UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, PROTECTION

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programme, in advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfil their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

As UNICEF, we are strongly committed to putting affected families, children and adolescents at the center of our work, as reflected in the Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action, in the IASC commitments on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (PSEA), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), in the Grand Bargain and wider 2030 Agenda commitments. These are central elements for improving the quality and effectiveness of our humanitarian and development programmes and ensuring affected communities can fulfil their rights to participate and be heard.

UNICEF became operational in Greece in early 2016 as an outposted team from the Regional Office of Europe and Central Asia (ECARO) to respond to the significant influx of refugee and migrant children and their families at that time. Following several years of engagement with national stakeholders, UNICEF and the Government of Greece made a decision in January 2020 to formalize the agency’s presence in the country as a full-fledged Country Office. The office falls under the auspices of the UNICEF Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia located in Geneva, which supports the work of 22 Country Offices within its geographical scope, reporting in turn to global headquarters in New York. Within the framework of a mandate for all children in Greece, UNICEF and Greece are now working to address the needs of all vulnerable, marginalized and left-behind children in the country.

How can you make a difference?

Managed by the Programme Officer (Compliance), Programme Support Unit, UNICEF Greece CO, and working closely with the Programme team (Child Protection, Education, Youth), the consultant will work on the following deliverables:

Support to coordination of National PSEA Working group, co-chaired by UNICEF, IOM and UNHCR – Monthly engagement
• Support to the coordination of National PSEA WG meetings, and relevant works, including the communication with WG Members, facilitation of the meetings, exchange of knowledge and information
• Support to the establishment and strengthening of the Interagency Digital Feedback Mechanism, a PSEA WG initiative

Document a series of good practices in PSEA and AAP implemented by UN Agencies and Civil Society Organizations in Greece – 2 reports
• Review existing compendiums, databases and documentation of work carried out to date to identify 10-12 most promising practices or examples of PSEA and AAP in Greece. Such practices cover a variety of approaches, including participation of affected populations in decision-making, complaints and feedback mechanisms, partnership with a variety of stakeholders, including governments, and innovative approaches from Risk Communication and Community Engagement
• Carry out focus group discussions and interviews with different stakeholders.
• Collect relevant documents, guidance and tools used by different Organizations for the implementation of each practice.

Update and follow-up with UNICEF Partner’s risk assessments in PSEA – Monthly engagement
• Review UNICEF Partner’s PSEA Risk Rating and relevant assessment, including supporting documentation (available in UN Partner Portal).
• Provide recommendations to UNICEF Partners for strengthening their PSEA capacities and monitor their progress

Develop Action Plans for the UNICEF Greece CO on PSEA & AAP – 2 Action Plans
• Develop one action plan for PSEA and one action plan for AAP, that should be implemented by the UNICEF Greece CO
• Identify synergies and tools, timeframes and key Staff/Stakeholders for facilitating the implementation of the activities
• Coordinate inputs and seek feedback from Programmes and UNICEF partners on the action plans

Strengthening the capacities of UNICEF Partners and other stakeholders in PSEA & AAP – Monthly trainings
• Review existing literature that describes engagement of governments in the implementation of AAP commitments in UNICEF’s programme, including linkages to social accountability and the humanitarian-development nexus.
• Develop a set of questions and carry out interviews with relevant stakeholders to fill gaps from literature review. Such analysis can be combined with documentation of good practices.
• Develop policy analysis brief that analyze the role of governments in upholding AAP commitments
• Develop a short practical guidance note for UNICEF Country Offices on how governments can be engaged on AAP.

Payment schedule:

Payments will be issued upon submission of the relevant invoice based on the progress made through the different deliverables highlighted above:
25% of the total fees upon completion of Deliverable 6
25% of the total fees upon completion of Deliverable 4
25% of the total fees upon completion of Deliverables 2 & 3
25% of the total fees upon completion of Deliverable 1 & 5

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• Advanced Degree in the field of Social Science, Communications, Humanitarian Affairs, Development Studies, or a closely related field
• A minimum of 5 years of relevant professional experience in in the area of development and humanitarian response and/or international development.
• Familiarity with the principles of PSEA and AAP, social accountability, and community engagement (feedback and complaints mechanisms, participation, information provision).
• Extensive experience in summarizing results of qualitative research, drafting case studies and technical briefs
• Experience in coordination mechanisms and meetings at different levels.
• Preferably work experiences with UNICEF or other UN agency, ideally in Greece.
• Excellent analytical skills with strong drive for results and capacity to work independently
• Fluency in Greek and English is required (excellent English communication and writing skills)

HOW TO APPLY

Applicants are invited to:

a. Complete their UNICEF profile

b. Attach relevant academic degrees, latest CV and motivation letter

c. Samples of previous work (links or attachments)

d. Indicate a lump-sum amount quoted in Euro for the whole assignment. The amount should be provided per deliverable by completing the consultancy financial proposal table.

Consultancy Financial Offer.xlsx

PLEASE NOTE THAT APPLICATIONS FROM CANDIDATES WHO DO NOT SUBMIT A FINANCIAL PROPOSAL TABLE WILL BE CONSIDERED INCOMPLETE AND WILL NOT BE FURTHER REVIEWED.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks: 

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.