Consultancy: Documenting the child rights-based approach of the Truth Commission in Colombia

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. 

UNICEF COLOMBIA makes every effort needed for children and adolescents to live in a country where the State and society guarantee the realization of their rights, social inclusion and non-violence within the framework of national legislation, human rights instruments and international law. We work with a special focus on the departments where children have fewer opportunities: Chocó, Nariño, Arauca, La Guajira, Norte de Santander, Atlántico, Antioquia and Vichada.

Child Protection:

We work to ensure that Colombia’s 16 million children and adolescents have access to protection systems that enable them to live free from violence, abuse and exploitation, with a special focus on gender-based violence.

We strengthen institutions with knowledge and information in favor of child protection. Together with the government, we support children and adolescents affected by poverty, inequality and violence.

Meet us here: https://unicef.org.co/que-hacemos

Purpose of Consultant

Produce a case study documenting the milestones, results, promising practices and lessons learned in the implementation of the child rights-based approach of the Colombian Truth Commission (2017-2022) and its legacy (2022-2023), highlighting UNICEF’s role in this process.

• Document the main milestones, results, impact, best practices and lessons learned in terms of child rights-based approach during the mandate of the Truth Commission (2017-2022) and its “Legacy” (2022-2024). [The Legacy is defined as a set of narratives, actions, products and processes to disseminate the findings and conclusions of the Truth Commission´s Final Report and create ownership among the Colombian society, State institutions, international community, as well as to generate strong commitments from strategic actors to implement the Truth Commission recommendations for non-repetition.]
• Include human interest stories/interviews with key stakeholders.
• Describe and analyse UNICEF’s role, results and impact in the Truth Commission and its Legacy.
• Include resources and practical recommendations to inform UNICEF offices or other partners involved/to be involved in similar processes globally, based on lessons learned from the Colombian experience.

• Review and analyse information related to children and youth in the Truth Commission and its Legacy, as well as UNICEF’s role in these processes, through desk review, interviews with UNICEF, key informants and partners (online), using as references the Secretary General Guidance Note on Transitional Justice and UNICEF research on children and transitional justice.
• Discuss and define with UNICEF practical recommendations to inform similar process globally.
• Write the case study in English in a clear and concise manner, with a maximum of 40 pages, including proofreading, according to UNICEF standards, ready for publication. The layout of the document will include executive summary, introduction, case study, recommendations and conclusion.
• Produce a presentation and a two-page document, clear and concise, summarizing the case study and its recommendations.
• Incorporate comments of UNICEF Colombia and HQ teams in the draft versions of the case study, presentation and two-pager.

SEE THE DETAILED TERMS OF REFERENCE HERE:

 TOR – Case study child rights-based approach in Truth Commission Colombia (P).pdf

*If you cannot see the attached document, go to the global vacancies page https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/ search for vacancies in Colombia. There you will find the vacancy information, download the ToR and apply.

Note: When applying please do not attach a technical or financial proposal. Only shortlisted candidates will be invited to submit such proposals. The financial proposal must include all services necessary for the development of the consultancy, including administrative expenses, travel expenses, social security, etc.

Requirements:

Minimum Qualifications Required: 

• Master’s in social sciences, political sciences, law, peacebuilding or related.
• Proficiency in English and Spanish. 

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills Required: 

• Minimum 8 years of professional experience related to peacebuilding and/or transitional justice at global level.
• Experience in child rights-based approach to peacebuilding and/or transitional justice.
• Experience in drafting case studies in the fields of peacebuilding/transitional justice, preferably with a child rights-based approach.
• Knowledge of UNICEF and UN peacebuilding/transitional justice standards and frameworks.
• Knowledge of the Colombian context, Peace Agreement, Transitional Justice System and Truth Commission.

For Every Child …

For UNICEF it is essential that those who want to be part of this great mission live our values of Care, Respect, Trust, Integrity, Responsibility Sustainability, and demonstrate the core competencies of the organization.

To learn more about our framework of values and competencies:

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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 visa (applicable) and 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.