Consultant: Technical Support/Writer for the Adolescent Kit - Empoyment, career opportunity ni uk

Job Title:  Consultant: Technical Support/Writer for the Adolescent Kit
Organization:  UN Children's Fund
Country:  United States of America
Deadline:  15th Sept 2013
Date Posted:   6th Sept 2013

Terms of Reference
Consultancy with Adolescent Development and Participation Section, Programme Division
Technical support for Adolescent Kit

Duration: 115 days between 15 October and 15 March

Background

The Adolescent Development and Participation (ADAP) Section, part of the Gender, Rights and Civic Engagement Cluster in the Programme Division, works to advance the rights of adolescents across all UNICEF supported programmes and policies. The small team of specialists promotes cross-sectoral 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, Innovation Unit, 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 Adolescent Kit will include:

• An Activities Manual, 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 Coordination Manual, 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 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.
To ensure that UNICEF staff and partners are aware of the kit’s availability and prepared to use it with and for adolescents before, during and after emergencies, information and training packages will also be developed to accompany the kit.

Progress to date on the Adolescent Kit

The Adolescent Development and Participation Section leads the development of the Adolescent Kit, with both staff and consultants contributing to key processes and outputs. Some initial activities undertaken have included the following:

• Consultations have been conducted with adolescents and those who work with them in emergency- and conflict-affected countries, including Ethiopia, Kenya, Haiti, Timor Leste, Uganda and South Sudan, to learn about their priorities and interests.
• Lessons have been gathered from experiences with arts, sports, clubs, and other relevant programmes and activities for adolescents that have been implemented in the field, especially the Art-in-a-Bag programme.
• Desk research and a review of key UNICEF and partner documents has been carried out on issues related to psychosocial wellbeing, life skills education, adolescent participation, peacebuilding, and other related issues.
• Activities modules focusing on recreation and games, arts, and life skills have been drafted and tested with adolescents in Haiti and Uganda.
• A comprehensive prototype Activities Manual has been prepared, applying lessons drawn from those field tests, as well as feedback from experts (including who reviewed the draft activities modules. A prototype Activities Manual, including four activities “cycles” is now ready for further testing and development in collaboration with young people and colleagues in the field.
• The Coordinator’s Manual has been drafted and reviewed by UNICEF experts. A key recommendation from the review process has been to substantively redesign two modules of the kit, and to add further modules.
• With respect to the Supply Kit, key recommendations for the kit’s design have been gathered through field consultations, piloting of an early prototype kit specifically for sport and games, a pro-bono partnership with a design firm, and collaboration with the Innovation Lab programme of UNICEF-South Sudan.
• Provisional plans have been developed with the UNICEF-South Sudan office for continued, field-based collaborative development of each component of the kit. Discussions are also underway with the UNICEF-Indonesia, -Uganda and -Haiti country offices in the same regard, and collaborations with other country offices may be explored as well.

Next steps to develop the Adolescent Kit

From September – December 2013 the Activities Manual will be expanded include additional cycles, drawing especially from an earlier draft of an “Arts Activities Module.” The prototype Activities Manual will be tested and developed collaboratively through existing programmes in the field (likely in South Sudan and possibly an additional country). As new Activities Cycles become available, those will also be tested and developed through collaborations with the field. Simultaneously, the Activities Manual will be reviewed by UNICEF experts and partners and feedback gathered. In 2014 a final draft of the Activities Manual will prepared, edited and designed for dissemination in both print and electronic versions.

Also from September – November 2013 the draft Coordination Manual will be revised and expanded, to include new tools and modules that were recommended in the review process. Existing drafts will also be revised and reformatted. Some tools or components of the Coordination Manual will be tested and developed part of the field-based collaboration on the Activities Manual during this period (described above). Beginning in December 2013 the Coordination Manual will be tested and developed in coordination with the field; simultaneously UNICEF experts and partners will review the draft and provide feedback. A final draft of the Coordination Manual will be prepared in March 2014, edited, and designed for dissemination in both print and electronic versions as part of the comprehensive Adolescent Kit.

In September 2013 the design process for the Supply Kit will begin, drawing from lessons and ideas developed through earlier processes. Prototype materials for the kit will also be tested as part of the field-based collaborations to develop the Activities and Coordination Manuals. Prototype versions of the complete kit (n=50) will be produced and ready for use by UNICEF country programmes in July 2014.

From September –December 2013 a prototype training package to prepare facilitators, programme coordinators and adolescents to use the kit through relevant programmes will be developed and piloted as part of the field-based collaborations. That training package will be expanded and retested iteratively from January – March 2014, resulting in a finalized training package. Beginning in April 2014, full-scale trainings using a finalized training package will be conducted with key UNICEF staff and partners at the regional or country level to prepare to use the prototype kits which will be available in beginning in July 2014.

Purpose and expected results

The purpose of this consultancy is to enhance and expand the draft Activities and Coordinators’ Manuals, resulting in finalized versions that are ready for graphic design and production. The consultant writer will revise and add to the existing draft manuals, focusing on the following:

• Incorporating the expert feedback of colleagues and partners who have provided technical recommendations and reviewed earlier drafts, as well as lessons learned and new ideas gathered through collaborative testing and development in the field.
• Revising and editing for clarity and appropriateness/accessibility for target audience.
• Eliminating duplication of content among modules within each manual.
• Ensuring continuity of language, tone, terms, and structure throughout both manuals.
• Ensuring that any required permissions or authorizations for activities or educational materials drawn from internal or external sources are obtained.
• Suggesting and incorporating indicative visual design elements or icons to reduce text, and emphasize or clarify key points.
• Making suggestions for appropriate design for the entire product and specifically for “session” design in the Activities Manual.
• With respect to the Activities Manual, creating additional sessions or cycles as needed based on ideas gathered through field work.
• With respect to the Coordinators’ Manual, creating additional tools as recommended through the review and testing processes.
• Producing drafts of both manuals in keeping with the timelines and relevant planned activities as per the overall work plan for the Adolescent Kit’s development and finalization.

Specifically, the consultant will:

    Expand the prototype draft Activities Manual to include an “Arts Activities Cycle” following the format for other Activities Cycle, and drawing from an earlier draft Arts Activities Module.
    Produce a final text version of the Activities Manual, including indicative design elements, drawing from feedback and recommendations gathered through the field development process and further review from technical experts. (The firm contracted to design the supply kits will also be responsible for designing the final print and electronic versions of both manuals).
    Expand and redesign the Coordinator’s Manual, adding tools and possibly one new module, to produce a prototype that is ready for further field-based development beginning in December 2013.
    Review and provide specific inputs into the training materials for facilitators, programme coordinators and adolescents who will use the kit, as they are drafted and tested.

Timeframe

Start date: 1 October 2013 End date: 31 March 2014

Deliverables Duration
(Estimated # of days) Deadline
An Arts Activities Module, integrated into the draft Activities Manual. The Arts Activities Module will draw from an existing draft, and will follow the format for sessions and cycles established in the prototype Activities Manual. 15 30 September 2013
Detailed outline of proposed revised version of the Coordinators Manual, indicating how existing and new content will be integrated into modules and tools. 5 07 October 2013
Revised draft of the Planning Module of the Coordinators’ Manual, including addition of new tools as recommended through the review and testing of the existing draft. 15 31 October 2013
Revised draft of the Understanding Adolescents in Emergencies Module of the Coordinators’ Manual. 10 15 November 2013
Revised draft of the Using the Kit and Introduction Module Module of the Coordinators Manual. 15 15 November 2013
Final text version of Activities Manual, based on findings from the field-testing and review, and incorporating indicative design elements. 25 31 January 2014
Final text version of the Coordinator’s Manual, based on findings from field-testing and review, and incorporating indicative design elements. 30 31 March 2014

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

    An advanced degree in social sciences with a technical focus in the areas of child protection, education, social work, art therapy, human rights, and/or international development;
    Extensive experience writing, designing, and editing training or educational materials for adolescents.
    Demonstrated experience in working with adolescents, in development or emergencies contexts;
    Strong knowledge Fluency in English;
    Experience working with individuals from diverse professional backgrounds to deliver on specific tasks or projects;
    Knowledge of UNICEF and UN language, protocols, branding and design standards;
    Available to attend meetings and consultations at HQ in New York City, USA at own expense;
    Flexibility to conduct phone or Skype interviews with UNICEF staff or partners in other time zones in Latin America, Africa or Asia at their availability;
    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 15 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.