Home-based: Working Across Sectors Competency Framework Consultant

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Job Title: Working Across Sectors Competency Framework Consultant

Background and Role Purpose:                          

The Child Protection Minimum Standards Working Group (CPMS WG), together with the Learning and Development Working Group (L&D WG) at the Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action is seeking a consultant to develop competencies for working across sectors.   

A strategic priority for the Alliance is to ensure that children's protection and well-being are prioritised within cross-sector collaboration, including within multi-sector and integrated programmes, and across all humanitarian action (Strategic Priority 3). 

The CPMS WG has been leading a project to advance this goal; From 2021-2022, the CPMS WG led inter-agency, multi-sectoral consultations with nearly 400 stakeholders to identify barriers, opportunities and key priorities for cross-sectoral work that centres children’s protection and well-being.  As a result of these consultations the Inter-Sectoral Framework for Advancing Children’s Protection and Well-being (Framework) was launched.  The Framework identified the development of core competencies for child protection collaboration, prevention and response, specifically stating:

“Advancing children’s protection and well-being across all sectors of humanitarian action requires strengthened competencies both within child protection and across sectors. Child protection actors need the skills to engage outwardly. Actors from all sectors need the skills to contribute to the collective goal of meeting the needs of children most at risk. We will know we are progressing towards this objective when core competencies are identified for both child protection and sectors’ actors, competency frameworks are updated and competency-based learning initiatives – tailored to sectors’ ways of working – are in place.”

The CPMS and L&D WGs are now looking for a consultant to lead the development of a competency framework package for advancing children’s protection and well-being across all sectors of humanitarian response. The competency framework should meet the following criteria: 

• Audience: non-protection sectoral actors, particularly health, food security, and camp coordination and camp management (CCCM) actors
• Content: competencies developed should: 
  • Build from Pillar 4 of the Child Protection Minimum Standards, but also link to relevant minimum humanitarian standards for target sectors and the Core Humanitarian Standard 
  • Complement and not duplicate content of the existing CPHA Competency Framework, which is aimed at CPHA actors
  • Consider and where appropriate build upon other existing humanitarian competencies frameworks, such as the Core Humanitarian Competency Framework, and relevant sectors’ technical competency frameworks
  • Include behavioural indicators at three levels for each competency     
  • Link with relevant principles, policies and strategic priorities that guide humanitarian action 
• Guidance: the package should include simple guidance on how to incorporate the newly identified competencies into existing frameworks

Timeframe:                                         

This consultancy is planned for 15 June – 31 December 2023 and includes approximately 50 days of work.  The exact number of days and a workplan will be agreed with the successful candidate. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and priority given to candidates with immediate availability.

Key Tasks and Deliverables:                                

1. Desk Review and multi-sectoral consultations: 15 day

• Conduct a desk review and multi-sectoral consultations to identify key competencies for strengthening the centrality of children’s protection in humanitarian action. Together with the Alliance’s Learning & Development Working Group, a desk review and consultations will map relevant competencies and key skills needed for
  • humanitarian actors to collaborate effectively with across sectors for children’s protection and well-being, and 
  • for other sectors to effectively centre children’s protection in their work. 
• The desk review would gather data both from a range of sources including lessons learned from related work with the Alliance and its members and relevant experience from other protection sectors, like gender-based violence. Consultations would engage a broad range of sectoral actors and link with outreach planned in outcome 1. 

Deliverable: Desk review and consultation report, including recommendations for competency framework package

2. Drafting of Competencies and Supporting Package: 15 days

• Key competencies for working across sectors for children’s protection are developed and can be used to update sector’s competency frameworks or as an addendum. The competencies should be presented as an adaptable framework that could be used by all sectors. Accompanying guidance would include tips on how to incorporate the competencies into the work of a broad range of sectors.      

Deliverable: Full draft of competency framework package

3. Revising and Finalizing Competencies and Supporting Package: 10 days

• A period of inter-agency review and feedback would be held prior to finalising the package. The consultant will present the competency framework to key stakeholders within and outside the Alliance for feedback, and coordinate written feedback from relevant stakeholders (e.g. through a shared document).  Consultant will analyze feedback provided and produce a revised draft of the competency framework package, in coordination with CPMS and L&D WG co-leads. 

Deliverable: revised, final version of competency framework package

4. Support adaptation of priority learning packages based upon new and revised competencies: 10 days

• As an initial step to ensure the competencies are reflected in practice, the consultant will work with the CPMS and L&D WG co-leads to identify where the competencies might be incorporated into existing inter-agency learning packages. This would help to begin reach child protection and other sectoral practitioners and strengthening their knowledge and skills to working across sectors for children’s protection.

Deliverable: revised modules or sessions in 2-3 learning packages that reflect new competencies

Reporting Lines:                                    

This consultant will report to Susanna Davies, co-lead of the CPMS Working Group on behalf of Save the Children. The consultant will also work very closely with the Learning and Development Working Group of the Alliance, who will provide critical technical guidance and inputs for this project.  Other key focal points for cross-sectoral partners will be identified. 

Consultant Profile Needed:                            

• Significant experience in adult learning and development, including previous experience developing competency frameworks
• Strong familiarity with existing humanitarian competency frameworks
• Knowledge of the Minimum Standards for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action, Sphere, Core Humanitarian Standard and related minimum humanitarian standards 
• Knowledge and experience of both child protection and at least one other sector (especially education, health, camp management or food security) in humanitarian settings is preferred
• A commitment to excellence & attention to detail
• Superb written and oral communication skills in English 

How to Apply:                           

Please submit applications to the CPMS Working Group by COB 31 May 2023, with the subject line “Application: Working Across Sectors Competency Consultancy” to susanna.davies@savethechildren.org.  Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis. 

In your application, please include:

• A two page (maximum) letter that describes:
  • Your experience in adult learning and development of competency frameworks
  • Relevant knowledge and experience working on child protection and collaboration with other sectors in humanitarian settings 
  • The particular value you would bring to this work 
• Your CV and two professional references
• Your daily rate