SBC Better Care Individual Consultant

Job no: 571832
Contract type: Consultant
Duty Station: Kyiv
Level: Consultancy
Location: Ukraine
Categories: Social and Behavior Change

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, hope

UNICEF Ukraine

How can you make a difference?

Background:

Social and Behaviour Change (SBC) Section closely works with Child Protection Section, better care reform office, Ministry of Social policy and field offices in design and implementation of the “Better Care” programme, one of the UCO flagships. This initiative entails working with a variety of stakeholders internally within UCO and externally (national and international partners and counterparts) and consists of the following key components:

• Strengthening preventive measures: To address the institutionalization of children, it is essential to review and revise relevant laws and policies, establish a moratorium on new institutions, and redirect private funding towards supporting families. Gatekeeping procedures at the local level can be implemented to identify and address the issues that place children at risk of separation.
• Enhancing alternative family care options: To expand the availability and quality of alternative family care, comprehensive measures should be taken. This includes providing training and support for families receiving children, revising regulations to reduce barriers to accessing social supports, and ensuring the presence of qualified social workers who can offer ongoing monitoring and assistance.
• Supporting at-risk families: Families at risk of separation require targeted support. This can be achieved through the provision of social protection measures, such as cash support, psychosocial assistance, and ensuring access to safe housing and basic needs through other social services.
• Strengthening the care system: It is crucial to invest in the care systems capacity by doubling the number of social work professionals and providing them with the necessary infrastructure, equipment, training, and supervision. Restoring staffing levels of the Regional Division of the State Social Services and strengthening local government capacity for delivering social services are also vital steps.
• Integration of services and standardized procedures: Establishing integrated social protection services and implementing a unified registration system and case management procedures tailored to the unique needs of children will improve coordination and ensure a comprehensive approach to care.
• Mobilizing financing: Increasing financing for safe housing, safe care, and bright futures is essential. This can be achieved by directing public and private funding towards family and community-based care. Additionally, exploring multilateral, donor, and EU financing opportunities will provide the necessary resources to support better care for children in Ukraine.

SBC plays a critical role in successful implementation of the “Better Care” initiative. With a focus on promoting positive social and behavioral change, the programme seeks to address the multifaceted challenges faced by children in need of care and protection. The programme operates in various contexts and requires specialized expertise to tailor social and behaviours change and communication and advocacy interventions that are effective and culturally appropriate.

Purpose of assignment:

The objective of the Social and Behaviour Change Expert is to provide support to the “Better Care” flagship programme by support in designing, implementing, and evaluating social and behavioural change initiatives, communication and advocacy interventions at national and particularly sub-national levels. At sub-national level the current geographic focus includes but not limited to Dnipro, Kharkiv and Volyn oblasts.

The consultancy will aim to foster positive changes in attitudes, beliefs, and behaviours related to caregiving and child welfare, contributing to the overall success of the programme.

The key components of the consultancy are as follows:

1. Strategy Development and Intervention Design for regional campaigns roll-out.

2. Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement in the field.

3. Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting.

4. Advocacy and Communication.

5. Sustainability Planning.

Work assignment overview:

Deliverable

Deadline

# of w/days

• Support in strategy Development and Intervention Design for regional campaigns roll-out

Activities and Tasks:

• Conduct a situation analysis to identify key behavioral challenges and opportunities in the selected regions.

• Develop a comprehensive social and behaviour change strategy in consultation with stakeholders for regional campaigns roll-out.

• Design targeted interventions based on evidence and best practices.

Deliverables:

• Situation Analysis Report for Better Care (national and sub-national levels).

• Social and Behaviour Change Strategy Document for Better Care (national and sub-national levels).

• Intervention Design Plan for Better Care (national and sub-national levels).

Timelines:

• Situation Analysis Report: 15 July 2024

• Strategy Document plan: 20 August 2024

• Intervention Design Plan: 31 August 2024

60

• Capacity Building and Stakeholder Engagement in the regions

Activities and Tasks:

• Facilitate workshops and training sessions for local stakeholders.

• Develop and disseminate educational materials and guidelines in the regions.

• Establish and maintain partnerships with government agencies, NGOs, and other relevant parties.

Deliverables:

• Workshop and Training programs.

• Educational Materials and Guidelines.

• Partnership Engagement Report.

Timelines:

• Workshop and Training Reports: 31 May 2025

• Educational Materials: 31 September 2024

• Partnership Engagement Report: 31 May 2025

50

• Monitoring, Evaluation, and Reporting

Activities and Tasks:

• Develop a framework for monitoring and evaluating interventions in the regions.

• Collect and analyze data to assess the impact of strategies and interventions.

• Prepare and submit periodic progress reports and a final programme evaluation report.

Deliverables:

• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework

• Quarterly Progress Reports

• Final Program Evaluation Report

Timelines:

• Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: 15 October 2024

• Quarterly Progress Reports: 1st report by 31 August 2024, 2nd report by 30 Noveber 2024, 3rd report by 28 February 2025, 4th report by 31 May 2025;

• Final Programme Evaluation Report: 31 May 2025

50

• Advocacy and Communication

Activities and Tasks:

• Develop and implement an advocacy and communication plan to roll out regional campaigns.

• Overview the creation and distribution of communication materials to promote key messages and behavioral change.

• Organize and participate in advocacy events and media engagement to raise awareness.

Deliverables:

• Advocacy and Communication Plan

• Communication Materials (brochures, posters, videos, etc.)

• Advocacy Event and Media Engagement Reports

Timelines:

• Advocacy and Communication Plan: 15 November 2024

• Communication Materials: Rolling basis as per plan

• Advocacy Event and Media Engagement Reports: 15 February 2025

50

• Sustainability Planning

Activities and Tasks:

• Identify and document best practices and lessons learned throughout the programme.

• Develop a sustainability plan to ensure the continuation of successful interventions.

• Provide recommendations for scaling up and replicating effective strategies.

Deliverables:

• Best Practices and Lessons Learned Document

• Sustainability Plan

• Scaling Up and Replication Recommendations Report

Timelines:

• Best Practices and Lessons Learned Document: 31 March 2025

• Sustainability Plan: 30 April 2025

• Scaling Up and Replication Recommendations Report: 1 June 2025

40

Travel plan:

Destination

Period
[month, year]

Days

Kharkiv

August 2024

5

Dnipro

September 2024

5

Lutsk

October 2024

5

Lviv

February 2025

5

Chernivtsi

March 2025

5

Please provide an all-inclusive financial proposal including travels to carry out the deliverables listed above.

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

Education: Masters degree or higher in one of the following fields is required: international relations, communications, public relations, business administration, arts or any other related humanitarian field.

Professional experience:

• At least three years of progressive professional experience in SBC, communication, advocacy on social issues, including health, education, child protection, promotion of social services etc.
• Prior experience with the UN/UNICEF will be considered an asset.

Languages:

• English: Upper-intermediate [B2];
• Ukrainian: Proficient/Native [C2].

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEFs values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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.

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:

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.

Advertised: 08 May 2024 FLE Daylight Time
Deadline: 14 May 2024 FLE Daylight Time