Terms of Reference

Special Service Agreement: National Child Protection Consultant

Requesting Section: Child Protection Section Date: June 2016

Outcome (Programme Component Result): By 2016, children in Lao PDR are protected against abuse, exploitation, violence, neglect and discrimination through the development of a legal, regulatory and social welfare system Output (Intermediate Result 2): By 2016, the most vulnerable and marginalized children and their families are better protected by a child and family welfare system

1. Purpose of the assignment The purpose of this assignment is to support the Child Protection Section to provide technical inputs in strengthening a child and family welfare system in Lao PDR in line with the Child Protection Section’s Multi-Year Work Plan with the Government of Lao PDR (2015-2016) and preparing for the rolling work plan (2017-2018).

2. Rational/Background This contract is designed to give support to the Child Protection Section in the UNICEF Lao country office to implement activities related to the child and family welfare system strengthening. The Child Protection Officer is due to take study leave shortly from 1 August 2016 until 31 January 2016. It is therefore urgent to recruit a consultant to support the work of the Child Protection Officer on child and family welfare system strengthening without delay and ensure continuity in programme implementation. The assignment focuses on providing specific technical support to ongoing activities under the current Child Protection Section’s Multi-Year Work Plan with the Government of Lao PDR (2015-2016) and preparing the rolling work plan (2017-2018). The consultant will be expected to liaise with key government counterparts including the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare; the National Commission for Mothers and Children; the Lao Statistic Bureau and the National University of Laos as well as INGOs and development partners working on child welfare. 3. Tasks and Expected Outputs Task 1: Provide support on finalization of the main report on the Violence against

Children Survey in Lao PDR (VAC) for endorsement by December 2016 through coordinating and working with the National Commission for Mothers and Children (NCMC) and the Lao Statistic Bureau (LSB); and facilitating (including checking the accuracy of translations) for the activities related to the VAC report process.

Output 1: The VAC main report (both Lao and English) is checked and corrected as

appropriate before sharing with NCMC and LSB for endorsement.

2 Task 2: Work with Technical Assistance to support the Ministry of Labour and Social

Welfare (MoLSW) on the implementation of the Rapid Assessment on Children without Parental Care (tools, field data collection, report).

Output 2: The meetings with the Technical Committee and with the key stakeholders to

discuss the report on the Rapid Assessment on Children without Parental Care are held.

Task 3: Work with International Technical Assistance to support the Ministry of Labour

and Social Welfare (MoLSW) and the National University of Laos to finalize and pre-test the draft contents of the Para-professional Training Manual on Social Work for Children and their Families.

Output 3: Final revised draft contents of the Para-professional Training Manual on Social

Work for Children and their Families submitted to the MoLSW and NUoL for endorsement and pre-testing.

Output 4: Draft Multi-year Work Plan for 2017-2018 in line with the Country Programme

Document 2017-2021 of the Government of Lao People’s Democratic Republic and UNICEF Country Programme of Cooperation through the consultation with key government partners such as the Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, the National Commission for Mother and Children and the National University of Laos.

Output 4: Completed draft of Multi-year Work Plan for 2017-2018 for welfare sector. Task 5: Provide technical assistance and support for the overall implementation of the

MYWP 2015-2016 for all related partners as and when required. Output 5: Monthly report on the status of the project implementation. 4. Supervisor The national consultant will work under the overall supervision of the Chief of Child Protection Section/OIC.

5. In Conformity with UNICEF Lao PDR Strategy Note

The current UNICEF Lao PDR Strategy Note focuses on strengthening the child protection system with a specific emphasis on strengthening the child and family system. 6. Government Request NA 7. Administrative issues, including consultant’s workplace and official travel

UNICEF Lao PDR will provide office space and a computer; possible travel in-country may be required. 8. Education, qualifications and experience required

3 • Advanced University degree in Social Sciences, such as social welfare, social work, or

a related field; social service practice is an asset • Minimum 3 years professional experience in the welfare sector • Previous experience in child welfare/child protection is an asset • Experience in conducting and/or managing welfare research and facilitating welfare

review/drafting processes • Proven experience in working with national level government structures and

coordinating different stakeholders • Experience working with UN agencies and development partners is an asset • Excellent written and spoken communication skills in Lao and good command of the

English language

7. Time Frame and Work Plan This proposed contract is for a period of 6 months. An overall work plan will be developed in consultation with the supervisor at the start of the assignment. The work plan will be revisited at the beginning of each month and more specific assignments/tasks will be discussed and set based on government timelines. 8. Basis for proposed fees Payments are based on the complexity of the tasks and the level of skill required to complete the tasks. The tasks detailed in this contract require a high level of welfare and technical expertise. 9. Proposed Schedule of Payments Fees will be paid upon submission of monthly report which will be endorsed by the supervisor. The monthly reports shall state progress vis-à-vis the specific assignments/tasks as agreed to at the beginning of each month with the supervisor.