UNICEF recruits 01 Consultancy / Development of National Response Plan on Violence Against Children

Violence against children affects children in all settings in Kenya. Forms of violence include, inter alia, emotional, physical, and sexual, and common perpetrators are parents, relatives, neighbors, intimate partners, and authority figures such as teachers and the police.  The 2010 Violence Against Children Study (VACS) revealed that 66.0% girls and 73.1% of the boys experienced physical violence prior to age 18. 31.9 per cent girls and 17.5 per cent of boys experienced sexual violence while 25.8% boys and 31.9% boys reported emotional violence. The 2010 study also noted that perpetrators of violence against children in Kenya are no strangers: most often, they are the people closest to the children, figures of authority or of trust. Most sexual violence was committed by the boyfriends, girlfriends or romantic partners of the victims; other culprits were neighbours, family members or domestic workers. In the schools, teachers were found to be the most likely to perpetuate sexual (girls) and physical (boys) violence against children. Police were also noted to be likely to commit physical violence, as one in 12 incidents of violence against males (boys) under 18 years old were by police.

To date, the most comprehensive data on violence against children in Kenya comes from the national household survey launched in 2010 Kenya Violence against Children Study (VACs), the first and only survey of its kind on violence against both female and male children in the country.  There have been significant strides made towards the issue of violence against children since the release of the report.  For instance, the enactment of a Children Law is in its final stage, reporting mechanisms on violence against children have been added through the introduction of a toll-free child help-line reaching 12,666 children in the past year and 17,179 children (7,371 girls, 9,808 boys) received protection services through improved and expanded child protection centres.

There remains, however a lot to be done.  Specialized response services need to be broadened, and the social welfare workforce strengthened in terms of numbers and capacity, and law enforcement, justice, and health systems must continue to be developed to ensure the effective and efficient management of cases of violence against children.

In order to adequately respond to the urgent and prevalent issue of violence against children, the Centre for Disease Control  (CDC) and the Government of Kenya have undertaken a new VaC survey and are now in the process of finalizing the results of the survey.  The new data will provide important information on the prevalence and help to shed light on whether the measures taken after the first VAC survey have resulted in a reduction of violence. UNICEF Kenya is supporting the Department of Children Services in the development of a new  VAC multi-sectoral response plan.  A national steering committee comprised of key government agencies and led by the Cabinet  has been established to provide overall leadership to this process. The plan is developed through a   multi-sectoral technical working group led by DCS, and supported by UNICEF. UNICEF will also facilitate the launch of the survey report and the dissemination of the findings.

The VAC survey is a big and comprehensive undertaking. It involves multiple government agencies to be actively on board. There is a need for strong and sustained coordination among these multiple government stakeholders and also with the non-government stakeholders including with the children and adolescents. Organizing the launching of the report and development of the response plan, which government wants to be costed with clear roles and responsibilities of all the stakeholders, requires dedicated coordination and engagement with the government and stakeholder groups.  Therefore, a consultancy is required to facilitate coordination, and  finalization of a desk review and the  response plan.

The proposed consultant will provide support to UNICEF and the relevant government agencies in the overall coordination amongst the stakeholders, the coordination of the launching and dissemination and most importantly review of the current response plan and facilitate development of new response plan.

The incumbent will support the Department of Children services, UNICEF and partners in finalizing the new VAC  Response Plan to address prevention and response to VAC in Kenya. The Consultant will  be informed by lessons drawn from just ended VAC Response Plan (2013-2018), information of findings from the 2018 VAC study, the regional and global frameworks on addressing VAC such as  Inspire Package, WeProtect  Model on Child online Protection, and international instruments including the UNCRC,  ACRWC.

The consultant will build on already started work on the review of the Response Plan 2013-2018, and stakeholders’ initial suggestions and contributions to the new Response Plan which was provided during a partners’ workshop conducted in March 2019.  The new Response Plan will include key strategies, actions required, role of different actors and an M& E framework.  The Response Plan will be costed.

The contract is expected to include two 3-day workshops outside of Nairobi.

Outputs/Deliverables:

i)        The consultant should have a minimum of master’s degree in a social sciences or other relevant field of study.

Relevant Experience

The consultant must show evidence of

i)        A minimum of  five years of professional experience in development of programme implementation documents, such as plan of actions, workplans, response plans etc.

ii)       A minimum of three years experience in developing and/or reviewing monitoring and evaluation framework for implementation of programmes and policies preferably in child protection.

Additional Knowledge of the consultant

iii)     Demonstrated understanding of gender and child protection, and in particular prevention and response to violence against children and how to apply this knowledge to meet the assignment

iv)     Experience in research, studies, survey in social sciences, including in the area of child protection, gender and human rights related interventions.

v)       Experience in consultative processes and multi-stakeholder initiatives, especially processes involving different government ministries and civil society.

vi)     Knowledge of child protection and current thinking on child protection and violence prevention in Kenya, the region and at global level are an added advantage.

Competencies

vii)   Drive for results

viii)  Working with people

ix)     Analytical Skills

Skills

x)       Excellent writing and communication skills with ability to present ideas and concepts concisely in written and oral form is required

xi)     Have the ability to write for a general audience of child rights advocates, policy makers and others interested in the well-being of children

General

xii)   Be able to work under minimum supervision and to meet tight deadlines

·         Languages required:  Excellent written and spoken English.