Terms of Reference

Help DeskforField level Child Protection Coordination

Contract type: Consultant

Duration: 165 days between 1 September 2015 to 30 July 2016

Location: Home-Based - some travel may be required

  1. Background:

The Child Protection Working Group (CPWG), led by UNICEF, convenes a range of UN, NGO and other actors to meet the needs of the Child Protection[1] in Emergencies (CPIE) sector, by producing key interagency tools, building capacity, and developing shared advocacy and policy. The CPWG represents one ‘Area of Responsibility’ within the broader Global Protection Cluster.

In the CPWG’s January 2013 - December 2015 workplan, one of the major areas of work outlined is strengthening coordination of child protection at field level. Along with maintaining, developing and using the existing CPWG Rapid Response Team, this part of the workplan includes activities related to ensuring child protection coordinators in the field have access to training and technical assistance on coordination as well as access to knowledge and inter-agency resources on child protection in emergencies.

In early 2013, the CPWG team identified that additional support was requiredin pursuit of these objectives due to the stretched nature of the team. Factors such as an increased demand for technical support to field based coordinators, an overall deployment rate of higher than 50% for CPWG RRT members, and the allocation of some non-deployment time to SBP agency tasks (such as coordination training for SBP agency or roster staff) limited the extent to which RRT members alone couldensure that the planned activities would be undertaken. To address this, a part time Consultant joined the CPWG team in2013 and 2014 to augment the team’s capacityfrom March to November, enhancing its ability to carry out the planned activities and ensure consistency in the available support for field level coordinators.

The results of the 2013 and 2014 CPWG Annual Surveys of field level coordination groups indicateconsistently high levels of appreciation for the outreach and the support that was available from the global level CPWG team over the two years.

In 2015, the global level CPWG team has continued to support field based coordination by establishing a Help Deskto ensure that adequate, consistent support is available to field level child protection coordination, complementing the in-country deployments of the RRT. This Help Desk function, which includes knowledge management functions, support to trainings on coordination, as well as remote support to field level coordination groups as required, is planned to be a set part of the global CPWG team until at least mid-2016.

  1. Expected results:

The purpose of this consultancyis to continue the smooth running of the established Help Desk within the global level CPWG team to provide field based coordinators of child protection with technical assistance, mentoring, training and knowledge management services. The following expected results include detail on tasks to be undertaken, although the evolving nature of this work and the high level of experience and expertise of the consultant may mean that on the consultant’s or the CPWG’s recommendation, tasks are modified or added, on mutual agreement.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILIITIES AND DELIVERABLES

  1. Ensure remote and in-country support is provided to new and existing field level child protection coordinators (60%):
  2. Induct and mentor newly appointed child protection coordinators;
  3. In collaboration with regional advisors, provide ongoing support to coordinators in response toqueries logged with the CPWG team;
  4. Update, maintain and promote the starter pack for child protection coordinators;
  5. Manage and maintain the google group set up as a community of practice for field-based child protection coordinators;
  6. Carry out 1-2 support visits to assist coordination groups, as per requests received;
  7. Co-facilitate a retreat for field based child protection coordinators in 2015 ahead of the annual CPWG meeting in Bangkok;
  8. Compile and analyze the results of the 2015 Annual Survey for field-based child protection coordination groups; and prepared the 2016 CPWG Annual Survey next year.
  1. Support the development and use of high-quality training and related materials for child protection coordination (20%):
  2. Co-deliver 2 global level child protection coordination trainings for current and future coordinators of child protection;
  3. Support in the delivery of 2 information management related trainings, focusing on the CPWG information management toolkit or the child protection rapid assessment (CPRA) toolkit;
  4. Together with the Deputy CPWG Coordinator and Steering Committee, finalize the child protection coordination handbook;
  5. Support agreed actions to implement the new inter-cluster training strategy for UNICEF led clusters and AoRs;
  6. Compile and share learning to date on the transitioning of child protection coordination groups;
  7. Together with Plan International, finalise the NGO co-leadership Resource Pack.
  1. Support CPWG efforts to increase the pool of available, high quality CPIE coordinators and IM staff and to facilitate their increased deployment (20%):
  2. Update and maintain the list of potential child protection coordinators, working closely with the RRT and CPWG coordinator to compile the list;
  3. Take forward any agreed actions to widen and increase the pools for child protection coordination, including IM staff (from SBPs and other sources);
  4. Support measures in the CPWG to strengthening NGO co-leadership of child protection at field level (e.g. collection and presentation of case studies; consultation with partners).
  1. Required qualifications and competencies:

This terms of reference requires the consultant to have very specific areas of knowledge and experience, along with key competencies. Both are outlined in the first list below:

Essential

-At least 8 years of experience in child protection in emergencies programming or child protection in emergencies coordination or related fields.

-Experience of designing and delivering training.

-Excellent interpersonal skills.

-Fluency in English and French.

-Excellent understanding of the humanitarian architecture at global and field level and the transformative agenda.

-Proven ability to work independently and deliver results.

-Excellent communication skills.

Desirable

-Established relationships with field based coordinators of child protection in several key emergency affected settings.

-Experience of coordination of child protection responses.

-Experience of leading a child protection rapid assessment in an emergency context.

-Experience in designing and implementing knowledge management initiatives for the humanitarian sector.

-Experience in strategic planning, preferably in the area of capacity building.

-Experience of working in an NGO in a child protection or child protection coordination capacity.

-Experience of mentoring in a professional setting.

-Experience of facilitation of child protection and child protection coordination training to interagency groups.

-Familiarity with the work, working methods, and members of the CPWG.

  1. Start date:1 September 2015 End date:30 July 2016
  1. Cost and Timeframe:

The consultant will be paid at an agreed daily rate for 165days (an average of 15 days per month for 11 months).

  1. Instructions for applicants:

Please send your application, including a full CV and P11 form which can be downloaded here to Sabine Rakotomalala, at , by 10July 2015. Please indicate your proposed daily rate.

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[1]Child Protection has been defined by the CPWG as prevention and response to violence, exploitation, abuse and neglect of children.