Consultor para Mapeo y Análisis de Programas de Parentalidad

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF Chile, a branch of the United Nations Children's Fund, is dedicated to promoting the rights and well-being of children and adolescents. Established in 1946, UNICEF operates in over 150 countries, focusing on various issues including child protection, education, health, and nutrition. The organization aims to ensure that every child has the opportunity to grow up healthy, educated, and safe from violence and exploitation. UNICEF's mission is to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs, and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential. In Chile, UNICEF collaborates with the government and other stakeholders to implement programs that address the specific needs of children and families, particularly in the context of rising domestic violence and the need for positive parenting practices.

Job Overview:
The consultant will conduct a mapping and descriptive-comparative analysis of parenting programs and support for child-rearing both nationally and internationally. The primary goal is to identify best practices, gaps, and quality criteria that will guide the strengthening of public policies and programs aimed at promoting positive parenting and preventing violence against children and adolescents. This initiative is crucial given the high levels of reported domestic violence in Chile, where recent studies indicate that over 60% of households with children employ some form of violent discipline. The consultant's work will align with the principles of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and the 2023-2026 Cooperation Program between UNICEF and the Chilean government, as well as international frameworks like INSPIRE. The analysis will incorporate theories such as social learning and attachment, focusing on interventions that enhance parenting skills, reduce family stress, and promote safe and protective environments for children. The outcomes of this consultancy will be vital for informing public decisions and improving the effectiveness and sustainability of family-oriented interventions across the country.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Develop a mapping and descriptive-comparative analysis of the available parenting and child-rearing support programs internationally and in Chile, determining which programs have the highest cost-effective potential for achieving transformative results in preventing violence against children.
• Collect and descriptively analyze available international information regarding parenting and child-rearing programs with robust impact evaluations supporting their results.
• Collect and descriptively analyze national, regional, and local information regarding parenting and child-rearing programs implemented in Chile, identifying their theoretical-methodological foundations, implementation conditions, measurement and evaluation of results, and identifying potential gaps affecting feasibility and impact.
• Conduct a comparative analysis of identified parenting and child-rearing programs at national and international levels to determine which best meet criteria of relevance, sustainability, scalability, impact, evaluability, and cost-effectiveness for implementation in Chile.
• Establish technical recommendations to guide public policies in strengthening the relevance, evaluability, impact, and sustainability of parenting and child-rearing programs implemented in the country, contributing to the strategic results of the National Action Plan for Childhood and Adolescence.
• Propose a methodology that includes a review of literature and documentation, as well as qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques at national, regional, and local levels to complement and enrich analyses obtained from documentary sources.

Required Qualifications:

• Professional in social sciences (psychologist, sociologist, social worker, anthropologist, or related fields).
• Demonstrable work experience of at least 5 years in the design, planning, and/or evaluation of parenting and child-rearing programs in Chile.
• Specialized training and/or demonstrable work experience in childhood, gender perspective, and evaluation of social programs.
• Desirable knowledge and/or experience in the United Nations Social and Behavior Change (SBC) approach.
• Desirable knowledge and/or experience in implementing comprehensive strategies for preventing violence against children.

Educational Background:
A degree in social sciences such as psychology, sociology, social work, anthropology, or related fields is required. Specialized training in childhood development, gender studies, or social program evaluation is preferred.

Experience:
Candidates must have at least 5 years of demonstrable experience in designing, planning, and evaluating parenting and child-rearing programs specifically within the Chilean context. This experience should include working with governmental and non-governmental organizations focused on child welfare and protection.

Languages:
Fluency in Spanish is mandatory, given the local context of the consultancy. Proficiency in English is desirable, particularly for reviewing international literature and documentation.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy is expected to last approximately 7 months. The consultant will work on a contractual basis and is responsible for their own tax obligations. UNICEF emphasizes a commitment to diversity and inclusion, encouraging applications from individuals of all backgrounds. The final fee presented by the consultant should reflect the best value for money, including all travel and subsistence costs. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment if deliverables do not meet required standards or if there are delays in submission. Selected candidates will be subject to background checks and must ensure their vaccination status against COVID-19 is up to date, unless working remotely.