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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

Together with the Malaysian government and others who are truly passionate about child rights, UNICEF works in Malaysia to ensure every child has the opportunity to grow healthy and happy; live safely; and achieve their full potential.

With the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the 12th Malaysia plan as our guides, we endeavor to change minds, change policies, and in turn change the lives of all children in Malaysia. https://www.unicef.org/malaysia/

Purpose of Assignment:-

How can you make a difference? 

1. Conduct a review and analysis of all existing laws, policies, standards and guidelines on alternative care for children in Malaysia, including gatekeeping policies and mechanisms for children in institutional care. This should include:
   a)Recommendations for areas of improvement to ensure compliance with international standards, including the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
   b)Developing draft minimum standards for programmes and services for children in alternative care in Malaysia where needed.
2. Develop a five-year strategy on care reform in Malaysia to be included in UNICEF Malaysia’s current and next Country Programme, including a plan of action for engaging with Government at federal and state level, CSOs, private sector and other key stakeholders. This includes consultations within the UNICEF Country Office, linking the work to the wider Child Protection programme such as Social Service Workforce Strengthening and Justice for Children, and drawing on the expertise of relevant Programme, Communications and Private Sector Fundraising and Partnerships sections, and consultations with external stakeholders as needed, to develop a comprehensive and evidence-based strategy with a strong focus on prevention.
3. Provide technical support to government (federal or state level, depending on government agreement) on developing a comprehensive care reform agenda or elements of it based on the five-year strategy, such as a national survey of children in institutional care, evidence-based expansion of the existing government family-based care pilot or fast-tracking registration and monitoring of unregistered institutional care. This may include making presentations during meetings with government or support for consultations with stakeholders (modalities and format to be discussed and agreed upon).
4. Facilitate learning from other country contexts and promote regional and global standards as relevant in the Malaysian context, including the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children, such as sharing models and good practices on alternative care from relevant country contexts, and examples from other relevant context, particularly from common law countries, and countries in the region that have implemented comprehensive care reform. This may include making presentations during meetings with government, policymakers and other key stakeholders (modalities and format to be discussed and agreed upon).
5. Provide technical assistance to support UNICEF Malaysia’s engagement with state government in Sarawak on the development of a pilot on alternative care for children, and provide technical guidance on implementing the pilot, including monitoring & evaluation.

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

• An advanced university degree in one of the following fields is required: international development, law, human rights, public policy, social work, or another relevant social science field.
• At least 10 years of experience in the field of child protection in development contexts, particularly in upper middle-income countries and countries with a common law system.
• High level of technical understanding of child protection programming and advocacy, with a focus on alternative care, family strengthening, or social work.
• Knowledge of the international standards governing alternative care, including the United Nations Guidelines for the Alternative Care of Children.
• Demonstrated experience (at least 8 years) experience in providing high level technical advice and guidance for strategic thinking, programme
• Planning, review and consultations with government stakeholders and other partners
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of Bahasa Malaysia is an asset.

Desirable requirements:

• Expertise on the Malaysian alternative care landscape, as well as ASEAN and global best practices on child rights and child protection.
• Experience working with Malaysian Government counterparts.
• Expertise on children with disabilities

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:  

If you are a specialist in this area but are not currently available or only have partial availability for this consultancy work, please register your details, profile and availability with us so that we can include you in upcoming competitions.   Please email your details by email to:  mlya-hr@unicef.org with a subject area:  Alternative Care.

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.