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UNICEF works to ensure that no boy or girl becomes a victim of any form of violence — a complex and multifaceted phenomenon linked to cultural, social, and economic factors. In 2024, UNICEF in Brazil initiated a formative qualitative diagnosis on the drivers of corporal punishment in child-rearing, conducted in Rio de Janeiro, a strategic city for the issue of child protection. The purpose of this diagnosis was to get valuable inputs for the design of an SBC strategy focused on the prevention of physical violence against children.

Completed in the first half of 2025, the research employed different Social and Behavior Change (SBC) models—such as the Behavioral Determinants Model (BDM) and the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM)—to understand the factors involved in the use of violent discipline by parents and caregivers of children aged 0 to 6 in two vulnerable communities in the city. To ensure wide geographic representation in the data collected, UNICEF now seeks to replicate the diagnosis in the cities of Recife (northeast of Brazil and part of the semiarid region) and Manaus (north of the country and part of the Amazon region). The goal is to develop an adapted methodological proposal for these two additional cities to leverage the findings from the first diagnosis, broadening the scope of the SBC strategy.

The work undertaken by this consultancy will, thus, enable concrete violence prevention strategies that can be applied at the national level, strengthening the commitment to the protection and well-being of Brazilian children with respect to the country’s geographic, cultural, and socioeconomic diversity.

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The hired consultant will be responsible for proposing and implementing a qualitative research methodology in Recife and Manaus, based on the formative research methodology carried out in Rio de Janeiro (which will be shared by UNICEF), expanding the scope of the initial diagnosis to include different geographic, socioeconomic, cultural, ethnic, and racial perspectives. The aim is to support culturally adapted interventions that respect regional specificities, promote child protection, and address social norms that perpetuate corporal punishment.

In both municipalities, the research audience includes mothers (divided into two groups: 16–18 years and 25–35 years), fathers (also divided into two groups: 16–18 years and 25–35 years), caregivers and family members, as well as professionals from public services in the region (Health, Education, and Guardianship Councilors for the Rights of Children – Conselheiros Tutelares).

The hired professional will be responsible for:

• Definition of Methodologies and Tools: This includes the development of scripts and activities aligned with local evidence and needs.
• Conducting Dialogues and Activities: The hired professional will be responsible for directly conducting the dialogues and participatory activities in Recife and Manaus. This will involve facilitating the dialogues with participants, applying participatory techniques, and ensuring the validation of local perceptions, in alignment with local UNICEF partners responsible for the operational set up.
• Data Analysis and Systematization: The consultant will be responsible for analyzing the qualitative data collected during the dialogues and comparing the findings across different locations, as well as preparing the final report with conclusions and recommendations.

Throughout the work, UNICEF will be responsible for:

• Providing detailed information about the social and cultural contexts of Recife and Manaus, including data and documents that help contextualize the issue of corporal punishment in these cities.
• Support the identification and selection of key local actors (parents, caregivers, community leaders, organization representatives, etc.) who will participate in the dialogues and activities.
• Managing the logistics of inviting participants and organizing the venues and dates for the dialogues and other activities, including defining and preparing the venues and ensuring the necessary resources, through implementing partners.
• Conducting interviews with local service actors and systematizing the findings in the format proposed by the consultancy.

DELIVERABLES

              1. Work Assignment overview 1

Work Plan and Methodology

The consultant must develop a detailed methodology to carry out the qualitative diagnosis in Recife and Manaus, addressing each level of the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM). The development of this deliverable will require at least four virtual coordination meetings with key stakeholders in Brasília and the two cities to gather information and align expectations. The product should also include a review of relevant documents, such as public policies, legislation, previous investigations, and related studies. The document must outline which participatory techniques will be used and how the cultural specificities of each location will be considered.

1.1.  Deliverables/Outputs

1.1.1. Methodology and Work Plan

1.1.2. Document with guidelines for civil society partners who will organize the community sessions

1.1.3. Scripts tailored for each segment: mothers, fathers, caregivers, family members, and service professionals

1.2. Deadline: 45 days after contract signing

1.3. Estimate Budget: 30% of the contract value

2. Work Assignment overview 2

       Field Research
The hired consultant will apply the methodology in Recife and Manaus, in person, through the collection of qualitative data interviews and participatory activities (detailed in the previous deliverable) with mothers and fathers of young children and community leaders. The implementation and logistics of the sessions will be ensured by UNICEF through local implementing partners.

2.1. Deliverables/Outputs

2.1.1. Travel report: including detailed description of the activities carried out, lessons learned, and next steps.

2.2. Deadline: 90 days after contract signing

2.3. Estimate Budget:  35%

3. Work Assignment overview 3

              Final Report and Comparative Executive Summary

The final report will present a comparative analysis of the systematized information, highlighting common patterns and specificities across the three contexts studied: Rio de Janeiro, Recife, and Manaus. It should include descriptions of the results, charts, and tables illustrating differences and similarities, along with the development of specific recommendations for interventions adapted to regional characteristics. This material should be written in a way that complements and integrates with the study conducted in Rio de Janeiro. Additionally, the consultancy must deliver an executive summary that consolidates and integrates all findings from the three municipalities studied, as well as the systematized analytical tables.

3.1. Deliverables/Outputs

3.1.1. Final report of Recife and Manaus integrated to Rio de Janeiro

3.1.2. Final and compiled Executive Summary of the research in the three cities, including an overall summary of the methodology adopted, the findings by specific groups, and cross-cutting patterns, as well as key action recommendations.

3.1.3. Analytical matrix: systematization of the information, organizing the collected data by categorized behaviours and social norms identified in Recife and Manaus.

3.2. Deadline: 120 days after contract signing

3.3. Estimate Budget: 35%

DURATION OF CONTRACT:

6 months

TRAVEL PLAN

The consultant will be required to perform an in-person field research in Recife and Manaus, with an expected 5 working days in each of the cities (Monday to Friday), in subsequent weeks. Therefore, the professional is required to be in the first city (to be confirmed) on the previous day (a Sunday) and leave the second city a day after the end of the week (a Saturday), using the weekend in between to travel between the two municipalities. This means a 14-day availability in Brazil (from Sunday on week one to Saturday on week two).

The field research is expected to occur no later than October and the exact dates will be communicated with at least a 45-day notice for the consultant.

Travel costs must be embedded in the final proposed fee.  

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• A university degree in one of the following fields is required: communication, sociology, anthropology, psychology, education, public relations or another relevant technical field in social or behavioral sciences.
• A minimum of eight years of professional experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating behavioral change strategies and research at the national and or international levels is required.
• Proven experience in qualitative research design and implementation. The candidates must attach to their candidacy a list or portfolio containing examples of research they commissioned, coordinated, directed, or conducted related to behaviour-change. 
• Experience with child protection research related to Ending Violence Against Children in Latin America and the Caribbean region is an asset.
• Demonstrated ability to stay current with new developments in the SBC field. Familiarity with new and emerging approaches such as behavioral insights, human-centered design, and social listening, among others, is a plus.
• Proven ability to manage relationships with partners, including government counterparts at different levels and civil society partners and local communities.

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

•          Fluence in Portuguese and Spanish is required.

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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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 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.

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