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Consultancy for development of standards on further improvement of the child care legal and procedural framework

1. Programme information:

Programme (No. & Name) : Social System Strengthening
Project (No. & Name) : 0039 YI205-10, CP: Child Care Reform
Activity Reference : 0039 YI205-10-003, Advocacy and technical support to the coordination and implementation of the State Program on De-institutionalization and Alternative Care

2. Background and Context: (Attach background documents, if necessary)

According to the UNICEF Azerbaijan Country Program for 2005-2010, which is based on the UNDAF for Azerbaijan (United Nations Development Assistance Framework) the child protection reform is one of the priority areas. Additionally, UNICEF Azerbaijan signed with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy Annual Work Plan for 2010, in which all parties agreed to work jointly towards the implementation of the child protection reform to enhance the implementation of the Presidential State Program on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care. According to the databank on profiles of institutionalized children established by the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection as of 2009 there were 10,054 children staying in the state care system, including 6,094 children who stay there permanently. 40% of those children have both biological parents, 45% have one parent and only 28% of them are permanently staying in the institutions overnight

In March 2006 the President of the Azerbaijani Republic endorsed the State Program on De-Institutionalization and Alternative Care for 2006-2015 aimed at reintegration of children residing currently in various state institutions (de-institutionalization) with biological or foster families and at creation of alternative care services to support the de-institutionalization process . Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection was established in 2009 in order to strengthen and coordinate the implementation of the State Program. In addition to that UNICEF, the Ministry of Education, the State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Issues, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population signed Memorandum of Understanding on Establishment of Local Level Child Protection Mechanisms in 2 pilot districts.

Since 2007 UNICEF has been providing technical assistance first to the De-I Division later reformed to the Division on De-institutionalization and Child Protection through local and international experts. One of the major achievements of the Division was adoption of the Master Plan of Transformation of Residential Institutions, which was developed by international expert contracted by UNICEF. As the outcome of the Master Plan implementation during recent 2 years 9 institutions in Azerbaijan have been transformed to the alternative care services. The successful implementation of the Master Plan of Transformation should be supported by the creation of adequate alternative services and proper gate-keeping mechanism, which in turn should be based on the unified standards of the child care system.

3. Purpose of the assignment

To develop legal and procedural framework for national child care system in support to the implementation of the State Program on De-institutionalization and Alternative Care.

4. Duty station: in and out of Azerbaijan

5. Supervisor: The work will be supervised by the UNICEF Child Protection Officer and overall supervision of the assignment lies on the Deputy Representative.
6. Major tasks to be accomplished:

The consultant will be responsible for:
- Desk review of relevant background documents on the de-institutionalization and alternative care provided by the UNICEF Azerbaijan;
- Meet with relevant officials from the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Labor and Social Protection, and State Committee for Family, Women and Children’s Affairs
- Develop rules and standards on further improvement of the child care legal and procedural framework, including guidelines and rules on admissions to institutions, methodology on individual care plans, family reunification procedures, regulations on adoption and guardianship, and other alternative services.
- Review draft social work standards
- Development of final consultancy report with enclosed standards based on the list of deliverables

7. Deliverables:

• Guidelines and rules for admissions to different non-residential services (daycare, rehabilitation, temporary shelters)with particular focus on the following principles:
- Clarification and analysis of the individual and family status of the child
- The social workers’ relations with the family of origin
- Relationships between the child and his/her family of origin
• Minimum standards for day care centers, including daily schedule of children, educational activities, recreational and socializing activities, psychological counseling, administration and management, staff, protection against abuse, collaboration with relevant child protection agencies, etc
• Unified methodology for individual care plans in institutions for all groups of children
• Procedures for identification of vulnerable/ children in risk of institutionalization Family reunification procedures
• Standards and rules on adoption and guardianship
• Recommendations on draft social work standards
• Final English version of consultancy report in e copy
8. Time-Frame:

The selected institution/consultant will work during the period of 4 months (August-November 2010). The schedule of the activities will be agreed with the institution/consultant based on the consultancy concept and proposal as well as implementation progress. The deadline for submission of final deliverables to UNICEF is 19 November 2010.

9. Qualifications or specialized knowledge/experience required:

• Advanced university degree and/or academic background in social work, research and/or statistics, communication;
• Minimum 7 years work experience in related field;
• Previous working experience in CEE/CIS region is preferable;
• Experience in working in child protection/welfare reform, including the de-institutionalization and alternative care;
• Proven very good knowledge on child rights and current political and social trends and social reform processes in CEE and/or CIS countries;
• Proven very good communication skills with government and community members;
• High analytical and conceptual skills and ability;
• Fluent in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian would be an asset;
• Good knowledge of computer applications;
• Ability to work within the international and multicultural environment.

10. Procedures and logistics:

UNICEF does not provide or arrange health insurance coverage for consultants. Whenever the Consultant will be required to travel at UNICEF's expense, a travel authorization (TA) will be issued to the Consultant and travel expenses provided on the basis of UNICEF standards.

UNICEF is mandated by the United Nations General Assembly to advocate for the protection of children's rights, to help meet their basic needs and to expand their opportunities to reach their full potential.

11. Application:
Interested individual should send:
a) a cover letter;
b) individual resume or organizational profile;
c) concept note for consultancy implementation including timeframe ;
d) expected remuneration
e) reference of previous relevant work (if applicable);
in a sealed envelop/email to:
Head of Section
__________________________
United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF)
24 S.Dadashev St., AZ1073
Baku, Azerbaijan
or send the documents mentioned above electronically to baku@unicef.org with cc to Munir Mammadzade , Child Protection Officer, mmammadzade@unicef.org
All applications will be treated with strict confidentiality. UNICEF is an equal opportunity employer.

Deadline: August 12, 2010

For further information please contact: Munir Mammadzade , Child Protection Officer,
mmammadzade@unicef.org 99412 4923013 (ext 102)

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