CONSULTANT - CSO and Child Engagement 8-10 countries Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children , Geneva - 6 months

The consultant is expected to perform the following key tasks: 1. Using the End Violence Membership and in close collaboration with the CSO Forum build strong, inclusive, credible and influential CSO Platforms/Coalitions in a subset of 8-10 pathfinding countries, supported by and feeding into regional and global level platforms; 2. Facilitate the involvement of other stakeholders, such at the private sector, and enhancing the capacities and participation of children in efforts to end violence; Provide guidance for national level coordination, including promoting multi-stakeholder mechanisms; 3. In coordination with other stakeholders, develop a strategy with proposed budget to jointly bringing to the forefront the voices of the most excluded children and families

Background & Rationale

Every year, over 1 billion children experience violence. Violence in childhood undermines all other investments in children; in their health, education and development, often with negative lifelong consequences and intergenerational impact. Recognizing the devastating impacts of violence against children, in 2015 world leaders committed to end all forms of violence, abuse and neglect by 2030, as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.  In July 2016, the UN Secretary-General launched the Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children and an associated Fund.

The Partnership includes governments, UN agencies, international organizations, civil society, faith groups, the private sector, philanthropic foundations, research practitioners, academics and children themselves -  uniting their voices, actions and resources in a unique public-private collaboration focused solely on ending violence against all children. In its first two years, the Partnership has: enrolled 24 governments as Pathfinder' countries; grown its membership to over 350 organizations; helped develop and promote the INSPIRE solutions to end violence; awarded $30 million in grants to tackle online child sexual abuse, and violence against children in conflict and crises; and galvanized those working to end violence through an inaugural End Violence Solutions Summit.

Purpose

Since its launch in July 2016, we have successfully promoted the concept and practice of Pathfinding countries. Current 26 Pathfinding Countries are listed below. The objective of Pathfinding is to raise awareness, stimulate leadership commitment to action and establish a standard of national violence prevention policy and practice worldwide. The Secretariat's support to Pathfinding countries includes supporting governments at 4 milestone moments: i. Public declaration of commitment by government; ii. launch and dissemination of national data; iii. Public launch and dissemination of the National Action Plan; and iv. Biennial update on National Action Plan implementation. Limited financial support is provided to key stakeholders in-country to help deliver the actions above.

As a key constituency in End Violence, CSOs can contribute significantly to the achievement of the strategic goals of End Violence. The Civil Society Organisations Forum to End Violence against Children (CSO Forum) is a group of civil society organisations working together to 1) influence and support the Global Partnership to End Violence against Children (End Violence), and 2) deliver greater impact through collective CSO action to end violence against children. The CSO Forum serves a vital role in facilitating information sharing, coordinating communication and strengthening the capacity of civil society to end all forms of violence against children.

Key tasks and responsibilities

When they combine their efforts CSOs can increase impact at country level. CSO coalitions, for example, have played very significant roles in highlighting and driving change at the global level on issues such as child soldiers, sexual exploitation, and harmful practices. At the regional, national and sub-national levels CSO groups have been equally successful in putting issues on the agenda and generating the will to address them. In some regions there are already examples of CSOs coming together to end violence against children that have shown what can be achieved through increased collaboration. The Latin American Chapter of the Global Movement for Children, for example, has shown what can be achieved by multi-country action on ending violence against children. Similarly, the CSO led NACGs (National Coordination Groups to End VAC), which are part of the broader SAIEVAC movement (South Asia Initiative to End VAC), have been evolving as a critical player contributing towards ending VAC in the South Asia which marks some of the highest global incidences of different forms of VAC.

At the national level, civil society coalitions organize to promote the National Plans of Action, advocate for changes in laws, and deliver services critical to achieve SDG 16.2 and related goals and targets.  Examples of CSO collective actions were compiled by the CSO Forum in the report, Taking Action Together for Children: Civil Society Coalitions in Pathfinding Countries & Pathfinding in Discussion Countries, and shared with the Secretariat and End Violence Executive Committee in October 2018. Strong CSO networks, for example, in Armenia, Indonesia, Philippines, Mexico, Romania, and others, offer key insights for growing the movement to end violence against children.

The consultant is expected to perform the following key tasks:

1. Using the End Violence Membership and in close collaboration with the CSO Forum build strong, inclusive, credible and influential CSO Platforms/Coalitions in a subset of 8-10 pathfinding countries, supported by and feeding into regional and global level platforms;
2. Facilitate the involvement of other stakeholders, such at the private sector, and enhancing the capacities and participation of children in efforts to end violence; Provide guidance for national level coordination, including promoting multi-stakeholder mechanisms;
3. In coordination with other stakeholders, develop a strategy with proposed budget to jointly bringing to the forefront the voices of the most excluded children and families.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of 1-year experience in international development, education, public, or social sector.
• Advanced university degree in education, international relations, communications or business strategy.
• Demonstrated ability to design and manage collaborative processes that integrate inputs from multiple partners.
• Detail-oriented, creative, able to work efficiently under tight deadlines.

Preferred qualifications:

 Knowledge of UN system, global education policy and child protection and violence prevention.

• Strong diplomacy and collaboration skills to work with partners and find common ground

Languages

• Fluency in English (both oral and written) is required.
• Knowledge of Spanish, French and/or other UN languages is desirable.

MANAGEMENT AND COORDINATION OF ASSIGNMENT

The contract is expected to commence on or around 1^st of September for a duration of 6 months. The consultant will be supervised by the Country Engagement Lead. The consultant will work from home or in the End Violence's Geneva office. 

PAYMENT PLAN

 Monthly payment, based on satisfactory delivery of tasks and progress reports, approved upon monthly review with supervisor.

Consultant is responsible for their own health insurance.

Consultant is eligible for standard DSA for all work-related travel.

Consultant is responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

TO APPLY

Please send your application by 20 August 2019. Please include a cover letter, cv and a financial proposal, (broken down into daily or monthly rate in US dollars). Applications submitted without a financial proposal will be automatically disqualified from the process.

Consultants and Individual Contractors are fully responsible for arranging, at their own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the period of their services as they consider appropriate.  They are required to certify that they are covered by medical/health insurance. 

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.