Consultant for Life Project approach for the One Million Opportunities (1MiO) initiative, Sao Paulo (remote), Brazil.

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. 

Brazil faces significant challenges as it navigates the transition of its vast youth population into the workforce. With over 49 million individuals aged 15 to 29, prioritizing educational opportunities, professional training, and digital inclusion is crucial to avert potential social and economic risks. Early issues, like rights violations for 32 million children and educational delays for 5.3 million, set the stage for larger problems. The One Million Opportunities initiative, launched in 2020, strives to address these issues by providing skills development, apprenticeships, and employment opportunities for vulnerable youth, creating over 300,000 opportunities to date.

Purpose

Under the supervision of the Programme Officer, this consultancy is expected to perform activities to enhance One Million Opportunities (1MiO) initiative to provide skills and employment opportunities and policies for vulnerable young people. The consultant will provide technical support for the implementation of the Life Project methodology on the training front of the 1MiO initiative in the states of Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, Sergipe and Maranhão (through a partnership with the Institute of Education, Science and Technology of the State of Maranhão – IEMAs).

Expected results:

1. Expected result: Review and adapt the life project methodology of the 1MiO initiative.

2. Expected result: Produce, weekly, up to 10 reports, surveys, diagnostics, and general documents to build, maintain and develop 1MiO partnerships with state governments.

3. Expected result: Produce, monthly, one report on the progress, barriers and opportunities identified in 1MiO’s work with partner state governments.

4. Expected result: Support the engagement and implementation of Life Project Methodology with students of 4 state governments in 1MiO initiative, such as:

• Minas Gerais: 100,000 adolescents and young people trained in 1MiO Life Project approach;
• Rio Grande do Sul: 10,000 adolescents and young people trained in 1MiO Life Project approach;
• Sergipe: 16,000 adolescents and young people trained in 1MiO Life Project approach; and
• Maranhão (through IEMA Education Institute): 14,000 adolescents and young people trained in 1MiO Life Project approach.

Deliverables

Duration of Contract

320 days (10.5 months)

travel plan

PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

• Punctuality in meeting deadlines;
• Quality of the contents;
• Timely provision of the deliverables;
• Full adherence to the monthly workplans and diligences as agreed with supervisor.

Immediately upon signature of the agreement, the UNICEF supervisor and the selected individual contractor will meet for detailed discussion of the Work Plan and the quality criteria for product delivery. Regular meetings will also be scheduled at a distance or in person to follow up the activities defined in the Work Plan. If needed, revisions and alterations may be requested by UNICEF related to quality and technical depth parameters. Only after final clearance from the UNICEF Brazil will the payment be processed.

Technical background, and experience required

• First University or bachelor’s degree in political science, Economics, Sociology, Communication, Public Policy, International Relations or related fields.
• Teamwork, and good communication skills.
• At least 10 years of experience in public policy, teachers and school managers training, advocacy, project management and related areas.
• Availability to perform some punctual activity within one of the UNICEF field offices in Brazil.
• Knowledge or interest in topics related to youth and similar. 

Language Proficiency

• Portuguese and English.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Degree in Communication, Political Science, Economics, Sociology, Communication, Public Policy, International Relations or related fields
• A minimum of 7 years of professional work experience at national or international levels in relevant Education, Skills, Labor, Advocacy, Public Policies or related programs. Experience in UN system agency or organization is an asset.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English is required. Knowledge of Spanish is an asset.
• Knowledge on children’s rights issues, including the Convention of Rights of the Child and the Statute of the Child and the Adolescent.
• Experience in content production, teachers and education managers training and advocacy with governments.
• Teamwork skills and capacity to work with tight deadlines.

UNICEF’S CORE VALUES

Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) 

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 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.

General Conditions: Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant will work from home using own equipment and stationery. UNICEF will provide office space for consultative meetings when needed.
• Consultant’s, travel costs should be included in the consultant’s fee.
• No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant and mandatory courses are completed.
• Consultants will not have any representative, certifying, or approving authority, or supervisory responsibilities or authority on UNICEF budget.
• The consultant will work remotely on a delivery basis and prior authorization and/or clearance from UNICEF to engage in outside UNICEF activities is required.

Financial Proposal

• Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee.
• A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.
• The payment will be based on submission of agreed 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.

Insurance and health coverage

• The contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expenses, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of the contract as he or she considers appropriate.
• The contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members.

Restrictions

• Consultants may not receive training at the expense of UNICEF. Notwithstanding, consultants must complete the applicable mandatory trainings before the signature of the contract; 
• In case of government officials, the contract cannot be issued without prior written clearance by the Government​ or unless on leave without pay.

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.