New York/Remote: Consultant for Revising and Updating the Interagency Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) Training of Trainers, Child Protection Programme Team, Programme Group, HQ

Job no: 558102
Duty Station: New York
Location: United States
Categories: Child Protection

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, hope

Consultancy Title: Consultant for Revising and Updating the Interagency Unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) Training of Trainers (Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Protection Programme Team/ Programme Group/ NYHQ

Duration: 25 Billable days

Home/ office Based: Remote

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/ Assignment:

UNICEF supports governments, communities, families, and children to protect every child from violence and exploitation in keeping with the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and supports the achievement of multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular Goals 5 (gender equality), 8 (decent work and economic growth), 10 (reduced inequalities), and 16 (peace, justice, and strong institutions).

In line with the UNICEF Strategic Plan (2022-2025), the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs) in child protection, and more specifically the UNICEF Child Protection Strategy, UASC programming in humanitarian settings consists in preventing family separation, Family Tracing and Reunification (FTR) through a case management approach, combined with the provision of temporary or longer-term alternative care where needed. UASC programming as a workstream benefits from UNICEF’s investments in case management, the social workforce, community- and family-based care and more generally the humanitarian-development nexus. In 2021, UNICEF supported 179,000 unaccompanied and separated children in 67 countries in emergency.

From an interagency viewpoint, UNICEF is the lead agency for the Child Protection Area of Responsibility in the Inter-Agency Standing Committee system, with concomitant accountabilities. UNICEF also co-leads and contributes expertise to the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, which is the standard-setting body for the sector.

Under the umbrella of the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, the interagency UASC Task Force aims at enhancing the protection of unaccompanied and separated children in situations of conflict and natural disaster. As such, the UASC Task Force has prioritized technical standards and tools for UASC programming; and actors’ ability at all levels and contexts, particularly local actors, to access existing technical tools and knowledge on UASC in humanitarian contexts.

For this purpose, the UASC Task Force is seeking a consultant to deliver the following products:

• A revised and updated UASC ToT package including learning objectives, key learning points, session plans, and accompanying materials (slides, handouts for trainees), for a 4-day face-to-face training
• An adapted version of the UASC ToT package, that can be delivered remotely, including both self-directed pre-course learning, and instructions for live sessions facilitated via video calling platforms.

Key considerations:

• Review existing UASC ToT in view of reducing duration from 5 to 4 days
• Review course and session level learning objectives to ensure these are SMART and aligned with Bloom’s taxonomy of learning
• Identify key learning points for each session
• Design blended approach with pre-training learning and post-training mentoring. Consider online engagement
• Improve the useability of the package
  • Reduce overall number of slides
  • Reduce text on slides
  • Reduce number of handouts for participants
  • Shorten sessions’ plans
• Revise methodologies to further support the application of learning
  • Incorporate an exercise wherein participants plan for further roll out of the toolkit and training for own organization and partners
  • Ensure methodologies align with revised learning objectives to support the facilitator to assess learning throughout the course
  • Include ways to assess trainees’ understanding before, during and at the end of the training
• Content-specific considerations:
  • Integrate new prevention content throughout the course
  • Update Module 3 on coordination. Clarify leadership in different coordination settings (cluster, refugee, mixed settings…). Strengthen guidance on SOPs and referral pathways. Make linkages with need for follow-up and reintegration (Module 10)
  • Update Module 5 and align with Case Management guidance, as appropriate
  • Update Module 6, align guidance on use of standard IA forms for UASC (fast registration and case management), introduce CPIMS
  • Update Module 7 on alternative care. Ensure participants are introduced to minimum standards for temporary residential care and kinship care. Present linkages with system strengthening as an approach to UASC programming
  • Update Module 8 on family tracing, reflecting wider use of ICT
  • Update Module 9, strengthen guidance on Best Interest Assessment and Determination as it applies to placement in care and reunification, incorporate UNHCR BIP guidelines, as appropriate
  • Review relevance of Module 11 on adult learning theory. Adjust, integrate as appropriate
  • Point at relevant sections/material of the Inter-Agency UASC Handbook, Toolkit, Alternative Care in Emergency Toolkit where relevant and reference Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

• Course outline including revised session-level learning objectives, key learning points, proposed methodologies, and draft agenda (1^st review by line manager and feedback)
• Face-to-face learning package incorporating feedback  
• Preparation, facilitation consultation with UASC TF; compilation of feedback received (2nd review and feedback step)
• Incorporate feedback into the f2f learning package, finalization
• Develop adapted course materials for remotely facilitated delivery

Qualifications

Education:

• Master's Social work, international relations, law, child psychology or another relevant field.

Language Proficiency:

• Fluency in English (verbal and written). Demonstrated experience in developing high quality training and policy products in English

Work experience:

• A minimum of 7 years recent experience with international or national organisations, including track record with child protection programming for unaccompanied and separated children in natural disaster and/or armed conflict contexts.
• Proven experience of developing face to face and remotely facilitated training on complex topics.
• Strong knowledge and familiarity with adult learning theory, participatory learning methodologies and blended learning approaches.
• Knowledge of CP Alliance Minimum Standards, key international standards and guidelines related to unaccompanied or separated children, alternative care, as well as the different coordination settings.

Requirements:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, race, sexual orientation, nationality, culture, appearance, socio-economic status, ability, age, religious, and ethnic backgrounds, 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.