Consultant to Support Alternative Care Programme

Consultancy

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.

 

 

DUTY STATION: New Delhi with travel to UNICEF Field Offices

 

DURATION OF CONSULTANCY: September - December 2017

 

CLOSING DATE: 6 August 2017

 

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE:

 

The UN Child Rights Convention stresses the importance of family in children’s lives and makes clear Governments’ responsibility to promote family care and reunification and to provide appropriate alternative care for all children who have lost the care of their parents.

 

The “UN Guidelines for the appropriate use and Conditions of Alternative Care for Children” confirm the value of a family upbringing over institutional care. Child welfare practice and social policy should aim to help families remain together, promote family reunification or legally secure and stable placements with an alternative family (referred to as permanency), and show preference for family-based alternatives when separation is unavoidable.

 

The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) R Act, 2015 of the Government of India, includes the following relevant principles: the principle of best interest of the child (including ensuring permanence); the principle of family responsibility; the principle of institutionalisation as a last resort and of minimum duration; and the principle of restoration/family reunification.

 

The Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) includes objectives, principles, and approaches on a variety of relevant matters, including: the establishment of a continuum of services; priority towards supporting a child to remain in the care of his/her parent(s)/families; institutionalisation as a last resort; promote and increase family-and community based alternative care options (such as kinship care, foster care and adoption); promote case assessment , case management and case review; promote reunification of institutionalised children with their family when in their best interest; increase standards of care of services;, and monitoring of child protection services.

 

In India, the majority of children in need of care and protection are placed in institutions for lack of non-institutional care options, lack of support to family to prevent separation, lack of functioning gate keeping mechanisms, and a large number of un-registered un-regulated institutions. Once in institutional care, a lack of case management practices (including case assessment, planning, and regular review and a lack of permanency planning (to ensure a stable home, secure environment, and continued attachment to caregivers) often keeps children institutionalised.

 

The consultant will support UNICEF India, Child Protection’s priority area of programming in the new CPD around strengthening family based care and alternative care especially non-institutional alternatives.

1. Develop an incremental plan of action for the programming strategy for the next 2 years
2. Support the key partnerships on alternative care through oversight and technical expertise
3. Compile best practices from UNICEF networks and partners on alternative care
4. Prepare policy briefs/advocacy notes on various aspects of alternative care in India
5. Provide support to State offices of UNICEF on training, planning and execution of programs on alternative care

 

SUPERVISOR:

 

Child Protection Specialist

 

MAJOR TASKS:

1. Implementation and Capacity Building Support

• Build and sustain effective working partnerships with relevant stakeholders, academia, industry partners, civil society partners and donors through active networking, advocacy and effective communication to build capacity, exchange knowledge and expertise and to reinforce cooperation on alternative care
• Organise and contribute to strategic meetings on family strengthening and alternative care
• Organise and coordinate any meetings/workshops/events as may be needed to support the above.
• Organize and implement capacity building initiatives to enhance the competencies of stakeholders both within UNICEF and outside
• Keep abreast of development trends to enhance program management, efficiency and delivery.
• Arrange/coordinate availability of technical experts to ensure timely/appropriate support to the program.

2. Monitoring, Evaluation and Documentation

• Actively monitor the program through field visits, surveys and/or exchange of information with colleagues, partners, and stakeholders to assess progress, identify bottlenecks and potential problems and take timely decisions to resolve issues and/or refer to relevant officials for timely resolution.
• Prepare regular program reports, briefs, communication material and other strategic program materials for reporting, advocacy, awareness raising, etc. in close collaboration with UNICEF CP Specialist

 

END PRODUCTS:

September 2017

1. -      Monthly Progress Report

UNICEF strategy paper on alternative care in India           

Partnerships with Jamia Centre on Alternative Care and Better Care Network for knowledge portal on alternative care in India finalized     

                                                   

October 2017

2. -      Monthly Progress Report

MOU with Hope for Homes for research and evidence building on alternative care finalized

 

November 2017

3. Monthly Progress Report

Capacity building initiatives on alternative care for UNICEF States and partners completed and report submitted                                   

 

December 2017

3. -      Final Report

Document best practices in UNICEF states on alternative care submitted 

 

OFFICIAL TRAVEL INVOLVED: To UNICEF Field Offices as agreed with the supervisor.

 

PAYMENT TERMS

 

• Payment is linked to receipt and satisfactory acceptance of deliverables.

• Travel expenses will be reimbursed at actuals based on receipt of invoices/reports.
• Per Diem will be reimbursed at UNICEF consultant rates.

 

QUALIFICATION, SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

 

a) Education
• A university degree in international development, human rights, communication and media, psychology, sociology, public health, international law and other social science field is required.

b) Work Experience 
• Three to Five years of work experience in social development or private sector planning and management in child protection, communication and media, cyber-security and/other related areas.

c) Languages 
• English. Hindi or other Indian languages highly desirable.

Specific Technical Knowledge Required (for the job) 
• Knowledge and understanding of cyber-security issues specifically for children and women is highly desirable.

• Knowledge of online sharing platforms and their functionalities. Strong computer skills and keen knowledge on management of website and portals. Proficiency with all basic MS Office applications is a must.
• Professional technical knowledge/expertise in knowledge partnerships.
• Excellent drafting and analytical skills; able to communicate clearly through written and verbal communication.
• Thorough knowledge of the key concerns and challenges facing development practitioners in India, particularly in relation to issues related to children and women.
• Highly effective at networking and at facilitating professional collaboration.
• Motivated, energetic, thorough, and responsive to the needs and interests of peers. 

Technical Knowledge to be Acquired/Enhanced (for the job) 
• Knowledge/expertise of best practices, lessons learned and communication. 
• Understanding of UNICEF’s policies and procedures for programming, monitoring and evaluation guidelines. 
• Understanding of UN Mission and system; and International Code of Conduct. 
• Understanding of UNICEF Mission Statement and observance of UNICEF Guiding Principles. 
• UNICEF strategic framework for partnerships and collaborative relationships.

 

Please submit your online application by COB 6 August 2017.

HOW TO APPLY: Your online application should contain three separate attachments:

1. 1. 1. A Cover letter explaining the motivation for applying and also explaining how the qualifications and skill-set of the candidate are suitable for this position (to be uploaded online under cover letter)
      2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) (to be uploaded online under CV/resume)
      3. A financial proposal indicating deliverable-based professional fee as per template attached below.  Please do not forget to specify your name in the file while saving. (to be uploaded under financial proposal template).                             

  Template for Financial Bids - Alternate Care.docx

Please Note: Without the financial proposal template your application will be considered incomplete and will not be evaluated.

 

The selection will be on the basis of technical evaluation & financial offer in the ratio of 80:20.  The criteria for technical evaluation will be as follows:

 

1. Educational Qualifications     -           Min 14/Max 20
2. Relevant work experience       -           Min 21/Max 30

 

Candidates' who score 35 marks and above in criteria 1-2 above and also score the minimum score against each of the above sub-criteria will be short listed for an interview

 

3. Interview                              -             Min 21/Max 30

 

Total points to qualify in overall technical evaluation     Min 56/Max 80

Total technical score – 80. Minimum overall qualifying score is 56. Only those candidates who meet the overall qualifying marks of 56 as well as score the minimum cut-off in each of the above sub-criteria including the interview will be considered technically responsive and their financials will be opened.

 

• Any attempt to unduly influence UNICEF’s selection process will lead to automatic disqualification of the applicant.
• Joint applications of two or more individuals are not accepted.
• Please note, UNICEF does not charge any fee during any stage of the process.

 

For any clarifications, please contact:

 

UNICEF

Supply & Procurement Section

73, Lodi Estate, New Delhi 110003

Telephone # +91-11-24606516

Email: indconsultants@unicef.org

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.