International / National Consultant for Adolescent Engagement and Participation in Eswatini

UNICEF is recruiting a consultant to support the identification of existing or potential platforms for adolescent engagement and participation and for the development of a national framework for adolescent engagement and participation. For every child to advocate for their rights, raise their voice and be heard.

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 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.

The overall aim of this consultancy is to develop Eswatini strategy to enhance children and adolescent participation and engagement to advocate for their rights and amplify their voices.

To inform and develop the strategy, the consultant will:

• Conduct a mapping of existing initiatives and platforms for children, adolescent and youth engagement (at national, regional, sub regional, community levels, including school platforms), as well as a mapping of existing adolescent and youth networks/organizations and their focus and capacities.
• Document and compile good practices in terms of children and adolescent engagement in Eswatini.
• Identify potential partners for UNICEF to support implementation of children and adolescent participation and engagement (including the Scouts and Girl Guides of Eswatini), including a risk analysis of potential partners;
• Develop the national framework for children and adolescent strategic engagement and participation in key development agendas that affect them
• Develop a road map for institutionalization of children and adolescent participation and engagement in Eswatini.
• Propose for a pilot of children / adolescent participation and engagement in one region of Eswatini.

In addition, UNICEF Eswatini country office would also like to define its own strategy to meaningfully engage children and adolescent in all steps of the programme cycle. Based on UNICEF already existing initiatives (in other country offices), the consultant will support UNICEF Eswatini to design this including the Terms of Reference for a UNICEF Young People Board/Advisory Group

2) Strategic Approach

For the first part of the consultancy, the consultant will work closely with the Deputy Prime Minister's office, children department, Ministry of Youth, and the Ministry of Tinkhundla to identify existing platforms where children and adolescent could participate and raise their voices in decisions that have an influence to their life. The approach has to be consultative and include children and adolescent themselves. As part of the consultation children and adolescents will also give their perception of adolescents skills and capacity to take meaningful part in this platforms and processes. Likewise, the mapping of the platforms will include the assessment of their willingness to listen and take into serious consideration adolescent voices.

The Consultant will also consult with other UN agencies, including UNFPA, UNDP and UNESCO on any existing platforms and interventions for adolescent and youth engagement.

The platforms that already exist (i.e. school committees, chief committees, regional development committees) and have the potential to provide an opportunity to children and adolescent to learn and influence matters that concern them.

The consultancy will help understand the feasibility and acceptability of children and adolescent to participate in those platforms and be heard.

For the second part of the consultancy, the consultant will work closely with UNICEF Eswatini adolescent focal point and Communications Specialist to engage with the Country Office staff to identify the best option for strategically supporting and promoting children and adolescent participation and engagement.

Activities and tasks

The key specific tasks to be undertaken in carrying out and completing the assignment will include, but not be limited to, the following:

• Participate in a kick-off meeting with UNICEF and DPMO then subsequent weekly planning calls
• Develop data collection tools and reporting templates:
  • Group discussion guides for children, adolescent, caregivers,
  • Surveys through online platforms (U Report)
  • Key informant interview guide for community leaders, school committee chairs, and other stakeholders
• Conduct a mapping exercise of existing initiatives and platforms for children, adolescent and youth engagement (at national  regional, sub regional, community levels, including school platforms) (including desk review and field visit), as well as a mapping of existing adolescent and youth networks/organizations and their focus and capacities;
• Document and compile good practices in terms of children and adolescent engagement and identify a potential partner for UNICEF
• Develop the national framework for children and adolescent strategic engagement and participation
• Present the draft engagement framework to stakeholders for review and validation, including terms of reference for each level of engagement.
• Develop a road map for institutionalization of children and adolescent participation and engagement in Eswatini.
• Propose for a pilot of the platforms in one region.

Payment, upon completion of each deliverable according to the following schedule:
- 30% upon submission and approval of an inception report;
- 40% upon submission and approval of draft report
- 30% upon submission and approval of Final report

The payments will be made upon satisfactory completion of the deliverables mentioned above. 

Knowledge/Expertise /skill

• At least 5 years of practical experience of working programs related to adolescent engagement.
• Prior working experience in Eswatini or Eastern and Southern Africa
• Experience supporting consultative processes in particular with children and adolescents
• Strong analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research skills
• Demonstrated ability to working in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners
• Language: Excellent English oral and written communication skills.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Administrative issues

The consultant will have to arrange own space and computer with reliable internet access to produce deliverables. The consultant should be able to travel to Eswatini. The Consultant should include costs of internal travel and communication within the financial consultancy proposal.

Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement.
No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant.
Consultant will be required to complete online courses related to Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security related trainings prior to taking up the assignment and/or travel.
Consultant will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to share an appropriate proof of health insurance covering COVID-19, including Medical Evacuation.

How to apply

Qualified candidates are invited to complete an application including profile and curriculum vitae to the respective advertisement on  https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/. Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

The terms of reference specify the details of this assignment, and your application and the proposal should be elaborate on the basis of the given information. Separate technical and financial proposals (including breakdown of consultancy fees, travel costs, living allowance, admin fees) are required as part of the application. Rates must include all expenses related to the assignment.

Remarks:

Applications submitted without financial proposal will not be considered.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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.

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.