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Background and Justification :
The Government of Lesotho (GoL) is a signatory to both the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UN-CRC) as well as The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC). As part of the state obligations as signatory to both the Conventions and the Charter the state party must submit periodic reports to state the implementation status of the country on the two treaties and give a picture on the protection of rights of children. The GoL has since submitted and tabled the initial and 1st Periodic report on the status and implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child in 2015 while the next report was due for submission in November 2019.
On the 11th July 2020, the Africa region commemorated 30 years since the adoption of the ACRWC which has been a key mechanism for the protection of children rights on the continent. The African Committee of Experts outlined the 11th action point for the commemoration of the 30th Anniversary. Also action point number four speaks directly to State Parties submission of their periodic reports on the implementation of the charter. On the other hand, The Government of Lesotho submitted the Second Periodic Report on the status and implementation of the UNCRC in 2016. This report was tabled in May 2018 by the Government and have since received the Concluding observation and Recommendation from the UN Committee of Experts which are to be disseminated and popularized and implemented before the next periodic reporting date which is the 2023.
While these reports address the reporting requirements as set out by the CRC committee and the ACRWC Committee, they also serve a broader purpose. They are meant to be the reflection on the current state of children in Lesotho and on the ability of the country to protect and promote their fundamental rights and entitlements. It also provides some guidance going forward for the GOL efforts to continually improve and protect the welfare of the country children.
Scope of Work :
1)Goal and Objective :
UNICEF is hiring a national technical expert to support the Government of Lesotho (GoL) commitment to fulfil its periodic reporting obligations as a signatory to the UNCRC and in the realization of children rights and ensuring full protection of children and their rights. The expert will support the GoL to compile and submit a periodic report for the African Charter which was due November 2019 but could not be done due to different reasons. The TA will also support the GoL to compile a list of issues on the Concluding Observations and Recommendations from the report that was submitted in 2018.
Under the supervision of UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, the consultant will :
- Prepare a State party report for in relation to the implementation of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child for submission to the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Childs in line with the guidelines stated for such reports in consultation with other relevant Ministries ;
- Compile information regarding the Concluding Observations and Recommendation on the Lesotho Second Periodic Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which was tabled in 2018.
2)Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: The proposed consultancy will support the full implementation of activity 2.3.5 of the Annual Work Plan, under Output 2.3 (see above).
3)Activities and Tasks :
In order to accomplish the above assignment, the consultant will be expected to carry out the following tasks over a period of 30 days :
- Develop an Inception report including work plan, methodology for the exercise and time frame, etc. to be approved by MOSD ;
- Collate, consolidate and analyze the data that will be gathered by MOSD and stakeholders who have been implementing interventions of children ;
- Draft CRC report on Concluding Observations and Recommendations ;
- Hold validation workshops for inputs from child protection implementers ;
- Draft Periodic report on the implementation of the ACRWC by the State ;
- Incorporate in the draft report relevant feedback coming out of the stakeholders workshop ;
- Finalize and submit to MOSD the final CRC report and ACRWC report.
Work relationships :
The consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF Child Protection Specialist, and receive guidance from the Director of Children Services at MOSD and the National OVC Coordinating Committee (NOCC). The MoSD will link the consultant with relevant Ministries and NGOs to collect relevant and available data when there is a need.
4)Outputs/Deliverables :
a. Report to the ACERWC :
The report should be in English and follow the deadlines on the from and content of Periodic State Party Report to be submitted pursuant to Article 43(1)(b) of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare on the Child, for written submissions to the ACERWC. The periodic report should not exceed 80 pages or 35, 000 words and prepared in a widely consultative manner, in order to include inputs from all other governments Ministries. This page and/or word limit does not apply to documents (e.g. legal texts) attached to the report
b. UN-CRC Report :
Compilation of information regarding the Concluding Observations and Recommendations on the Lesotho Second Periodic Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child that was tabled in 2018. The list of issues compiled should prepared in a widely consultative manner in order to fully ensure all stakeholders give updated information in order to respond to the Concluding Observations and Recommendation on the Lesotho Second Periodic Report on the Convention on the Rights of the Child that was tabled in 2018.
Profil :
Education :
- An advanced university degree (at least Master degree) in Law, Criminology, Social Work/Policy, International Development Studies, or any related field ;
- A minimum of 10 years of relevant work experience related to children rights and international legal frameworks such as the UNCRC.
Competencies :
- Experience working with the UNCRC and the African Charter reporting mechanisms will be a strong advantage ;
- Strong understanding of the international, regional and Lesotho legislation and policies pertaining to child protection and children rights ;
- Extensive experience in designing, implementation and monitoring justice for children programmes at national and sub-national levels ;
- Experience in effectively facilitating the collaborative work of a wide range of stakeholders, including government and development partners ;
- Familiarity with UNICEF mandate and goals is an advantage ;
- Have no criminal record in abuse of children.
Language : Fluency in English and Sesotho (writing, reading, speaking) is required.
Administrative issues :
The consultant will be expected to provide their own laptop and work remotely/from home, as most UNICEF staff has been doing since the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
No additional living allowances will be provided as part of this consultancy.
As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against approved deliverables. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.
The candidate selected will be supervised by Child Protection Specialist who will be available from time to time and such candidate will be also be governed by and subject to UNICEF General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.
Risks :
Risks include : Risk that deliverables are not delivered in a timely manner or to an appropriate quality; risk that activities agreed are not implemented; risk that the consultant may experience financial difficulties during the period of the contract; other risks of deviations from the proposed contractual terms.
UNICEF will ensure stringent negotiation of all contractual engagements and services will only be retained if deliverables of acceptable quality can be produced. Contracts should also ensure that the consultant prioritizes and allocates enough staff time for the contract.
How to Apply :
Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ Please indicate your ability, availability andfinancial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.
Rates must be in LSL and include all expenses related to the assignment.
Applications submitted without a fee/ rate will not be considered.
If you have not been contacted within 14 days of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.
UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.
UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.
Remarks :
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.