Consultancy Title: Strengthening organizational support to CAAC/MRM staff and partners in the MENA region

Gain a better understanding of how CAAC/MRM work impacts Staff and implementing partners in the MENA region and how the organization supports Staff undertaking this work.

LOCATION/DURATION:

Duration: Full time consultancy over a period of six weeks

Location: Home-based, preferably in the MENA region

Field Missions/Travel: No field missions envisioned

Estimated Start Date: 15 January 2021

Estimated end Date: 28 February 2021

BACKGROUND:

UNICEF has Staff working on the implementation of the Children and Armed Conflict (CAAC) mandate and its Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism (MRM) in seven countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These Staff are involved in the documentation and verification of grave violations against children in armed conflict through direct victims and witnesses, analysis and regular report writing on the impact of armed conflict on children, and dialogue with both State and non-State parties to the conflict on child protection. The Member Staff conducts this work in the context of high-intensity conflicts experiencing atrocities against children (airstrikes, chemical attacks, ill-treatment in detention, etc.) while balancing the sensitive geopolitical and institutional contexts with high-quality demands and tight external deadlines and accountabilities.

OBJECTIVE:

The objective of this consultancy is to gain a better understanding of how CAAC/MRM work impacts Staff and implementing partners in the MENA region and how the organization supports Staff undertaking this work.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT:

The successful candidate will finalize a report on the impact of CAAC/MRM work on staff and partners, including a set of recommendations to strengthen the support to Staff involved in CAAC/MRM work. This assignment will require of the consultant to work in close collaboration with UNICEF’s Child Protection Specialist on CAAC based in UNICEF’s MENA Regional Office in Amman, Jordan.

These recommendations will be based on a series of consultations with various Staff:

1. In-depth conversations with at least one dedicated CAAC/MRM Member Staff for each of the seven MENA countries including the Country Offices in the Syria sub-regional MRM and the MENA Regional CAAC specialist on the impact of CAAC/MRM work and ideas on how to support Staff engaged in CAAC/MRM.
2. Key informant interviews with country level management and human resources specialists and partners in three high-intensity CAAC/MRM situations in the MENA region on the organization’s existing approach to support to CAAC/MRM staff from their respective perspective.
3. Consultations with other relevant UNICEF staff, including the Regional Human Resource Advisor, the Regional Child Protection Advisor, the Regional Staff Counsellor, the UNICEF HQ’s MRM focal point, as well as regional leadership on awareness around and support currently and potentially available to UNICEF CAAC/MRM staff in the MENA region and partners.

KEY DELIVERABLES:

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

1. Education: Advanced degree in psychology or behavioral science or related training and experience.
2. Work experience: Prior experience working on coaching and providing support to humanitarian aid workers.
3. Technical knowledge:

• Solid experience in providing counseling and coaching to humanitarian aid workers operating in high-intensity conflicts.

4. Language: English is mandatory, Arabic is an advantage.

Payment Schedule:

12.        PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE : Lump Sum

UNICEF will only make payment based on the achievement of the two specific deliverables listed in the table above (under Key Deliverable). The payments will be done at the end of the six-week consultancy in form of a lump sum.

Overtime, weekend and official holidays will not be compensated, nor will any holiday/leave time be granted. Also, note that UNICEF does not make advance payment except under certain conditions in line with UNICEF Financial Rules and Regulations.

EVALUATION PROCESS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

1. Cover letter/application
2. Financial quote as lump sum for professional fees, and lump sum for travel/administrative/subsistence, if applicable
3. CV
4. Proposed methodology/approach to managing the project
5. 3 Referees

Incomplete submissions will not be considered.

“UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations, 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.”