CONSULTANCY POSITION
Provision of Technical Assistance for the development of a VAC Response plan.
VACANCY#: UNICEF/MLW/2014/019
- BACKGROUND
UNICEF is seeking a qualified and experienced consultant to provide technical support and facilitate the development of a Violence Against Children Response plan. UNICEF, the Centre for Social Research and the Centre for Disease Control have supported the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare to complete Malawi’s first ever nationally representative survey on Violence Against Children. Preliminary findings have been released and the full survey findings will be released in the last quarter of 2014. UNICEF is seeking a consultant to work closely with UNICEF, the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare, specific line ministries and a Multi-Sectoral Taskforce to develop a strategic plan responding to the survey findings that articulates clear, practical commitments to ending VACS in Malawi from relevant government ministries and civil society organisations.
The Malawi VACS Response Plan will be designed upon the following principles:
· Violence against children is multidimensional and cannot be dealt with as a single cause and effect relationship.
· Prevention of violence requires cross-sectoral co-operation and co-ordination across central government departments, regions and districts, and between government and civil society.
· Violence against children demands an integrated and holistic approach and all programmes and actions should operate across a range of disciplines and sectors.
· A multi-stakeholder approach is indispensable for the eradication of violence against children as it is a responsibility that extends beyond state-controlled bodies and services to include all members of society.
The position will be managed by UNICEF, but have close working relationships with various organs of the Malawian government including the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Justice, the Malawi Police Service, Ministry of Labour, National Registration Bureau and others. UNICEF will also be working with key civil society organisations such as the Centre for Social Research, YONECO (national child helpline), national NGOs and international NGOs in the development of the VAC Response plan.
An individual international consultant will support the Multi-Sector Taskforce (MSTF) to develop an integrated and multi-sectoral VACS Response plan (incorporating specific sectoral response plans) that will involve key ministries, civil society partners, media, research institutions and the private sector who have a role to play in preventing and responding to VAC.
- SCOPE OF WORK
Phase 1:Develop ‘Priority Responses’ to VAC for key government sectors as well as civil society partners, media, research institutions and the private sector through:
- Providing Secretariat support for the Multi-Sector Task Force to the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare to ensure a consistent meeting schedule and accurate record keeping of decisions. The ministry will be supported in its capacity to involve multiple sectors for the plan’s long-term success.
- Organizing a schedule of consultative meetings with key sectors for the MSTF to develop the “Priority Responses” that will outline their commitments and accountabilities to prevent and respond to violence against children. This work will prepare relevant ministries, civil society partners, media, research institutions and the private sector to announce their respective commitments to end violence against children and provide positive messages in conjunction with the VAC Study and Campaign launch. The “Priority Responses” will be high-level outcome statements delivered on the occasion of the launch from which specific violence prevention and response activities will later be developed under the two-year plan.
- Leading in the production of the VACS Priority Responses Document. This includes supporting the design process and printing in collaboration with UNICEF and government counterparts.
- Providing guidance and support on the launching of the VAC Priority Response document linked to the VAC Campaign.
Phase 2:Develop a detailed VAC two – year Response plan – building on the ‘priority responses’ in Phase 1 through:
- Providing Secretariat support for the Multi-Sector Task Force to the Ministry of Gender Children and Social Welfare to ensure a consistent meeting schedule and accurate record keeping of decisions. The ministry will be supported in its capacity to involve multiple sectors for the plan’s long-term success.
- Organizing a schedule of consultative meetings with key sectors for the MSTF to develop “the detailed plan” that results in clear accountabilities for relevant ministries, civil society partners, media, research institutions and the private sector that are time-bound, costed and include performance indicators. This will involve working closely with the MSTF and UNICEF to organise workshops to develop the detailed plan.
- Facilitating technical discussions within UNICEF to strengthen the VAC Sectoral responses within the Education, Health, Youth and HIV Sectors and supporting these sections participation in the MSTF consultative meetings and workshops.
- Reviewing District Development Plans and organizing consultative meetings (where necessary) with the ten target Districts to develop District Response Plans.
- Facilitating a meeting and workshops for the MSTF to develop a consolidated VACS Response plan that is time bound, has a budget and includes an M&E strategy after sectoral consultation.
- Leading the production of the detailed VAC two – year Response plan including supporting the design process and printing in collaboration with UNICEF and government counterparts.
- Providing guidance and support on the launching of the VAC two – year Response plan linked to the VAC Campaign framework.
- EDUCATION AND WORK EXPERIENCE
· An advanced university degree, preferably in the social sciences, law, public policy or other relevant field;
· 5 years’ experience in the area of policy planning and/or governance (experience in Africa is desirable);
· Experience working on child protection and/or child rights issues;
· Experience working with high level political and government stakeholders;
· Experience in working with UN, donor, national and international CSOs
· Experience in project management
· Excellent organizational skills
· Excellent facilitation, presentation and communication skills
· Excellent writing skills
· High level computing skills
· Fluency in English
- DURATION
11 Months
- LEVEL - Equivalent of L3
How to apply:
- METHOD OF APPLICATION
Qualified candidates are requested to submit a technical and financial proposal which at a minimum should include sections on: the consultants profile and CV; introduction; outline of the methodology to be employed and list of relevant projects delivered and Personal History Form (P-11 form) (which can be downloaded from our website at
http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html). Attach copies of certificates.
Applications should be sent on or before 8 June 2014 to the following address:hrmalawi@unicef.org
NOTE:
· UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.
- Only shortlisted applicants will be acknowledged.
- Applications sent through the post office or hand delivered is not accepted.
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