Consultancy: To provide technical guidance for key initiatives of the adolescent development and partnership programme and operationalise the Adolescent Empowerment Partnership and Strategy, UNICEF EAPRO, Bangkok, Thailand

The Adolescent Development and Participation Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical guidance key initiatives of the adolescent development and partnership programme and operationalise the Adolescent Empowerment Partnership and Strategy.

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 Adolescent Development and Participation Section, UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Region Office (EAPRO) is seeking an individual consultant to provide technical guidance key initiatives of the adolescent development and partnership programme and operationalise the Adolescent Empowerment Partnership and Strategy.

Background:

In East Asia and the Pacific, a ‘partnership approach’ with adolescents and youth is often missing, with limited opportunities for adolescent and youth involvement in decision-making processes such as policy design, programme development and feedback and monitoring. The 2017 Global Millennial Viewpoints Survey produced by the International Youth Foundation[1] showed that two out of three young people (aged 15–24) believe that their government does not care about their needs. However, increasingly young people’s aspirations are expressed through volunteerism, community-led initiatives, social enterprises, start-ups, the use of social media and networking tools, art and activism. While technology has led to increased connectivity, better communications, and opportunities for jobs in non-traditional sectors, it has not been equally available for many adolescents in the region. In some cases, technological advancement has benefitted the more educated and experienced, and those with transferable skills and access to social networks and resources.

For UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), as the organization globally embarks on Generation Unlimited, a flagship initiative of the organization, we recognize that critical aspects of the regional portfolio on Adolescents Potential Unleashed need to be strengthened through programme initiatives, expanded partnerships, evidence generation and multi-sector collaboration.

In addition, UNICEF EAPRO is about to embark on an ambitious regional strategy and partnership on adolescent empowerment with UNDP, in collaboration with the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia and selected country offices.

Further, there are key opportunities at regional level to influence the development of frameworks for adolescents and implementation of initiatives, including with ASEAN.

These interventions require strong technical expertise on adolescent empowerment and participation.

Under the direct supervision of the Regional Advisor, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), and in close coordination with country office teams (including Deputy Representatives, Chief of Education, Chief of ADAP, and others), the individual will serve as a technical specialist and knowledge and partnerships convener in support of the regional partnership on young people’s empowerment.

In particular, UNICEF EAPRO is therefore seeking to hire a consultant who will provide technical support to the regional office and country offices for the operationalization of the UNICEF/UNDP regional partnership on young people’s empowerment, lead follow up on the UNICEF-UNESCO Adolescent and Youth Participation in Green Economic Transitions Research, and provide technical support for the development of the ASEAN Framework on Digital Transformation in collaboration with the Education section.

The incumbent will also provide technical and programmatic assistance to the Regional Advisor, ADAP, to support the work on adolescents’ participation, through engagement with regional and country level partners on initiatives around adolescent and youth engagement.

The consultancy should provide the following deliverables as per an agreed timeline:

• Donor-specific proposal(s) developed to support resource mobilization.
• Coordination mechanisms established for Phase 1 of the UNICEF/UNDP regional partnership on young people’s empowerment.
• Regional activity work plan is developed for Phase 1 of the partnership in coordination with UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and UNICEF ROSA-ADAP.
• Concept note developed and implementation initiated for follow-on activities at regional level pertaining to UNICEF-UNESCO Adolescent and Youth Participation in Green Economic Transitions Research.
• Technical inputs for the ASEAN Digital Transformation Framework and support for youth engagement in consultation processes.

Work Assignment:

Under the direct supervision of UNICEF Regional Advisor, Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP), the individual consultant will serve as a technical specialist and knowledge and partnerships convener in support of the following;

Deliverable 1: Provide technical support for UNICEF/UNDP regional partnership on young people’s empowerment

Serve as technical lead for all aspects of the ongoing UNICEF/UNDP regional partnership for young people’s empowerment. Main activities include:

1.1   Working with global, regional and country level fundraising teams, develop donor-specific proposals and assets to support resource mobilization;

1.2   Establish coordination mechanisms for first phase of the partnership and support country level planning and executive of partnership through trainings, webinars, and other advisory services;

1.3   Develop regional activity work plan for Phase 1 of the partnership in coordination with UNDP Bangkok Regional Hub and UNICEF ROSA-ADAP.

Deliverable 2: Lead follow up on the UNICEF-UNESCO Adolescent and Youth Participation in Green Economic Transitions Research

Serve as primary focal point to translate research findings into action.

2.1   In coordination with UNESCO and relevant UNICEF sectoral colleagues, develop concept note for follow-on activities at regional level and provide technical support to country teams to implement recommendations.

Deliverable 3: ASEAN Framework for Digital Literacy

Provide technical support for the development of the ASEAN Framework in collaboration with the Education section.

3.1 Review draft ASEAN Framework to provide adolescent participation technical input;

3.2 Support consultation meeting on the draft ASEAN Framework, including through engagement of young people (depending on the timeline for the development of the framework).

Work Schedule and Deliverables:

Work plan and schedule will be agreed upon start of the contract by the consultant and contract’s supervisor.

Estimated Duration of Contract:   30 working days during 16 November 2020 – 31 May 2021

Official Travel: The consultant will work remotely from home.

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

• Advanced university degree in social sciences, business, journalism, education, media, communication, or other relevant disciplines.
• Minimum eight years of professional work experience in working with adolescents, cross-sectoral programme design, monitoring and evaluation and/or knowledge management, and documentation, with recognized technical expertise in the areas of adolescent programming, youth participation, 21^st century skills, social innovations.
• Work experience and/or proven familiarity with countries in the East Asia and Pacific region is an asset.

• Fluency in English is necessary.
• Knowledge of any other languages spoken in the region would also be an advantage.
• Being based in Thailand is an advantage.

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 1 October 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.