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Contract Duration- 11 Months

Working arrangement: Office Based

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                                                         TERMS OF REFERENCE

In Cambodia, the PRIMERO case management system is a core digital platform supporting the national child protection system. Implemented by the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) with UNICEF support, PRIMERO enables social workers to securely record, manage, and follow up on cases of children at risk of violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect, and family separation. Built on the Primero/CPIMS+ platform, it strengthens coordination across service providers, improves referral mechanisms, and enhances accountability in case management.

The system also generates centralized, disaggregated data that support evidence-based planning and policy development at national and subnational levels. Ongoing enhancements aim to expand PRIMERO to cover additional areas, including justice for children and children in the context of migration, as well as emerging risks such as climate-related vulnerabilities. The Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), has further operationalized these reforms through the development of procedures and guidance, Under the 2024–2028 Country Programme Document, UNICEF and the Royal Government of Cambodia prioritize strengthening child protection case management and information systems, alongside improving the use of data for decision-making.

At the same time, decentralization reforms have significantly expanded the roles of subnational administrations in delivering child protection services. Sub-decrees 182, 183, 184, and 34 assign increased responsibilities to provincial, district, and commune levels, creating opportunities to integrate child protection into local planning and budgeting processes.

These reforms are further supported by the Child Protection Standard Operating Procedures (CP-SOP), Inter-ministerial Circular No. 007, and its accompanying guidebook on integrating child protection into subnational planning and budgeting.

Strengthening the capacity of the subnational use to use child protection data for planning, budgeting, and service delivery remains a critical priority, in line with the Committee on the Rights of the Child’s recommendations on resource allocation for children’s rights.

The Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY), has further operationalized these reforms through the development of procedures and guidance, including CP-SOP. More recently, Inter-ministerial Circular 007 and the accompanying Guidebook on Integrating Child Protection Activities into Subnational Planning and Budgeting provide a practical framework to guide local-level planning, budgeting, and implementation of child protection interventions.

Building on this, UNICEF Child Protection has piloted multidisciplinary, evidence-driven subnational planning processes and is now seeking to scale up these approaches across additional provinces. This assignment aims to further strengthen system functionality, data use, and institutional capacity to ensure more effective, coordinated, and sustainable child protection services across Cambodia.

Purpose of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to strengthen child protection data and information management systems in Cambodia, with a particular focus on improving the functionality, integration, and utilization of PRIMERO and CPIMS to support evidence-based planning, budgeting, and capacity building and service delivery at both national and subnational levels. The assignment will prioritize target provinces with a high concentration of children in the context of migration—Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, and Battambang—as well as UNICEF focus provinces, including Preah Vihear, Rattanakiri, and Siem Reap. The assignment will contribute to enhancing government capacity to effectively collect, generate, analyze, and use child protection data, strengthen the quality and consistency of case management, and ensure that child protection priorities are systematically integrated into subnational planning and budgeting processes.

Scope of Work:

Under the overall supervision of the Child Protection Specialist responsible for the enabling environment component of UNICEF's Child Protection Programme and in close coordination with the Ministry of Social Affairs, Veterans and Youth Rehabilitation (MoSVY) and with the Ministry of Interior (MOI) and subnational authorities, the consultant will undertake the following tasks:

1. Training on CPIMS Data Use for Planning and Budgeting

• Develop comprehensive training materials on child protection data analysis, planning, and budgeting, incorporating PRIMERO data and budget analysis tools

• Deliver three (3) subnational training workshops (3 days each) covering six provinces:

o Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap (Phnom Penh)

o Oddar Meanchey and Preah Vihear

o Battambang and Ratanakiri

• Integrate practical sessions on:

o Child protection data analysis using PRIMERO and other CP data sources

o Provincial budget analysis and costing

• Facilitate the integration of PRIMERO data and child protection indicators into planning and budgeting processes

• Support the preparation of draft subnational child protection plans and budgets

2. Build Capacity on Case Management and Supervision

• Design and deliver a Training of Trainers (ToT) for MoSVY and DoSVY staff on PRIMERO case management and supervision. Targeted would be the existing national mentoring and coaching team, including focal points. This team would be expanded to include other technical units that work on child justice and children in the context of migration.

• Support the reconfiguration and strengthening of the national coaching team, specifically in its expansion to nurture and include experts from MOSVY-Rehabilitation Department and Victim Support Department.

• Update and enhance the current coaching and supervision framework, including standardized tools and guidance for quality case management in order to integrate the dimensions necessary to provide support to children in the context of migration and children in conflict with the law.

• Provide technical support for the Primero and CPIMS team at national level

3. Technical Support for Approval and Manualization of Juvenile Justice (JJ) Law-related Fields and Forms in PRIMERO

• Support the review, refinement, and formal approval of relevant fields, forms, and workflows

• Ensure appropriate configuration of data entry points, validation rules, and system functionalities

• Develop user guidance and manual as it relates to JJ standard operating procedures (SOPs)

• Ensure alignment with national legal frameworks, policies, and operational standards

4. Provide Structured Coaching, Field Support, and Follow-Up

• Deliver three (3) rounds of coaching, with the national coaching team, to six provinces (DoSVY) and 18 selected high-priority districts

• Conduct field missions to target provinces and districts, including border and high case-load areas

• Provide on-site coaching and mentoring to frontline staff and supervisors

• Strengthen the use of PRIMERO data for evidence-based decision-making and case management

• Support integration of child protection priorities into subnational investment planning and budgeting processes

• Enhance case management practices for:

o Children in the context of migration

o Children in conflict with the law

• Identify implementation gaps and provide corrective actions and technical solutions

• Document and promote good practices for institutionalization and sustainability and thus include technical support for MOSVY central technical units managing Primero and CPIMS

5. PRIMERO Update Training for Oddar Meanchey and Battambang Provinces

• Design and deliver a 3-day provincial training

• Orient provincial and district-level staff on updated modules, tools, workflows, and new data elements

• Ensure effective adoption and consistent utilization of updated PRIMERO functionalities

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here:  Terms of Reference TMC0003734.pdf

Minimum requirements:

Education: 

Minimum Postgraduate degree in Social Work, Sociology, International relations and related fields. Relevant trainings in data science,and/or in qualitative and quantitative reach is an asset.

Work Experience: 

▪ A minimum of eight years of professional experience of which at least five in child protection information and data management, Case Management and M&E is required.

▪ Experience working with digital case management systems such as Primero or other systems of managing data through technology is a strong asset.

▪ Relevant experience in capacity building in child protection related areas in a UN system agency or organization.

▪ Proven capacity to work with a wide range of stakeholders, including Government and NGOs.

▪ Demonstrated experience on evidence-driven subnational planning.

Language Requirements:

English and Khmer

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

Child protection information management system; data analysis; child protection system strengthening

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

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

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 reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. 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.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)
• Cover letter
• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) Financial proposal TMC0003734.docx

Remarks:  

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.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.