International Consultancy Assignment _ Addressing Harmful Practices _ UNICEF Freetown, Sierra Leone

UNICEF Sierra Leone is seeking a suitably qualified Local Midwife consultant to provide technical assistance to the International Consultant who will lead the Comprehensive Review of the National MCHA Training Programme in Sierra Leone.

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, an advocate against harmful practices (Child Marriage)

The Child Protection Section of UNICEF Sierra Leone, in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone, supports the implementation of a range of activities with the aim of strengthening child protection systems that prevent and respond to violence, abuse, exploitation and neglect of children and ensure justice for children, as outlined in the Rolling Work Plan (RWP) (2018-2019). Output 6.2 of the RWP states: By 2019, communities and households have the ability to promote positive social norms to enhance child protection outcomes and prevent and respond to violence, exploitation and abuse against girls and boys. It is in this area that UNICEF Sierra Leone seeks a consultant to strengthen and scale-up its work to address harmful practices.

Children in Sierra Leone face high levels of violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect. Harmful practices such as child marriage, female genital mutilation (FGM), and violent discipline are common in Sierra Leone, and are predominantly attributed to social and cultural norms. With some of the worst indicators in the world, it is imperative that the social norms that permit these violations be addressed. Negative social norms are sustaining these harmful practices. A culture of tolerance and acceptance exists with little public discussion or debate. It is therefore essential that behaviour change is promoted to produce positive change in the social attitudes towards these harmful practices.

How can you make a difference?

UNICEF Sierra Leone is in the process of developing a new five-year Country Programme from 2020-2024. For Child Protection, the key focus will be on reducing and responding to violence and harmful practices, especially child marriage and FGM. Recognising the special protection challenges faced by girls in Sierra Leone, specifically child marriage, FGM, and sexual violence and abuse, the Country Office will develop gender- and adolescent-responsive programming to empower vulnerable adolescent girls to improve their well-being. In 2019, UNICEF Sierra Leone will lay the groundwork for its new Country Programme 2020-2024, and requires a consultant to manage and oversee three specific interventions, as well as support the on-going management and implementation of the Global Programme to End Child Marriage.

The consultant will oversee three of the following interventions, as well as provide support to the Global Programme to End Child Marriage.

1. Formative research on child discipline: Support formative qualitative and quantitative research to help capture the socio-cultural elements influencing child discipline with the objective of developing a better understanding of child discipline and its drivers, and to ensure stronger and more impactful programmes are designed. Understanding the factors that perpetuate harmful social practices, including elements that influence a person’s decisions, are critical to identifying the approach required to addressing and abandoning the practice.

    

2. Ethnographic study on FGM: To develop programmes that will end FGM, it is necessary to conduct a comprehensive ethnographic study to understand the issue in contemporary Sierra Leone. Develop a TOR and work to support a consultant/institution to undertake a study that will answer questions on the social interactions, behaviours and perceptions that occur which result in such a high prevalence of FGM. The answers to these questions will inform the design of interventions that will be carried out in the new country programme.

    

3. Adolescent engagement on child marriage through human-centered design: Work with adolescents to identify the framing, approach and execution of communication materials on child marriage to build momentum of national discourse on the issue. This ‘human-centered design’ approach will enable UNICEF to tailor its programme to meet the capacities, address the challenges, and use the solutions identified by the adolescents. Illustrative activities and communication channels will be explored and implemented that are suitable to the Sierra Leonean context and that resonate with its adolescents.

    

4. Support the management and implementation of Global Programme to End Child Marriage: Provide support to the Child Protection Officer in planning, monitoring, and reporting on the Global Programme, with a key focus on strengthening Communication for Development approaches and interventions and addressing social norms through new and innovative approaches, including working with key influencers to catalyze social movements.

    

    

    Terms of Reference.doc

    

   To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

   Advanced degree in Social Sciences, Development Studies or any relevant area of study;

   At least 4 years of professional work experience in on child protection at national and international levels

   Experience in the field of harmful practices and addressing social norms, with a focus on child marriage

   Previous programmatic experience in Sierra Leone with Government and CSO partners is a strong asset;

   Strong analytical and writing skills, networking and coordination skills;

   Experience with UNICEF, including programme developing, monitoring and assessment;

   Fluency in English;

   Capacity to deliver quality results under tight timeframes.

   For every Child, you demonstrate…

   UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

   The competencies required for this post are:

   Communication

   Working with People

   Drive for Results

   Analyzing and

   Applying Technical Expertise

   View our competency framework at

   http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

   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.

   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.

   Remarks: 

   Female candidates are particularly encouraged to apply.

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