Terms of Reference
Writer: Programme Coordinators Guide for Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation, Consultancy
Location: Remote Based
Language(s) Required: English
Travel: No
Duration of Contract: 55 days between (13 July 2015 – 15 October 2015)
Application Deadline: 21 July 2015
Background
UNICEF works to advance the rights of adolescents (defined by UNICEF as human beings ages 10-19) across all UNICEF-supported programmes and policies. The small team of specialists at UNICEF promote comprehensive programmes, policies and interventions for adolescents that build on the assets and strength of young people, while also addressing their unique vulnerabilities and risks.
Currently UNICEF is leading a few, related initiatives to improve UNICEF’s capacity to reach adolescents during and after crises through programmes and interventions that support their wellbeing, development and positive engagement in recovery and peacebuilding efforts that reflect their own interests and priorities. One of these is the development of an “Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation” for use in humanitarian and low-resource contexts.
The “Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation,” is a package of technical resources and supplies for use in emergencies and other low-resource environments. Recently, UNICEF has collaborated closely with partners and adolescents in Indonesia and South Sudan to develop and design guidance, tools and unique supplies for the kit, working through new and ongoing programmes in those countries.
The Adolescent Kit will support activities and approaches that can be used through programmes such as child-friendly spaces, schools and non-formal learning programmes, youth centers, children’s clubs and voluntary associations. It is intended to strengthen those programmes’ reach to and effective support for children in the second decade of life, especially by promoting positive outcomes for adolescents’ psychosocial wellbeing, learning relevant life skills, and positive engagement with their communities. Activities supported by the kit will include arts, expression, games, and group projects designed and carried out by adolescents themselves to address their own interests and priorities.
The Adolescent Kit includes six main components, all of which are integrated a package that is available electronically and as a physical kit:
1) Guidance for facilitators, including tools, with activities to support the development of and engage adolescents in different contexts, with different needs and interests.
2) Guidance for programme coordinators, including tools, addressed UNICEF technical staff and partner organizations using or overseeing the activities and approaches offered in the kit.
3) Core guidance for all users (including and especially facilitators and programme coordinators), to provide a coherent set of understandings and methods that are consistent with UNICEF’s principles and established good practices for working with and for adolescents.
4) A supply kit, with materials to support adolescents’ expression and collaboration, designed to facilitate transporting materials to and working in remote environments.
5) Digital and electronic platforms and tools, to make the kit resources more accessible and effective, and will enable information-sharing within and between country programmes using the kit.
6) A training package to prepare key UNICEF staff and partners to utilize the kit through new or ongoing programmes in order to contribute to positive outcomes for adolescents’ wellbeing, development and engagement.
Background and early development:
UNICEF’s preparation and early development of the Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation have included the following steps:
· Establishing partnerships with the US Fund for UNICEF and the PBEA programme (detailed further below), which include funding for the development and institutionalization of the Adolescent Kit over a three-year period.
· Gathering and utilizing findings from field-based consultations with youth facilitators, adolescents and programme staff in Timor Leste, Haiti, Uganda, South Sudan, Jordan and Indonesia.
· Gathering and utilizing findings from desk-based consultations (i.e. phone interviews and e-mail correspondence) conducted to gather lessons learned from UNICEF’s and partners’ arts, sports, life skills and community engagement programmes with a focus on those in emergency contexts.
· Conducting consultations with an internal Technical Guidance Group to ensure that it reflects UNICEF’s technical standards and best practices. (The review by internal and external experts described above was an outgrowth of this process).
· Harmonizing of the adolescent kit’s development with other emerging UNICEF programmes, principles and practices related to equity, peacebuilding and resilience. This especially includes UNICEF’s support to the Peacebuilding, Education and Advocacy (PBEAProgramme, which has allocated funding to develop the adolescent kit as a resource to promote adolescents’ engagement as peacebuilders (further described below).
Progress to date:
The Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation is currently under development, with a few key processes and outputs having been completed to date.
· UNICEF has produced seventy-five “version 1.0” kits, including all technical guidance and supplies for field-based testing by UNICEF Country Offices.
· UNICEF has launched a website which provides basic information about the kit as well as electronic versions of all guidance materials and tools (including print and video instruction), and serves as a platform for users and reviewers to share feedback.
· UNICEF has initiated collaborations with six UNICEF country offices to use and test the version 1.0 kits through new and ongoing programmes.
o UNICEF-Indonesia and UNICEF-South Sudan have worked with ADAP through extended collaborations to develop use and test the kits since December 2013 and November 2014, respectively. Twenty of the version 1.0 kits mentioned above are currently in use in ongoing programmes in South Sudan. (The pilot programme in Indonesia has closed in preparation for a transition to larger-scale programming beginning later this year).
o UNICEF-State of Palestine will initiate small-scale testing of utilizing 10 version 1.0 kits in June 2015.
o UNICEF-Bhutan, will initiate small-scale testing of utilizing 15 version 1.0 kits in June 2015.
o In all four of those countries, plans are under discussion to scale up use of the kits based on findings from the test experiences and country-level priorities and conditions.
o UNICEF is also communicating with colleagues in additional countries to develop plans to initiate and support testing and use of the kits through new and ongoing programmes. Tentative plans are in place to support use of the kits with UNICEF-, UNICEF-Myanmar, and UNICEF-Turkey. Discussions of potential collaborations with UNICEF-Jordan and UNICEF-Philippines are also underway.
· A training package of resources has been drafted and tested to prepare programme coordinators to effectively use the approaches, activities and supplies in the kit, and to train facilitators. The package was developed and piloted through the collaborations with UNICEF-South Sudan and UNICEF-Indonesia.
· Experts have been engaged from a wide range of technical areas related to the kit’s purpose and use in reviewing the guidance materials, tools and supply kits, and sharing recommendations for the final version (“2.0”) of all materials. These included both internal and external experts, the latter engaged through short-term (invoice based) contracts. Those reviewers have shared written feedback, and the consultant coordinating the development of the Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation has compiled those reports for analysis to inform the revision, expansion and design of all materials.
Drawing lessons learned from all of these experiences, UNICEF is currently developing a second and final “Version 2.0” of the Adolescent Kit, with all components revised, expanded and redesigned print, digital and supply components. That version of the supply kit (including hard copies of some guidance materials) will be available globally for UNICEF country offices supporting humanitarian response programmes as an item in UNICEF’s emergency supply catalogue. All guidance materials will also be available on UNICEF’s internal and external websites. The training package will be available on UNICEF’s internal and external websites, and utilized by UNICEF Regional and Country level staff to prepare colleagues and partners to utilize the resources in the kit through new or ongoing programmes and interventions.
To support the finalization of the guidance materials that are part of the kit UNICEF has developed a comprehensive outline of recommended revisions and additions that should be incorporated into the next draft. These recommendations are based on the findings from the field-based utilization of earlier versions of the kit and the technical review process.
Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to revise and expand the guidance for programme coordinators, which include a Core Guidance and Supply Guidance book for all users, and Programme Coordinators booklet of. His or her work will result in finalized versions that are ready for graphic design and production. The consultant writer will develop these new drafts, focusing on the following:
· Utilizing the expert feedback of colleagues and partners who have reviewed and provided technical recommendations on the current draft of the programme guidance materials, as well as lessons learned and new ideas gathered through collaborative testing and development in the field. This will include:
o Using and elaborating on the comprehensive outline of recommended revisions and additions (mentioned above) as a guide for all revisions.
o Conducting desk research to identify appropriate technical resources for additional information and guidance that will be integrated into the new draft programme guidance materials. (In some cases, specific resources have already been identified; the consultant will also be responsible for identifying new resources).
· Harmonizing the development of the programme coordinators’ guidance with the revision of the facilitators’ guidance and the assessment toolkit, both of which will be underway simultaneously, and with any relevant developments in the redesign of the electronic and supply resources.
· Revising and editing for clarity and appropriateness/accessibility for target audience.
· Eliminating duplication of content throughout the guidance.
· Ensuring continuity of language, tone, terms, and structure throughout the guidance.
· Ensuring that any required permissions or authorizations for activities or educational materials drawn from internal or external sources are obtained.
· Suggesting and incorporating indicative visual and electronic design elements or icons to reduce text, emphasize or clarify key points, and make guidance more user friendly.
· Creating additional guidance and tools as recommended through the review and testing processes.
· Producing drafts of all guidance materials in keeping with the timelines and relevant planned activities as per the overall work plan for the Adolescent Kit’s development and finalization.
Duty Station The consultant will be remote based.
Timeframe 55 days between 13 July 2015 and 15 October 2015
Start date: 15 July 2015 End date: 15 October 2015
(Dates will be adjusted to reflect the actual starting date of the consultancy)
Deliverables / Duration(Estimated # of days) / Deadline /
Detailed outline of Core Guidance, Programme Coordinators Guidance and Supply booklets, including tools. / 5 / 20 July 2015
Sample ten pages of the Programme Coordinators’ Guidance (not including core guidance), including at least two sample tools. / 5 / 27 July 2015
Full draft of the Programme Coordinators Guidance booklet. / 15 / 17 August 2015
Full draft booklet of Core Guidance / 20 / 14 September 2015
Full draft booklet of Supply Guidance / 5 / 21 September 2015
Final revisions of all three booklets / 5 / 15 October 2015
TOTAL / 55 DAYS
Key competences, technical background, and experience required
Education:
· An advanced degree in social sciences with a technical focus in the areas of child protection, education, social work, human rights, and/or international development;
· At least 5-8 years of mid-level experience in writing designing, and editing published guidance materials to support management, coordination and implementation of education, child protection and/or youth programmes in humanitarian contexts for development and/or humanitarian programme (preference given to those with experience working with or for UNICEF or other UN agencies and INGO partners);
· Demonstrated experience in working with adolescents in development or humanitarian contexts;
· Fluency in English and outstanding writing skills;
· Experience working with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to deliver on specific tasks or projects;
· Knowledge of UNICEF and UN language, protocols, branding and design standards;
· Flexibility to communicate and participate remotely in meetings with UNICEF staff or partners in the USA and other time zones in Latin America, Africa or Asia at their availability using e-mail, skype and phone;
· Ability to work with minimal daily supervision and exercise sound judgment in meeting deadlines.
How to Apply
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to with subject line: “Writer: Programme Coordinators Guide for Adolescent Kit for Expression and Innovation, Consultancy” by 21 July 2015, 5:00pm EST.
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P 11 form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors
1. Legal Status
The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a "staff member" under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an "official" for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of "Experts on Mission" in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
2. Obligations
The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.