Consultant: Design Coordination of the Adolescent Tool Kit -Employment, career opportunity in uk

Job Title:  Consultant: Design Coordination of the Adolescent Tool Kit
Country:  United States of America
Deadline:  18th Sept 2013
Terms of Reference
Consultancy with Adolescent Development and Participation Section, Programme Division
Design Coordination for the Adolescent Kit

Background

The Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Section in UNICEF’s Programme Division works to advance the rights of adolescents across all UNICEF-supported programmes and policies. The small team of specialists promotes programming for adolescents that build on their assets and strengths, while addressing their unique vulnerabilities and risks.

The Adolescent Development and Participation Section is currently developing an Adolescent Kit for use in emergencies and other low-resource environments. The Child Protection Section, Education Section, Supply Division, Emergency Operations Division, Disability Section and Communication for Development Section are all providing technical input and support for this initiative through a Technical Guidance Group.

The Adolescent Kit will provide tools, resources and materials to support activities and approaches for children ages 10-19. The kit is meant to be used and integrated into existing initiatives and programmes such as child-friendly spaces, education programmes and schools (outside formal lessons), youth centres or community centres and other safe spaces where children can meet, play, create, and work together. Activities supported by the kit will address outcomes for adolescents’ protection, education and participation, contributing to their psychosocial wellbeing and life skills. Using the kit, adolescents will participate in, and design and lead activities that reflect their own priorities, through arts, sports and games, and projects to contribute to their communities.

The kit will include:

• An Activities Guide, which gives adolescents and facilitators guidance for simple, structured cycles of activities that can be carried out in logical and appropriate sequence, depending on the context and interest of the group. It includes guidance for some specific activities, such as arts and group projects, as well as templates that adolescents and facilitators can use to work on new types of activities and/or to design and work on projects themselves. A prototype Activities Guide was completed in August 2013, and is ready for field testing and further development.

• A Coordination Guide, with guidance and toolkits that programme coordinators can use to start a new programme using the activities and approaches supported by the kit, or to introduce those activities and approaches into an existing programme. A Coordination Guide has been drafted, and a prototype version will be ready for field-testing and further development in December 2013.

• A Supply Kit of equipment or materials that adolescents can use to make the activities more likely to contribute to their wellbeing, learning and positive engagement with each other and the world around them. The supplies should also help to make the activities more relevant, interesting, feasible rewarding and fun. The development of the supply component of the kit will begin in September 2013 and is a key focus of this consultancy.

Purpose and expected results

The purpose of this consultancy is to enhance the effectiveness of the Adolescent Kit through planning, design and production activities that leverage UNICEF’s new internal and external resources for innovative and effective design. This consultancy will result in an effective, well-coordinated, collaborative development process for the kit, bringing together the contributions of young people, UNICEF staff and partners at headquarters and in the field, and design experts. That process in turn will result in the production of at least fifty prototype kits that will effectively address the Adolescent Kit initiative’s core objectives of contributing to adolescents’ psychosocial wellbeing, learning, and positive engagement with each other and their communities.

Beyond the core programmatic objectives delineated above, the kit will also be designed to:

• Encourage adolescents to find and use resources they already have available (including those they find around them), rather than be dependent on externally provided supplies.
• Support fully inclusive and relevant activities and approaches to reach and engage all adolescents equitably, especially reaching girls, those from marginalized groups, and those with disabilities.
• Be available for use to UNICEF’s programme staff and partners who need to quickly procure resources for recent-onset emergencies. Specifically, it should be available as an item in UNICEF’s Emergency Supply catalogue.
• Be accessible and adaptable for use in diverse cultural, linguistic and environmental contexts, especially with respect to the conditions typical in emergency settings.
• Be flexible, so that new activities, tools and ideas can be added even once the first guidance materials are available in a finalized print and electronic format. (For example the kit may include an interactive online platform, and print materials may be in a binder which allows for additional modules or materials to be added).
• Promote and support cross-learning among young people and programme coordinators using the kit in different countries.
• Complement and support the use of other emergency supplies and kits, especially those that are also used in programmes to reach and engage children and adolescents, such as the Recreation Kit and the Child-Friendly Spaces. (Ideally the kit should not replicate items that are already available).

The consultant is expected to plan and coordinate a design process for the kit that:

• Draws from and builds on the work that has already been carried out to understand and address the priorities and assets of adolescents affected by emergencies and conflict.
• Draws from and builds on the work that has already been carried out to build ownership, interest in and support for the kit from a wide range of UNICEF offices and sections as well as partners.
• Is harmonized with and integrated into other key activities already underway to develop the kit, which include:
o Ongoing writing and preliminary design of the activities and programme guidance materials as well as training materials.
o Field collaborations to test and develop the kit.
o Gathering and using feedback and ideas from adolescents, partners and other UNICEF colleagues.
o Gathering new lessons and ideas from relevant recent and ongoing programmes for children and adolescents in emergency and conflict-affected countries, as well as innovative initiatives taken by adolescents beyond programmatic contexts.
o Formal and informal reports and updates to keep colleagues, adolescents and donors who have been part of the Adolescent Kit initiative informed and engaged in the kit’s development.
o Training key UNICEF staff and partners to use the kit.
• Includes collaborations with UNICEF’s Innovation Labs, through which adolescents and youth contribute to the development of both guidance materials and supplies.
• Supports and leverages the expertise of a design firm that can produce 50 prototype kits ready for use by UNICEF Country Programmes (to be determined) by 30 April 2014.
• Ensures that all prototype kits meet UNICEF standards for supplies.
• Makes information about the kit available through formal and informal channels to relevant UNICEF programmes and partners, to promote knowledge and interest in using the kit while it is under development, and so that they can procure and use it when prototypes are ready.
• Is fully documented, capturing major documents as well as key points and lessons learned from all communications, activities and other processes that were part of the design of the kit.

The consultant’s specific responsibilities will include:

• Reviewing all relevant reports, draft materials and other documents are part of the Adolescent Kit’s development, and ensuring that key lessons, concepts and goals garnered from those processes are reflected in the kit’s design.
• Conducting desk research to gather additional information and ideas for the design of the kit.
• Participating in planning and reference group meetings.
• Travel to the field to support testing and collaborative development, including pilot trainings for UNICEF staff and partners who will use the kit.
• Developing a Terms of Reference for a contract with a design firm, coordinating the bidding and selection process, and coordinating the design firm’s work to develop the kit, including communications and collaboration with the rest of the team of ADAP consultants who are developing the kit.
• Communicating with colleagues at UNICEF’s Supply Division and reviewing kit design plans to ensure that the kit meets all relevant standards.
• Drafting prototype design plans for the supplies and guidance materials for use in field testing and reporting.
• Preparing formal and informal reports and updates on the development of the Adolescent Kit, especially in relation to the design process.

Timeframe

Start date: 1 October 2013 End date: 15 June 2014

Deliverables Duration
(Estimated # of days) Deadline
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following as annexes:

• A desk review of all key documents and reports for the Adolescent Kit programme.
• A workplan for the overall design process for the kit, including the consultant’s own key tasks and other activities
20 15 October 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following as annexes:

• A Terms of Reference for a design firm to design and produce fifty prototype kits.
20 15 November 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications with design firms bidding for the contract to design and produce prototype kits.
• Review matrix of bids from design firms against selection criteria, with recommendation of a selected firm based on that analysis.

20  15 December 2013

Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 January 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 February 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 March 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 April 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 May 2013
Monthly report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 June 2013
Final report of activities and outcomes in the design of the kit, including the following:

• Documentation and summary of key points from all communications and activities to coordinate and support the work of the design firm (once in contract), including updates on their progress against milestones in the contracts, and key points of any communications between the Design Firm, the team of consultants developing the kit (including this consultant), and others, and findings from field missions.
20 15 July 2013

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

    Significant practical professional experience in user-centred design;
    Significant practical experience as a project coordinator or manager;
    Excellent skills for communication and collaboration, and capacity to interact and collaborate with a diverse group of partners and stakeholders of different ages, cultural backgrounds and types of experience (e.g. adolescents and adults living in low-resource conflict-affected contexts, UNICEF staff, UNICEF NGO and INGO partners, design experts);
    At least 2 years’ experience working with adolescents in education, psychosocial support or participation-related programming or the equivalent;
    Experience working in emergencies, post-conflict or similar contexts;
    Fluency in English; knowledge of other UN languages a plus;
    Demonstrated track record in report writing, documentation and publication;
    Knowledge of UNICEF and UN language, protocols, branding and design standards;
    Available to work based at UNICEF-HQ in New York City, USA at own expense;
    Ability to work with minimal daily supervision and exercise sound judgment in meeting deadlines.

General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants / Individual Contractors

    Legal Status
    The individual engaged by UNICEF under this contract as a consultant or individual contractors (the “Contractor”) is engaged in a personal capacity and not as representatives of a Government or of any other entity external to the United Nations. The Contractor is neither a “staff member” under the Staff Regulations of the United Nations and UNICEF policies and procedures nor an “official” for the purpose of the Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the United Nations, 1946. The Contractor may, however, be afforded the status of “Experts on Mission” in the sense of Section 22 of Article VI of the Convention and the Contractor is required by UNICEF to travel in order to fulfill the requirements of this contract, the Contractor may be issued a United Nations Certificate in accordance with Section 26 of Article VII of the Convention.
    Obligations
    The Contractor shall complete the assignment set out in the Terms of Reference for this contract with due diligence, efficiency and economy, in accordance with generally accepted professional techniques and practices.

The Contractor must respect the impartiality and independence of UNICEF and the United Nations and in connection with this contract must neither seek nor accept instructions from anyone other than UNICEF. During the term of this contract the Contractor must refrain from any conduct that would adversely reflect on UNICEF or the United Nations and must not engage in any activity that is incompatible with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICEF. The Contractor must exercise the utmost discretion in all matters relating to this contract.

In particular, but without limiting the foregoing, the Contractor (a) will conduct him- or herself in a manner consistent with the Standards of Conduct in the International Civil Service; and (b) will comply with the administrative instructions and policies and procedures of UNICE relating to fraud and corruption; information disclosure; use of electronic communication assets; harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority; and the requirements set forth in the Secretary General’s Bulletin on Special Measures for Protection from Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse.

Unless otherwise authorized by the appropriate official in the office concerned, the Contractor must not communicate at any time to the media or to any institution, person, Government or other entity external to UNICEF any information that has not been made public and which has become known to the Contractor by reason of his or her association with UNICEF or the United Nations. The Contractor may not use such information without the written authorization of UNICEF, and shall under no circumstances use such information for his or her private advantage or that of others. These obligations do not lapse upon termination of this contact.
3. Title rights
UNICEF shall be entitled to all property rights, including but not limited to patents, copyrights and trademarks, with regard to material created by the Contractor which bears a direct relation to, or is made in order to perform, this contract. At the request of UNICEF, the Contractor shall assist in securing such property rights and transferring them to UNICEF in compliance with the requirements of the law governing such rights.
4. Travel
If UNICEF determines that the Contractor needs to travel in order to perform this contract, that travel shall be specified in the contract and the Contractor’s travel costs shall be set out in the contract, on the following basis:
(a) UNICEF will pay for travel in economy class via the most direct and economical route; provided however that in exceptional circumstances, such as for medical reasons, travel in business class may be approved by UNICEF on a case-by-case basis.
(b) UNICEF will reimburse the Contractor for out-of-pocket expenses associated with such travel by paying an amount equivalent to the daily subsistence allowance that would be paid to staff members undertaking similar travel for official purposes.

    Statement of good health
    Before commencing work, the Contractor must deliver to UNICEF a certified self-statement of good health and to take full responsibility for the accuracy of that statement. In addition, the Contractor must include in this statement of good health (a) confirmation that he or she has been informed regarding inoculations required for him or her to receive, at his or her own cost and from his or her own medical practitioner or other party, for travel to the country or countries to which travel is authorized; and (b) a statement he or she is covered by medical/health insurance and that, if required to travel beyond commuting distance from his or her usual place or residence to UNICEF (other than to duty station(s) with hardship ratings “H” and “A”, a list of which has been provided to the Contractor) the Contractor’s medical/health insurance covers medical evacuations. The Contractor will be responsible for assuming all costs that may be occurred in relation to the statement of good health.

    Insurance
    The Contractor is fully responsible for arranging, at his or her own expense, such life, health and other forms of insurance covering the term of this contract as he or she considers appropriate taking into account, among other things, the requirements of paragraph 5 above. The Contractor is not eligible to participate in the life or health insurance schemes available to UNICEF and United Nations staff members. The responsibility of UNICEF and the United Nations is limited solely to the payment of compensation under the conditions described in paragraph 7 below.

    Service incurred death, injury or illness
    If the Contractor is travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contract, or is performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval, the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate), shall be entitled to compensation from UNICEF in the event of death, injury or illness attributable to the fact that the Contractor was travelling with UNICEF’s prior approval and at UNICEF’s expense in order to perform his or her obligations under this contractor, or was performing his or her obligations under this contract in a UNICEF or United Nations office with UNICEF’s approval. Such compensation will be paid through a third party insurance provider retained by UNICEF and shall be capped at the amounts set out in the Administrative Instruction on Individual Consultants and Contractors. Under no circumstances will UNICEF be liable for any other or greater payments to the Contractor (or his or her dependents as appropriate).

    Arbitration
    (a) Any dispute arising out of or, in connection with, this contract shall be resolved through amicable negotiation between the parties.
    (b) If the parties are not able to reach agreement after attempting amicable negotiation for a period of thirty (30) days after one party has notified the other of such a dispute, either party may submit the matter to arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL procedures within fifteen (15) days thereafter. If neither party submits the matter for arbitration within the specified time the dispute will be deemed resolved to the full satisfaction of both parties. Such arbitration shall take place in New York before a single arbitrator agreed to by both parties; provided however that should the parties be unable to agree on a single arbitrator within thirty days of the request for arbitration, the arbitrator shall be designated by the United Nations Legal Counsel. The decision rendered in the arbitration shall constitute final adjudication of the dispute.

    Penalties for Underperformance
    Payment of fees to the Contractor under this contractor, including each installment or periodic payment (if any), is subject to the Contractor’s full and complete performance of his or her obligations under this contract with regard to such payment to UNICEF’s satisfaction, and UNICEF’s certification to that effect.

    Termination of Contract
    This contract may be terminated by either party before its specified termination date by giving notice in writing to the other party. The period of notice shall be five (5) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a total period of less than two (2) months and ten (10) business days (in the UNICEF office engaging the Contractor) in the case of contracts for a longer period; provided however that in the event of termination on the grounds of impropriety or other misconduct by the Contractor (including but not limited to breach by the Contractor of relevant UNICEF policies, procedures, and administrative instructions), UNICEF shall be entitled to terminate the contract without notice. If this contract is terminated in accordance with this paragraph 10, the Contractor shall be paid on a pro rata basis determined by UNICEF for the actual amount of work performed to UNICEF’s satisfaction at the time of termination. UNICEF will also pay any outstanding reimbursement claims related to travel by the Contractor. Any additional costs incurred by UNICEF resulting from the termination of the contract by either party may be withheld from any amount otherwise due to the Contractor under this paragraph 10.

    Taxation
    UNICEF and the United Nations accept no liability for any taxes, duty or other contribution payable by the consultant and individual contractor on payments made under this contract. Neither UNICEF nor the United Nations will issue a statement of earnings to the consultant and individual contractor

How to apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit a cover letter, CV and P 11 form (which can be downloaded from our website at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_53129.html) to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line “Adolescent Kit” by 18 September 2013, 5:00pm EST. Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.