support coordination and development of the system level documents

The purpose of assignment is to support coordination of the work and development of the system level documents for an MA programme on child rights to be accredited and implemented by local university(ies) with the support of international expert(s).
In 2019, the Government of Georgia adopted the Code on the Rights of the Child of Georgia, which holistically addresses the rights of all children, in compliance with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of a Child (CRC). The Code emphasizes the role of the Government in the realization of child rights, outlining the need for specialization of professionals in child rights to support the delivery of child-friendly services. The Code introduced a more comprehensive system of specialization for all professionals working with children, including pre- and in-service trainings for acting and future professionals to raise awareness on child rights and strengthen their capacity to support and deliver services for children.
UNICEF has taken significant first steps to strengthen the child rights culture in the country, as well as to create and disseminate knowledge on child rights locally and nationally amongst the Government, professionals, parents, youth and children themselves.
UNICEF has a long history of working with academia in Georgia. From 2020, UNICEF formalized these partnerships through the signing memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with seven state universities. This collaboration revolved around the establishment of Child Rights Centers in these universities and strengthening the capacities of academic staff on child rights. As part of this initiative, selected academic staff of these universities underwent a series of comprehensive training and capacity development sessions and gained foundational knowledge and expertise in a range of theoretical and practical aspects essential for upholding children’s rights. Child rights topics have been incorporated into some university educational programmes for the pre-service training of future teachers and other education professionals, as well as for social workers and lawyers who work with children and directly influence the situation of children. In 2023, the Child Rights Center model was expanded to a number of private universities across Georgia, with MoUs signed with three private universities.
UNICEF’s partnership with the above-mentioned universities has revealed a significant commitment and strong belief in the importance of child rights amongst the management and academic staff of the universities. However, there is a lack of child rights specialists who will be responsible for ensuring the realization of rights outlined in the CRC and the Code, as there are no focused university programmes in Georgia designed to prepare specialists in child rights and grant them the respective qualifications.
A dedicated inter-disciplinary master’s programme (MA programme) on child rights would provide in-depth knowledge and understanding of the specific legal, social, educational, psychological and policy issues concerning child rights. A curriculum tailored specifically to child rights, covering topics such as protection, welfare, juvenile justice, psychology, education, health, and participation, will equip students with comprehensive expertise and a deeper understanding of the interdisciplinary character, complexities and nuances in child rights.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…