Consultant for prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse
Type of contract: Consultant contract
Hiring unit: Kazakhstan Country Office
Duty station: UNICEF office in Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan (home-based if the situation with COVID-19 deteriorates)
Timeframe: The envisioned duration of the consultancy is originally for 6 months from July 2020 to December 2020 and maybe extended if there is such need. The actual duration of the assignment and schedule of activities will be agreed with consultant based on the proposed implementation plan.
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, a fair chance
Background
All forms of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) are a violation of human rights and an abuse of a position of power over a vulnerable population that the United Nations and other humanitarian and development actors have pledged to protect. SEA can lead to serious, sometimes life-long, adverse consequences for the survivors, particularly child survivors. Furthermore, SEA undermines the integrity and reputation of the UN and other humanitarian and development actors and can threaten the security of their personnel and operations. Recent failures by UN agencies and NGOs to respond effectively to allegations underscore the urgent need to scale up efforts
The UN Secretary-General Bulletin (“Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse” (ST/SGB/2003/13) introduced the following standard definition for sexual exploitation and abuse, which applies to any sector and context:
• “Sexual exploitation” is any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power or trust for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another.
• “Sexual abuse” is the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions.
SEA are forms of gender-based violence (GBV), which describes any harmful act perpetrated against a person’s will that is based on socially ascribed differences between women and men. Furthermore, SEA may also involve child safeguarding violations if the “conduct by (the organization’s personnel) causes significant harm to a child including any kind of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, neglect or exploitation”, highlighting the need for focused attention on children as part of PSEA efforts.
UNICEF is fully committed to improving protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) and takes a leadership role in addressing outstanding challenges. Following the endorsement of the United Nations Protocol On Allegations Of Sexual Exploitation And Abuse Involving Implementing Partners (hereinafter referred to the UN Protocol) in February 2018, UNICEF has incorporated PSEA standards in the General Terms and Conditions of partnership agreements with civil society organizations.
The most significant changes in the General Terms and Conditions are as follows:
• Article 4.0 clarifies that if the implementing partner is using further tiers of sub-contractors (e.g. sub-sub-contractors), they are required to adhere to the agreement;
• Article 11.2(b) provides that sexual exploitation and abuse, or child safeguarding violations perpetrated by implementing partner workers, or a failure of the implementing partner to properly address such issues, each constitutes grounds for immediate termination of the agreement;
• Article 13.0 lists policy obligations concerning protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, child safeguarding and fraud;
• Article 14.0 defines sexual exploitation and abuse and child safeguarding violations, and prescribes expectations of ‘zero tolerance’, preventative measures (including training), obligations to report to UNICEF, and investigation obligations; and
• Article 16.0 extends assessments from ones relating to finances alone, to ones assessing capacity to address sexual exploitation and abuse or child safeguarding violations.
Considering the above, UNICEF has developed a procedure and related tools to support UNICEF Offices and their Implementing Partners to abide by the requirements of the UN Protocol and the General Terms and Conditions of their partnership agreements with UNICEF.
UNICEF Offices around the world are organising PSEA trainings for staff and Implementing Partners and conducting PSEA risk assessments, and thereafter working with Implementing partners to jointly strengthen prevention of and response to sexual exploitation and abuse through strengthening prevention, reporting, referral and investigation capacities. Through these measures, UNICEF together with Implementing Partners aims to create a safer and more protective environment for every child.
How can you make a difference?
A local consultant will provide the country office with support in training, capacity and systems strengthening, and conduct PSEA Assessments of implementing partners – civil society organisations.
The objective and major tasks of the consultancy:
1. Training:
Conduct at least two face to face group trainings (or online depending on the situation) for UNICEF staff and Implementing Partners on PSEA using available global PSEA Toolkit training package and adapting them to suit local contexts.
The training will be one-day and consist of five training sessions:
• Session 1: Welcome and Introduction: provides an introduction to the training
• Session 2: Overview of the PSEA Toolkit: provides an overview of the background, objectives and structure of the Toolkit
• Session 3: Organizational Self-Assessment: demonstrates how partners can use the organizational self-assessment tool to identify their organizational strengths and areas of improvement on PSEA
• Session 4: Priority Areas: examines the responsibilities of partners in four priority areas of PSEA (i.e. prevention, reporting, assistance, investigation)
• Session 5: Moving Forward on PSEA: gives participants an opportunity to consider possible actions for improving their organization’s capacities on PSEA.
The training materials available include:
• Overview of Training and Handouts, including guidance for preparation, a sample agenda, a worksheet and an evaluation/feedback form
• PowerPoint Presentation, including trainer’s notes and instructions for exercises.
Develop compendium of FAQ from trainings and share with responses and links to relevant reference materials.
Complete a report of each training event, including List of Participants with relevant details of their organization, position and contact details.
2. Conducting PSEA Assessments:
The PSEA Assessment is intended to give UNICEF and its partners a baseline for tracking progress of partners’ organizational capacities on PSEA. Consultant is expected to complete 10 to 12 PSEA assessments by end of the year together with the UNICEF NGO implementing partners. The Assessment, when completed in collaboration with the partner, provides a shared understanding of the partner’s organizational strengths and areas of improvement on PSEA moving forward.
After completing the UNICEF PSEA Toolkit Training Package (to ensure that the Consultant and NGOs has a complete understanding of the PSEA Toolkit and the PSEA Assessment), and using the standard UNICEF PSEA Assessment questionnaire and the related instructions for completing the questionnaire, the Consultant collaboratively conducts PSEA Assessments of national CSO (Civil Society Organisation) implementing partners of UNICEF. The PSEA Assessment is documented in the provided template, and supporting evidence is collected and filed against each Core Standard.
COVID19 Remote PSEA Assessments for National CSO Partners: Verification of Self-Assessments by Partners.
The consultant will verify PSEA self-assessments completed by the national CSO partner. Ideally, the self-assessments will be completed during a remote PSEA Toolkit Training session, as described in the COVID19 Implementing Partnership Management Guidance.
Steps for Review and Verification of Partner PSEA Self-Assessment
– Review documentation: Consultant verifies that the supporting documentation provided by the partner adequately justifies the self-assessment rating of the partner. This is done following the guidance in the Methodology for Review of Assessments. The consultant documents findings of the review, clearly indicating questions and missing documentation for partner in the Template for Feedback to Partner.
– Follow up with partner: Consultant shares the Feedback with partner and asks for further clarification and documentation for finalizing the assessment as needed. The partner is given a reasonable period of time to gather or develop the additional policy, procedure or system, and is guided to the PSEA Toolkit for resources to help with this.
– Update review: Consultant adds additional information received from partner to updated Template for Feedback to Partner.
– Provide final feedback to partner: Consultant informs the partner of the outcome of the verification process, using the final section of the Template for Feedback to Partner
– Record review outcomes: on conclusion of the process the consultant records the PSEA assessment in eTools against the partner record.
3. Strengthening Prevention, Reporting, Referral and Investigation Capacities of national CSO implementing partners:
Using the PSEA Toolkit as a primary reference, collaboratively work with assessed CSO implementing partners to develop an Action Plan to address gaps in organisational PSEA capacity, as highlighted through the PSEA Assessment. Thereafter, provide support to the national CSO to develop and implement policies, procedures, and systems to improve PSEA organisation capacity of the CSO.
To support partners’ efforts in addressing identified capacity gaps, the PSEA Toolkit provides practical guidance on PSEA as well as an extensive list of additional resources in each section.
4. Technical Support for Country Office
The consultant may assist with facilitating UNICEF internal training needs that may arise, for example: training of PSEA focal point in the country office; training of programme sectoral technical staff in conducting PSEA Assessments and integrating PSEA in planning partnership programs and carrying out beneficiary level monitoring with SEA questions during program visits, filling out PSEA assessment in eTools PSEA module, etc.
Deliverables:
The expected final products of this consultancy are:
• PSEA Toolkit training presentation materials adapted to the country context (after full familiarization with Procedure, global training materials, PSEA toolkit and others) and Calendar of trainings for staff and Implementing partners
• Report on completed trainings with agenda, list of participants, FAQ compendium and recordings where available.
• Completed assessments of partners for PSEA (including review of self-assessments).
• PSEA assessments filled and finalized in eTools.
• Developed PSEA action plans by partners.
• Final report with results of work and further steps.
All the deliverables are implemented under close collaboration with HACT focal point and relevant programme officers.
Performance indicators for evaluation of results:
The evaluation of the results will be based on:
• Technical and professional competence (quality of the product delivered to UNICEF);
• Quality and timeliness of work (quality of the report);
• Quantity of work (completion of the tasks indicated above)
In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.
1. Tasks/Milestones: Familiarize with the UNICEF global PSEA procedure and materials
Deliverables/Outputs: PSEA Toolkit training presentation materials adapted to the country context (after full familiarization with Procedure, global training materials, PSEA toolkit and others) and Calendar of trainings for staff and Implementing partners
Timeframe: By end of July 2020
2. Tasks/Milestones: Conduct face to face group trainings for UNICEF staff and Implementing Partners on PSEA using available global PSEA Toolkit training package and other available products.
Deliverables/Outputs: Report on completed trainings with agenda, list of participants, FAQ compendium and recordings where available
Timeframe: By end of August 2020
3. Tasks/Milestones: Conduct PSEA Assessments of national CSO (Civil Society Organisation) implementing partners of UNICEF
Deliverables/Outputs: Completed assessments of partners for PSEA (including review of self-assessments). PSEA assessments filled and finalized in eTools
Timeframe: By end of September 2020
4. Tasks/Milestones: Using the PSEA Toolkit as a primary reference, collaboratively work with national CSO implementing partners to develop an Action Plan to address gaps in organisational PSEA capacity
Deliverables/Outputs:
– Developed PSEA action plans by partners.
– Final report with results of work and further steps
Timeframe: By end of December 2020
Other tasks as may be required.
There might be local travels depending on the location of implementing partners and improved situation with COVID-19.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: An advanced university degree (Masters and above) in one of the following areas is required: international development, human rights, psychology, sociology, international law, child protection or another relevant social science field;
Work experience: A minimum of 3 years of relevant professional work experience in child protection, or prevention or protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, or gender-based violence is required, including very good knowledge of the technical area. Experience in conducting trainings is an asset. Experience in capacity building and systems strengthening is an asset.
Skills and competencies:
– Excellent writing and presentation skills.
– Very good organisational and facilitation skills required.
– Proficiency in English and Russian is required. Knowledge of Kazakh will be an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability (https://www.unicef.org/about/unicef-culture)
Remarks:
• Completion of the UN/UNICEF mandatory trainings is obligatory upon commencement of the consultancy.
• Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
• 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.
• UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
• All deliverables will be reviewed by UNICEF and relevant partners.
• All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.
• The Consultant will perform his/her duties in line with UNICEF standards and procedures.
• The successful candidate will be required to have medical insurance (at his/her own cost), covering the whole period of contract, including travel.
• Deadlines may shift and the exact schedule of activities, being agreed with the consultant.
• 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).
• 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.
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