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For every child, Hope :
The government, as part of the implementation of its social protection policy, developed a strategy and a national plan to support São Toméan families in which a Parental Education Program (PEP) is inserted. PEP was created in order to respond to the situation of vulnerable families in São Tomé and Príncipe, with the specific objective of strengthening the capacities of parents, guardians and educators to ensure that children benefit from parental education sensitive to gender issues, early learning and the integral development of children, adolescents and young people.
In 2016, a pilot PEP experiment was carried out that benefited about 37 vulnerable families, followed by an extension of the program in late 2017-2018 involving about 155 vulnerable families. In order to examine the implementation process, in 2019 an external evaluation of the PEP was carried out to serve as a basis for the extension of the PEP at the national level.
Specifically, the evaluation highlighted that the PEP program contributed to changing parenting practices and parents’ skills and knowledge to deal with children’s specific problems. This, too, made it possible to examine the implementation process, effectiveness, efficiency, relevance and sustainability of the PEP. In this way, recommendations were made that served as a basis for the enlargement of the PEP at the National level.
The results of the external evaluation demonstrated that the activities and products provided for in the PEP were relevant to meet the objectives of the program and adjusted to the needs of the target groups. It also demonstrated that the program’s design was adapted to meet the needs of parental education on different themes relevant to the child’s development.
From the constraints noted, there is a weak objectivity in the stage of selection of families in which clear quantitative criteria and respective registration were not defined. It was not possible to prove whether the selected families were the ones that needed more support. Regarding the effectiveness of the program, the report highlighted the absence of a PEP monitoring system that would allow the progress of results to be recorded through previously defined indicators.
The new parental education program, called PEP +, was born as a result of a partnership between UNICEF, the World Bank, the Funds for Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the United Nations system (UN) and the government of São Tomé and Príncipe, namely the Directorate for Social Protection Solidarity and Family (DPSSF) of the Ministry of Labor, Solidarity, Family and Professional Training (MTSFFP). The DPSSF, as the entity responsible for implementing the National Social Protection Policy and Strategy, must coordinate all actions and follow the evolution of the entire process of this project. PEP + was conceived operationally on the basis of a theory of change reflected in a set of actions and measures to accompany and monitor the program of the beneficiary families and aligned with the SDGs, especially with the objective of “leaving no one behind”.
PEP + will not only be a complementary measure to the monetary transfers of the Vulnerable Family Program, but it is above all an integrated and articulated national intervention strategy, with several actors. To broaden and reinforce knowledge and good practices and at the same time to enable frontline employees who are in daily contact with parents and educators of children, to be equipped with skills and competences to better provide their services within the scope of PEP. Thus, it is necessary to carry out training and capacity-building sessions on the current content of the PEP, of frontline workers on the main service platforms including health, education, social services and youth. And provide technical assistance to ensure the implementation of the family training plan articulated with the monitoring system to be created simultaneously to record the progress of the results.
How can you make a difference?
MAIN OBJECTIVE :
PEP + will have national coverage in order to reach as many fathers, mothers and educators as possible, causing changes in parenting practices, and continuously eliminating harmful and harmful behaviors towards children. PEP + should include new response platforms with the inclusion of frontline technicians who will benefit in a first phase of training and capacity building sessions on the existing PEP content, and develop, in a second phase, the skills necessary to answer beneficiaries’ demands.
In this context, the objective of the consultancy is to recruit an international consultant / trainer to coordinate the education and training of PEP trainers, in a participatory methodology and in a decentralized approach, thus promoting the knowledge, skills and positive practices of parental behavior, and sequentially supporting in the process of supervision and monitoring of training sessions for family groups.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES :
- The consultant will coordinate and provide the technical assistance necessary to carry out the activities of the PEP and support the Directorate for Social Protection, Solidarity and Family (DPSSF) in presenting the expected results ;
- Develop the plan for the implementation, supervision, monitoring and evaluation of PEP + training based on the program’s M&E system to guarantee the operationalization of actions with a view to expanding the program to the national level, covering approximately 2650 families ;
- Conduct training on basic PEP content for (100) trainers, namely social technicians (DPSSF trainees), young trainees in the Youth Interaction Center, health and education technicians to ensure the implementation of training and awareness among target families ;
- Support trainers in the preparation of work plans and guide them in carrying out / multiplying training sessions for different families ;
- Develop educational material for trainers on the various sectoral platforms ;
- Hold capacity building sessions for the DPSSF technical team to ensure continuity and effective implementation of the PEP.
EXPECTED RESULTS :
- PEP training implementation plan prepared, with a view to the enlargement at the national level ;
- Basic content updated and framed in the respective sectorial areas and in the new requirements of PEP + and integrated in the new context of São Tomé, including the creation of didactic material for the trainers ;
- Work plans and instruments for supervision, monitoring and evaluation of the field sessions for groups of families in the different districts and autonomous region of Príncipe, prepared ;
- 100 national technicians from different service platforms (health, education, youth and protection) trained ;
- 25 DPSSF technicians duly trained in PEP coordination, implementation and monitoring mechanisms ;
- An interim report on the implementation of the training of PEP trainers prepared and a final report on the activities of supervision and technical assistance carried out within the scope of the consultancy – including, the tools, the support materials produced and photographic and video records).
METHODOLOGY AND SCHEDULE :
He consultant should present a work plan with the respective schedule and methodology of the training and training sessions for PEP + trainers, including a participatory approach, mechanisms for coordinating training activities, which will be their responsibility and supported by the DPSSF team :
- The consultant will work closely with the team of DPSSF trainers and the team of UNICEF volunteers to coordinate and supervise activities from the planning, execution to monitoring the progress of the results ;
- The consultant will work in close collaboration with those responsible for the PEP monitoring system to allow the adaptation of the tools created to record the progress of the results in this 1st phase of basic PEP + content formation.
GENERAL WORKING CONDITIONS :
- The consultant is entitled to Daily Subsistence Allowance (DSA) while traveling in São Tomé ;
- The consultant will not receive accommodation and / or food ;
- DPSSF will provide a space in its facilities, without prejudice to any other provisions that may be taken by DPSSF ;
- UNICEF will facilitate contacts with the parties involved to ensure the necessary collaboration in carrying out the various activities related to the program ;
- The consultant must have his own work materials including computer, office supplies, etc. ;
- The consultant is responsible for the transport itself when traveling within the country for the purpose of consulting service. The duration of the consultancy is fixed at 90 days, comprising the different phases that will be defined in the technical proposal to be presented. Payment will be administered by UNICEF as follows :
o Refund of ticket (s) on arrival at São Tome ;
o 100% DSA on arrival in São Tomé ;
o 30% of fees after presentation of the work plan, schedule and budget ;
o 70% of fees after training sessions and consultancy report.
APPLICATION PROCESS :
Applications must include :
- Cover letter ;
- Detailed curriculum vitae including a description of main achievements;
- Submission of a writing sample of a report of previous research ;
- Minimum of three client references that include the name of the contact person, title and contact information ;
- A detailed Technical Proposal ;
- A detailed Financial Proposal quoted in United States dollars (USD) which must outline the overall fees for thirty (90) working days.
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS AND SPECIALIZATION / EXPERIENCE
The consultant selected to carry out the training of PEP trainers must meet the following requirements :
- Holder of a minimum master’s degree in psychology, educational sciences, social sciences or any other related field ;
- Have between 5 and 10 years of experience in the field of early childhood development and / or in the field of early childhood education and their families, in disadvantaged social environments and in the education system of underdeveloped countries ;
- Between 5 and 10 years of experience of at least years in pedagogical training work and work / training experience with more fragile and vulnerable social groups ;
- Familiarity with international and national standards (contained in policies and other documents) regarding nutrition, hygiene, early stimulation and others related to childhood ;
- Ability to work in diverse multicultural contexts, with independence and with a minimum of supervision ;
- Experience of working with developing countries and working with government and development partners, particularly in Portuguese-speaking countries – knowledge of the reality of São Tomé and Príncipe and experience of working with the population of São Tomé and Príncipe communities is preferable ;
- Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal and teamwork skills ;
- Excellent speaking and writing skills in Portuguese, as well as good knowledge of English and French spoken and written language are an asset.
For every Child, you demonstrate…
UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.
View our competency framework at : UNICEF_Competencies.pdf
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 :
Please find here the ToRs in Portuguese! 
TDR Formação de formadores PEP_ PT.pdf
Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.
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.