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Introduction:
Child marriage, despite substantial reductions, remains a pervasive issue in South Asia. The region is home to approximately 290 million child brides, accounting for 45 percent of all child brides globally. The prevalence of child marriage varies considerably not only between countries but also within them, reflecting diverse cultural, economic, and social dynamics. For instance, rural areas often see higher rates of child marriage compared to urban areas, and marginalized communities are disproportionately affected.
For more detailed TOR, please see 
Consultant TOR.docx
Scope of Work:
Under the coordination of SAIEVAC, and with support from SACG members, the consultant will provide technical assistance to update the regional action plan for the period 2025 – 2030. The consultant will develop tools to facilitate consultations and contribute technical support in updating the regional action plan. The consultant will work with diverse partners to ensure a collaborative approach and positive working relationships.
The scope of work includes:
- Develop a background paper: building on review of latest evidence on child marriage approaches, strategies, trends, progress, investments and lessons from programmes, the consultant will develop a background paper to inform the review process.
- Support the development of RAP review tools: develop tools to facilitate the review of country-level progress against RAP indicators using secondary data and interviews with key partners. Consultations will be organized at both national and regional levels, to gather insights from stakeholders, including children and adolescents whose views will be integrated into the review. The consultant, with guidance from SAIEVAC and the TWG will develop a common framework and set of questions for national consultations with children and stakeholders.
- Document key inputs: summarise key findings from national consultations to inform the RAP update.
- Identify key areas for the RAP revision: draft recommendations for the RAP update based on the desk review and consultations. These could include:
- Priority areas for accelerating change on addressing child marriage in South Asia. These priority areas will be thrust areas for the updated RAP strategies.
- Focus on emerging areas such as online safety, climate change, and humanitarian crises (including the impacts of flooding in Pakistan and Bangladesh).
- Alignment with SDG targets and other regional commitments such as SAARC action plan on adolescent pregnancy.
- Support regional consultations: support the organization of a regional online workshop and consolidating feedback from SACG and other key stakeholders.
- Validation and dissemination; this includes:
- Develop a concept note and tool to facilitate regional consultations.
- Support SAIEVAC to organise a regional consultation with key stakeholders including SAARC secretariat, government stakeholders, civil society, UN agencies, researchers and other experts.
- Consolidate inputs from the regional consultations.
- Support SAIEVAC in the finalisation of updated the action plan based on stakeholder feedback.
- Monitoring and reporting: Develop monitoring and reporting tools to track progress on the implementation of the updated action plan.
A detailed action plan will be developed in consultation with SACG members.
Main Deliverables:
- Background paper on ending child marriage;
- RAP review tools;
- Summary report from the four national consultations;
- Draft Regional Action Plan;
- Regional Consultation Report;
- Monitoring and reporting tools developed
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education:
Advanced university degree in social sciences including Social Work, Human Rights, Gender Studies, International Development, Psychology, Anthropology, Sociology, Law, Public Health and related studies. A university degree in a related field plus an additional two years of required relevant professional experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required
- At least eight years of professional work experience in child protection, child rights, gender, advocacy or related.
- Proven programme and advocacy experience and good knowledge of development issues, especially children’ rights.
- Excellent analytical and writing skills.
- Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment.
- Knowledge of South Asia context is a bonus.
- At least eight years of professional work experience in child protection, child rights, gender, advocacy or related.
- Proven programme and advocacy experience and good knowledge of development issues, especially children’ rights.
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UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).
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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.