Individual consultancy: Violence Against Children (VAC) in Education Consultancy, Mozambique

Consultancy to analyse the policy, legal and programmatic framework for addressing Violence against Children (VAC) in the context of education in Mozambique, produce a report and recommendations for the reporting and referral protocol and applicable good practices, organize and facilitate a multi-sectoral consultation and validation meeting and produce an outcome document.

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.

PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVE

The aim of the assignment is to support the Ministry of Education and partners to undertake a comprehensive analysis of policy, legal and programmatic framework for addressing VAC in the context of education in Mozambique, produce recommendations for the reporting and referral protocol and applicable good practices and prepare a multi-sectoral consultation meeting to discuss and validate the findings and recommendations.

The deliverables produced within the framework of the consultancy will directly contribute to the achievement of Output 5.3 of the 2017-2020 UNICEF Country Programme, the respective results of the Joint UN Programme on Action for Girls, as well as advance the implementation of relevant recommendations of the Committee on the Rights of the Child (2009) in regard to addressing sexual violence and establishment of formal reporting procedures.

METHODOLOGY

The consultant will be based in the UNICEF Office and will work directly with the Ministry of Education, as well as other multi-sectoral actors, including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Action, the relevant departments of the National Police, the Office of the Prosecutor, civil society organizations and others.

ACTIVITIES AND DELIVERABLES

The main activities and their corresponding deliverables under this consultancy for a duration of 6 months are as follows:

Deliverable 1. Desk review of formally endorsed institutional, legal, policy and professional standards that are applicable for addressing VAC in schools, including the social welfare and justice sector perspective, and a diagram of the formal reporting and referral procedure in accordance with these standards with a focus on: (a) Legal and policy framework on addressing VAC in schools, including international and regional norms and obligations, national laws, decrees, by-laws, ministerial instructions etc.; (b) Codes of conduct of education professionals, ToRs of relevant bodies and personnel (School Councils, Gender Focal Points etc.); (c)  Organigram, staffing and geographical hierarchy and designation of bodies and professionals dealing with VAC in schools; and (d)  Procedures and pathways embedded in programmes and practices endorsed by the Ministry of Education to address VAC in schools (denunciation boxes, VAC manuals etc.) and other key sectors

Deliverable 2. Draft Analysis of gaps and challenges in terms of implementation and application of existing legal, policy and programmatic framework based on following strategies: (a) Based on the desk review, conduct a follow-up comparative legal and policy gap analysis; (b) Analysis of codes of conduct and key ToRs and other professional standards; (c) Preparation of the Assessment Protocol outlining the methodology, site selection, sample, and key instruments to be used in obtaining the inputs from key stakeholders (sector officials, NGOs, children, etc.) and IRB approval; (d) Interviews with key resource persons from all relevant sectors and institutions, organizations engaged in VAC in schools programming; (e) Field visits to at least 4 schools (to be determined, both primary and secondary) in urban, peri-urban and rural Mozambique in provinces and districts (TBD) and in-depth interviews with district, school and community actors with a role and mandate on VAC in schools; (f) Interviews and/or focus groups or other forms of research to obtain information from children and adolescents in selected schools -  based on specifically developed tools reviewed and approved by UNICEF and following ethical guidelines of interviewing children; (g) SMS-BIZ survey design and analysis of results to obtain more information on perceptions of youth and adolescents on VAC in schools and ways to address it; and (h) Analysis of good practices from countries with comparable conditions, education and legal tradition.

Deliverable 3. A consultative meeting organized with the Ministry of Education, and other stakeholders and findings under Deliverables 1 and 2 discussed and an outcome document prepared and validated by key Ministries, especially MINEDH.

Deliverable 4. Final compiled report and recommendations in English and Portuguese based on desk review, field research and analysis, and including also the following components: (a) A Table of existing legal, policy and professional standards with major gaps and recommendations for amendment; (b) A diagram on reporting and referral procedure based on analysis, best practices and the consultative meeting discussions; (c)  Summary description of applicable good practices; and (d) Bibliography and an electronic  folder of all materials obtained during the research

MANAGEMENT AND SUPERVISION

The consultant will be supervised by and report directly to the Child Protection Specialist managing the respective output (5.3), and will receive guidance and support from respective staff from Education, SPEAR and CAP. The duration of the consultancy is of 6 months, from 1 September 2017 until 28 February 2018.

QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE

Academic Qualifications. A Master’s degree in sociology, law, education, social work, political sciences, anthropology or other related discipline.

Work experience: At least 6 years of relevant work experience in programme management and/or evaluation in education, child protection, justice or other related sectors. Previous experience of working in Mozambique and/or the region, along with experience of working with Government institutions at the national and decentralized levels, an asset.

Skills and Competencies. Knowledge and experience of international norms and guidelines in the area of education and child protection; strong methodological knowledge and skills in qualitative and quantitative research design, data collection, analysis and reporting for development programmes; knowledge of ethics and human subject protection in research; excellent communication skills, written and oral presentation skills to discuss findings and facilitate production of outcome documents on the basis of findings.

Language proficiency:  Excellent written and verbal knowledge of both Portuguese and English.

Other: The consultant should be sensitive to beliefs and act with integrity and respect to all stakeholders.  In the report the consultant may not refer to individual children. The consultant may not share findings with media in Mozambique or abroad concerning individual children or individual institutions. 

APPLICATIONS AND EVALUATION CRITERIA

The selection of the consultant will be based on a “best value for money” principle.  Consultants should, in addition to submitting their CV and cover letter, indicate their all-inclusive fees (including travel, subsistence costs, etc.) for the services to be provided.  The office shall select the individual who quoted the lowest fee from the list of individuals who are deemed technically suitable for achieving all tasks in time.  Applications submitted without financial information will not be considered.

OTHER

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation.