CHARITY JOBS IN AFRICA

Organization: UN Children's Fund
Country: Rwanda
Closing date: 24 Dec 2014

UNITED NATIONS CHILDREN’ FUND

RWANDA COUNTRY OFFICE

VACANCY NOTICE NO. PER/VN/025/2014

The Office of United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Rwanda is inviting applications from suitably qualified Rwandan nationals to fill the following vacancy:

TITLE : National Consultant, Child Rights Advisor

LEVEL : NOC (category for National officers)

TYPE OF APPOINTMENT : SSA Consultancy

DURATION : 11 months

STARTING DATE : 15 January 2015

DUTY STATION : Kigali

DATE OF ISSUE : 11/12/2014

DATE OF CLOSURE : 24/12/2014

Background and Purpose:

The Ministry in charge of Gender and Family Promotion (MIGEPROF) aims at promoting equality and equity for both men and women and ensure empowerment of women through the national development processes of Rwanda.

The Ministry further aims at promoting the family, as a natural and cultural basis of the Rwandan society and provide a conducive environment for the overall development of the nation’s children according to internationally agreed standards and principles. MIGEPROF has a mandate with the key responsibility of formulating policies and strategies on issues that affect all Rwandans in the areas of Gender Equality, Family Promotion, Women and Girls Empowerment and Child Protection.

The Ministry has put in place the Integrated Child Rights Policy (ICPR) to ensure that every child is given equal rights and is well protected. It has the overall responsibility for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for the ICRP in Rwanda and as such, is tasked with the coordination of interventions between the various Ministries and institutions involved. It also has primary responsibility for 3 thematic areas under the ICRP, namely: Family and Alternative Care; Protection; and Participation. Furthermore in September 2011 an ECD Policy and Strategic Plan was developed and is currently under revision. The policy promotes the holistic development of all children in Rwanda through the provision of integrated health, nutritional, early learning and protection services to families and children between 0-6 years of age. The goal of the ECD policy is to ensure all Rwandan children achieve their potential, are healthy, well-nourished and safe, and their mothers, fathers and communities become nurturing caregivers through receiving integrated early childhood development services.

The Ministry has also developed a Family Policy which gives a broader line on the government’s commitments towards promoting the Rwandan Family, and a National Gender Policy and its strategic plan. The Law Nº54/2000 of 14/12/2011 relating to the Rights and Protection of Children serves as the unified law covering all the aspects of the rights of children and complying with all the ratified international treaties. All these documents will help the consultant to support the Ministry in achieving its mandate for the promotion and protection of children’s rights.

The main purpose of this assignment is to support and advise MIGEPROF to apply, adapt and achieve its goals, policies, and strategies pertaining to children’s rights in conformity with the Integrated Child Rights Policy.

Objective of the consultancy

Under the general guidance of the Honourable Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, the Child Rights Advisor supports and advises MIGEPROF and its affiliated agencies in developing policies, strategies, programmes and systems for the fulfilment of children’s rights in Rwanda and overseeing their implementation. The Child Rights Advisor is responsible for providing technical leadership, management advice, and programme support and capacity building to MIGEPROF and its affiliated agencies. He/she facilitates application, adaptation and achievement of MIGEPROF goals, policies, and strategies pertaining to children’s rights in conformity with the Integrated Child Rights Policy and the Law number 54 Relating to the Rights and Protection of Children. The Child Rights Advisor provides innovative leadership including expert advice, vision, knowledge management, articulating policies and strategies, situation appraisal and harmonization of programme strategy. In close collaboration with the National Commission for Children, the Child Rights Advisor will support coordination efforts in the area of child rights by working closely with relevant thematic sectors, including social protection, health and nutrition, justice, education to ensure integration of child rights issues within these sectors.

Goals

The specific results of the assignment will include among others:

1. Programme policies, strategies, and approaches for MIGEPROF on child rights are developed in accordance with international and national best practice
2. Child rights coordination mechanisms, including around Early Childhood Development, within Government of Rwanda as well as with other stakeholders, are supported.
3. Child rights issues are mainstreamed within the programmes, policies, strategies of relevant sectors and ministries.
4. Technical advice is provided to MIGEPROF staff on the design and monitoring and evaluation of child rights policies and interventions
5. Capacity of MIGEPROF staff on child rights is assessed and a capacity-building plan is developed and implemented, including formal training and on the job training and mentoring, based on identified needs
6. Common frameworks, tools, and guidance are developed for MIGEPROF and its affiliated agencies to ensure high quality evidence-based child rights programming
7. Resources are mobilized in the area of child rights through technical support for evidence-based advocacy.
8. MIGEPROF is effectively represented and programme goals and strategies are widely advocated with relevant government officials, notably through the Social Protection Sector, multi-lateral agencies, bi-lateral agencies, NGOs, UN agencies, and donors

Tasks

Under the supervision of the Minister of Gender and Family Promotion, The consultant will work in close collaboration with heads of departments and technical staff from MIGEPROF, as well as with relevant personnel from the National Commission for Children, to perform the following key tasks:

• Provide technical advice and support to MIGEPROF on the development of relevant programme policies, strategies, and approaches on child rights, including MIGEPROF’s 2014-2019 Strategic Plan.
• Represent MIGEPROF in external meetings with relevant government officials, notably through the Social Protection Sector, multi-lateral agencies, bi-lateral agencies, NGOs, UN agencies, and donors.
• Support and advise MIGEPROF in mobilizing resources for child rights programmes through evidence-based advocacy
• Support implementation of the Child Rights related Laws and Policies (The Law No54 Relating to the Rights and Protection of Children, ICRP and ECD Policy) at decentralized levels in order to ensure their incorporation in the plans and budget at District Levels.
• Support development of National Standards for Early Childhood Development.
• Support child rights coordination mechanisms within Government of Rwanda as well as with other stakeholders, and ensure that child rights issues including ECD are mainstreamed within the programmes, policies, strategies of relevant sectors and ministries
• Support and advise MIGEPROF and its affiliated agencies on the development of common frameworks, tools and guidance to develop evidence-based child rights programming.
• Assess the capacity of MIGEPROF staff on child rights and develop and implement a capacity-building plan, including formal training and on the job training and monitoring, based on the identified needs.

Deliverables

• Submit to MIGEPROF and UNICEF a detailed quarterly work plan with activities clearly linked to each expected result, at the beginning of the consultancy and 3 months into the consultancy.
• Submit to MIGEPROF and UNICEF monthly progress reports highlighting key achievements, challenges, lessons learnt and recommendations.
• In consultation with MIGEPROF, UNICEF and other child rights and protection stakeholders, develop: (i) a capacity-building plan and training module(s) on child rights for MIGEPROF staff ; (ii) Early learning and development standards.
• Submit to MIGEPROF and UNICEF a final report no later than 20 days before the end of the consultancy, highlighting key achievements, challenges, lessons learnt, best practices and recommendations.

Duration and work arrangements

SSA Consultancy is for a period of 11 months.

Work arrangements:

The consultant will be based in MIGEPROF but will be responsible for providing his/her own electronic equipment. He/she have will regular interaction with MIGEPROF’s affiliated agencies and with UNICEF, and he/she will conduct consultations with various MIGEPROF partners.

Field visits will be organized as deemed necessary.

For the time spent in the field, the consultant will receive DSA in US dollars according to UN rate. He/she will receive the final tranche of honoraria when the final report has been received and accepted by both MIGEPROF and UNICEF Rwanda.

The consultant will be responsible for setting up meetings with all appropriate individuals and institutions with the support of MIGEPROF where necessary.

The consultant will work under the supervision of the Honourable Minister of Gender and Family Promotion. The consultant will also work closely with a focal point nominated in the agencies affiliated to the Ministry.

The contract will be signed between the consultant and UNICEF as the hiring organisation. The consultant will be governed by UNICEF procurement rules and regulations.

Profile of the SSA Consultant

Qualifications:

• Advanced university degree in Social Sciences, International Relations, Political Science, public relations, media, communication, or other relevant disciplines.
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant work experience in all aspects of programme management, and/or advisory support, in the area of child rights resulting in recognized expertise in the technical area.
• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French would be an asset.
• National of Rwanda

Competencies:

• Communicates effectively to varied audiences, including during formal public speaking.
  Creates and encourages a climate of team-working and collaboration.
• Consistently achieves high-level results, managing and delivering projects on-time and on-budget.
• Has good leadership and advisory skills; co-ordinates group activities, ensuring that roles within the team are clear.
• Analyzes and integrates diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources
• Sets, develops and revises organizational strategy and develops clear visions of the organizations future potential.
• Quickly builds rapport with individuals and groups; maintains an effective network of individuals across departments and organizations.
• Negotiates effectively by exploring a range of possibilities.

Payment modalities

Payment will be made on a monthly basis upon delivery by the consultant of a monthly progress report highlighting achievements of pre-agreed deliverables. Applicants are required to quote their fees

Funding source and rate of payment

Funding source: UNICEF GC 3750/A0/05/004/001/001

Rate of payment: UNICEF monthly consultancy rate at NOC level applicable

How to apply:

Qualified individuals are requested to submit their cover letter, CV and P11 form (which can be downloaded from: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc), to Human Resources at: rwajobs@unicef.org by December 24^th 2014, with subject: “Child Rights Advisor - Application.”

You may also submit to: Human Resources Specialist, UNICEF Rwanda, P.O. Box 381, Kigali, Rwanda.

UNICEF IS A NON-SMOKING WORKING ENVIRONMENT.

UNICEF IS COMMITTED TO GENDER BALANCE AND DIVERSITY WITHOUT DISTINCTION AS TO RACE, SEX OR RELIGION, AND WITHOUT DISCRIMINATION OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.