Back Consultant for Child Rights Impact Assessment, Belgrade, Serbia

Consultant for Child Rights Impact Assessment

Job no: 539124

Position type: Consultancy

Location: Serbia Division/Equivalent: CEE/CIS

School/Unit: Republic of Serbia

Department/Office: Belgrade, Serbia

Categories: Statistics and Monitoring, Consultancy

UNICEF is committed to

diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, gender identity and sexual orientation, as well as persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. UNICEF's office is

accessible to a certain extent, and employees are entitled to

reasonable accommodations that are needed for ensuring equitable working conditions.

UNICEF's current Country Programme Document for Serbia (2021-2025), consistent with government priorities and the UNICEF Strategic Plan, aims to contribute to national efforts to progressively fulfil the rights of all children in Serbia, especially the most disadvantaged and excluded, and enable them to develop to their full potential in an inclusive and protective society respectful of their voices.

In previous years, UNICEF in Serbia has supported the Ombudsman to produce a Special Report on the Status of Child Rights (2018), as well as its regular participation in ENOC (the European Network of Ombudspersons for Children) activities. In May 2020, ENOC and UNICEF conducted a short online survey on Ombudspersons and Commissioners for Children's responses to the new challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently organized an online discussion.

UNICEF in Serbia will support the strengthening of the capacities of the Office of the Ombudsman of the Republic of Serbia in the process of conducting a CRIA as a contribution to the overall UNICEF ECARO-ENOC initiative. To this end, UNICEF in Serbia is looking for a qualified consultant to provide professional expertise in support of the CRIA Assessment.

At the national level, the CRIA will enable the Ombudsman to assess the impact of state responses to COVID-19 on child rights. This initiative will strengthen the overall capacities of this NHRI in monitoring child rights, in line with its mandate. The mapping of how COVID-19 legislation and practices have affected child rights in Serbia, will contribute to lessons learnt for decision-makers in Serbia to ensure better preparedness and capability to respond effectively to similar challenges in the future. The Ombudsman will share the findings of the CRIA with the relevant national and local authorities in Serbia, as well as with regional and international bodies, such as the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child, in support of their respective activities with regard to child rights.

Work Assignment Overview:

Under the overall supervision of UNICEF, and in close collaboration with the office of the Serbia Ombudsman, this consultancy will entail:

• Propose to and support the Ombudsman in adapting the CRIA tools and Common Framework of Reference (CFR) developed by ENOC to Serbia's context and needs;
• Provide technical assistance to the Ombudsman in collecting and analysing data and conducting the CRIA in two areas affecting child rights: the right to access services and institutions of child protection, and the right of the child to maintain personal contact with both parents;
• Support the Ombudsman in the process of drafting and finalising the CRIA Report as per the format suggested by ENOC, and reflecting the views of Ombudsman staff, as well as the suggestions of UNICEF and ENOC.
• Support the Ombudsman in Serbia in launching and communicating the findings and recommendations stemming from the CRIA.

Duration of the assignment:

April - September 2021 (up to 50 workdays)

Detailed task description:

Task 1:

Following the workshop organised by ENOC on CRIA in the COVID-19 context, examine the proposed Common Framework of Reference (CFR) developed by ENOC, propose the most appropriate methodological options for Serbia and propose adapted tools for the COVID-19 CRIA in Serbia.

Task 2: Following the approval of the methodology (and formal ethical approval if deemed relevant), conduct:

• desk review of state-issued normative acts in response to the COVID-19 challenges, particularly in the previously identified areas affecting child rights: the right to access services and institutions of child protection and the right of the child to maintain a personal contact with both parents;
• desk review of published reports (including regular annual and special reports by the Ombudsman), overview of statistical data and materials of the Ombudsman: complaints, caseload, recommendations, positive practices, etc.;
• field data collection from key stakeholders, service providers and beneficiaries, as appropriate.

Analyse the findings and prepare the first draft CRIA report for Serbia.

Task 3:

Reflect in the second draft and in the final report the respective 1st and 2nd rounds of feedback by the

Ombudsman, UNICEF and ENOC. Prepare additional summarised 1-2-page versions of the report for advocacy and information purposes, particularly for:

• national decision-makers,
• the Committee on the Rights of the Child, the EU Delegation and other international partners,
• the general public, and
• children.

Review the English translation(s) of the report and other written materials and ensure that they correspond adequately to the Serbian originals developed by the consultant and Ombudsman for this exercise.

Task 4:

Prepare, in discussion with the Ombudsman and UNICEF in Serbia, a draft concept note, agenda, list of participants, summary presentation for the official launch of the Serbia COVID-19 CRIA; advise Ombudsman on a list of recipients for the dissemination of the report; assist the Ombudsman in the national launch event of the report as well as be available for assistance as needed for the ENOC launching of the main, multi-country COVID-19 CRIA report.

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required:

• Master's degree in Law is required, PhD is an asset;
• Knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and other relevant international standards;
• At least 8 years of experience in human rights, especially child rights, demonstrated through participation in advancement of human rights processes, through developing legislation and/or policy documents in the area, providing training programmes to professionals, through research and publications, etc.;
• Familiarity with the strategic and legal framework relevant for child rights;
• Familiarity with the area of criminal justice for children, social protection, education and/or risk preparedness in the domain of child rights in the local context in Serbia;
• Experience in the analysis of child-related policies;
• Experience with assessing the impact of laws or government policies over human rights is considered a strong asset;
• Excellent analytical, communication and writing skills;
• Excellent knowledge of Serbian and English language.

How to apply:

The application must include a

financial proposal in RSD as a separate document, providing the following information:

Daily rate (all costs included, e.g. health insurance, pension, usage of mobile phone),

Daily travel allowance for an overnight stay in Serbia (including accommodation),

Transportation costs per km (for travel within Serbia).

Important notes:

Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration.

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

For every child, you must demonstrate UNICEF's

core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability.

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Advertised: Mar 24 2021 Central Europe Standard Time Application close: Apr 04 2021 Central Europe Daylight Time

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