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Consultancy Title: International Consultant(s) to deliver trainings on psychological aid for children who experienced sexual violence

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

Duration: October 2024 – January 2025 (about 4 months)

Home/ office Based: Remote/Home-based

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

Violence against children (VAC) is a widespread phenomenon. A UNICEF 2016-2017 national study on assessing the situation with VAC in the Republic of Belarus revealed 50.1% of parents with children from 0-17 years old used violent disciplinary measures (psychological and/or physical) in a one-month period. Over the last 5 years, more than 3.5 thousand children have been victims of sexual abuse and exploitation. In 2022, 922 children, including 409 (44%) minors under 14 years of age. There has been a 33% increase in the number of minor rape victims (from 33 to 44), a three-fold increase in indecent assault (from 91 to 328), and a six-fold increase in the production and distribution of pornographic materials depicting minors (from 11 to 70).

Children who participated in the survey also reported exposure to sexual violence at various degrees. Children who suffer from violence are more at risk to continue the cycle of violence through either becoming the perpetrators themselves or experiencing violence again at a later stage in their lives, particularly in a family-type relationship.

While online access expands, child abuse takes on new dimensions, such as cyberbullying and online sexual abuse. Online sexual exploitation of children is a particularly acute problem for Belarus, given the high degree of the Internet connectivity and rapid ICT development in the country. National survey findings highlighted the predominantly latent nature of such abuse. According to the official statistics of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the number of crimes related to child pornography has increased almost 10 times in recent years; over 80% of child pornography crimes were committed online.

A significant increase of children experienced sexual violence actualizes a huge demand of timely and qualified psychological aid.

Victims of violence and their relatives require comprehensive assistance, including the qualified psychological assistance. Currently, there is a well-developed network of crisis psychologists in the Republic of Belarus, but there is an urgent need to enhance their competences in applying advanced approaches to providing crisis psychological assistance to children and adolescents affected by sexual violence. Moreover, since 2023, UNICEF has received an increased number of requests from national partners to strengthen the capacity of professionals to address this problem.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

The consultant (s) will deliver trainings for crisis psychologists on psychological aid for children who experienced sexual violence.

Scope of Work:

Training and supervision of groups of crisis pedagogical psychologists from the Belarusian Republican Centre for Psychological Assistance (RCPA) and Social Pedagogical Centres (SPC) in providing crisis psychological assistance to minors who are victims of sexual violence and their guardians.

Supervision and collaboration with other sections:

The consultant will be working under direct supervision of Child Protection Specialist.

Travel Requirements:

Travels to Minsk, Belarus, are expected for the training delivery.

Support and Training:

It is expected that consultant will undergo orientation sessions with the Child Protection team, as well as obliged to familiarize and know well UNICEF policy on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA).

Terms of Reference / Key Deliverables / Delivery Deadline:

Travel (if required as per TOR):

International travels (2 visit/travel) to Minsk, Belarus, are expected for the training delivery within this TOR.

Qualifications 

Education:

• 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 the field of providing psychological assistance to minors who have suffered from sexual violence;
• Experience in conducting training events for psychologists;
• Fluency in Russian;
• Availability to perform the ToR requirements and meet deadlines.

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 applicants 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 to undertake this job.
• Samples of the related job/tasks done/portfolio.
• Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal should be submitted using the financial offer template  Financial Offer template_VAC prevention Consultant.docx and must:
  • Reflect the costs per each deliverable and the total lump-sum for the whole assignment period (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference.
  • Include travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR. Consultants are responsible for arranging their own transportation arrangements. UNICEF can provide office vehicle for some duty travel missions with prior agreement as per monthly travel plan approved by the supervisor.
  • Include any other costs: health insurance, payment of an incidental expenditure (such as bank charges, insurances, etc.) 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 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: 

Individuals engaged under a consultancy 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. Consultants 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.