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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, chance

Consultancy Title: Volunteers Engagement Consultant (National, Belarus)

Section/Division/Duty Station: ADAP section, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: December 2024 – December 2025 (about 12 months)

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based (with visits to the office upon request & needs, Minsk, Belarus CO)

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. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. 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 abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

The consultancy aims to provide comprehensive technical guidance in the design, planning, implementation, and monitoring and evaluation of volunteer engagement to support UNICEF programming in Belarus.

Background:

Since 2018, UNICEF's volunteer program in Belarus has grown significantly, starting with the 2nd Euro-Games where volunteers provided organizational support during UNICEF events. Over the past five years, a network of volunteers has been built and a notable partnership with the Republican Volunteer Center (RVC) established. This partnership focused on promoting volunteerism at the regional level, including humanitarian assistance, eco-friendly initiatives, and general engagement in various programmatic, humanitarian, communication, and sports activities, as well as info-volunteering and fundraising efforts.

Over 2024, volunteers were engaged in 49 programme activities across various fields, including sports, fundraising, youth engagement, and special events, contributing significantly to UNICEF’s mission and outreach.

A total of 46 training sessions were conducted to enhance the soft and life skills of volunteers, aimed at increasing the effectiveness of their engagement.

Scope of Work:

The VE Consultant will perform the following key tasks under the direct supervision of HIV/AIDS and YAD Specialist.

The focus will be on promoting UNICEF volunteering, building the capacity of adolescents and young people, and actively engaging them in volunteer activities and fundraising to address the needs of the most vulnerable children and adolescents.

Volunteering at UNICEF in Belarus:

• leading volunteers’ engagement including the most vulnerable adolescents and youth (with disabilities, practicing risky behavior, living in institutions, small cities and rural areas, in contact/conflict with the law, in crisis situations, from migrant or refugee communities) in UNICEF programme activities/interventions design, planning, implementation (Child Protection, Early Childhood Development, Social Policy, Youth and Adolescents Development) as well as M&E, Communication and Partnership;
• supporting capacity building of volunteers focusing on the universal skills development including inclusion, diversity and gender lens in the activities development and implementation;
• supporting coordinating and organizing  peer-to-peer trainings by volunteers  for children, including those from vulnerable groups on such topics , as 21 century skills development, eco-friendly behaviour and climate change, prevention of bullying/ cyberbullying and promotion of cybersafety, HLS, on the use of social networks, etc;
• supporting the engagement of children with disabilities in volunteering events in partnership with NGOs, including but not limited to  Belarusian Association for helping children and young people with disabilities (ОО «БелАПДИиМИ»), Belarussian Children Fund, BelAU, etc.;
• facilitating the promotion of green skills and environmental awareness among volunteers through the organization of green activities, ex. plogging races;
• facilitating engagement of UNICEF volunteers in sports for development activities such as Pershi Rovar, “Papa, Mama, Ya – football family”, football games, Half marathon, etc. focusing on the most vulnerable and marginalized children and adolescents in coordination with Minsk City Executive Committee, Football club “BATE”, Athletics Federation, Belarusian Committee of Special Olympics, Belarussian Football Federation, etc.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadlines are available here  ADAP VE Consultant Deliverables & Delivery Deadline.pdf

Travel (if required as per TOR):

Based on the scheduled activities - at least 1 field trips per month (local travels within Belarus)

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree (at least Bachelors) in the social/behavioral sciences including but not limited to communication, marketing, sports, international relations or in a related technical field

Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• A minimum of two years of relevant professional experience in volunteer engagement and sports for development;
• An experience in design, management, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of activities related to networking and partnerships for child rights.
• Work experience related to advocacy, communication, social mobilization and partnerships, including proven experience of working with government and civil society groups.
• Knowledge of UNICEF mission, vision and core values is required
• Knowledge of Convention of the Rights of the Child, Human Rights Based Approach, Results-based management, gender issues, climate change, child participation and strategic partnership is required
• Work experience with UNICEF and other UN agencies is an asset.

Skills

• Substantial skills in working with and for adolescents and addressing adolescents development and participation issues;
• Good communication skills and ability to liaise with national, international and SCOs partners;
• Good managerial and organizational skills in arranging events with and for children and adolescents;
• Experience in facilitation of training activities for children and adolescents;
• Ability to engage adolescents in volunteer activities;
• High level of responsibility and ability to meet deadlines.

Language

• Fluency in Russian and English.

Competencies:

• Builds and maintains partnerships: Develop a network of formal and informal contacts through participation in networks or consultations with others.
• Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness: Display sensitivity and adjust language and tone, ensuring it is not demeaning or aggressive; Recognize own strengths and limitations, learning from mistakes made; Display appropriate ethical behaviours, refraining from discriminatory* language and actions.
• Drive to achieve results for impact: Plan and take ownership for delivering tasks with minimal supervision; Pay attention to detail, producing work of a high standard; Monitor activities on a regular basis, reviewing work plan to ensure progress and delivery; Ensure the completion of tasks, while addressing obstacles and bottlenecks.
• Innovates and embraces change: Review work practices, analyzing evidence-based trends to apply new methods and techniques; Respond flexibly to changing circumstances, priorities and deadlines; Display creativity, experiment with new approaches and demonstrate openness to changing existing practices.
• Manage ambiguity and complexity: Demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and

• Interested consultants should provide a letter of interest (Cover Letter) describing how they can contribute to the interventions listed under roles and responsibilities and why they should be selected for this position. In addition, they should share their latest CV/Resume and financial proposal  Financial Offer template_VE Consultant.docx to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done/portfolio.
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal: all-inclusive lump-sum cost (including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment) 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.

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

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.