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Consultancy Title: Field-based Consultant in Vitebsk – Field monitoring and reporting on programme implementation in the Vitebsk region (National, Belarus)

Section/Division/Duty Station: Child Protection section, UNICEF Belarus CO

Duration: December 2024 – December 2025 (about 12 months)

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based

* The consultant will be based in Vitebsk region with regular monitoring visits (as per agreed plan) in the Vitebsk region in consultation with CP section. The consultant will be invited to visit Minsk city and other regions for office-based events and meetings.

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world’s leading children’s rights organization would like to hear from you. Over 75 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children’s survival, protection and development. UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations, and governments.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION  

Importance of Early Childhood Development

Early childhood, and specifically the period from 0 to 3 years (U3), plays a critical role in a child’s overall development. For every three months that a young child spends in an institutionalized environment, one month of development is lost. Extended periods of institutionalization can lead to significant damage to the physical, cognitive, and emotional well-being of boys and girls, with potentially irreversible consequences.  Recognizing the significance of this developmental stage, it becomes imperative to ensure that children grow up in supportive and nurturing family environments.

Childcare in Belarus: Focus on De-institutionalization

The Government of the Republic of Belarus and UNICEF in Belarus place a high priority on protecting the rights of children to grow up in supportive family settings. To achieve this, community-based support services have been identified as crucial for families with children, aiming to enhance their capacity to care for and nurture their children. Measures such as fostering and family-type group homes have been introduced to provide family-like environments for children in need.

Despite these, there are still 7,144 children live in residential institutions ([1]). The Government’s 2020-2023 intersectoral plan on de-institutionalization for children and youth, chaired by the Ministry of Education, stipulated development of complex measures aimed at strengthening interagency cooperation in prevention of institutionalization and deinstitutionalization of children, with special focus on children under 3 years old (U3) and those with disabilities (CWD – children with disabilities).

The Role of UNICEF in Belarus and the Program Scope

UNICEF in Belarus recognizes the importance of strengthening Belarus’s social work and childcare systems to better support vulnerable families and prevent situations that may lead to children being separated from their families. This work needs to be focused on the following key areas:

• Strengthening social work. This includes improving case management, individual support plans, and implementing positive parenting responses to assist families at –risk.
• Building sustainable childcare alternatives. This includes needs assessment of children currently in institutional care and develop strategies for transferring them to family-based care alternatives
• Enhancing intersectoral responses and coordination. Childcare responses span across multiple ministries, and UNICEF in Belarus seeks to integrate intersectoral coordination to ensure effective support for children and families.
• Reviewing situation of vulnerable child groups including potentially migrant and/or refugee children

Target groups and participating institutions:

This work will primarily target families with children U3 and CWD in Vitebsk oblast with a focus on prevention of institutionalization.

• children/adolescents and families from vulnerable groups in Vitebsk Oblast, including with disabilities and special needs as well as migrants and/or refugees.
• families of children U3 and CWD raised in Vitebsk oblast residential care institutions engaged in the project; biological and foster parents raising CWD.
• specialists from the education, health and social protection systems providing support for families raising children U3 and CWD.
• specialists providing selection pre-service and in-service training programmes for perspective and active foster parents.

Four residential care institutions are planned to be involved in the project implementation, comprising almost 300 children with 90% of those with disabilities: 1) Vitebsk Oblast Baby Home (Health System); 2) Bogushevsk Residential Care Institution for Children and Young People with Disabilities (Labour and Social Protection System); 3) Begoml Auxiliary School for CWD  (Education System);  4) Vitebsk Children’s Home (Education System).

An interagency task force consisting of representatives from education, health and social protection sectors will be created to coordinate the de-institutionalization (DI) process at oblast level. This group’s capacity needs to be strengthened by additional capacity development sessions with international experts. It is also planned to develop the roadmap for DI for 4 residential care institutions for further approval by the Oblast Executive Committee.

PURPOSE OF ACTIVITY/ASSIGNMENT

The purpose of this consultancy is to provide field monitoring on status of children in vulnerable groups (especially children 0-3, CWD at risk of losing their parental care, migrants, and refugees) and project coordination on ‘De-institutionalization and social care in Vitebsk oblast’. The consultant will provide expert support for the activities within Programme Contract Agreements (PCA), concluded with respective entities in Vitebsk oblast on “Prevention of institutionalization and deinstitutionalization of children U3 and those with disabilities” under the ‘Family for Every Child’ initiative. The consultant will be responsible for data collection, documentary support, and provision of timely reporting by partners.

Scope of Work:

Strengthening Childcare Systems, De-Institutionalization Efforts

The consultant’s responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Field monitoring: conduct regular field visits to above-mentioned residential care institutions and project sites to collect information and data on the implementation of activities and provide technical expertise in assessment their impact according to PCAs, facilitate programme visits for UNICEF staff.
• Technical support for project implementation: explore development of community services and assess the implementation status.
• Data collection: collect relevant data and information to assess the progress of the project and its compliance with the PCA indicators.
• Reporting: provide timely and comprehensive reports, highlighting progress, challenges, and recommendations for improvements.

Supervision and collaboration with other sections:

The consultant will be working under direct supervision of Child Protection Specialist. The consultant will be working with all UNICEF sections to plan and monitor the programmes as per needs.

Travel Requirements:

Travel to cities and villages of Vitebsk region is expected at least 3 to 8 working days per month. Monthly travel plan will be discussed and agreed with the supervisor and relevant sections.

Support and Training:

It is expected that consultant will undergo orientation sessions with Child Protection and Communications Teams, as well as obliged to familiarize and know well such documents as Core Commitments for Children in Emergencies, Guidance on Social Media Use, Methodological Note on SBC Indicators.

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline:

Travel (if required as per TOR):

Local travels within Belarus. The consultant will be based in Vitebsk region with regular monitoring visits (as per agreed plan) in the Vitebsk region in consultation with CP section. The consultant will be invited to visit Minsk city and other regions for office-based events and meetings.

Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelors University degree in Psychology, Social work, Pedagogical backgrounds, or relevant social sciences

Work experience/Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• More than 5 years of practical experience in project management and monitoring implementation at the local level
• Experience of facilitation of the dialog with the local authorities on the project implementation.
• Experience of work with UN entities in Belarus is an advantage;
• Experience in interaction with state and international organizations, social service systems
• Fluency in local and Russian languages is a must, and a good knowledge of English will be a significant plus
• Strong skills in field monitoring, data collection, and data analysis. Experience in using monitoring and evaluation tools and methods.

Competencies:

• Knowledge and understanding of child protection issues, child rights, and relevant international conventions and guidelines related to children’s right and wellbeing.
• Cultural sensitivity, flexibility, adaptability, and ability to work under challenging and rapidly changing circumstances.
• Upholding high ethical standards, particularly in relation to child protection and vulnerable populations.
• Proficiency in standard office software (e.g., Microsoft Word, Excel, Google Forms)

Requirements:

Completed profile in UNICEF’s e-Recruitment system and

• Interested consultants should provide a letter of interest (Cover Letter) describing how they can contribute to the interventions listed under roles and responsibilities and why they should be selected for this position. In addition, they should share their latest CV/Resume and financial proposal  Financial Offer template_CP Vitebsk Consultancy.docx to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done/portfolio
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal: all-inclusive lump-sum cost (including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment) that will include/ reflect:
  • the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

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

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 | 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.