International Consultancy Technical Assistance to Social Welfare Ministries in Child Protection in Nauru, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu

The UNICEF Pacific Multi-Country Office is seeking a consultant to provide technical assistance to the ministry responsible for social welfare to fulfill its functions as child protection mandated statutory authority, and lead of the multi-sector multi-actor child protection system.

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, Protection

Under the 2018-2022 Child Protection Programme, UNICEF Pacific is providing technical and financial assistance to strengthen child protection systems in 14 Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) to prevent and respond to child protection concerns.

The lead sector of child protection systems is usually the ministry responsible for social welfare. Child protection and social welfare systems are at various stages of development in the 3 PICTs targeted for this technical assistance. In terms of human resources, Nauru has 10 child protection officers covering the island; Solomon Islands has 20, 3 at national level and 17 covering all 9 provinces; Tuvalu has none. However most of these personnel are fairly new to their positions, and have limited relevant academic background or professional experience. None of the countries has child protection case management guidelines and forms, job descriptions may not be adequate, management, supervision, monitoring and information management systems are weak or non-existent.

In each country, UNICEF is providing short-term international technical assistance to develop (i) a child protection policy, including a multi-sector and multi-actor child protection system design, with details about the social welfare structure for child protection in particular with regard to human resources; (ii) a costed multi-sector multi-actor child protection implementation plan, with more emphasis on the social welfare sector; (iii) terms of reference for the national child protection working group for strategic coordination; (iv) child protection inter-agency guidelines and referral pathways for operational coordination; and (v) in countries where it does not exist yet, child protection legislation designating the government agency mandated as the statutory child protection authority, respective roles of sectors/actors in the child protection system, reporting and referral procedures, standards and accreditation of services, etc. In Nauru and Solomon Islands, social welfare officers will participate in a five-week in-service training in child protection social work over a period of 6 months, and those in management and supervision positions will participate in an additional one-week training to strengthen these particular skills. The capacity building package in these 2 countries also includes the development of simple, user-friendly child protection case management guidelines and forms and supervision, management and monitoring tools.

However, PICT ministries responsible for social welfare need on-site longer-term technical assistance to implement this policy framework, apply knowledge and skills learned through training courses and use the management and monitoring tools.

The tasks may vary slightly from one country to another, therefore these terms of reference provide an overview of the type of support that may be needed. The list of tasks is indicative, some may not apply and some that are not mentioned may be required, based on opportunities, needs and requests from governments – the latter as long as they are consistent with the overall child protection system approach and meet country-specific needs. Implementation of activities listed below are part of each Government-UNICEF joint work plan and will therefore be funded by UNICEF through quarterly cash advances to Governments as per UNICEF policies, rules and regulations. Prior to taking up their assignments, Consultants will receive a full briefing/orientation in Suva and will participate in review/planning meetings with the UNICEF Pacific Child Protection team in Fiji twice a year.

How can you make a difference?

Under the overall supervision of the respective UNICEF Child Protection Specialist in Suva, focal points for their country of assignment and under the day to day supervision of the Director of the Ministry Department of placement, the consultants will be required to carry out the below work assignments.

A. SOCIAL WELFARE SECTOR

1. Planning, budgeting and reporting

2. Development of the regulatory framework for response service provision

3. Monitoring of response provision

4. Development and implementation of training activities for response service provision

5. Prevention

B. MULTI-SECTOR MULTI-ACTOR CHILD PROTECTION SYSTEM

Provide technical assistance to the ministry responsible for social welfare to carry out its following functions as lead of the multi-sector multi-actor child protection system:

 1. Legislation and policy

2. Coordination

3. Orientation

4. Advocacy and communication

5. Technical inputs for other sectors

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

• Bachelor’s in Social Work and Master’s in Social Welfare Services Management, or BA/MA in Social Sciences and extensive experience in relevant areas.

• Between 5 and 8 years of relevant experience, i.e. direct social work with children in need of care and protection and their families and communities; management of social services, including child protection services; drafting of standards/procedures for child protection services; training of social workers and social welfare managers on child protection social work practice and management; technical assistance to and/or coaching of social workers/social welfare officers in child protection.

• Above-mentioned experience working with government child protection services/government child, family and community social services including child protection essential.

• Experience working with social welfare system emphasizing working with families and communities.

• Experience working in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICT), or with PICT communities living abroad an asset.

• Demonstrated facilitation/training skills

• Ability to persuade, influence, negotiate, advocate

• Excellent people’s skills, relating with people, team work, networking

• Adaptability, flexibility, cultural sensitivity, tact, diplomacy, patience, respectful attitude

• Excellent communication skills, in particular, ability to communicate technical concepts, knowledge and skills in a clear, simple and jargon-free language; ability to present information in a well-structured, logical manner

• Excellent spoken and written English

• Proficiency in the local language of the country of assignment an asset

 TOR - Technical assistance Child Protection Social Welfare - Adv..pdf

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.

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:

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