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.

 

Consultancy Title: Consultancy to facilitate the implementation of the new CFCI Guidance Note

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group, Social Policy and Social Protection, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: January 2, 2024, 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: 

UNICEF is globally mandated to promote the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025 recognizes the critical role local governments and actors play in the realization of children’s rights. Engaging with local governments and other local stakeholders supports critical transformation in systems building and enhanced local capacities, contributing to improved outcomes for children and their families, while making sure children needs are prioritized and protected, especially those of the most marginalized. As a result, UNICEF has been engaging with local governments and actors for many years, across different entry points, including through UNICEF National Committees in high-income countries: 21 National Committees reported working on different elements of local governance programming, aiming to further enhance results for children at the subnational and local level. The Child Friendly Cities Initiative (CFCI) is one of the engagement platforms through which National Committees partner with local governments in many countries.

Since 2021, a new CFCI guidance document developed and issued by PG Social Policy and Social Protection at HQ has been implemented in UNICEF National Committees. In parallel, reflection on the implementation by National Committees of a Local governance approach beyond the CFCI methodology has been launched to ensure a strategic and tailored approach towards local governments, in links with their national advocacy strategy.

The objectives of this consultancy are to support the implementation of UNICEF Local Governance programming within National Committees programming and advocacy work using the Child Friendly Cities approach integrated within UNICEF Subnational and Local Governance Framework, and to enable NCs advocate for child friendly local governance and child rights implementation through their local governance systems within their countries. The consultancy will aim to support National Committees’ countries of enhanced child-friendly local governance policies, strategies and plans and improved financing for child related programmes at local level ensuring equitable implementation of children’s rights; and to reinforce and grow the global network of National Committees, cities and municipalities committed to the realization of child rights at local level through enhanced implementation of the local governance programming approach through the Child Friendly Cities approach.

The consultancy will enable the community of National Committees engaged on Local Governance programming, strengthen their child rights advocacy focus and further revitalize the community of child friendly local governments in National Committees countries and assist in organizing meetings, events and technical webinars, develop and promote additional tools (toolkits, strategic frameworks and guidance) to enhance the understanding and implementation of a child-friendly local governance approach that leads to strong and measurable results for children.

There is no sufficient funding to cover all planned activities. Some deliverables are planned to be completed if additional resources become available.

Scope of Work:

The main scope of this consultancy is to provide support and ensure programme excellent and adherence to UNICEF programme strategies and approaches  in the implementation of the Local Governance programming approach by the National Committees, including through the Child Friendly Cities Platform, by coordinating the development of strategic documents and completing the set of tools for National Committees;  coordinating and facilitating learning, exchange of knowledge and practices and support amongst National Committees;  organizing internal and external events and meetings targeted to child friendly cities and municipalities in National Committees’ countries.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Reinforce PME tools and capacities / knowledge management for National Committees involved in Local Governance.

• 6 PME working group calls organized.
• 3 M&E templates, checklist and guidelines for action plans preparation with indicators, assessment template and final evaluation guidelines produced.
• 4 different Capacity building tools on the local governance approach developed and disseminated.
• 1 paper including CFCI best practices developed and disseminated.

Deadline: 30 November 2025, 31 December 2025

Organize and support thematic and methodological exchanges and best practices amongst cities, capacity building for National Committees.

• Two webinars for Child Friendly Cities and child friendly local governments organized with the participation of local governments from NatComm and Cos.
• A CFC and Child Friendly Local  Governance Inspire Awards Competition organized.
• 6 Knowledge exchange sessions organized in support of good practice sharing between NatComms and Country Offices.
• 6 calls for CFC network organized.
• 4 thematic webinars (climate, urban planning, gender integration, migration, etc.) are organized or supported.

Deadline: 28 February 2025 and 31 October 2025, 30 November 2025, 31 December 2025

Ensure the adequate and strategic application of the local governance / CFCI approaches and methodology by National Committees.

• 4 strategies for CFCI implementation developed and adopted (long term CFCI, exit strategy, working with government partners; scalability strategy).
• 16 online meetings of the 4 working groups on sustainability and scalability organized and facilitated.
• At least 40 TA sessions provided to 22 Nat Comms for implementation of sustainability and scalability strategies.
• A set of 5 additional tools for Local Governance/CFC implementation developed (templates, readiness checklist, step-by-step guide).
• Annual report with recommendations on implementation and alignment of National Committees’ Local Governance implementation with CFC guidance and UNICEF Guidance on Programming in High-Income Countries produced.

Deadline: 31 March 2025, 31 December 2025, 31 December 2025, 31 October 2025, 31 December 2025.

Implement the resource mobilization strategy for Local Governance programming in National Committees looking at both private and public funds mobilization.

• Horizontal cooperation/knowledge exchange facility established.
• Develop an updated version of fundraising tools (proposal, presentation, mapping etc.).
• 1 Webinar related to Local Governance/CFC fundraising for the National Committees organized.
• 3 funding proposals developed jointly with National Committees and Country Offices.

Deadline: 31 December 2025, 28 February 2025, 31 March 2025, 30 September 2025

Support the implementation of the communication strategy of National. Committees for the CFCI and the development communication tools in support of CFCI countries.

• Communication strategy for LG/CFCs for the network developed.
• 10 Communication assets for CFCI for National Committees developed.
• 12 visits to CFCI website for maintenance provided on monthly basis.

Deadline: 30 April 2025, 30 June 2025, 31 December 2025

 

Qualifications

Education: 

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of public administration, public policy, development studies, social sciences, or related degree.

 

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *: 

• At least 5 (seven) years of professional experience in project management of development programme or project in/with international organization.
• Knowledge and understanding of child rights and human rights approach to programming. Experience with child rights programme implementation is strongly desired.
• Knowledge and experience with UNICEF programming in high income countries and experience in working with UNICEF National Committees.
• Experience and understanding of knowledge management approaches, fundraising and advocacy approaches is essential.

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.