UNICEF UKRAINE
TERMS OF REFERENCE
Mapping of EI service providers, number of children with special needs/ disabilities/ IDP children and capacity to create a network of early intervention services in 5 the most effected by conflict regions of Ukraine
Duration: 18 February – 30 March 2015, 30 full working days.
1. Background
The current circumstances in eastern Ukraine amount to a protection crisis, where the basic rights of families and children are affected by continuing hostilities and their consequences. UNICEF-field visits and discussions with key informants including government ministries have revealed that the ongoing state of uncertainty over the future is taking a heavy toll on the mental health and well-being of children and families. This was documented in the UNICEF- Kyiv-Mohyla Academy research of the psycho-social well-being of children in Donetsk Oblast which further revealed that 37 per cent of those interviewed had heightened distress and post-traumatic stress, exhibiting signs of distress, such as anxiety, fear, stress, sadness, mood swings, sleep disturbances, isolation, and aggression. The long-term effects of the conflict’s impact on children is underscored by the fact that this research was conducted in areas where there had been no direct fighting for more than six months.
Parents and community professionals often are not capable of addressing these concerns of distress and risky behavior among children, as they themselves are under stress. These conditions require the creation of safe spaces where all affected community members can access information and services, with specific focus on providing protective environments for affected women, girls and boys that build resilience. Some of the most severely affected children are located in remote, rural areas or in areas where the conflict has brought upon restrictions of freedom of movement such as in communities at or near the contact line. The development of mobile psycho-social teams is critical to reaching these communities.
In these difficult periods, parents often face heightened distress and are unable to respond to their children’s needs. External vulnerabilities of families (e.g. poverty, dependencies, or violence) can also be factors that inhibit their ability to respond to their children’s development needs, especially when the children are at risk of developmental delays or living with disabilities. Heightened stress and psychological distress due to Ukraine’s current crisis may further limit parents’ and families’ abilities to respond to their children’s needs and subsequently their ability to be socially integrated.
- Objectives:
To evaluate needs for establishing and capacity to develop existing early intervention services in the five most affected by conflict regions of Eastern Ukraine (Donetsk GCA, Luhansk GCA, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia)
3. Key Tasks:
1) Conduct data analysis to define possible clients for early intervention for each participating oblast (by rayons):
· Overall population by rayons
· Number of children, overall (0-18 year) and by age groups: under 3 years old, 3-6 years old and 6-18 years old (divided by gender- boys, girls).
· Number of children disabilities and developmental delays, overall (0-18 year) and by age groups: under 3 years old, 3-6 years old and 6-18 years old (divided by gender – boys, girls)
· Number of children with diagnosed neurological, psychiatric and genetic diseases, overall (0-18 year) and by age groups: under 3 years old, 3-6 years old and 6-18 years old.
· Number of babies with biological risk (extremely low weight, premature born)
· Number of families with children in poverty
· Number of families in difficult life circumstances
· Number and proportion of IDP children; estimated number of IDPs by age groups: under 3 years old, 3-6 years old
· Estimated number of clients of EI service
2) Draft summary of findings on data collection – placing data in map format and consult with UNICEF and EI expert on further analysis on infrastructure – looking at:
· Available social and health infrastructure in proposed rayons (e.g. # polyclinics, PMPCs, specialized groups in kindergartens, existence of NGOs, parent groups, types of specialists available in rayon - psychologists, physical therapists, social workers, speech therapists)
· Identify where children with disabilities/ developmental delays are getting services now and for children of what age this services are available
· Identify contacts for local administration – responsible colleagues for health, social policy, education departments
3) Conduct data analysis on who does what and where on EI in 5 regions (Donetsk GCA, Luhansk GCA, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia):
Existing EI services, how they are based (NGO\municipal; healthcare\social policy\education); how they are funded; what services are provided by rayon.
4) Draft summary of findings with recommendations for potential areas to expand EI services, providing maps for areas proposed
4. Outputs:
· Database on possible clients of EI (based on indicators within point 1 of key tasks)
· Analysis of data and recommendations on EI services design and location, with PowerPoint presentation on recommendations, mapping representing young children with disabilities, IDP communities, identification of potential participating service providers
5. Delivery dates based on the work plan (to be approved by UNICEF Child Protection Specialist):
· Draft data on estimated number of clients and existing services: 29 February 2016
· Final report (with English summary): 24 March 2016
6. Details of how the work should be delivered:
The consultant have to develop and submit to UNICEF mid-term review after data analysis of potential clients. In consultation with UNICEF and external experts, the consultant will follow-up with more detailed analysis of proposed rayons for potential intervention, providing UNICEF a final report with a PowerPoint summarizing the analysis and recommendations and accompanying mapping.
7. Performance indicators for evaluation of results:
The evaluation of results will be based on the following indicators:
· Technical and professional competence (will be measured by the quality of product provided to UNICEF and feedback from UNICEF)
· Quality of work (timely submission of the drafts and final product to UNICEF)
· Quantity of work (completion the assignments indicated in parts 3, 4 above)
· In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the consultant’s work.
8. Qualifications/specialized knowledge/experience required to complete the task:
a. An advanced university degree, an academic degree in psychology, social or medical sciences is an asset;
b. At least five years of practical experience in social projects aimed on children with special needs including management of state and NGO cooperation on regional level;
c. Understanding of a national health, social and educational system structure and functions, local administration and municipal government procedures, structure and funding system;
d. Knowledge of international best practices and standards in EI;
e. Strong writing, organizational, communication and managerial skills;
f. Good working connections with the social care authorities at regional and local level;
g. Fluent knowledge of Ukrainian and Russian, knowledge of English (basic, medium or fluent) is an asset.
9. Definition of supervision arrangements:
The Contractor will work closely with the UNICEF Ukraine Child Protection Specialist as well as the Child Protection/ Education Officer in the Kharkiv office, with reporting provided every week via email to the Child Protection/ Education Officer with a short description of the work being done/planned and reports/other documents, if available.
Ownership of all data/information/findings gathered, databases and analysis prepared for the exercise lies with UNICEF. The use of the data/information/findings for publication or any other presentation or sharing can only be made after agreement with UNICEF.
10. Ethical issues
UNICEF has the ownership of all data / information / conclusions, collected data bases, analysis, prepared recommendations. The use of data / information / conclusions for publications or any other form of presentation / dissemination could be performed only upon agreement with UNICEF.
11. Description of official travel involved:
Total 20 days: 4 days for each region (in total 5 regions)
No Travel Authorization will be issued. The travel can commence upon the consultant’s provision of certificate of completion of UN Basic (II) and Advance Security in the Field Course as well as Mine and Explosive Remnants of War Awareness if travelling to ATO zone. The consultant is to be responsible for insurance costs on their own, except MAIP insurance, which is added into the contract
All travel costs of the individual experts within Ukraine should be envisaged in the budget and will be reimbursed by UNICEF Ukraine as a lump sum in the end of the Consultancy.
12. UNICEF recourse in the case of unsatisfactory performance:
In the event of unsatisfactory performance, UNICEF reserves the right to terminate the Agreement. In case of partially satisfactory performance, such as serious delays causing the negative impact on meeting the programme objectives, low quality or insufficient depth and/or scope of the assessment completion, UNICEF is entitled to decrease the payment by the range from 30 to 50%.
The deadline for submission of applications is 17 February 2016
Only short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Applicants who fulfil the above requirements are requested to complete a United Nations Personal History Form (P. 11) which is available at a web-site http://www.unicef.org/ukraine/overview_10566.html and submit it together with a CV and a cover letter describing your professional interest in working for UNICEF.
Please indicate Mapping of EI service providers, number of children with special needs/ disabilities/ IDP children and capacity to create a network of early intervention services in 5 the most effected by conflict regions of Ukraine
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UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organisation
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