Consultancy: update existing UNICEF evidence review and theory of change to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation, online and offline, and develop programme recommendations, Child Protection Section, PD-NYHQ

To conduct an update of UNICEF existing evidence review and theory of change to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation, online and offline, and develop a package of programme recommendations for governments, UNICEF and other relevant development partners.

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Background & Rationale

Sexual violence is one of the most unsettling of children’s rights violations. As such, it is the subject of dedicated international legal instruments aimed at protecting children against its multiple forms. Acts of sexual violence, which often occur together and with other forms of violence, range from direct physical contact to unwanted exposure to sexual language and image. Even when not accompanied by physical force or restraint, the sexual victimization of children resulting from emotional and psychological manipulation, intimidation and verbal threats, deception or entrapment can be equally intrusive and traumatic. The protection of children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse in all settings, including the home, schools and community, is a priority for UNICEF and part of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan for 2018-2021.

Cognizant of the prevalence of sexual violence against children across settings and the need to provide specific guidance on effective interventions, UNICEF published in 2015 an evidence review and compilation of promising practices to prevent and response to child sexual abuse and exploitation based on an analysis of programmes implemented until 2013. UNICEF publication Promising programmes to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation proposed a specific theory of change and monitoring framework to address child sexual violence.

Over the last five years and since the finalization of UNICEF’s publications regarding prevention and response to child sexual violence, historical milestones have been achieved leading to the definition of a global agenda and UNICEF’s specific theory of change, organizational strategic goals and recommended programmes to comprehensively address violence against children (VAC), including sexual violence, abuse and exploitation. In 2013, UNICEF launched its global #ENDviolence campaign followed by the publication of UNICEF’s Ending Violence Against Children: Six Strategies for Action and the first global analysis of comparable country data on violence on children, Hidden in Plain Sight.  On the global level, the SDGs were developed setting targets for the international community to end all forms of violence against women and children.  In 2015, UNICEF completed a global evaluation of VAC programming, which showed that UNICEF would not be able to contribute to the achievements of the SDGs without significantly strengthening the VAC Programme.  These recommendations lead directly to the development of UNICEF’s VAC Theory of Change.   Ultimately, UNICEF’s Strategic Plan 2018-2021 (SP) cemented violence against children as an organizational priority, as one of the five main goals.

On the global level, in recognition of VAC as a public health issue, the World Health Organization worked in close collaboration with UNICEF, other UN agencies and key partners, to develop a technical package - INSPIRE: Seven strategies to end violence against children to contribute to strengthening the effectiveness of programmes and approaches to end VAC. INSPIRE was launched alongside the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children. In order to support implementation of these strategies, the INSPIRE Handbook and the INSPIRE Indicator Guidance and Results Framework were launched in 2018. UNICEF is currently further developing its internal Programme Guidance to End VAC, highlighting UNICEF’s specific role in contributing to the Global Agenda on VAC.

Another important global development since 2015 has been the increasing focus placed on the specific challenges to address sexual abuse and exploitation when facilitated by ITC. UNICEF joined the WePROTECT Global Alliance to End Online Child Sexual Exploitation and supported the development of a Model National response (MNR). In support of the implementation of the MNR, UNICEF set in motion a global programme to tackle online child sexual abuse and exploitation in 30 countries across six regions, with the support of the UK Government under the WePROTECT initiative and subsequently of the Global Partnership to End Violence against children. A key part of this effort is to document lessons learned from current programmes, identifying emerging and promising practices and gaps in comprehensively addressing online child abuse and exploitation across the capabilities of the Model National Response.

Considering the significant increase in programmatic investment to address VAC, including sexual violence, and the newly defined organizational and global strategic approach, theory of change and recommended package of interventions, UNICEF recognizes the need to update the previous publications, evidence review and promising practices, addressing child sexual abuse and exploitation with new emerging practices ensuring full alignment of UNICEF’s theory of change to address sexual violence with global and organizational overall End VAC approaches. The UNICEF Child Protection Section is therefore conduct an update of UNICEF existing evidence review and theory of change to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation, online and offline, and develop a package of programme recommendations for governments, UNICEF and other relevant development partners.

PURPOSE

To conduct an update of UNICEF existing evidence, review and theory of change to prevent and respond to child sexual abuse and exploitation, online and offline, and develop a package of programme recommendations for governments, UNICEF and other relevant development partners.

This exercise will entail:

• Update the evidence review and promising programmes documents with new evidence from the 2014-2017 period including new programmes put in place to addressed child sexual abuse online since the adoption of the MNR and more updated case studies. Particular attention will be paid to the 47 countries proposed by UNICEF (to be determined). The consultant will need to consider any relevant evidence reviews conducted, in particular regarding online protection programming;
• Revise and align the theory of change and monitoring framework proposed in the promising programmes to adequately reflect UNICEF global VAC theory of change, UNICEF programme guidance on ending Violence Against Children, UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021, the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children and INSPIRE frameworks, UNICEF GBV in emergencies theory of change, UNICEF Gender  Action Plan 2018-2021 and WeProtect Model National Response to prevent and tackle child sexual exploitation and abuse;
• Develop a comprehensive package of programme interventions and recommendations across the prevention, identification and referral and response spectrum building upon 1) the checklists proposed in the promising programmes document, 2) programmes reviewed (whether rated as low, pioneering, emerging or promising) and 3) recommended interventions by UNICEF, government and partners. Considering the absence of evaluations of many programmes and the recent nature of some interventions (especially online protection), recommendations will need to include interventions that may have not been evaluated when necessary to comprehensively implement UNICEF VAC programme guidance (ei. adoption of specific laws).
• Compile relevant programme documents to strengthen knowledge management and experience exchange between counties including policies, laws, training packages, C4D materials and other related programme documents;
• Provide specific recommendations for areas requiring additional investment in evaluations and research;
• Include in the report, country profile/snap shot of existing programmes, indicating progress, promising practices, lessons learnt, gaps, recommendations and relevant documents for knowledge management;

For this purpose, the consultant will:

• Conduct a desk review of relevant documentation including data bases, literature view and country programme documents including laws, policies, training materials, etc, supported by UNICEF HQ and Country Offices and partners;
• Lead an inter-agency and regional and country consultative process. Conduct remote key informant interviews, online survey etc with UNICEF staff and partners at country, regional and global levels and implementing partners and children as required in the 35 identified focus countries;
• Draft report and an executive summary including a separate chapter on recommended package of interventions for online protection
• At least 2 rounds of presentations of draft report to UNICEF and partners and gathering of feedback. Revise report based on feedback.
• Presentation of final report through a webinar to UNICEF global staff and partners.

EXPECTED RESULTS: (MEASURABLE RESULTS)

One comprehensive report including:

• Updated evidence review and promising programmes documents with new evidence from the 2014-2017 period. No more than 90 pages, single space 12pt;
• Revised theory of change and monitoring framework proposed in the promising programmes;
• Recommended comprehensive package of programme interventions for the protection of children from sexual abuse and exploitation, including a focus on the online environment. No more than 30 pages, single space 12pt; recommended package of interventions
• Recommendations for areas requiring additional investment in evaluations and research. No more than 3 pages, single space 12pt;
• Country profiles/snap shot of existing programmes (1 page per country);

Executive summary of report, prepared as a stand-alone document accompanying the evidence review. An estimated 5 pages, single space 12pt;

Power point presentation of report (webinar materials);

Compilation of relevant programme documents (digital files);

TIMEFRAME

Start date: 15 January 2019

End date: 31 December 2019

DUTY STATION: Home based and remote work. The consultant is expected to travel to NYC at least once during the assignment.

KEY COMPETENCES, TECHNICAL BACKGROUND, AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED DEADLINE

• Master degree in social sciences or related fields.
• A senior consultant with a minimum of ten to fifteen years relevant professional work experience at national and international levels in development field, with a focus on women and children’s rights and violence prevention and response, in particular sexual violence and other forms of gender-based violence.
• Proven research skills and demonstrated expertise in analysis and development of technical papers and reports as well as programmatic guidance related to violence against women and children, in particular sexual violence, gender and child protection. Published work an asset.
• Operational experience at country/regional level in the implementation of programming related to violence against women and children, sexual violence, gender, and child protection.
• Good understanding of child protection systems and changing social norms, attitudes and practices harmful to children and women.
• Knowledge and experience in working in emergencies, especially on the issue of GBV, especially sexual violence.
• Knowledge and experience of UNICEF policies and programmes of cooperation, including on child protection, a plus. Prior experience working with the UN/UNICEF an asset.
• Capacity to work independently yet with ability to share information, receive feedback and engage in dialogue with partners.
• Excellent analytical, communication, writing and editorial skills in English language. Working knowledge in another UN language an asset.

Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.

Remarks

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.  

At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.

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

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.