SHORT-TERM INDIVIDUAL NATIONAL CONSULTANCY for ESTABLISHING CHILD RIGHTS CENTERS ON PILOT BAR ASSOCIATIONS

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The devastating Kahramanmaras-centered earthquakes of 6 February 2023 have left children and their caregivers in a precarious position, requiring urgent legal support. To provide mobile legal aid services to earthquake-affected populations, ensuring access to justice and empowerment through legal awareness, UNICEF, the Ministry of Family and Social Services (MoFSS) and the Union of Turkish Bar Associations (UTBA) have established the initiative “Improving the Lives of Children through Enhancing Responsive Child Protection Services and Support in Emergencies”, funded by the European Union. With regards to the foregoing aims of the mentioned project, UTBA and UNICEF seek 2 (two) consultants to conduct needs and capacity assessments in 14 cities (each consultant to conduct field visits in 7 cities for 2 days in each city), develop child safeguarding standards and standard operating procedures, develop and deliver training programmes based on the developed standards, and draft content for awareness-raising materials for the implementation of the mobile outreach activities to enhance legal assistance services in the 14 earthquake-affected cities.

For every child, inclusivity

Background

Background information can be found under ToR.

tor_crc_consultant_yosigned_signedmg_LAst.pdf

How can you make a difference? 

The selected consultant is expected, in collaboration with UTBA and UNICEF, to plan, identify, monitor, and finalize the deliverables outlined below for the establishment of the CRC models in pilot bar associations.

ALL INPUTS SHOULD BE DEVELOPED IN LINE WITH INTERNATIONAL CHILD JUSTICE STANDARDS.

The selected consultant is expected to complete the following tasks and submit the relevant deliverables in line with the indicative work calendar proposed below.

Task 1: Develop Fundamental Guidelines, SoPs, Methodologies, and Internal Rules of Procedure for CRCs

• Develop comprehensive guidelines for training activities, referral processes, supervision protocols, strategic litigation approaches, and monitoring and reporting mechanisms within Child Rights Centers.
• Draft Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) for various activities, including case handling, data management, legal aid service management, and engagement with government agencies and other relevant actors in child rights-related activities.
• Design methodologies for training programs, effective referral mechanisms for child-related cases, strategic litigation planning, evidence-based monitoring and reporting procedures, and ensuring financial resources for CRCs and related studies.
• Establish clear and concise internal rules of procedure to ensure consistency, accountability, and professionalism within CRCs.

Task 2: Organize and Conduct Training Sessions for Five Pilot Bar Associations

• Design and implement ten training sessions for five pilot bar associations on child-friendly justice, legal aid, case handling, and strategic litigation.
• Ensure the training sessions are interactive, evidence-based, and tailored to the needs of legal professionals working on child-related cases.
• Collaborate with experts, including psychologists, social workers, and legal professionals, to provide a multidisciplinary perspective in the training sessions.

Task 3: Develop Practical Tools and Materials for Outreach, Awareness-Raising, Data Collection, and Planning

• Create outreach and awareness-raising materials targeting children, parents, legal representatives, caregivers, and other stakeholders, including brochures, presentations, videos, and social media content.
• Develop tools for effective reporting, data collection, and analysis, enabling CRCs to track cases and outcomes related to child-friendly justice.
• Design planning tools to assist CRCs in setting objectives, establishing timelines, and monitoring progress.

Task 4: Standardize Child-Sensitive Information Materials on Judicial Processes, Rights, and Legal Aid

• Design child-friendly information materials explaining the judicial process, legal rights, and available legal aid services in a language and format suitable for children and their families.
• Collaborate with child psychologists and experts to ensure the materials are age-appropriate and culturally sensitive.

Task 5: Gender-Related Activity Planning and CRC Support

• Plan and coordinate a gender-related activity that each pilot bar association will implement, ensuring alignment with child rights and gender-sensitive approaches.
• Provide guidance and support to CRCs in implementing gender-sensitive approaches in their operations and services.

Task 6: Support and Review Monthly Reports from CRCs

• Review monthly reports submitted by CRCs, provide feedback, and ensure that findings contribute to continuous improvement and best practices.
• Offer support and recommendations to CRCs based on report findings to enhance service delivery and impact.

Task 7: Participate in Regular Meetings with Bar Associations

• Attend biweekly meetings with each bar association to discuss progress, challenges, and action plans related to CRC activities.
• Provide expert guidance and strategic advice during these meetings to strengthen the effectiveness of CRC operations.

Task 8: Conduct 10 Field Visits to CRCs and Other Relevant Institutions

• Participate in 10 field visits to CRCs, courts, legal aid offices, or other relevant institutions to assess the implementation of child-friendly justice principles.
• Document observations, provide on-the-ground technical support, and report findings to improve CRC operations.

Task 9: Final Report and Presentation to UNICEF, UTBA, and Relevant Stakeholders

• Prepare a comprehensive final report analyzing key findings, lessons learned, and recommendations regarding the establishment and operation of CRCs.
• Present the report and outcomes to UNICEF, UTBA, and other relevant stakeholders in a structured and engaging format.

Tasks

Deliverables

Language

Estimated Time of Delivery

1.

Develop Fundamental Guidelines, SoPs, Methodologies, and Internal Rules of Procedure for CRCs

Comprehensive guidelines, SoPs, methodologies, and internal rules of procedure

TUR

April 2025

10 person/days

2.

Organize and Conduct Training Sessions for Five Pilot Bar Associations

10 training sessions delivered

TUR

April-July 2025

40 person/days

3.

Develop Practical Tools and Materials for Outreach, Awareness-Raising, Data Collection, and Planning

Awareness materials (brochures, videos, presentations, social media content)

TUR

May 2025- October 2025

30 person/days

4.

Standardize Child-Sensitive Information Materials on Judicial Processes, Rights, and Legal Aid

Child-friendly information materials developed and standardized for CRC usage

TUR

April 2025-June 2025

15 person/days

5.

Gender-Related Activity Planning and CRC Support

Gender-sensitive activity plan developed and implemented across all bar associations, integrating gender considerations into legal aid and case management

TUR

September 2025- November 2025

15 person/days

6.

Support and Review Monthly Reports from CRCs

Monthly reports reviewed

TUR

May 2025- Jan 2026 40 person/ days

7.

Participate in Regular Meetings with Bar Associations

Active participation in biweekly meetings

TUR

May 2025- Jan 2026

18 person/days

8.

Conduct 10 Field Visits to CRCs and Other Relevant Institutions

10 field visits completed

TUR

May 2025- Jan 2026 30 person/days

10 monitoring reports

TUR

May 2025- Jan 2026 20 person/days

9.

Final Report and Presentation to

UNICEF, UTBA, and Relevant Stakeholders

Final report submitted on the SoP’s and the monitoring results of the CRC’s

TUR

February 2026

10 person/days

Total:

228 person/days

Duty Station: Please see TOR.

Supervisor: Please see TOR.

Estimated Duration and Cost of Consultancy:

Duration: The contract shall commence on the date of signing and remain in effect until the successful submission of all deliverables. The consultancy is expected to require a total of 228 working days, which will be scheduled during the initial phase of the assignment. The consultancy period will span from 15 April 2025 to 15 February 2026.

Estimated Cost of Consultancy: Applications shall include a detailed financial proposal that elaborates on daily costs based on the completion of above-mentioned deliverables, including a total sum demanded. All costs, including travel, accommodation, administrative costs, etc. shall be covered by the contractor and should be included in the financial proposal as a separate heading and broken down into details of accommodation and travel costs in line with UN DSA rates. The candidate is required to specify their daily rates and the total amount as per the number of anticipated working days for each deliverable in the financial proposal and provide the breakdown of the lump sum amount as well as incidentals of each deliverable in TRY.

Payment: UNICEF will issue a contract in TRY. The payment will be done in instalments upon submission of the deliverables as per the above list and will be executed in TRY.

Payment Schedule: Please see TOR. 

Reservations: Please see TOR.

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

Qualifications: 

• At least an undergraduate degree in law (having a higher degree would be deemed as a strong asset)
• At least 7 years of experience in programme management/support in the field of child protection with international organisations (previous work with UNICEF is an asset).
• Proven experience in conducting needs assessment or situation analysis or drafting evaluation reports in child justice indicated in CV.
• Proven experience in conducting trainings to lawyers and other law professionals on child justice indicated in CV.
• Experience as a consultant on EU/UN-funded projects is an asset, particularly with UN experience. Familiarity with UNICEF programming and reporting processes is especially beneficial.
• Knowledge, skills and expertise in the multi-disciplinary aspects of the child protection.
• Good command of Turkish and English.
• Excellent writing skills in turkish.

Skills and personal traits: 

• Sensitivity towards ethics with regards to human and child rights issues, different cultures, local customs, religious beliefs and practices, personal interaction and gender roles, disability, age, and ethnicity.
• Strong analytical, organizational, and inter-personal skills.
• Ability to work closely with national actors with tight deadlines, and to facilitate coordination of a process.
• Computer literacy.
• After the selection process the consultant will be expected to complete the mandatory UNICEF AGORA Trainings.

Application and Selection Criteria

Please note that the assignment can only be held by an individual consultant. Applications should be submitted in English and should include: 

• Financial proposal using the Financial Proposal Template,
• Financial-Offer-template_CRC.docx
• Most recent CV and
• Sample of relevant work developed by the consultant.

The submission deadline is 31.03.2025 by 12 am Türkiye time. Financial proposals should be submitted in separate folders from the remaining documentation. After the technical evaluation, the financial proposals of qualified candidates will be evaluated. The technical evaluation will be completed based on the attached technical evaluation criteria.

The applications will be evaluated from the technical and financial point of view. Technical aspects will be evaluated using the criteria outlined in the below matrix:

The financial proposals will be opened only for the candidates that reach or exceed forty-nine (49) points out of maximum seventy (70) points. Thirty (30) points will be awarded to the candidate that presented the lowest fee for the services requested. The remaining financial offers will receive proportional points ([lowest bid/bid] x 30 points).

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 here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic. UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors 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 afterwards in your assignment. 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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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. 

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. 

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