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, every right 

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programmes, advocacy and operations. The equity approach, 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 can survive, develop, and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias, or favoritism. There is growing evidence that investing in children’s health, education and protection from violence can not only allow all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. UNICEF is committed to accelerate progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

UNICEF Brazil started a new country programme in March 2024, which is, for child protection, dedicated to combating violence against children and more specifically physical, sexual and lethal violence through systems strengthening at municipal, state and federal level, targeted advocacy and multisectoral approaches.

SCOPE OF WORK:

UNICEF Brazil is seeking a Senior consultant, an expert in Child Protection, to support programme delivery including through SELO and Agenda Cidade UNICEF, collaborating with relevant Ministries and national entities, and provide analysis and recommendations to the Child Protection team in Brasilia as per the following deliverables.

DELIVERABLES

1.             Expected Result #1: Provide technical assistance to UNICEF to ensure effective cooperation between UNICEF and key governmental entities, including the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship, National Secretariat for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (SNDCA/MDHC), Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), and Social Development and Combating Hunger (MDS)

1.1.            Provide technical assistance to UNICEF to assess the implementation of the Annual Workplan 2024 and adjustment of Annual Workplan 2025 with the National Secretariat for the Rights of Children and Adolescents (SNDCA).

1.2.            Provide recommendations and actions to UNICEF to reinvigorate the Pact for the Implementation of Law No. 13,431/2017, with a work plan for 2025 prepared and being implemented (including procedures for specialized listening, baseline, the status of implementation of the Law, and monitoring system)

1.3.            Provide technical assistance to UNICEF to strengthen integrated care actions for children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence at the state and municipal levels by (i) drafting of a national strategy to strengthen collegial management committees for the protection and care network for children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence, in collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and Public Security (MJSP), and the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC) and (ii) supporting the implementation of integrated care centers for children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence.

1.4.            Support UNICEF to improve the methodology of Specialized Social Assistance Reference Centers (CREAS) services for children and adolescents who are victims or witnesses of violence. This involves collaborating with the UNICEF Social Policy section and the Ministry of Social Development (MDS) to ensure a more effective response for these vulnerable groups.

1.5.            Offer expert support for the elaboration of a National Policy and the new edition of the National Plan to prevent and respond to violence against children and adolescents, connected with the plans to combat other forms of violence and with the Ten-Year Children’s Human Rights Plan.

1.6.            Provide advisory services for the planning ang organization of the 3rd Brazilian Congress on Combating Sexual Violence against Children and Adolescents, ensuring alignment with UNICEF’s child protection goals.

1.7.            Deliver specialized guidance to strengthen the performance of the Guardianship Councils, with the goal of enhancing their role in protecting children’s rights.

1.8.            Contribute to the resumption of the Interfederative Pact to Combat Lethal Violence against Children and Adolescents, supporting coordination between various Federal, State and local authorities.

2.             Expected Result #2: Offer guidance on key components and action plans to implement the objective of Systemic Result 3 under the UNICEF Seal initiative.

2.1.            Provide technical support to the Child Protection Area in designing the 2025 – 2028 edition of the UNICEF Seal, including the review of the indicators assessing the functionality of guardianship councils and assist in the preparation and review of the UNICEF Seal methodological guide, ensuring it aligns with current best practices and legal frameworks.

2.2.            Technical assistance in evaluating the indicators of Systematic Result 3 (RS 3), as completed by the municipalities participating in the 2025-2028 edition of the UNICEF Seal.

2.3.            Provide technical support for the successful launch of the 2025 – 2028 edition of the UNICEF Seal.

2.4.            Ensure a relevant, practical and aligned conceptualization and preparation of content for an online course focused on work methodology for the collegiate management committees of the protection and care network.

2.5.            Provide technical assistance for the first cycle of training of the implementing partners on Strategic Result 3. This includes planning, preparing and delivering content on Law 13.431/2017.

2.6.            Conduct five technical advisory sessions to support the focal points of child protection within the implementing partners.

2.7.            Organize and conduct 3 lives sessions to support municipalities participating in the UNICEF Seal, covering key areas such as the seal for the constitution of the committees, elaboration of service flows and construction of the unified protocol for integrated child protection services.

2.8.            Perform technical analysis of the first-year compliance with the child protection area indicator – specifically focusing on the use of SIPIA (Information System for Childhood and Adolescence Protection).

2.9.            Analyze the first-year performance of RS 3 in the context of other systemic results of the UNICEF Seal. 

3.             Expected Result #3: Provide technical assistance in consolidating the Implementation of #AgendaCidadeUNICEF

3.1.            Provide technical Assistance in consolidating the general assessment documents for the 2022 – 2024 edition on the #AgendaCidadeUNICEF.

3.2.            Offer technical support for the Child Protection (CP) area in designing of 2025 – 2028 edition, including assistance in the elaboration of the methodological guides for AGU (Advocacy and Governance Unit), ensuring alignment with the strategic goals of child protection and UNICEF’s mission.

3.3.            Technical support for the launching of UNICEF Seal 2025 – 2028.

3.4.            Provide technical assistance for the implementation of integrated child protection centers in selected cities participating in #AgendaCidadeUNICEF.

3.5.            Provide technical assistance for the implementation of Law 13.431/2017 and its decree 9.603/2018, including technical visits to eligible cities to ensure the proper adoption and compliance with the law.

3.6.            Analyze the first-year performance of Child Protection (CP) activities in the context of other Agenda Cidade UNICEF’s components.

4.             Expected Result #4: Provide technical assistance for UNICEF’s cooperation with the National Council of Justice (CNJ) — National Forum for Children and Youth.

4.1.            Provide technical assistance to support the Absolute Priority Child Award, ensuring that the award aligns with the objectives of protecting and promoting children’s rights.

4.2.            Offer technical assistance for the review of training courses related to special testimony and Brazilian forensic interview protocol.

4.3.            Take actions to improve the access of children who are victims or witnesses of violence to justice by providing support for the implementation, improvement, monitoring, and evaluation of the methodology for taking children’s testimony in a child-sensitive manner.

5.        Expected Result #5: Analysis and recommendation papers on:

5.1.            Provide technical inputs for the 2024 Child Protection reporting process, ensuring accuracy and alignment with UNICEF’s goals and standards.

5.2.            Provide inputs for the preparation of a confidential report on the Optional Protocol concerning the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography.

5.3.            Provide analysis and recommendations on the regulation of the Children’s Rights Guarantee System within the Ministry of Human Rights and Citizenship (MDHC).

5.4.            Offer recommendations to improve reporting channels and systems for recording and referencing cases of violence, with emphasis on SIPIA (Information System for Children and Adolescents Protection), Disque-100 (national hotline for reporting human rights violations), SABE (child protection services), contributing to a feasibility study for the establishment of the Unified Information System for Children and Adolescent (SIPIA/SGDCA).

5.5.            Conduct a revision of Law no. 13.431/2017 and Decree no. 9, 603/2018 to address inconsistencies that have emerged during the implementation process.

DELIVERABLES

DURATION OF CONTRACT: 12 months

TRAVEL PLAN

Not Applicable

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS REQUIREMENT

• Master’s degree in law, anthropology or social affairs, PhD is an advantage
• At least 8 years of work experience in the field of child protection
• Key network and ability to liaise with government counterparts and partners
• Competencies required:
• Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness
• Works Collaboratively with others
• Builds and Maintains Partnerships
• Innovates and Embraces Change
• Thinks and Acts Strategically
• Drive to achieve impactful results
• Manages ambiguity and complexity

LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY

Portuguese and English: Fluent

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL

A financial proposal including the fee for the assignment based on the deliverables and number of days must be submitted. Consultants are asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum, administrative cost, travel cost and subsistence costs, as applicable.

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

To view our competency framework, please visit  here.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic background, and persons with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization. To create a more inclusive workplace, UNICEF offers paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks, and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF strongly encourages the use of flexible working arrangements. Click here to learn more about flexible work arrangements, well-being, and benefits.

According to the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), persons with disabilities include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which, in interaction with various barriers, may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. In its Disability Inclusion Policy and Strategy 2022-2030, UNICEF has committed to increase the number of employees with disabilities by 2030. At UNICEF, we provide reasonable accommodation for work-related support requirements of candidates and employees with disabilities. Also, UNICEF has launched a Global Accessibility Helpdesk to strengthen physical and digital accessibility. If you are an applicant with a disability who needs digital accessibility support in completing the online application, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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.