Child Rights Expert

This consultancy requires a proactive and adaptable professional, with relevant expertise in social work and care research and practice in Andalusia, who can navigate the complex landscape of child protection and mental health and psychosocial support in Andalusia. The consultant will play a pivotal role in ensuring that the project’s outputs and activities are well-aligned with local needs, thereby contributing to the enhancement of mental health and psychosocial support for vulnerable children in the region.

Scope of Work:

The scope of work encompasses different areas of responsibility outlined here as per the main outputs of the Action. The specific tasks expected from the national consultant will be discussed in more detail with the selected candidate. All activities will be implemented in close collaboration with the beneficiary authorities.

Specific objectives include:

• Technical Support and Project Development: Provide advanced technical support in the development and implementation of the remaining project phases. Work closely with the Project Manager, international experts, and local authorities to facilitate seamless integration of technical components and maintain project alignment with overall objectives.
• Facilitation: Act as a facilitator to enhance communication and cooperation between UNICEF ECARO, international experts, and local authorities in development and piloting of the framework and in capacity building activities.
• Support: Provide essential support to the Project Manager in the day-to-day project activities.
• Local insight and cultural sensitivity: Offer local insights, knowledge, and understanding of Andalusian context and culture, which are critical for the project’s success. Offer cultural insights to international experts to ensure that project activities are culturally sensitive and respectful. Facilitate cross-cultural understanding among project stakeholders.

Key responsibilities include:

Liaison and communication: Act as a central point of contact between UNICEF ECARO, international experts, and the Andalusian authorities, ensuring that information flows efficiently among all parties.

Stakeholder engagement:

• Maintain strong working relationships with local Andalusian authorities, including government agencies, child protection services, mental health institutions, and relevant NGOs.
• Support and advise the project manager and international consultants on the planning and implementation of an effective and inclusive consultative process.

Integrated Collaboration framework development:

In close collaboration and coordination with UNICEF experts and Andalusia partners:

• Facilitate the publication of the assessment report on the current mental health support systems for children in care and support in Andalusia.
• Analyse the findings of the assessment and provide technical input into the development of an integrated Collaboration Framework to address the challenges identified in the assessment.
• Coordinate the organization of consultations, documentation of inputs, analysis for integration and provide feedback to partners.
• Lead the local coordination of piloting, feedback and research required for testing and adjusting the integrated Collaboration Framework, and provide support, including technical support to the lead UNICEF expert.
• In coordination with the UNICEF lead expert and project manager, provide technical input, coordination and support for:
• Preparing the piloting of the integrated Collaboration Framework
• Organising interviews and meetings as well as consulting and compiling feedback and comments by different stakeholders during the piloting process.
• Coordinate the production of English and Spanish versions of the Collaboration Framework – pre- and post-piloting including consultation with the Project Advisory Committee members as required and the final presentation to all stakeholders at the end of the project

Capacity-building:

• Coordinate the planning and organization of joint training programs and sector-specific training based on the Collaboration Framework, collaborating with UNICEF experts, beneficiary authorities, academic or training institutions.
• Ensure that technical aspects relevant to the project’s final phases are incorporated into the training programs. Provide technical guidance and collaborate with stakeholders to develop curricula that address project challenges and enhance implementation strategies.

Communication and dissemination:

• Plan and organize dissemination activities to share project progress and outcomes with local authorities and stakeholders.
• Collaborate in the coordination of the implementation of the closing meeting as well as other working meetings/workshops in Andalusia related to the Action’s activities.

Project Support:

• Assist the Project Manager in coordinating project activities, including meetings, workshops, and training sessions. Help prepare meeting agendas, materials, and reports. As per agreement with the Project Manager, the consultant is expected to organize related activities such as translation, editing, designing and publishing for selected outputs to achieve key deliverables and logistical support as needed. Providing inputs into summary reports and reports to the European Commission.
• Guide and advise the project team on any other activities necessary to complete the project activities in a timely and qualitative manner.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Master’s in international relations, political or social sciences, statistics, human rights, or comparable academic qualifications or equivalent work experience
• At least 4 years of progressively responsible professional work experience in child rights/ child protection/MHPSS is required.
• Proven experience and knowledge related to the ToRs areas is desirable;
• Proven experience in successful coordination of similar projects and project management is required;
• Strong understanding of the Andalusian culture, society, and governance is required.
• Good knowledge/understanding of the local environment of different stakeholders and service providers (key ministries engaged in child rights, designers/publishers, catering/translators, etc.) is desirable;
• Proven networking skills required;
• Excellent communication and presentation skills (in Spanish and English) are required;
• Excellent written skills in English and Spanish are required;
• Ability to be flexible and deliver results under tight deadlines is required;
• Excellent skills of using Microsoft Office applications is required.

Source: https://jobs.unicef.org/cw/en-us/job/580054