International Consultancy: Children’s Rights and Global Supply Chains in Sub Saharan Africa

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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.

Background and Justification

The Public and Private Partnerships (PPP) section of UNICEF’s Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Office (ESARO) provides guidance and technical support to 21 country offices and regional office programme sections on engagement with public and private partners. The section also develops and stewards regional/multi-country partnerships and regional-level relationships to open new avenues for collaboration and funding that complement individual country office efforts.

Identifying new opportunities for engagement with the public and private sectors is one of the key focus areas of the PPP section in ESARO. In a moment of increased complexity of resource mobilization, UNICEF is adopting new approaches to respond to emerging areas of interest to tap into resources and influence for children. During the last few years, there has been increased State action from the EU through a wave of legislation aiming at creating obligations for businesses to respect human rights, including children’s rights, across their supply chains. These have taken the shape of due diligence legislation (e.g., EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive); import bans; or sustainability reporting requirements. All this new regulation and legislation takes shape in a globalized context where businesses headquartered in the EU but trading with African countries must comply with certain human rights requirements across the supply chain.

It is in this context that many governments and businesses are taking action in Africa to create an enable environment for responsible business conduct. These actions range from policy or regulatory developments to business practices, among others. The African continent plays a pivotal role as a key trading partner for numerous countries across the globe, contributing significantly to international commerce and economic growth. Its vast natural resources, growing consumer markets, and strategic geographic location make it an integral part of many global businesses’ value chains. Companies across various industries, from technology and manufacturing to agriculture and energy, rely on African trade agreements for the supply of raw materials, production, and distribution, underscoring the continent’s increasing influence on global trade and economic development.

To position children as a key vulnerable group impacted by business and to advocate for the integration of child protective approaches in government legislation and business practice, UNICEF is working to develop strategic narratives and engagement plans that can support engagement in this area of work. To support this process, the PPP section is seeking a children’s rights and global supply chains consultant to develop, disseminate and promote internal and external multi-sectoral approaches to child-sensitive responsible business conduct, including addressing the root causes of child labor; strengthen knowledge management; and lead external stakeholder engagement, including developing strong narratives to support resource mobilization efforts to achieve CO programme results.

Under the supervision of the Corporate Alliance Specialist (ESARO), and with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Adviser, Child Rights and Business (PG) and in close collaboration with colleagues in UNICEF West and Central Africa Regional Office, the consultant will support several UNICEF National Committees, Regional, and Country Offices to engage industry, policymakers, and other stakeholders on addressing child rights issues in global supply chains in Sub Saharan Africa with a strong focus on child labour. Working closely with relevant programmatic teams at global, regional, and country levels (e.g., child protection, social policy, education, gender, nutrition), the role will have a dedicated focus on promoting child-responsive due diligence action to address root causes of child rights deprivations (including child labour), and more responsible supply chains for children.

Scope of work

1. Goal and objective: the Corporate Alliance Specialist (ESARO), and with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Adviser, Child Rights and Business (PG), the consultant will promote internal and external multi-sectoral approaches to child sensitive responsible business conduct, including developing strategic narratives of the role of UNICEF in protecting children in global supply chains (e.g. addressing the root causes of child labor). This will support fundraising efforts regionally and facilitate our advocacy for new funds to UNICEF programmes, with a focus on high quality, flexible funding.
2. Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: Explain briefly how this assignment links to AWP/IR number.

Interlinkages between public and private sector are increasingly relevant in partnerships building and development. In order to seize the momentum of many of our top partners designing actions related to global supply chains in Africa, UNICEF would like to get support to develop the narratives we need to position children in this area and ensure partner engagement and resource mobilization. By developing strategic narratives and positioning the role of UNICEF, we can demonstrate our added value to our key partners and open opportunities for income and influence to achieve results for children.

3. Activities and Tasks:

In close coordination with the ESARO PPP team and the child rights and business global team (PG) the consultant will:

• Lead the integration of responsible business conduct and child rights due diligence components in existing donor grants and commitments on child rights and global supply chains. Among other activities, this includes providing technical support developing guidance, and dissemination of material on multisectoral approaches to addressing the root causes of child labour.
• Identify and advance engagement and partnership opportunities with public and private sector stakeholders including governments, investors, businesses, multi-stakeholder platforms, and industry-standard setters, where deemed relevant and strategic.
• Through the development of strategic advocacy materials, promote a child rights lens to human rights due diligence, and key messages on responsible business conduct to address root causes of child labour as part of relevant networks and initiatives.
• Lead on consolidating learnings from existing child rights and global supply chains work and pilots and related experiences, and shape narratives to strengthen CRB and programme integration. This includes further conceptualizing the role of business in relation to UNICEF programme agendas (e.g. systems strengthening, care and support) and external topics (e.g. HREDD, RBC, NAPs).
• Engage with relevant networks and platforms working on the issue of child labour in specific sectors (ILO, ITC, FAO, ICI, Alliance 8.7, child labour platform, responsible minerals initiative etc.)
• Drive content development, proposal writing and donor engagement (incl. follow-up) to support resource mobilization in support of child rights in global supply chains and programmatic work at CO-level. This requires working closely with relevant Natcom and HQ, ROs, and COs to develop tailored and targeted proposals, and engaging with relevant UNICEF parts before and during donor engagement.
• Facilitate internal coordination between programme and partnerships colleagues and support capacity building and knowledge exchange.
• Coordinate regular information exchange and experience sharing meetings with ROs and relevant COs and NatComs; respond to requests for technical support; and capture case studies of impactful UNICEF programming, partnerships and advocacy work and initiatives at country-level.

Corporate Alliance Specialist (ESARO), with a dotted reporting line to the Senior Adviser, Child Rights and Business (PG) will work in close coordination with the child rights and business specialist in WCARO. The consultant is also expected to work in close collaboration with programme and partnerships teams at the country, regional, and global levels, as well as with NatComs.

Outputs/Deliverables:

Deliverables (SMART)	Duration (Estimated # of days)	Timeline/Deadline
Support existing projects and activities and identify new opportunities for engagement and resource mobilization at country, regional, and global levels.	Continuous once plan established – 12 months	31 December
Position UNICEF as a key stakeholder and convener within the area of child rights and global supply chains through evidence generation, policy advocacy, outreach, and awareness raising, as well as thought leadership	Continuous once plan established – 12 months	31 December
Facilitate internal coordination between programme and partnerships colleagues and support capacity building and knowledge exchange, including the compilation of results and case studies.	Continuous once plan established – 12 months	31 December

Payment schedule

Deliverables (SMART)	Duration (Estimated # of days)	Timeline/Deadline	Payment
Mapping of entry points and opportunities for engagement in global supply chains at the global and regional level. This should also include at least the top 5 priority African countries (3 ESAR, 2 WCAR)	#50	28 February	20%
Advocacy Brief about the role of UNICEF in global supply chains with identification of best practices at the global, regional, and country level	#90	30 March (negotiable, depending on coordination with PG and WCARO team)	20%
Development of strategic narratives for donor engagement in global supply chains for global, regional, and country engagements	Continuous once plan established – 12 months	31 December	20%
Capture case studies of impactful UNICEF programming, partnerships, and advocacy work and initiatives at country-level	#120	30 May (Negotiable, depending on availability of information)	20%
Support the development of donor proposals/pitch on children’s rights and global supply chains, with at least two proposals for African countries.	Continuous once plan established – 12 months	31 December	20%

Desired competencies, technical background and experience

1. Education:

Advanced University degree in business, international development, human rights, sociology, international law, or another relevant social science, or another relevant field is required.

2. Experience:

• Minimum 7 years of work experience in one of the following areas is required: business and human rights, children’s rights and business, decent work, child labour, or related area.
• Experience on resource mobilization, partnerships and strategic donor engagement, both public and private sector stakeholders. Experience developing resource mobilization proposals and narratives is an asset.
• Experience working in the context of business responsibility in global supply chains will be highly valued. Experience in the African context is an asset.
• Experience working in an international environment on topics related to responsible business conduct, decent work, and related, will be highly valued.
• Strong research background and writing skills are required.
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

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.

Administrative issues

• The consultant will be based in Nairobi with possibility to work remotely.
• If remote, availability between 9 am to 4 pm Nairobi is preferred.

Conditions

• Office space or equipment will not be provided
• As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advances purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
• 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 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 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.
• The selected candidate is solely responsible for ensuring that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract.
• Consultants are responsible for determining and meeting their tax or duty liabilities by local or other applicable laws. UNICEF does not issue statements of earnings to consultants.
• UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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 afterward in your assignment.

Risks

Risks	Managed through	Comments
The job requires a high degree of coordination/engagement with other teams at country, regional and global level which may slow down the achievement of some deliverables	Regular coordination between ESARO PPP, PG, WCARO and other relevant teams	Any reasonable accommodations due to factors outside of direct control on delays will be documented and escalated as needed.

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.

 How to apply

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and their technical proposals to the online recruitment portal (Talent Management System)

Interested candidates to indicate their ability, availability, and rate (daily/monthly) expressed in US$ for international consultants or KES for national consultants to undertake the terms of reference. The fees should be inclusive of other costs incurred such as travel/return ticket, VISA and subsistence allowances for international consultants who will be based in Nairobi.

Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.