Senior Gender Consultancy - Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in East Asia Pacific, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

The Gender section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide expert advisory and guidance, conceptual framework development, policy advocacy strategies, alliance building, knowledge generation and publication support, related to EAPRO’s Regional Headline Result Area: Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in East Asia Pacific.

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 fulfilling 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, a better future

UNICEF works to ensure the rights of all children in the East Asia and Pacific Region.  This means the rights of every child living in this country, irrespective of their nationality, gender, religion or ethnicity, to:

• survival – to basic healthcare, peace and security;
• development – to a good education, a loving home and adequate nutrition;
• protection – from abuse, neglect, trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation; and
• participation – to express opinions, be listened to and take part in making any decisions that affect them

How can you make a difference?

The Gender section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide expert advisory and guidance, conceptual framework development, policy advocacy strategies, alliance building, knowledge generation and publication support, related to EAPRO’s Regional Headline Result Area: Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage in East Asia Pacific. 

Background:
Around the world, 16 million girls aged 15 to 19 and 1 million girls under 15 give birth each year. While globally adolescent birth rates are falling, in Southeast and East Asia the rates are stagnant with increases in several countries. The average adolescent birth rate in South East Asia is 43 (per 1000 girls), now higher that than the rate in South Asia. Adolescent fertility is above the global average in some countries in Southeast Asia

Adolescent pregnancy rates are higher in settings where early marriage is prevalent, in rural compared to urban areas, and among girls with less educational attainment and lower socio-economic status. An unintended pregnancy, particularly outside of marriage, can have negative consequences for the girl including stigma, social isolation, school expulsion, forced marriage, and in some cases violence and suicide. Child marriage and adolescent pregnancy compromises girls’ development, interrupting their schooling and limiting their future work and development opportunities. Complications of pregnancy and childbirth are a leading cause of death among 15-19 year old’s in developing countries. 

The Gender Action Plan 2018-2021 specifies how UNICEF will promote gender equality across the organization’s work, in alignment with the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-2021, and supports the achievement of gender equality goals as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The GAP programmatic framework defines a twin track for the integration of gender equality outcomes across all Programme areas, and specification of ‘Targeted Gender Priorities’ focused on empowering adolescent girls. Of the five GAP targeted priorities ‘Preventing and responding to child marriage and early unions’ corresponds with SDG Goal 5, Target 5.3. UNICEF is the custodian for the indicator to track progress on ending child marriage. UNICEF-UNFPA collaborate within the framework of the Global Programme to Accelerate Action to End Child Marriage.

To raise attention to the situation of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in East Asia Pacific and to support the development of relevant prevention and response strategies, UNICEF EAPRO is collaborating with UNFPA APRO and partners, including Plan International, IPPF, UNESCO, et al and has progressed several initiatives: Regional Forum on Adolescent Pregnancy, Child Marriage and Early Union in South-East and East Asia in Bangkok, April 2018; background paper and conceptual framework on Patterns and Interlinkages of Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage; support to and presentation at ASEAN ACWC meetings on child marriage in March 2019 and September 2020; commissioning of qualitative research on the drivers of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in four countries in SE Asia (Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Indonesia); data analysis of premarital conception among adolescents (15-17) across countries in SE Asia using DHS and MICs.

Work Assignment

UNICEF EAPRO is seeking services of a senior gender consultant to accelerate the work under EAPRO’s Regional Headline Result Area ‘Adolescent Pregnancy and Child Marriage’ and provide expert advice, conceptual framework development, policy advocacy strategies, alliance building, knowledge generation and publication support.

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Regional Gender Adviser, and in close consultation with UNFPA APRO, the senior gender consultant will:

• Provide expert advice on policy advocacy and programming to address the patterns and interlinkages of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in East Asia and Pacific.
• Lead on identification of evidence gaps, research design, and development of knowledge products related to adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in East Asia and Pacific.
• Support partnership and alliances in the region to address adolescent pregnancy and child marriage. Facilitate engagement with and support to governments and regional bodies (ASEAN).    
• Revise and expand the EAP background paper into a conceptual framework for addressing adolescent pregnancy and child marriage in EAP; present, disseminate and position the framework within the field of adolescent pregnancy and child marriage. Identify and respond to publication opportunities as relevant.
• Facilitate expert dialogue and discussion, and design of capacity building, including in online trainings, webinars, and workshop settings.
• Provide technical advisory services to the ongoing UNFPA-UNICEF qualitative research initiative on drivers of adolescent pregnancy in the region.
• Guide the identification and documentation of best practices to prevent adolescent pregnancy and child marriage.
• Respond to demand from country offices for advisory on programming in the area of gender equality, adolescent pregnancy and child marriage; provide inputs to and review of country programme documents.
• Perform any other related tasks as assigned by the supervisor.

Work Schedule and Deliverables:

Estimated Duration of Contract:   50 working days during 1 November 2020 – 30 June 2021

Official Travel: The consultant will work remotely from home.

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

• A post-graduate qualification in international development, social sciences, gender studies or related disciplines.
• At least 15 years of relevant professional experience at international levels in the area of gender equality and human rights, including adolescent girls’ empowerment.
• Demonstrated track record in research, policy advocacy and programming related to child marriage and/or adolescent pregnancy.
• Knowledge of the literature on child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, dynamics of social change, and drivers of gender-based violence and harmful traditional practices.
• Experience in preparation of high-quality reports, research papers and articles, facilitation of expert meetings, and leading capacity development.
• Proven ability to meet deadlines, work with a minimum of supervision, and deliver quality products.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to the values and goals of the United Nations and UN Charter.
• Experience in or knowledge of the UN system, previous work with UNICEF or UNFPA is an asset.
• Experience in and or knowledge of the Asia Pacific region is desirable.
• Fluency in English; knowledge of a language in the Asia Pacific region is an asset.

Interested candidates are requested to submit CV or P-11, full contact information of minimum 3 references, availability, and proposed daily professional fee in USD by 30 September 2020.

  FORM P11.doc

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People, and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

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

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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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.