National consultant for strengthening adolescents and youth participation within Child and Adolescent Friendly City platform in Belarus

National consultant for strengthening adolescents and youth participation within Child and Adolescent Friendly City platform in Belarus

Type of contract: Individual consultancy

Duration: 6 months (May-October 2018)  

1. Background & Justification

Global trends clearly show strategic advantages for countries that effectively and efficiently utilize adolescents’ and young people’s innovative potential and development. Adolescents and young people are the main agents and drivers of progress today, and Belarus recognize adolescents and young people as a main “accelerator” in achieving its goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Adolescents have a lot of vulnerabilities due to their physical and mental on-going development, practicing 6risky behavior patterns and lack of knowledge and skills for their development and pro-active participation. The potential of adolescents is widely compromised because national and local authorities do not recognize or invest in the measures needed for them to enjoy their rights.

UNICEF in Belarus actively promotes adolescents and youth empowerment and participation in decision-making within Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI). 25 children/youth parliaments were created in cities engaged in CFCI implementation. Adolescents became active members of their communities, designed and implemented local initiatives. However, interaction of children and adults is still significantly formalized and there is lack of local authorities’ commitment for proactive adolescent’s engagement in making decisions concerning their life and development.

Starting from 2016, the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development was adopted at the global and national levels and UNICEF became a responsible agency for monitoring the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) indicators for children.

UNICEF in Belarus is also actively engaged in SDGs monitoring and will support the Government in sharpening their investment in adolescents and SDGs localization. Contributing to this processes UNICEF in Belarus will support the transformation of CFCI into Child and Adolescents City Platform where adolescents will be actively engaged in SDGs localization. UNICEF in Belarus will promote meaningful participation of adolescents with particular attention to the most vulnerable, supporting their proactive role in SDG implementation; and enhancing their capacities in socially-oriented initiatives development and fostering their participation in all issues concerning their lives and communities.

Taking into account the priority attention to adolescents’ development and participation, their role in SDGs implementation and in transformation of CFCI into a platform for SDGs localization, UNICEF Belarus will hire a consultant for strengthening Child and Adolescent Friendly City platform with particular attention to pro-active and meaningful participation of adolescents in decision-making.

2. Objectives

Assist UNICEF country office in advancing collaboration with local authorities and NGOs on mainstreaming critical issues for adolescents and adolescents’ participation/voices in their policies and strategies, systems and services within CAFC platform development and SDGs localization.

3. TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist (YAD), the consultant will support UNICEF Country Office in the following issues:

1. Advocate for SDGs localization within CAFC platform implementation at the national and local levels emphasizing pro-active adolescents and youth engagement.
2. Coordinate activities that strengthen adolescents’ empowerment, knowledge and leadership skills development including the financial literacy and budgeting, data collection, monitoring and analysis, socially oriented initiatives development and implementation:

• Liaise with adolescents and facilitate greater adolescents engagement in interagency and cross-sectoral cooperation, interaction with state bodies, civil society organizations, international organizations and other interested stakeholders;
• Organize events including workshops, round tables, training sessions, expert group meetings, exchange visits with and for adolescents;
• Moderate discussions and document minutes and protocols of conducted events.
• Promote at all levels a greater attention to the inclusion of the most vulnerable adolescents to ensure that they are able to express opinions, voice their needs and pro-actively participate in the decision making in all issues concerning their social life and well-being.

• Facilitate interaction with adolescents and youth groups/volunteer groups that enables effective integration of adolescents’ feedback and views into local CAFC plans and programmes in such spheres as youth participation, socially oriented initiatives, effective peer to peer support and communication, SDGs implementation and monitoring, volunteer movement and other programming issues regarding adolescents’ well-being.

4. Deliverables

On a monthly basis, the consultant will define and agree with the YAD Specialist key deliverables to be completed.  Monthly reports with the agreed deliverables will be provided with the consultants invoice and approved by the YAD Specialist.

5. Supervision, Work Relations & Oversight

The consultant will perform duties and responsibilities under the direct supervision of Youth and Adolescent Development Specialist

6. TRAVEL

This job requires frequent travel within the country. Standard UN daily subsistence allowance will be paid. Regular office arrangement on logistic issues are applicable.

Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for any insurance for any travel.

7. PAYMENT CONDITIONS

The fee will be paid through the wire transfer to the consultant’s account on monthly basis after the submission of invoice and a report with main deliverables approved by supervisor.

The maximum number of working days possible is 21 per month with the 8 working hours per day. The DSA for in-country travel will be paid in accordance with UNICEF rules in addition to the consultant’s fee.

8. UNSATISFACTORY PERFORMANCE

Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect. 

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.  All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and that UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future. This ToR is an integral part of the contract (SSA) signed with the consultant.

9. QUALIFICATIONS OR SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE/ EXPERIENCE REQUIRED

1. Higher Education in social or political sciences, state governance, business administration.
2. Main skills required:

• At least 2 years of technical expertise in the field of adolescent and youth development issues
• Substantial knowledge and skills in working with and for adolescents;
• Experience in facilitation of conferences, workshops, round tables, trainings, expert group meetings, monitoring and study visits with and for adolescents;
• Experience in organization of conferences, workshops, round tables, trainings, expert group meetings, study visits including: drafting of information/invitation letters, concept note and agenda of the events, list of participants  and guarantee letters for renting of venues, equipment and hotel accommodation; preparation of handouts and dissemination among participants; logistics of transportation, meal and accommodation of national and international experts and participants;
• Experience in conducting research, studies and assessment in regard to adolescents’ development and participation will be an asset;
• Report writing and presentation skills.

1. Advanced communication skills.
2. Ability to meet deadlines.
3. Fluency in Russian and English. Fluency in Belarusian is an asset.

10. PROCESS FOR APPLICATION

The consultant should submit the following documentation:

• CV (P11_form)
• Financial proposal (with the indication of daily rates)

Criteria for the selection:

1. Relevant experience;

2. Availability to perform the ToR requirements and meet deadlines;

3. The lowest price in compliance with the best possible balance of cost and quality.

Applicants should submit their applications by closing date 27 April 2018 (09.00) to be eligible for consideration.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advanced to the next stage of the selection process.