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Consultancy Title: GBV Content Development (Laaha) Consultant

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

Duration: January 1, 2025, to December 31, 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:

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does - in programs, in advocacy, and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life - in its social, political, economic, civic, and cultural dimensions - her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education, and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens - addressing inequity - not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

Related to this mission, UNICEF is directly involved in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in some of the world’s most intense and complex conflicts and disasters. GBV in its various forms constitutes a global crisis which undermines social and economic progress; as one of the world’s greatest human rights violations, GBV must be addressed to ensure universal rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of human beings.   Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) is recognized as a life-saving measure and an essential component of humanitarian action. As a lead agency in addressing GBViE, UNICEF has expanded its on-the-ground programming in recent years and made prevention and risk mitigation of, and response to GBViE one of its targeted priorities in its new Strategic and Gender Action Plans (GAP) 2022-2025, as well as in the new Child Protection Strategy. GBViE contributes to the results under Goal Area 3 and is also now a cross-cutting priority across the new Strategic Plan-, making GBV risk mitigation one of UNICEF’s change strategies and a key contributor across all Goal Areas. GBViE risk mitigation is now also across all sectors and areas of work in UNICEF’s updated Core Commitments for Children. UNICEF is also a leading agency in the development of programming and tools related to GBViE, including supporting the development of the Call-to-Action Roadmap rollout of the revised IASC GBV Guidelines (2015), implementation of the interagency GBV case management capacity building initiative, management of the GBV AoR help desk, as well as additional technical resources for the GBViE field within the COVID-19 pandemic. On the latter, the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on GBV have been well documented resulting in an increase in needs and technical requests for UNICEF’s expertise.

In 2019, UNICEF’s Executive Director issued a call to innovate to fill gaps in the accessibility and availability of services at the Oslo Conference on Ending GBV in Emergencies. Since 2020, UNICEF has embarked on developing new technologies for gender-based violence programming. One of these innovative solutions is Laaha, a Virtual Safe Space platform for women and girls.

Women and girls' safe spaces have long been established as a key approach to provide survivors with information, links to services, skills-building, peer connection, and support. Yet, as access to physical safe spaces is often limited for adolescent girls and women, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, UNICEF has been developing Laaha, a virtual safe space (VSS) platform for them to access Gender-Based Violence (GBV), but also Sexual and Reproductive Health (Rights) (SRH(R)) and Mental Health (MH) information, among others. Following the successful piloting of VSS and feedback from adolescent girls in Iraq and Lebanon, a second version - richer and more interactive - of the Laaha platform has been developed and piloted in Iraq and Ecuador.

Since its inception, the Laaha’s design and content have been developed using a human-centered design (HCD) methodology. The content modules have been developed based on the information needs and priorities women and adolescent girls have expressed throughout the research phase in the various deployment countries. As of today, Laaha offers a total of 75 modules on SRHR and GBV.

Laaha is currently being deployed in a number of additional countries, including DR Congo, Myanmar and Turkey. It will reach 15 languages by the end of 2024. New countries are expressing interest in the scaling phase. Laaha aims at reaching 1 million users by 2025. In the frame of the platform scale-up, additional topics and issues are being raised by women and adolescent girls and collected by UNICEF with the aim of enriching the content and meeting their needs of information. Similarly, the platform content requires contextualization to be adapted to the priorities and/or sensitivities of the new deployment contexts.

In 2024, UNICEF GBViE Team engaged in a process in collaboration with Disabilities specialists working in humanitarian settings to increase the accessibility of its programmatic interventions for persons with disabilities. In 2025, UNICEF aims at having a more structured approach to this inclusion process.

During the 12-month period of the contract, the Consultant will support the GBViE workstream in the development of specific resources. The consultant will contribute to the development of new modules on SRHR and GBV to be adapted for multimedia content, the contextualization of the existing modules for new languages/countries, increasing the accessibility of UNICEF GBViE programming and proposals development.

Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist (GBViE Innovation and Service Delivery), the consultant will be responsible for the completion of the three following deliverables:

• Support the development of additional content modules to be added on Laaha;
• Support contextualization of existing content modules for additional deployment contexts;
• Support the development of the scaling strategy for Laaha content;
• Support Laaha’s impact evaluation in collaboration with Washington University of Saint Louis (WUSTL);
• Design and Facilitate one workshop with UNICEF GBV Specialists and Disabilities specialists working in humanitarian settings;
• Provide technical review of GBViE global products and proposals.

The consultancy will be home-based, with limited travel required.

 

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Support development of additional content modules to be added on Laaha. At least 25 new modules developed and approved.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Support contextualization of existing content modules for additional deployment contexts. This could include adjusting existing content for acute emergencies. At least 4 sets of recommendations on content provided for new deployment contexts.

Deadline: 31 December 2025

Support the development of the scaling strategy for Laaha content  Strategy document on the scaling of Laaha content developed and submitted.

Deadline: 31 March 2025

Support Laaha’s impact evaluation in collaboration with Washington University of Saint Louis (WUSTL). Technical inputs provided on at least 5 documents, 1 report and 9 calls related to the WUSTL impact evaluation.

December: 31 September 2025

Design and facilitate one workshop with UNICEF GBV Specialists and Disabilities Specialists working in humanitarian settings. Prepare workshop agenda and materials. Coordinate communications and logistics with target participants. In-person facilitation of the workshop; Write up a summary report following the workshop.

December: 28 February 2025, 31 March 2025

Provide technical review of GBViE global products. This can include proposal development, donors report, advocacy notes, etc. At least 8 products reviewed and supported.

Deadline: 31 August 2025

 

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree (Bachelors) in the area of Social Work, Psychology, Sociology, Women’s Studies, Political Sciences, Human Rights and International Law, Public Health, other related degree or equivalent programming experience.

 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• 8-10 years relevant experience, preferably including GBV and/or MHPSS, and/or SRH programming in humanitarian contexts, including at field level.
• Demonstrated experience in developing resources and tools related to GBV prevention and response, MHPSS, Children Affected by Armed Conflict, and/or SRH(R).
• Good knowledge of recent developments in the CRSV agenda, including interagency coordination at field- and global levels.
• Deep understanding of GBV guiding principles and what it means to provide a survivor-centered response.
• Demonstrated organizational skills, including the ability to work independently and productively with multiple stakeholders in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible work attitude: the ability to work productively in a team environment and independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
• Demonstrated understanding of issues related to confidentiality, data safety/security, and other ethical concerns related to the sharing of sensitive data between humanitarian agencies.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment, including women and girls.
• Excellent Computer skills, including MS Word and Excel.
• Excellent drafting skills and capacity to efficiently channel complex or sensitive messages to a varied audience.
• Creative, innovative thinker who can also translate ideas into practical applications.
• A strong understanding of UNICEF programmes, communication, technology, user-centered design, youth participation, and partnership goals.
• Fluency in English (verbal and written) is required.  Knowledge of Arabic, Spanish or French is considered an asset for this role

 

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.