A central strategy focuses on empowering the social service workforce, particularly social workers in hospitals and health centers, through targeted capacity building and policy reform. By advocating for a Human Resources for Health policy and fostering dialogue with health institutions, the initiative aims to formalize and elevate the role of social workers in key areas such as health promotion, mental health support, and patient assistance—especially for children and women affected by violence. These efforts are designed to strengthen service delivery, build trust between citizens and the health system, and contribute to peacebuilding through inclusive and culturally sensitive health interventions.

Ongoing activities under the initiative focus on strengthening the health sector’s response to violence against children and women, including Gender-Based Violence (GBV), through the development of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and tools aligned with the new national case management mechanism. In parallel, efforts are being made to build the capacity of the social service workforce to deliver Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS) services to at-risk children and women. Responding to a request from the Ministry of Health’s Social Service Department, UNICEF is providing technical assistance to design and implement capacity-building training for social workers operating within the health system.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:
The consultancy will develop and deliver capacity-building training for social workers operating within the health sector, focusing on strengthening their role in case management and response to violence against children and women, as well as in providing mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS). In addition, the consultancy will produce a set of awareness and informational materials that highlight the critical role of social workers in health facilities. These materials will emphasize their contributions to prevention, care, and assistance in cases of violence, and their support in promoting mental well-being.

Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant will be assigned the following tasks:

• Conduct a Desk Review: Undertake a comprehensive desk review on the status of the social service workforce in Guinea-Bissau, with a particular focus on the health sector. This includes collecting and analyzing statistical data and reviewing existing policies and strategies that integrate social workers into health services.
• Document Good Practices and Challenges: Identify and document national and international good practices, as well as key challenges, related to the role of health sector social workers in addressing violence against children and women, including the provision of Mental Health and Psychosocial Support (MHPSS).
• Develop a Training Package: Design a comprehensive training package tailored to the needs of health sector social workers in Guinea-Bissau, with a strong emphasis on the prevention and response to violence against children and women.
• Facilitate Stakeholder Validation: Present the draft training package to key stakeholders—UNICEF, WHO, the Ministry of Health’s Social Service Department, and AGAS (National Association of Social Workers)—for review and validation.
• Deliver Training Sessions: Organize and conduct two one-week training sessions targeting a total of 52 social workers currently operating within the health system.
• Produce Awareness and Information Materials: Develop and disseminate awareness and informational materials that highlight the role of social workers in health facilities, particularly in the prevention and response to violence against children and women. This includes the production of two posters and two leaflets.
• Provide the finalized training modules, awareness materials, and a PowerPoint presentation summarizing the training content.
• Prepare and submit a final report detailing key findings, activities undertaken, and recommendations for future action.

ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUES

General Conditions:
The contract will be for a 45-day period. This assignment includes remote and in-country (Bissau) work. The consultant will not be based at the UNICEF Country Office, but whenever necessary, an office space will be available. The consultant is expected to use his/her own electronic devices to perform the assignment. However, he/she will be authorized to use facilities such as the Office copy machine and scanner during the contract period, as well as internet connection.
The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Child Protection Manager and will work directly with the Ministry of Health, through the Social Service department/General Direction of Health Administration.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE and CONDITIONS
Payment will be done according to the deliverables outlined below. Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to request withholding payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Payment will be done upon submission and validation of deliverables as per the below workplan:
• Deliverables 1: 15%
• Deliverable 2 and 3: 35 %
• Deliverables 4: 35 %
• Deliverable 5: 15%

A task force consisting of UNICEF, WHO, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Women, Family and Social Solidarity (IMC), and AGAS (National Association of social Assistants), will be established and will be responsible for the validation of all deliverables resulting from this consultancy.

How can you make a difference? 

Work Assignments Overview 1
Conduct a desk review of the Guinea-Bissau social service workforce in the health sector, including statistical data, national legislation, roles and responsibilities, policies, and strategies integrating health SSWF.
Deliverables/Outputs 1 – 5 Days
• Desk review report.
• National and global good practices and challenges in the role of health social workers in addressing violence against children and women, including the provision of MHPSS identified and documented.

Work Assignments Overview 2
Design a one-week training package for health social workers, with a special focus on the role of the social workers in the health system and on the prevention and response to violence against children and women.
Deliverables/Outputs 2 – 15 Days
Draft training package submitted to UNICEF, WHO, the Ministry of Health/ Social Service Department, and AGAS (National Association of Social Workers) for validation and printing.

Work Assignments Overview 3
Develop awareness and information materials (2 posters and 2 leaflets) highlighting the role of social workers in a health service and the role of social workers in the prevention and response to violence in the health sector (including its alignment with the new national CP case management SOP).
Deliverables/Outputs 3 – 6 Days
Awareness and information materials (2 posters and 2 leaflets) developed (graphic design), approved and ready for printing.

Work Assignments Overview 4
Organize and deliver two (2) training sessions targeting 52 social workers operating in the health system.

Deliverables/Outputs 4 – 15 Days

• One session targeting 26 social workers (mid-September) concluded and evaluated.
• One Session targeting 26 social workers (end September) concluded and evaluated.
• Report on the training session validated.

Work Assignments Overview 5
Compile and submit a final report summarizing key findings, activities, and recommendations.
Deliverables/Outputs 5 – 4 Days
Compiled final report, at the end of the contract submitted, highlighting findings and recommendations.
Finalized training modules, awareness materials, and PowerPoint presentation, submitted.

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

Minimum requirements:

Education: Advanced university degree in social and health sciences, Sociology, psychology, public health, Social Work, or a related field.

Work Experience:

• Proven experience in developing adult learning materials and facilitating participatory training sessions, preferably for health and social service professionals and ability to adapt training content and delivery to local cultural contexts and ensure inclusive approaches.
• Familiarity with the role of social workers in hospitals and health centers, including case management, patient advocacy, and coordination with medical teams.
• Knowledge of Guinea-Bissau’s health and social service policies, legislation, and institutional frameworks relevant to child and women protection.
• Skills in assessing training impact, collecting feedback, and integrating lessons learned into future programming.
• Ability to produce high-quality awareness tools (e.g., posters, leaflets).

Language Requirements: Fluency in Portuguese is required. Knowledge of English and French is an asset. 

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

Competitive Selection Criteria (for clarification see Guidance)

A) Technical Evaluation (75 Points)

• Advanced university degree in social and health sciences, Sociology, psychology, public health, Social Work, or a related fields. (10 points).
• At least 5 years of experience in social work in health systems, child protection and gender-based violence and mental health and psychosocial support. (20 points).
• Proven experience in developing adult learning materials and facilitating participatory training sessions, preferably for health and social service professionals. (15 points)
• Alignment of the proposed methodology and approach with the terms of reference (20 points)
• Fluency in Portuguese is required. Knowledge of English and French is an asset. (10)

*The bidder must meet this minimum passing point (55/75) for the Technical Evaluation to be considered further for the Financial Evaluation

B) Financial Proposal (25 Points)
• Cost-effectiveness

- CRITERIA FOR SELECTION PROCESS
Interested consultants should provide the following:

• Cover letter describing the candidate’s relevant experience with similar type of assignments (max 300 words).
• Updated Curriculum Vitae
• A Technical proposal explaining a short description of methodology or approach on how to deliver the results of the assignment as per the TORs including field visits.
• A Financial proposal including a breakdown of all-inclusive fees (including professional fees, travel, and other related cost).

The final selection will be based on the principle of “best value for money” i.e. achieving desired outcome at lowest possible fee.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

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.

UNICEF appointments are subject to medical clearance.  Issuance of a visa by the host country of the duty station is required for IP positions and will be facilitated by UNICEF. Appointments may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid). Should you be selected for a position with UNICEF, you either must be inoculated as required or receive a medical exemption from the relevant department of the UN. Otherwise, the selection will be canceled.

Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

UNICEF Guinea-Bissau: visa residence requirements: i.e.: UNICEF shall not facilitate the issuance of a visa and working authorization for candidates under consideration for positions at the national officer and general service category.]

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.