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 on development of UNICEF Child Rights Learning Modules Phase One

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Strategy and Coordination Hub – Human Rights Unit, UNICEF NYHQ

Duration: November 11, 2024 to November 29, 2024

Home/ Office Based: NYHQ / 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:

The centrality of child rights within UNICEF is explicitly expressed through the organisation’s mission statement: ‘UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. UNICEF is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child and strives to establish children’s rights as enduring and ethical principles and international standards of behavior towards children.’

Being true to its mandate requires UNICEF to consistently and systematically adopt a rights-based approach across all decision-making and actions, including solid grounding in international standards and full consideration of human rights principles such as non-discrimination, indivisibility of rights, participation and accountability.

In order for UNICEF to make child rights the core of all its actions, it is evident that dedicated investment and attention to building knowledge and capacity on child rights across the organization, at all levels, and across functions is critical.

The proposed consultancy is therefore aimed at supporting the design and development of an online series of child rights learning modules that will provide every UNICEF staff member with foundational knowledge on child rights and how it relates to their work within the organization.

Scope of Work:

The current Phase (1) is anticipated to be just one of a number of phases required to support the overall project.  Further phases are planned, and corresponding budgets will be allocated to these subsequent phases.

The overall purpose and objective of the proposed contract is to support the building of knowledge and capacity on child rights across UNICEF, at all levels, in all contexts, and across all roles through the design and development of online modules to support staff learning.

These modules must be designed to support proactive and interactive learning, and in a manner that takes into account the diversity of UNICEF staff, the diversity of contexts that UNICEF staff work in, different UN languages, differing levels of knowledge on child rights, and accessibility considerations, as well as compatibility with the UNICEF digital operating environment.

The expectation is also that these modules are designed in a way that reflects contemporary and striking style and design, and integrates media and communication modalities including video, audio, visuals, and other aspects as relevant.

The Consultant will work within, provide support to, and be supported by the PG Human Rights Unit. The Consultant may also be required to work across all relevant UNICEF business units at HQ, regional and national levels, as well as other vendors brought on to support the development, design, and finalization of the online learning modules.

During Phase One, the main tasks of the Consultant are as follows:

• Plan and facilitate a 1.5-day internal consultation to scope the UNICEF child rights learning project.
• Support follow-up to the consultation, to present and finalize a design document and plan of action.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Deliverable: Internal consultation planned for, facilitated, and design document and action plan developed and finalized

Outcome: Internal consultation planned and facilitated. Design document and Plan of Action finalized which sets out concrete parameters and steps to be taken towards development of UNICEF Child Rights Learning Online Module

Deadline: 29 November 2024

Qualifications

Education:

Advanced university degree (Masters) in the area of social sciences, social and behavioral change, learning, or related field.

Work experience:

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required *:

• At least 15 years of experience in the field of instructional design.
• Proven experience in development and design of online learning materials on complex issues for a diversity of audiences.
• Up-to-date knowledge on the latest methods, approaches, and technologies to support iterative learning.
• Proven experience in project management in the field of online learning, including for intergovernmental organisations.
• Experience in facilitating consultation processes with a variety of stakeholders.
• Familiarity or past experience in working on child rights learning and training is an asset.

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

– Upload copy of academic credentials

– Financial proposal that will include/ reflect :

• • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (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.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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 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: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.