UNICEF is a UN organization mandated by the UN General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children’s rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Lao PDR, UNICEF is working with its partners to support the Government to realize children’s rights on survival, development, protection and participation.

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, support

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UNICEF in Vientiane, Lao PDR is looking for an Individual International Consultancy for Child and Youth Protection.  The duration of this assignment is 12 months starting as soon as possible and the consultant will be based at the UNICEF office in Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Summary of key functions/accountabilities:

The consultancy contributes to the implementation of the UNICEF Lao PDR Country Programme 2022-2026, contributing to developing and strengthening Child Protection System strengthening, notably Outcome: By 2026, more children are better protected from violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful practices and benefit from strengthened child protection system, services and improved behaviour, and two outputs:

• Output 2: By 2026, government and other service providers, including but not limited to social welfare and justice sectors, at national and sub-national levels have strengthened capacity and deliver integrated, quality and gender- and emergency-responsive child protection services.
• Output 3: By 2026, parents, caregivers, children, including adolescents, and their communities are better equipped to prevent and respond to violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and harmful practices.

Under the supervision of the Child Protection Specialist, the consultant will have key accountabilities, duties and tasks are as follows:

I. Prevention of Child marriage and Adolescent pregnancy programme

• Provide technical support to Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union (LYU) in strengthening capacity in Helpline implementation and establishing systematic call log data collection system
• Provide technical support to Lao Women’s Union (LWU) in revision of the counselling
• Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, Development Studies, International Relations or related
• Coordinate to develop, test and finalize Edutainment boardgame for addressing child marriage and adolescent pregnancy (with institutional contracted company)
• Support to disseminate findings of National research on Child marriage/Adolescent pregnancy by NCAWMC
• Provide technical support for revision of NCAWMC Life skills national guideline (as child-friendly version) for implementation
• Support to revise and update Social Behaviour Change (SBC) Manual on prevention of child marriage and adolescent pregnancy, in consultation with Communication section
• Provide technical inputs for DFAT C-Surge “Accelerating Child Marriage and Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention” reporting

II. Child Protection in Emergency

• Support emergency response for the child protection team, including participation in the office Emergency Preparedness and Response (EPR) on the team’s behalf.
• Support to review and finalize the International Agency contingency Plan (IACP) of Lao PDR.

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

Qualification and experience

• Advanced University Degree in Social Sciences, Humanities, Development Studies, International Relations or related
• At least three years progressively responsible work experience in child protection and social development

Knowledge and skills

• Experience working in a developing country in East Asia and the Pacific Region with sound knowledge on ASEAN mechanisms
• Relevant experience in programme management in child protection related areas, especially addressing harmful practices, in a UN system agency or international organization.
• Experience in both development and humanitarian contexts. Solid knowledge of the social, political and cultural context of Lao PDR and experiences in working in Lao PDR.
• Excellent communication, management and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent writing and communication skills in English. The ability to understand/communicate in Lao language is an asset.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents:

1. Letter of Interest (cover letter)
2. CV or Resume
3. Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including travel and accommodation cost for this assignment as per work assignment.

Assessment Criteria:

A) Technical Evaluation (e.g. maximum 75 Points)                B) Financial Proposal (e.g. maximum of 25 Points)

Technical Qualification (max. 100 points) weight 70 %

• Education degree (30 points)
• Three years of experience in child protection (including child protection in emergency) and adolescent engagement (40 points)
• Knowledge of socio-economic and child protection context in Lao PDR (30 points)

Financial Proposal (max. 100 points) weight 30 %

The maximum number of points shall be allotted to the lowest Financial Proposal that is opened /evaluated and compared among those technical qualified candidates who have attained a minimum 70 points score in the technical evaluation.

The applicants should provide medical insurance covering medical evacuation for the whole duration of the assignment -as part of the financial proposal submission.

The Contract shall be awarded to candidate obtaining the highest combined technical and financial scores, subject to the satisfactory result of the verification interview.

Please find the attached ToR here:  Terms of Reference (Template)- for Individual consultant CP_final for VA.pdf

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at here

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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.