Consultant for Child Friendly City Initiative

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Position Title: Consultant for Child Friendly City Initiative
Location: Gao
Country: Mali
Deadline Date: Not specified

Job Details

Job Posting Organization:
UNICEF, established in 1946, is a United Nations agency that works in over 190 countries and territories. Its mission is to advocate for the rights of children and to help them fulfill their potential. UNICEF operates with a workforce of approximately 13,000 employees globally, focusing on the most disadvantaged children in the toughest places. The organization is committed to ensuring that every child has access to education, healthcare, and protection from violence and exploitation.

Job Overview:
The consultant will provide technical support to cities in the Gulf region, specifically focusing on the Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI). This role involves consolidating and strengthening results achieved for children, ensuring that cities like Sharjah and Al Ahsa continue to meet the criteria for being recognized as child-friendly. The consultant will engage with various stakeholders, including government ministries and local authorities, to advance children's rights and develop action plans that are evidence-based and aligned with global standards. The position requires a comprehensive understanding of child rights, urban planning, and participatory governance, as well as the ability to conduct assessments and facilitate consultations with diverse groups, including children and young people.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Conduct an internal end-term review of the current CFC action plan in Sharjah, assessing progress against set objectives.
• Develop a new action plan for Sharjah that aligns with global CFCI guidelines and incorporates evidence-based strategies.
• Facilitate participatory consultations with stakeholders, including children, to ensure ownership of the planning process.
• Analyze data from monitoring information systems to inform planning and decision-making.
• Support the GAO in engaging with other cities interested in the CFCI, such as Jubeil and Yanbou’.
• Prepare child rights assessments and action plans that reflect a 'whole of government' approach.
• Ensure that the highest standards are applied to monitoring and planning exercises in preparation for the 2025 review.

Required Qualifications:

• A minimum of a master’s degree in social sciences, urban planning, or related fields.
• Over 10 years of proven experience in child rights, decentralized planning, urban planning, or related fields.
• Direct experience working with Child Friendly Cities or Child-Responsive Urban Planning is essential.
• Previous work experience with government sectors and UN agencies, preferably in the Arab/Gulf region.
• Strong analytical skills, particularly in using data for local planning processes.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, especially in engaging with government and community members.

Educational Background:
Candidates must possess at least a master’s degree in social sciences, urban planning, or a related field. This educational background is crucial for understanding the complexities of child rights and urban governance, as well as for developing effective strategies for child-friendly initiatives.

Experience:
The position requires over 10 years of relevant experience, particularly in child rights, urban planning, and decentralized governance. Candidates should have a proven track record of working directly with Child Friendly Cities and possess experience in monitoring and evaluation within this context. Familiarity with the Gulf region and previous collaboration with government entities and UN agencies will be highly advantageous.

Languages:
Fluency in English is mandatory, with excellent communication skills required for effective engagement with various stakeholders. Knowledge of Arabic is considered a plus, as it will facilitate better communication within the Gulf region and enhance the consultant's ability to connect with local communities.

Additional Notes:
The consultancy role is not classified as a staff position under the UN regulations, meaning that consultants will not receive benefits such as leave entitlements or medical insurance. The selected candidate will be responsible for their tax liabilities and must ensure that their visa and health insurance are valid for the duration of the contract. Additionally, candidates must confirm their fully-vaccinated status against COVID-19 prior to commencing the assignment, unless they are working remotely and not required to interact directly with UNICEF's operational environments.