Consultant: Supporting Sharjah in the next phase of the CFCI planning cycle, Gulf Area Office, Abu-Dhabi

UNICEF Gulf Area Office (UNICEF GAO) supports the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and its line ministries and authorities to advance the rights of children under the framework of a Gulf Area Programme (2019-2025).

The Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI) is an initiative that brings together a wide range of partners, advocates for governance approaches and participatory urban management promoting the realization of the rights of the youngest citizens. The CFC approach is one of the ways through which UNICEF addresses issues of child rights and protection in an urban setting. On the 2nd of May 2018, the Emirate of Sharjah was recognized as a Child-Friendly City, marking it as the first city in the UAE to be recognized by the new UNICEF CFCI guidelines. Time has now come to take stock of progress made so far in the current plan, in order to ensure that Sharjah continues to meet the standards of a Child Friendly City.

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, Passion

How can you make a difference? 

Internal end term review of current Action Plan for Programme Cycle 2018-2024: 

-Definition of dimensions against which to evaluate current Action Plan, including developing an explanatory theory of change and a hierarchy of possible indicators to use to measure impact. Priority will be given to indicators already included in the global pilot of M&E tools.

-Proposal of possible qualitative methodologies to use that complement quantitative analysis.

-Support provided to SCFO, CFC Executive Committee Members and other partners to collect cross-sectoral data from existing monitoring information systems (MIS).

-Support and quality assurance provided to data analysis by SCFO with technical assistance by UNICEF (resources required to support UNICEF CFCI expert).

-Conduct a Rapid Situational Analysis of children to provide the baseline for the new action (Use of M&E tools to inform the planning process, update and analyze data fed into mid-to-end term review).

-Build on overview presented at Pre-planning workshop (details below) to further expand cross-sectoral data gathering from/through SCFO and CFC Executive Committee Members and other partners

-Support data analysis by SCFO (with technical assistance from UNICEF).

-Organize a Pre-Planning Workshop in Sharjah to: Share End Term Review data to reach consensus on progress made during the first cycle.

-Development of the new action plan (2025-2028) – consultations, technical assistance. 

-In close coordination with SCFO, organize a consultation workshop to prepare the new action plan.

-Prepare a summary of key data on children in Sharjah to provide an overview of persisting gaps and recent progress (focus on additional data and information gathered since pre-planning workshop). Further guide workshop participants to identify the priorities of the next Action Plan, in response to identified gaps.

-Document workshop discussions to include partner discussions of next Action Plan as part of workshop summary document.

-Propose for validation timeline for next Action Plan (to include activities, accountability matrix, budget, KPIs and M&E strategy).

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

• Education: An advanced university degree (Master’s) in Law, Child rights, and Child Protection, Social Sciences, Urban Planning, or any other related fields.
• Experience: Over 10 years proven experience in child rights, decentralized planning, urban planning, CFCI or related fields. Proven experience working directly with Child Friendly Cites or Child-Responsive Urban Planning is a must, including experience on M&E in the field. Previous work with the government sector as well as UN agencies (preferably with exposure to the Arab/Gulf region). Strong analytical skills, including use of data in local planning processes. Very good communication and presentation skills with government and community members.

• Languages: Excellent knowledge of English languages. Knowledge of Arabic language is a plus.

Interested candidate is to submit her/his CV, highlighting relevant experiences and at least two references.

Applications submitted without a financial proposal will not be considered. The financial offer should be a lump sum for the whole assignment including Travel if applicable. 

For every Child, you demonstrate… 

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS). 

 To view our competency framework, please visit  here. 

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility jobs-near-me.org UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Remarks:  

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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. 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract 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 and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors 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.