Background

The Initial ECOWAS Child Policy was adopted in December 2008 by ECOWAS Heads of State, with a Strategic Plan of Action that ran from 2009 – 2013. It was developed to address the rights of the child, adheres to the constitutional mandate and guiding principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and identifies the rights of children under four key priority areas; Survival, Health and Nutrition; Education and Development; Protection and Participation. The accompanying Strategic Plan of Action which provides a roadmap linking the Policy objectives to actionable strategies under the four key priority areas, has elapsed. While it aimed at establishing effective coordination and convergence among all stakeholders including the ECOWAS Commission, National Governments of Member States, International Partners and Civil Society Organizations; issues like Children in Emergency and Children on the Move were not adequately captured in it or the existing Policy document.

Within the context of the expiration of the Policy’s Strategic Plan of Action (2009 – 2013), and to address the initial policy gaps, the ECOWAS Commission found it timely to review the Child Policy from 2016, starting with a Desk Review of the regional Child Rights situation. The initiative to review the updated document was supported by ILO through a European Union project funded Consultancy, and several consultation meetings were held in Abuja, Lagos and Dakar, from 2016 – 2017 to initiate the review process, by presenting various drafts for technical expert review.

From July 2017, UNICEF technical support was sought for direct guidance to the review process, leading to an in-depth review of Draft 2 by UNICEF’s multi-sectoral expert team. An initial version of the resulting Draft 3 has been produced and circulated amongst partners, towards further inputs. The review process aims by November 2018, for a concise yet robust, context-specific policy, that takes account of regional, continental and global child rights instruments and the imperatives of achieving the Child-related SDGs in West Africa.

Scope of work

Undertake in-depth literature review and substantive drafting of the current version of the ECOWAS Child Policy with a view to integrating critical comments, answering outstanding questions (in consultation with subject matter experts) and refining the draft in professional language. The updated version will condense the current draft and warehouse some of the information in annexes where necessary, while ensuring overall coherence and logic and appropriate technical orientation across the multiple sectors.
Development of the draft Child Policy Plan of Action 2019 – 2013.
Hold meetings with key partners and Stakeholders in Abuja and Dakar for data collection.
Facilitation of a Member State Experts review process leading to validation of the draft.

Facilitation of two validation workshops: With ECOWAS and Abuja-based partners and with Dakar-based partners.

Deliverables and Schedules

The following deliverables and activities will be expected (following the ECHO project framework): The consultant will facilitate completion of the ECOWAS Child Policy Review process through the following deliverables:

A validated final version of the ECOWAS Child Policy Document taking fully into account ECOWAS Commission and partner as well as Member State perspectives, in consonance with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), regional and continental charters and protocols (the African Children’s Charter; Agenda 2040 etc.) and international conventions (CRC, CEDAW) on the rights of the child and related instruments.
The Child Policy Plan of Action 2019 – 2023 (annex of the main child policy document).
A Power Point presentation version of the ECOWAS Child Policy to be used by ECOWAS Department of Social Affairs.
An abridged version of the Child Policy document for Ministerial endorsement;
End of Consultancy Report (compiling notes from key meetings).

Timing

The total effective work time under this assignment is forty-five working days with the expected start date in August 2018.

Detailed activities duration

Review of the current draft, comments and accompanying documents:

Produce an inception report including a detailed work plan 5 days

Drafting start:

Desk Review of existing Child Rights Instruments (Global & Continental) 4 days

Field Mission 1: Field visits & stakeholder consultations in 2 selected countries +

Reporting – Briefing Meetings in Abuja – (ECOWAS and partners), and Dakar (UNICEF) –

Produce a mission report for the consultation phase 1 10 days

Drafting updated Child Policy Version 3 + Draft 1 Action Plan-

Submit the updated version 3 of the Child policy 8 days

Field Mission 2: Presentation and validation session with ECOWAS Directorates and

Institutions (2-day meeting); Partners’ meeting in Dakar (1-day meeting)-

Produce a mission report for the validation workshops 5 days

Field Mission to Dakar or Abuja – Member State Expert Review Meeting.

Collate comments and inputs from the meeting 5 days

Drafting final phase by integrating all the comments –

Produce the final document and the annexes 8 days

(PowerPoint presentation and the Abridged version).

Reporting Requirements

The Consultant will work under the supervision of the UNICEF Regional Office West and Central Africa Regional Office (WCARO) under the broad oversight of the Deputy Regional Director UNICEF WCARO;

Under the direct Technical supervision of

(While in Dakar), Regional Specialist, Partnership and Advocacy Section, UNICEF WCARO, Dakar, Senegal.
(While in Abuja), Partnership and Advocacy Specialist, ECOWAS Liaison UNICEF Nigeria, Abuja.
She/He will have direct working collaboration with ECOWAS, Director Humanitarian and Social Affairs, Social Affairs Directorate, ECOWAS Commission.

Profile Requirements

A consultant with international experience, based in West Africa or with extensive regional experience, and with demonstrated experience in drafting policy documents coupled with proven research and production of analytical papers on child rights.
Advanced degree; Masters, or PhD in relevant subject area (Political Science, Social Policy and Planning, Economics, Development Studies, other Social Sciences or related fields)
At least eight years of relevant experience including research and drafting in policy formulation and other analytical work at a regional or international level (experience with ECOWAS Commission is an added value).
Solid knowledge of the Convention on the Rights of the Child and its related Instruments
Exceptional drafting skills (with 2-page writing sample as proof)
Communicates very well in English and French (Written and Oral communication)
Excellent facilitation skills.
Administrative Issues

The consultant is expected to use his own computer.
The consultant will work from Dakar, Senegal and Abuja, Nigeria. UNICEF and ECOWAS will facilitate field visits to the two countries, and facilitate contact with relevant partners.
UNICEF and ECOWAS will also support in providing work-related documents and reports to the consultant
Travel: Official travels as part of this assignment will be covered by UNICEF.