Individual Consultancy International or National: Development of PSEA protocols for victim assistance in the State of Palestine (29 working days over a 3-month period)

UNICEF is seeking to hiring National and International Consultancy NO: development of PSEA (Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse) protocols for victim assistance in State of Palestine in Jerusalem with travel to Ramallah and Gaza To consultatively identify existing victim assistance capacities, including strengthens and gaps, and develop protocols with accompanying induction package on SEA for the State of Palestine. The Duration: 29 working days over a period of 3 months Dates: 1 January 2020 – 31 March 2020.

UNICEF works in some of the worlds toughest places, to reach the worlds 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

The Secretary General in its 2017 Report on special measures for protection from sexual exploitation and abuse, has confirmed and strengthened the United Nations commitment to take action for prevention, response and ending of impunity for Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) by UN staff and related personnel. UNICEF has developed Minimum Operating Standards for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (MOS-PSEA), which establishes necessary measures for the organization to meet its responsibilities and accountability regarding SEA.

Towards advancing PSEA the UN Humanitarian Country Team jointly developed and approved an inter-agency PSEA action plan which includes prioritized activities to improve safe and accessible reporting, access to survivor-centered assistance, and enhanced accountabilities, including country-level investigations. The plan includes a mapping of PSEA efforts amongst partners, awareness raising in local communities and coordination of reporting responsibilities, establishment of a complaint mechanism and victims assistance, development of hiring practices and engagement with authorities through the HCT to strengthen prevention and response to SEA.

With regards to the complaint mechanisms and victim assistance this needs to ensure immediate referral of a victim to safe and confidential victim assistance, including legal assistance, where available, based on their needs and consent.  Survivors of SEA (including women and girls) should receive quality and accessible survivor assistance in line with their rights and needs (such as medical care, psychosocial support, legal assistance, reintegration support). All parties involved should ensure that victims who come forward with allegations are treated with the respect, sensitivity and compassion that they deserve and are provided with appropriate assistance in a timely manner, while maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of their cases.

In the framework of the inter-agency PSEA action plan, UNICEF and UN Women will join efforts to support the development of a reliable victim assistance mechanism for victims and survivors of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse. This TOR aims to identity an individual contractor to facilitate a consultative process to identify existing organizations with victim assistance capacities, identify relevant strengths and gaps, and develop protocols and induction package on SEA including training material in SEA

Purpose of the assignment

To consultatively identify existing victim assistance capacities, including strengths and gaps, and develop protocols with accompanying induction package on SEA for the State of Palestine

Major Tasks to be accomplished:

 Undertake review of existing SEA practices to identify existing Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse efforts (strengths and gaps) and readiness to include PSEA interventions within existing efforts/plans. 

• Organize consultative meetings with the service providers in the West Bank and Gaza.
• Design brief survey and share with potential organizations following up bilaterally to facilitate completion
• Provide nominations for service providers that have the capacity to deliver coordinated, confidential and gender sensitive assistance to SEA victims and survivors in the West Bank and Gaza

Deliverables:

1. Draft inception report including proposed breakdown of consultancy process including timeframe and methodology, online survey tools and review of ethical considerations;
2. Finalized inception review report including analysis and summary of findings from the online survey and consultations and nomination of key service providers.

Develop a protocol on the provision of assistance to victims and survivors of SEA.  including an induction package on SEA

• Informed by the consultations with key stakeholders and the review of strengths and gaps in SEA related victim assistance, draft a Protocol that specifies key principles and safeguard measures and outlines response mechanism (complaint mechanism, case management, legal aid and psycho-social support, referral etc). The protocol should clearly specify how complainants are assisted to understand how to pursue claims, both administrative and legal, against the alleged perpetrators. The protocol should be simple, based on a survivor-centred approach, gender sensitive and highlight the need for confidentiality, compassion, dignity and non-discrimination for all the persons connected to the incident of sexual exploitation or abuse. The protocol should explain the different approaches followed when children are involved as their best interest should be a primary consideration in the design and implementation of the victim assistance. Specify contact details for referral organizations
• Agree on relevant tools include documentation and reporting mechanisms that follow certain standards (and exercise accountability to affected population).

Deliverables:

3. Draft protocols
4. Draft induction package

Consultatively validate SEA protocol(s) with key stakeholders

• Facilitate workshop to review protocols, and incorporate feedback
• Develop user friendly leaflet developed on key summary points (purpose, principles and approaches to PSEA)

Deliverables:

5. Finalized protocols and
6. Final induction package

Methodology:

The victim assistance task working group (TWG) will be established consisting of UN Women and UNICEF in consultation with members of the HCT PSEA network.  The process will include:

• Identification of main service providers (actors) in the West bank and Gaza that have different and relevant areas of expertise with diverse geographical coverage. Eligible actors are defined as organizations with nascent capacities and motivation to respond to SEA complaints through the provision and referral to psychological counselling, basic health services (including those related to sexual abuse cases), legal aid, shelter, clothing or food, and protection if their security is at risk.
• It is recommended to identify 4-6 providers in both Gaza and the West Bank.
• The selection of the service providers should ensure that they have a strong protection mandate and have been involved previously in SGBV case management, legal support, psychosocial counselling and offering immediate humanitarian assistance i.e. shelter.  Ideally organizations should have ongoing programmes for victims/survivor assistance and that can integrate PSEA interventions within their plans (do not need additional resources for PSEA^[1] interventions).  Previous and relevant experience will be key in partnering with them on establishing specific interventions on PSEA.
• If the service providers have already worked on PSEA and have systems in place, those can be discussed among the group of selected actors/service providers to check feasibility of building on these experiences and standardizing utilized approaches.
• The consultation phase will include key informant interviews with organisations, and an online survey for organisation completion.
• The validation phase includes consultation and endorsement of the content of the protocols for local adaptation.

A TWG comprised of UN Women and UNICEF will oversee the consultancy working on close cooperation with HCT members of the PSEA network.

The consultant's duties and timeframe are outlined below and are to be undertaken in line with UNICEF rules and regulations.

The consultant will be engaged to perform tasks and duties on part time basis.

The contractor will be based at the UNICEF and or UNWOMEN office on a full time basis when in country on mission. The consultant will report to both UNICEF and UNWOMEN.

Deliverables and deadline(s) for submission:

 Frequency of Reports: Not applicable

Recourse: 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

Estimated duration of contract and Tentative Dates

Duration: 29 working days over a period of 3 months

Dates: 1 January 2020 31 March 2020

 Terms of Payment

• 20% payment upon completion of deliverable 1
• 50% payment upon completion of deliverable 2,3 & 4
• 30% payment upon completion of deliverable 5 & 6

Duty Station: East Jerusalem with travel to Ramallah and Gaza

 Official Travel Involved:

Official in-country travel will be involved, as required.

For travel to West Bank with UNICEF transport and/or taxi depending on availability

Qualification or Specialized Knowledge/Experience Required:

The work is envisaged to take place with an expert with experience and knowledge in the area of SGBV, violence or protection.

Consultant should have:

Qualifications: Advanced university degree (Master's Degree or equivalent) in social sciences, gender or another related field.

Experience:  At least 10 years of experience in the area of justice for SGBV and Violence ideally with a focus in humanitarian and developing country context settings.

Language:Excellent English language skills. Arabic is an asset.

Functional and Core Competencies

Core values:

• Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability

Core competencies:

• Communication
• Working with people
• Drive for result

Functional Competencies

• Applying Technical Expertise
• Analyzing
• Formulating Strategies and Concepts

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:

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