Child Protection Coordinator, Technical and Knowledge Management Support , Switzerland

Contract type: Consultant
Duration: 108 days between 1 March 2013 to 30 November 2013
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 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 Q4 2012, the CPWG developed a workplan for the period January 2013 - December 2015. On the basis of past experience and learning from a range of humanitarian settings, one of the major areas of work outlined in the workplan is strengthening coordination of child protection at field level. Along with maintaining, developing and using the existing Rapid Response Team, this part of the workplan includes activities related to the following projected outcomes:

• Child protection coordinators, IMs and coordination groups have access to training and technical assistance on coordination
• CPWG member agencies are committed and active participants of child protection coordination groups at field level
• Improved coordination within field based protection clusters
• Child protection coordination groups have access to knowledge and interagency resources

During the previous workplan period the Rapid Response Team for child protection coordination was established as a new support to field based coordinators. Coordinators on the team were hired on the basis of a deployment rate of 50%, and were to spend the remaining 50% of their time supporting global level CPWG workplan objectives such as those above.

During 2012 the 4 team members were able to spend their non-deployment time establishing important supports for field based coordinators such as a starter pack for child protection coordination; and provide remote guidance and mentoring to field based coordinators. However, factors such as an increased demand for technical support to field based coordinators, an overall deployment rate of higher than 50% for RRT members, and the allocation of some non-deployment time to SBP agency tasks (such as coordination training for SBP agency or roster staff) have since limited the extent to which RRT members can contribute to global level initiatives to support field based coordination. Thus, additional support to field based coordinators is required, to complement the in-country deployments of the RRT.

2. Expected results:

The purpose of this consultancy is 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 Responsibilities and Deliverables

1. Provide technical assistance and knowledge management for new and existing child protection coordinators:
   a. induct and mentor newly appointed child protection coordinators,
   b. update maintain and promote the starter pack for child protection coordinators;
   c. working with the Global Protection Cluster, ensure that the starter pack and other essential coordination tools are produced and presented in harmony with protection coordination tools;
   d. set up, run, record and make available a series of at least 4 webinars on topics prioritized by field based coordinators, to enable transfer of knowledge between them;
   e. facilitate an interactive forum on child protection coordination on cpwg.net;
   f. provide content and design inputs to ensure that cpwg.net provides an optimum coordination resource tool for field based coordinators; and
   g. co-facilitate a retreat for field based child protection coordinators in Q2 2013.
2. Support the development and use of high-quality training and related materials for child protection coordination:
   a. Undertake agreed actions to implement the new inter-cluster training strategy for UNICEF led clusters and AoRs , developing child protection coordination content, and providing other inputs as required; and
   b. In collaboration with the GPC Learning Task Team and the CPWG coordination team, co-deliver a minimum of 2 in country training workshops on coordination (in the event that 2 training workshops are not required, one or more of these may be substituted by a support visit such as a joint GPC or CPWG mission).
3. Support CPWG efforts to increase the pool of available, high quality CPIE coordinators and IM staff and to facilitate their increased deployment:
   a. Support the global CPWG coordination team in following up on agreed actions to increase the SBPs’ and other identified human resource pools for child protection coordination, including IM staff (e.g. facilitate consultations with SBPs either bilaterally or as a group, identify opportunities);
   b. 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) ; and
   c. Working closely with the RRT and CPWG coordinator, collect information on the pattern and rationale for hire / non-hire of coordination staff for child protection, including IM staff, and other coordination staffing modalities; identify opportunities to influence decision-making on coordination arrangements at country level.

3. 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.
- Experience of coordination of child protection responses in a range of settings including sudden onset natural disasters and conflict settings.
- Experience of facilitation of child protection and child protection coordination training to interagency groups.
- Excellent interpersonal skills
- Experience of mentoring in a professional setting
- Fluency in English and at least one other relevant language
- Excellent understanding of the humanitarian architecture at global and field level and the transformative agenda
- Familiarity with the work, working methods, and members of the CPWG
- 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 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

4. Dates:

Start date: 1 March 2013
End date: 30 November 2013

5. Cost and Timeframe:

The consultant will be paid at an agreed daily rate for 108 days (an average of 12 days per month for 9 months).

How to apply:

Please send your application, including a full CV and your proposed daily rate, to Meggi Rombach, atmrombach@unicef.org, by 10 February 2013.