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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential. 

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone. 

And we never give up. 

For every child, hope.

Consultancy Title: Child Protection MENA Region, Consultant

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, Child Protection, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: 21 November 2024 to 20 May 2025

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / Remote

About UNICEF 

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

Guided by General Assembly resolution 62/141, in which the Assembly established the mandate, the Special Representative is a global, independent advocate for the prevention and elimination of all forms of violence against children. The Special Representative has been requested in September 2023 take under her political leadership the Pathfinding initiative (a former component of the Global Partnership on Ending Violence Against Children) in line with her mandate to act as a catalyst to stimulate the engagement of Member States and as a bridgebuilder to mobilize action to achieve SDG commitments to tackle violence and its drivers.

The Special Representative is since 1 January 2024 in charge of revamping and relaunching the Pathfinding global alliance of countries on ending violence against children. 39 Pathfinding countries have recommitted with the renewed framework and many others have expressed commitment to adhere to this important effort. Additional expertise, engagement and support under this new responsibility which is rapidly evolving due to the Pathfinding component and expansion of Pathfinding countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in particular the Office of the Special Representative will be required to further enhance expert capacity through a further period of at least six months service to support the Pathfinding initiative in the Office of the SRSG and to expand engagement in particular with countries and partners in the MENA region.

The service will continue to contribute and support the Office of the SRSG on Violence against Children in its obligation under Pathfinding in close cooperation with main UN and other partners including WHO and UNICEF and expand collaboration with national organizations and institutions in the development and implementation of initiatives to address violence against children. This includes expertise support to the development of case studies, advocacy tools and policy reforms for children’s protection from violence needed under this expanded responsibility.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Work Assignment Overview:

• To further engage under the Pathfinding component and expansion of Pathfinding countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and enhance expert capacity to support the transition of Pathfinding and to expand engagement in particular with countries and partners in the MENA region.
• To cooperate with main UN, the Office of the Special Representative of the Secretary General (OSRSG-VAC), UNICEF and other partners including WHO and expand collaboration with national organizations and institutions in the development and implementation of initiatives to address violence against children in the MENA region. This includes support to the development of case studies, advocacy tools and policy from violence.

Deliverables\outputs:

Deliverable 1: Development and dissemination of the write-up on evidence and research on violence against children highlighting the lessons learnt and good practices to promote progress in children's protection from violence. This written information will serve to prepare advocacy statement and other materials (21/12/2024)

Deliverable 2: Draft a document containing at least five case-studies of actions taken by the national

organizations and institutions in MENA region to address violence against children (21/1/2025)

Deliverable 3: A report through email on the strategic children’s participation work (21/2/2025)

Deliverable 4: Identify and liaise with at least five organizations/networks working with children in the MENA region to participate in the SRSG’s consultation the priority theme of the HRC report on the status violence against children (21/3/2025)

Deliverable 5: The statement on further achievements towards peace and development is drafted (21/4/2025)

Deliverable 6: A report on the number of youths mobilized, activities participated in and capacities developed is prepared (20/5/2025)

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of in law, political science, international relations, urban studies, social sciences or related field. A first-level university degree in combination with 10-year qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• Minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in human rights, political affairs, international relations, law or related area.
• Experience in the field of child rights and child protection is required.
• Knowledge of the Arabic region.
• Knowledge of the mandate and UN system.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

- Upload copy of academic credentials

- Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability

- Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.

- At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

- Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold 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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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 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.