Gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) Localization Consultant-Req.#569651

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, LOVE

Vacancy Announcement: Consultant

 Consultancy Title: GBViE Localization Consultant

Station: Child Protection Section – Programme Group – NYHQ

Duration: 1 March 2024 – 31 August 2024

Home/ office Based: 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. 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

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations. 

Related to this mission, UNICEF is directly involved in addressing gender-based violence (GBV) in some of the world’s most intense and complex conflicts and disasters. GBV in its various forms constitutes a global crisis which undermines social and economic progress; as one of the world’s greatest human rights violations, GBV must be addressed to ensure universal rights and principles with regard to equality, security, liberty, integrity and dignity of human beings.   Preventing and responding to gender-based violence in emergencies (GBViE) is recognized as a life-saving measure and an essential component of humanitarian action. As a lead agency in addressing GBViE, UNICEF has expanded its on-the-ground programming in recent years and made prevention and risk mitigation of, and response to GBViE one of its targeted priorities in its new Strategic and Gender Action Plans (GAP) 2022-2025, as well as in the new Child Protection Strategy. GBViE contributes to the results under Goal Area 3 and is also now a cross-cutting priority across the new Strategic Plan-, making GBV risk mitigation one of UNICEF’s change strategies and a key contributor across all Goal Areas. GBViE risk mitigation is now also across all sectors and areas of work in UNICEF’s updated Core Commitments for Children.

Following the commitments made by the Executive Director at the 2019 Oslo Conference, UNICEF has made significant progress on strengthening its partnerships with local women-led organizations (LWOs). At a strategic planning meeting at the end of 2022, the GBViE team identified three key priorities for the next phase of LWOs work under UNICEF’s GBViE portfolio, including continuing to build the evidence, addressing systemic barriers to partnering with WLOs and using the agency’s platform to provide space and voice for these organizations. In order to continue advancing UNICEF’s commitment to LWOs, the GBViE team is looking for a short-term consultant to support the development of specific deliverables under this workstream. In addition, the consultant will support the UNICEF’s ongoing efforts to improve the general evidence base of the effectiveness of GBV interventions in emergencies, as well as to develop groundbreaking tech tools to better assess GBViE risks and costs of responding to such risks.  

 Scope of Work:

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Manager (GBViE), the consultant will be responsible for the following deliverables:  

1. Support on defining research agenda with women-led organisations;
2. Support the organisation of 2 convenings with women-led organisations;
3. Support the development of the next generation of AI driven risk assessment tools and methodologies;
4. Conduct a review of UNICEF’s GBVIE response in public health emergencies, climate related disasters and conflict over the last 5 years;
5. Support the development of at least 2 GBViE products.

The consultancy will be home-based with no travel involved.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables:

Deliverable 1: Women-led organizations research agenda reviewed (providing detailed comments and proposals) At least 10 consultations with WLOs supported. Implementation plan reviewed (providing detailed comments and proposals)       

By 31 August 2024

Deliverable 2: 2 convenings completed        

By 30 June 2024

Deliverable 3: At least 3 technical meetings with the Gender Tech Partner held and documented

Iterations and models of the tools developed by the gender tech partner tested and technical feedback provided           

By 31 August 2024

Deliverable 4: Paper outlining lessons and differentiation in approaches to the different types of emergencies submitted and approved

By 31 August 2024

At least 2 products finalized  

By 31 July 2024

 Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelors in Public health, social work, political science, human rights and international law or other related degree, or equivalent programming experience

Work experience:

• Minimum of 7 years of humanitarian or related work experience in GBV programming in natural disasters and conflict-affected countries.

 Competencies/Knowledge:

• Solid understanding of GBV guiding principles and the survivor-centred approach.
• Knowledge and experience working with local women-led organizations.
• Experience with humanitarian coordination structures (at global and/or field level).
• Proven capacity to carry-out research and develop resources related to GBViE.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s financial and administrative systems as they relate to implementing partnership agreements.
• Flexible work attitude: ability to work productively in a team environment and independently, and to handle requests or issues as they arise.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills: the ability to successfully and effectively liaise with people in a wide range of functions in a multi-cultural environment.

Language proficiency:

• Fluency in English required, working proficiency of another official UN language an advantage.

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.