International Consultant for Managing Risks of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse in CSO Implementing Partnerships

The prevention of sexual exploitation and abuse has, for decades, been at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy for sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated by employees, personnel and sub-contractors of UNICEF and implementing partners.

UNICEF is committed to preventing and responding to sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA). UNICEF is actively engaged in policy and operational efforts to improve the reporting of SEA, offering support to survivors of SEA, and promoting accountability. UNICEF also promotes internal and external change to end tolerance for all forms of exploitation and abuse. Child safeguarding, including protection from sexual exploitation and abuse (PSEA) is at the core of UNICEF’s mandate. As a humanitarian agency dedicated to children’s rights, we take all steps necessary to safeguard children within our operations.

Moreover, in February 2018, the UN High-Level Steering Group on Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, established by UN Secretary-General António Guterres, endorsed the UN Protocol on Allegations of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse Involving Implementing Partners. The Protocol sets forth obligations for all UN entities and implementing programmes with partners in the field, including civil society, government and other partners. Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA) is a priority for the UN which is committed to supporting efforts to strengthen its programming environment internally and with partners.

UNICEF Co Montenegro has already been engaged into mainstreaming of PSEA in the UNICEF staff awareness and implementing partners on PSEA obligations. The PSA Action plan has been developed and process of PSEA assessment with implementing parterres conducted.  Since it will be necessary to continue the work in this regard, especially having in mind the new UN Assessment scale tool and procedures under which all UNICEF partners have to undergo again. In addition, it will be necessary to continue to strength knowledge of UNICEF staff about new procedures and PSEA mechanisms as well as to update the PSEA office Action Plan for 2024.

Building on the previous two phases and under the supervision of the Child Protection Officer, PSEA Focal Point, the consultant will provide strategic advice and coordination around strengthening PSEA capacity and practice at implementing partner level in the Country Office.

Key tasks will include:

• Support the country office PSEA Focal Point in the development of an Action plan for 2024 (2 days);
• Capacity building for UNICEF staff members on PSEA procedures and new risk mitigation tool (2 day);
• Risk assessment and capacity building (webinars and bilateral capacity building meetings) for up to 4 new implementing partners (4 days);
• Further risk reduction (capacity building) for 3 implementing partners (CSOs) with medium PSEA capacity (4 days);
• Handover/Final report (1 day).

• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional work experience in child protection, or prevention or protection against sexual exploitation and abuse, or gender-based violence is required, including very good knowledge of the technical area.
• Experience in conducting trainings is an asset.
• Experience working in Montenegro is an asset.
• Very good organizational and facilitation skills required.
• Previous work experience with UN/UNICEF or other international organization will be considered as an advantage.

Language: 

• Fluency in Montenegrin and English are required.

Other:  

• Excellent writing skills, presentation skills, strong strategic and analytical skills.
• Ability to work with different stakeholders.
• Demonstrates tact and high sense of responsibility and discretion.
• Demonstrates integrity and high ethical standards.
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability.

The payments will be made upon successful completion of the deliverables and submission of invoices.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/outputs is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines.

E-learning:

Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract.

1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF;
2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA);
3. Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA).

Before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF, the Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete course on General Information Security Awareness Course.  

In addition to above, any consultant or individual contractor must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract:

1. Fraud Awareness;
2. General Information Security Awareness Course (only for consultants/individual contractors with a UNICEF email address).  The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA: Log in to the site (unicef.org).  

Course completion certificates should be shared and retained with the human resources unit of the hiring office.

All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process – Maximum points: 70

Desk review of CVs -70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points

• Education: (20)
• Previous experience: (30)
• CV, Motivation/ cover letter: (15)
• Other: (5)

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation.

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal – Maximum points: 30

The applicants are requested to submit as a separate document their financial proposal consisting of a professional fee only for the services to be provided.  Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].