By continuing to browse this site, you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy

National Consultant: For Child Marriage Assessment in Afghanistan, 90 working days ( for Afghan Nationals only)

Kabul

  • Organization: UNICEF - United Nations Children’s Fund
  • Location: Kabul
  • Grade: Consultancy - Consultant - Contractors Agreement
  • Occupational Groups:
    • Human Rights
    • Women's Empowerment and Gender Mainstreaming
    • Children's rights (health and protection)
  • Closing Date: Closed

Afghanistan has a large and growing youth population. Current estimates indicate that 63% of the population is below 25 years and 46% is below 15 years. According to the State of the World's Children 2021, 28% of 20-24-year-old women in Afghanistan were first married or in a union before 18 years of age. . Key drivers would include overwhelming economic pressures felt by families, and powerful social norms that can dictate behavior in this context. Child marriages are usually aimed at strengthening ties with rival families and tribes, as part of deals or to settle debts and disputes. Poor families often end up selling daughters for large dowries from wealthy people and the husbands are usually much older. Child marriage in Afghanistan is practically governed by overlapping and contradictory sets of laws. The relative importance of these varies by location, and these sets of laws are not mutually exclusive: several sets of laws may govern people of one area. Decisions are often made at the community or individual level on moral or legal grounds that may differ from one place to another.

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. 

For every child, A Hero

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbkJiMmvKqk

How can you make a difference? 

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Afghanistan has a large and growing youth population. Current estimates indicate that 63% of the population is below 25 years and 46% is below 15 years.  According to the State of the World's Children 2021, 28% of 20-24-year-old women in Afghanistan were first married or in a union before 18 years of age.   . Key drivers would include overwhelming economic pressures felt by families, and powerful social norms that can dictate behavior in this context. Child marriages are usually aimed at strengthening ties with rival families and tribes, as part of deals or to settle debts and disputes. Poor families often end up selling daughters for large dowries from wealthy people and the husbands are usually much older. Child marriage in Afghanistan is practically governed by overlapping and contradictory sets of laws. The relative importance of these varies by location, and these sets of laws are not mutually exclusive: several sets of laws may govern people of one area. Decisions are often made at the community or individual level on moral or legal grounds that may differ from one place to another.

 

The rates of Child Marriage have likely increased since August 2021 due to the current defacto authorities’ discrimination against young women and girls, closure of secondary schools, as well as the impact of COVID-19 pandemic.  Assessments confirm that increasingly difficult and stressful living conditions have contributed to the escalation.  While researchers continue to better understand the causes and effects of child marriage, little is known about what is happening to child marriage in Afghanistan in the current context, and what type of safe and ethical humanitarian interventions can be taken to prevent, mitigate and respond to child marriage in Afghanistan.

 

UNICEF and UNFPA, initiated a study on child marriage. The study covers six provinces (Faryab, Kandahar, Paktia, Badghis, Bamyan, and Nuristan). During 2022, the assessment tools, methodology and IRB approval were granted. However, the line ministry did not provide the approval which hindered the continuation of the field work and the completion of the assessment.

 

This consultancy aims to continue the work, noting the current restrictions and limitations to proceed with the original assessment plan, and to build on available evidence and data to contribute to an improved understanding of the causes of child marriage and discuss recommendations on how this could be resolved, including developing an inter-agency framework to eliminate Child Marriage under the Spotlight Initiative. This will be contribute to a response programmes to reduce incidents of child marriage in Afghanistan.

 

Scope of Work:

The National Consultant in coordination with UNFPA International Consultant (IC), will perform the following tasks:

1.           Finalize the child marriage assessment report in collaboration with the UNFPA international consultant and the team.

 

1.1. Redesign and revise the scope of the child marriage 2023 assessment to make the focus more manageable and implementable within the current context and the resource availability. This will include:

  • Support the IC in revising the conceptual focus of the assessment to review identified issues and reduce the scope in relation to the research questions and outlook.
  • Review the geographical areas, budget and the research roadmap for user experience research based on available resources.
  • In coordination with the IC, redesign the methodology to involve a quantitative methodology that uses data from the most recent MICS assessment.
  • Support the IC to develop qualitative analysis from KII and secondary data.

 

1.2.        Data analysis and reporting

  • In collaboration with IC, undertake data analysis and reporting results.
  • Prepare a presentation of the analysis in coordination with the UNFPA -IC.

 

2.           Develop child marriage inter-agency framework under the spotlight initiative:

  • Identifying areas of engagement based on the child marriage assessment to broaden the issues that can be included in programme interventions.
  • Reviewing UNICEF and UNFPA and collaborating UN agencies project related documentation identify areas for collaboration and engagement.
  • Review existing and potential areas for expanded partnerships.
  • Review lessons learned from interventions in other humanitarian settings focusing on prevention and responding to needs of victims, community engagement, and community stakeholder’s involvement.
  • Develop a strategy for engagement, implementation and monitoring.

 

2.1.        Perform other tasks related to providing technical assistance to child marriage including:

  • In coordination with the IC, review technical documentation and support reporting as required.
  • Share assessment findings to a broader audience to establish linkages and mobilize possible opportunities for engagement and partnerships.
  • Identifying opportunities to mainstream child marriage prevention and response programming in other areas of work (for example education, health, etc).
  • Support development of knowledge products related to child marriage.

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

  • M.A./M.S. in psychology, public health, anthropology, sociology or related discipline

    or other relevant fields related to violence against children and women, especially in emergency contexts

    OR

    University Bachelor’s degree in anthropology, health, psychology, sociology or a related field or equivalent practical experience is desirable in leu of master’s degree

  • Work experience

    • Minimum 5 years of progressive humanitarian experience (Child protection), at least 2 of which should be field-based or in an emergency context and research
    • Previous experience with UNICEF and UNFPA is preferred.
    • Proven experience of conducting social research utilizing a mixed methods approach and solid experience of conducting interviews with vulnerable respondents, including children with disabilities, on potentially sensitive issues
    • At least 5 years of work experience in social research within Afghanistan.
    • Previous experience conducting research assignments for the UN in Afghanistan is a distinct advantage.
    • Prior experience working on CP/GBV and/or gender projects.

    Competencies

    • Demonstrated familiarity with human rights standards and principles, including CRC and CRPD
    • Excellent organizational and analytical skills
    • Excels in collaboration and is team-oriented
    • Excellent oral and written communication skills
    • Experience working with conflict-affected communities, including with children and communities.
    • Advanced training in qualitative methods and analysis
    • Ability to collect, collate, and analyze data efficiently
    • The analytical, methodical, and precise style of writing.
    • Sets high standards for quality of work and consistently achieves project goals
    • Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across organizational departments.
    • Ability to work with virtual teams
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset. 
  • Fluency in English and Local language is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

  

To view our competency framework, please visit  here

  

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment. 

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. 

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts. 

This vacancy is now closed.
However, we have found similar vacancies for you: