L’Unicef ​​recherche un spécialiste de la consultance internationale C4D pour la protection de l’enfance, Bamako Mali (6 mois)

 

Background :

In Mali, children face a variety and multiple forms of abuse, violence and exploitation, including those who are on the move and affected by the crisis. The humanitarian crisis that Mali has experienced since 2012 further impacted the lives of children and their families. Children and their families have been affected by displacement due to the on-going insecurity in Mali, due to internal migration and to other countries in the region and to Europe. Families and children, including unaccompanied children, continue to move for safety reasons, or for (temporary) work opportunities or for transit purposes. As a result children face e.g. family separation, exploitation, child labour, recruitment into armed groups, trafficking, smuggling, sexual violence, and a lack of basic services available, while existing child protection concerns have further exacerbated. Children are exposed to these multiple vulnerabilities and risks in an extremely weak protective environment where basic social welfare services are weak or inexistent and traditional community- based child protection mechanisms have been disrupted.

In this context, the demand for child protection services is still low, in particular for children on the move. Indeed, geographical inaccessibility, the lack of knowledge of communities about the existence of care services (or indeed of what are their protection rights), household poverty, and direct or indirect financial costs (transport, medical care and legal assistance and socio-economic reintegration related costs, etc.) constitute barriers to access to basic social services. Moreover, socio-cultural burdens, the use of amicable methods to settle violence against children and the preservation of order and social cohesion, the perception of the role and the status of the child in society, gender discrimination and the stigmatization of migrants are all factors that influence household decision-making and the low use of child protection services. In many cases, children leave their place of origin to flee violence and fetch better opportunities with little preparation and knowledge of what might lie ahead. As a result, children lose their trust in the child protection system and attempt to reach their goals through irregular means, relying on smugglers and putting themselves at risk of violence abuse and exploitation. Beyond access to information, the quality of this information remains a crucial issue. While social media has an increasingly stronger influence on how young people make their decisions and plan their journey, information disseminated can be distorted or wrong.

Objectives :

The consultant, will develop an integrated communication for development strategy, action plan and communication materials/tools to address violence against children giving special attention to children on the move/migrant.

The integrated communication for development strategy will aim at influencing positive attitudes and behaviors of target/participant groups to reduce violence against children at institutional, individual and community levels. The strategy will include an action plan aimed at enhancing social behaviour change through awareness raising and outreach activities that include community engagement initiatives, the utilization of hard and soft communications tools, and ICT4D campaigns through social media and telecommunications platforms.  The strategy will also outline key messages to standardize information dissemination to affected populations. Messages related to early migration will articulate associated Protection risks, whilst also focusing on encouraging young people to consider alternative investment in opportunities within the country.

The consultant is expected to design the strategy, action plan, key messages and tools by liaising with all involved stakeholders including relevant ministries, NGOs, CBOs and media bodies (press, social media and audio-visual).

 

Scope of Work :

The consultancy will be conducted in-country over a 6 months period.

 

Specific Tasks :

Produce a C4D situation analysis regarding the situation of violence against children giving special attention to children on the move/migrant :

• Collect and analyze available information related to violence against children giving special attention to children on the move/migrant, This include in-depth understanding of the scope, severity, and cause(s) of the problem, and of the people and environmental factors that influence decision-making.
• Collection and review of all available information with a strong emphasis on gender, age groups, location, literacy levels, and ethnicity to carry out the following analysis, in line with UNICEF guidance for conducting a C4D situation analysis: problem and program analysis, communication environment analysis, participants analysis, behavior analysis, communication channel analysis, capacity of partners and influents actors analysis)
• Support the development of a qualitative research tool(s) for collection of any essential missing data
• Identify all best practices on communication promoting the nonviolence against children and preventing child mobility
• Organize workshop for (i)validating the C4D Analysis for child protection (ii) developing the building blocks of evidence-based C4D Strategy

Development and validation of evidence-based C4D Strategy for child protection (against violence of children, children on the move/migrant) :

• Map potential partners, allies and champions at the local level that will help to develop and implement the programme but also to distribute materials, messages and products
• Development of communication objectives (e.g., to change knowledge, attitudes, skills, behaviours, and social norms),
• Formulate strategies and define communication activities
• Determine the appropriate channels to use for population (e.g., interpersonal communication, mass media, community dialogue) and divide them accordingly
• Develop a detailed monitoring and evaluation plan: Indicators/means of verification for measuring the progress and success of interventions
• Develop functional action plan in collaboration with identified partners
• Organize workshop for validating the C4D Strategy

Develop communication material and tools :

• Review existing materials to determine and propose updated and more complete material; that integrate and address the situation
• Develop a branding for the launching campaign
• Develop list of key messages for each of the target audience. The messages should be clear, concise, consistent,
• Develop appropriate and cultural adapted materials (visual aids, TV or radio storyboards or scripts, posters, leaflets, PowerPoint presentations,).
• Pretest all messages and materials/tools with representative samples
• Produce materials/tools and develop a dissemination Plan

Build the capacities of main partners on C4D on VAC/children on the move, planning, implementation and monitoring and evaluation :

• Develop training materials and tools
• Facilitate trainings and mentoring sessions with relevant implementing partners and stakeholders;

Expected Deliverables :

• Detailed inception report (roadmap) that includes details workplan and mechanism of work, in line with Terms of Reference
• A C4D Situation Analysis Report validated
• A draft C4D strategy document that will be submitted for validation
• A draft C4D plan of action document that includes tasks, activities, roles and responsibilities, timeframe and budget.
• A draft monitoring and evaluation plan and framework document for the plan of action
• C4D materials/tools and develop a dissemination Plan
• Training materials and tools
• Trainings and mentoring sessions Report
• Final Report

Location :

The consultant will be based in Bamako and will travel to field locations as required.

Terms of Payment:

The consultant will be paid by deliveries

 

Qualifications :

Expected background and Experience  :

• The Consultant should be a Specialist on Behaviors and Social Communication, with at least 10 years of international experience in the field. S/he should have extensive experience in C4D training and multi-sectorial strategic planning and management of C4D initiatives
• Mastery of theoretical concepts, technical methods, techniques and tools in C4D to examine assumptions and generate insights related to social norms, cultural practices and individual behaviors
• Substantial expertise and knowledge in child Protection, Violence against children, children on the move. Substantial experience in development of training materials and facilitating training workshops
• Excellent planning and organizational skills
• Excellent analytical and written skills
• Strong communication skills – both oral and written
• Fluency in written French and English
• Experience working with UN/international organizations
• Experience working with government desirable

Other skills and attributes required :

Good knowledge and use of Microsoft Office word, excel and power point

Competencies:

Core Values

• Commitment
• Diversity and inclusion
• Integrity

Core competencies

• Communication (II)
• Working with people (I)
• Drive for results (I)

General Conditions Procedures and Logistics :

• The consultant must have his/her own computer and email, phone and credits, printer and paper
• The scope of work would be carried out in Bamako and targeted areas of interventions
• Travel to meet partners in the district of Bamako is the responsibility of the consultant. UNICEF will be in charge for travel out of the district of Bamako.
• The consultant will provide an all-inclusive financial offer including (fees, DSA, ticket …).