Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the consultant will (a) strengthen the capacity of the Department of Social Development (DSD) by supporting the development of the Model of National Response in the country (MNR) considering the Disrupting Harm Study recommendations (b) provide technical support to the Steer-Comm (Steering Committee) as they perform their oversight functions, and (c) strengthen coordination of different stakeholders working towards the protection of children online. The consultant will strengthen the capacity of the Department of Social Development by • producing key required documents, • organising meetings/consultations for online violence, • and producing reports and records, • providing administrative and technical support.

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, PROTECTION.

UNICEF South Africa

UNICEF is committed to realising the rights of all children to help them build a strong foundation and have the best chance of fulfilling their potential. We believe that ensuring a child is happy and healthy begins before birth: from ensuring their mother has access to good health care to reaching adulthood as a healthy, empowered and informed young person of the next generation. This journey relies on every child having access to quality health care, good nutrition, education, and growing up in a safe environment free from violence.

UNICEF South Africa, there for every child.

South Africa (RSA) is a middle-income country more than 27 years into the advent of democracy with remarkable progress to improve the well-being of its citizens. South Africa is recognised for its strong legislative framework and policies, including implementing children’s rights as articulated in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, enshrined in the Constitution of RSA and the Children’s Act (we need to rephrase this sentence). South Africa is faced with many challenges including enduring poverty, inequality, and unemployment, which impact the lives of children. Almost two-thirds of South African children live below the upper bound of the poverty line with children in rural areas and those living in female-headed households, particularly at risk.
The fast-developing and continuously changing information and communication technology (ICT) environment is reshaping children's lives globally. Now more than ever, children are increasingly relying on online and mobile technologies to learn, participate, play, entertain and socialise. The digital age has brought opportunities to children and its use has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, despite the many positive opportunities it provides, the internet also increases children's risk of abuse and exploitation, and compounds offline risks and negative experiences such as bullying and harassment, exposure to pornographic and other potentially harmful materials, and possible dangerous contacts.
In RSA, there are pockets of online projects that require coordination and synergy to ensure a meaningful impact on the safety of children online. Furthermore, the National Study on the online safety of children in South Africa, conducted in 2018 by the UNISA Bureau of Market Research (BMR), highlighted the importance of strengthening coordination for the effective utilization of resources across the country. The Department of Social Development, as the coordinating line department for online safety, have expressed the need for onsite administrative support. The administrative support provided by this consultancy will strengthen programme implementation and more accountability.
Disrupting Harm is an unprecedented multi-country research project generating evidence on the nature and scope of online child sexual exploitation and abuse (OCSEA) and the national response systems in place to combat this threat. The study includes 13 countries across the East Asia and Pacific region and the Eastern and Southern Africa region, including South Africa. Supported by the Fund to End Violence Against Children, Disrupting Harm draws on the expertise of ECPAT International, INTERPOL, UNICEF, and their networks of both national and global partners.
The evidence generated for the Disrupting Harm in South Africa national report will highlight key steps for policymakers, law enforcement, civil society, the general public, and others to further disrupt the harm of online sexual exploitation and abuse to children in South Africa.

How can you make a difference? 

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the consultant will (a) strengthen the capacity of the Department of Social Development (DSD) by supporting the development of the Model of National Response in the country (MNR) considering the Disrupting Harm Study recommendations (b) provide technical support to the Steer-Comm (Steering Committee) as they perform their oversight functions, and (c) strengthen coordination of different stakeholders working towards the protection of children online.
The consultant will strengthen the capacity of the Department of Social Development by
• producing key required documents,
• organising meetings/consultations for online violence,
• producing reports and records, and
• providing administrative and technical support.

Administrative issues:

• The consultant will be embedded in the Department of Social Development for 3 working days a week, with 1 day at UNICEF with 1 day from home.

Outputs/Deliverables:

This consultancy will review existing materials using regional and global documents and frameworks that are aligned together with the Government of South Africa and UNICEF to contextualize and strengthen current information packages and SBCC (social behavioural change and communication) materials and support Department of Social Services (DSD) to organizing consultations in regard to online safety, support producing documents, reports and keep a record of ongoing intervention in a regular basis especially supported by UNICEF.

1. Desk Review of literature and information pack (20 days)
1.1. Inception report prepared

2. Develop an implementation plan for management response and Disrupting Harm (20 days)
2.1. Analysis report

3. Recommendations (20 days)
3.1. Draft MNR strategy
3.2. Draft plan of the MNR

4. Consultations on the draft implementation plan and draft MNR Strategy (20 days)
4.1. Consultation report on MNR Strategy and Implementation Plan

5. Finalized MNR strategy and implementation plan (20 days)
5.1. Final MNR strategy and implementation plan

6. Develop a distribution plan for actors, and popularise the MNR strategy and implementation plan (40 days)
6.1. Distribution plan
6.2. Popularisation sessions with children, CSOs, Government, Industry, caregivers

7. Organize a child-friendly roundtable on MNR strategy and implementation plan (20 days)
7.1. Child-friendly version of MNR strategy

8. Steering Committee coordination (20 days)
8.1. Six Steering committee reports

9. Develop the online safety social mobilisation strategy by identifying and engaging with various communication platforms for public awareness on OCSEA (20 days)
9.1. Online safety social mobilisation strategy and activity report

10. Technical support and monitoring of the implementation of MNR plan (20 days)
10.1. Update progress report

11. Consolidate all the progress made against Model National Response (20 days)
11.1. Final report

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

  • Education: Master’s in social science, Law and International Relations, Public Policies, and Development Studies
  • Experience: At least 5 years of experience in the field of social work background, and working experience of online violence against children as an advantage
  • Good knowledge of addressing Online Violence including analytical and coordination skills
  • Knowledge of government processes and systems and work experience with civil society organizations (CSO)
  • Demonstrated capacity to engage key stakeholders and facilitate engagements with government officials
  • Excellent report writing skills and analytical skills
  • Ability to work independently and ensure high-quality deliverables
  • Added advantage: Monitoring and evaluation experience
  • Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset
  • Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of at least one local language is an asset

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. 

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. 

At Impactpool we do our best to provide you the most accurate info, but closing dates may be wrong on our site. Please check on the recruiting organization's page for the exact info. Candidates are responsible for complying with deadlines and are encouraged to submit applications well ahead.
Before applying, please make sure that you have read the requirements for the position and that you qualify. Applications from non-qualifying applicants will most likely be discarded by the recruiting manager.