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,
The National Strategy for Education Development for the period until 2030 emphasizes on the lack of alternative forms of education and accelerated development programs, e.g. for children with migrant siblings who return to their homeland; children from remote areas studying in small schools; refugee children with a language barrier; stateless children; children seeking refuge; as well as street children (i.e. children without a permanent residence) and orphans. Noting of the existing gaps, the same strategy gives priority to addressing the needs of above-mentioned children to enjoy safe and protective family environment and having access to services, including education.
The Law on Child Rights Protection was adopted in Tajikistan in 2015. In 2016 the Government of Tajikistan issued a Decree assigning the Ministry of Education and Science (MoES) a custodian over the implementation of the Law on Child Rights Protection. Followed by the Decree the Ministry of Education and Science set up a new Directorate on Child Rights Protection, where UNICEF Tajikistan provided financial support initially and this funding was sustained by the Government.
In 2018 UNICEF carried out a Functional Analysis of the Commission on Child Rights at the national, province, and district levels. This Functional Assessment identified existing gaps and provided specific recommendations to improve the work of the child protection statutory bodies to address the needs of children. Out of several, one of the areas identified is the existing gap between the bylaws regulating alternative family-based care and the role of the relevant government authorities at the local level. Additionally, Law on Child Rights Protection foresees the new type of family care- foster care in the country, however, is no clear procedure on how this new type of care to be implemented.
These blurry situation of the roles of local authorities to address the needs of children without parental care and absence of clear procedure of Foster Care implementation was raised at the session of the National Commission on Child Rights and the Ministry of Justice, a member of this Commission proposed to have separate Law on Guardianship to resolve existing discrepancies. Hence, development of the Law on Guardianship was part of the Plan of Action of the National Commission on Child Rights for 2022 and the MoES is in charge to implement this intervention.
MoES set up the Inter-Agency Working Group (IAWG) to work on the draft Law on Guardianship in 2021. It is planned to have a series of sessions of the IAWG to provide inputs and finalize the draft. UNICEF is a member of the IAWG and is providing technical support to the MoES, including bringing international expertise to provide input to the draft Law.
Hence, UNICEF Tajikistan is seeking for international expertise to provide technical support to review the draft law and provide inputs in line with the best international practices of alternative family-based care.
How can you make a difference?
The purpose of this assignment is to ensure that international best practices on alternative family-based care are incorporated into the draft Law on Guardianship of Tajikistan. This is carried out through a review of the draft Law in Guardianship developed by the MoES IAWG.
Description of the assignment:
This assignment will further build on the work currently ongoing efforts to prevent children from being placed in the residential childcare institutions and strengthen the child protection system at the local level to address the needs of children without family care in a child-friendly manner. Proposed technical support should include the following:
Analyse existing legislation & practices regarding children without family care in Tajikistan Reviewing of the draft Law on Guardianship Provision of online support to the MoES IAWG Presenting feedback to the IAWG during their regular sessionEstimated duration: 17 working days (July 2022 – 31 August 2022)
Duty station: Online
Off-site working days: 17 days
Supervisor: Child Protection Officer
Key tasks of consultants will include:
Brief analysis of the legislation related to children without family care is carried out Technical inputs provided to the draft Law on Guardianship Guidance to the MoES IAWG is provided High-quality report producedKEY DELIVERABLES/TIMEFRAME/PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
The assignment will be carried out in 17 days from July -August 2022. The final products of this consultancy will include the following deliverables:
#
Deliverable
Number of days
Timeline
Payment schedule)
Location
1
Inception report of legislation analysis
7
July 2022
Home-based
2
Technical inputs to the Law on Guardianship
8
August 2022 100 % upon satisfactory completion of the assignment
Home-based
3
Final report
2
August 2022
Home-based
Total
17 days
Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:
The documentation of the results will be based on:
Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF); Scope of work; Quality of work (quality of drafts of all above-mentioned products and incorporation of feedback provided by UNICEF and its partners); Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
Education: Advanced university degree in the fields of Social Sciences, Law, Development Studies, or Public Policy
Work Experience: At least 8 years of work experience in a relevant field, with focus on development of the legislation, analysis and strengthening child protection systems.
Technical Knowledge: Strong knowledge of child rights, child protection system approach and childcare system design and reform, social protection and social welfare.
Competencies: Strong analytical and conceptual thinking. Excellent writing, communication and presentation skills with stakeholders. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to tight timeframe. Good writing skills.
Language: Fluency in English, knowledge of Russian is a strong asset.
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
Cover letter/application/CV. A technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project and work plan, showing understanding of tasks Work plan Financial quote for the consultancy, including fees in USD per day and estimates for travel to the country. Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables. At least two references Application Technical and Financial proposals will not be considered.Queries can be sent to: dushanbe@unicef.org with the subject line “International Individual Consultancy to carry out a functional and capacity needs assessment of the Commission on Child Rights at the national and district levels” by 13 July 2022.
Travel costs and DSA will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations. No other remunerations apply. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible cost.
Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).
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 and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
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.
This vacancy is archived.