Closing date: 24 Feb 2016
Background & Rationale
The protection of children from all forms of violence, exploitation and abuse in all settings, including the home, schools and community, is a priority for UNICEF and part of UNICEF’s Strategic Plan for 2014-2017. This includes the protection of children from violence, exploitation and abuse that is increasingly taking place through information and communication technologies (ICTs).
In recent years, information and communication technologies (ICTs), particularly the Internet and mobile phones, have become an integral part of society, bringing benefits to children all around the world. They are not only facilitating access to information, education, culture, communication and social networks, but serve as an important vehicle for children’s participation in civic life, self-expression and reporting of violations of their rights, including incidences of violence and abuse.
At the same time ICTs can reinforce existing inequities among children, lead to negative experiences, and pose harmful consequences and risks for children’s safety, personal development and well-being. Children can be exposed to various forms of abuse, violence and exploitation; violent images and other inappropriate content; more invasive forms of bullying; sexual solicitation (‘online grooming’); and be abused and exploited in child abuse materials and even live stream abuse.
The need to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs is recognized by the international community and reflected in international human rights standards and political commitments. The UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (1989), its Optional Protocol on the Sale of Children, Child Prostitution and Child Pornography (2000) and other international standards, in particular the Council of Europe Convention on the Protection of Children against Sexual Exploitation and Sexual Abuse (2007), provide a solid normative framework for the protection of children from violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs. Regional commitments such as the EU Directive of the European Parliament and the Council of Europe on combating the sexual abuse and sexual exploitation and child pornography (2011), provide guidance at regional level.
These international standards and commitments are increasingly being translated into action at national level. However, the heightened anxiety about the risks that children face when using ICTs, initially led to a focus mainly on ensuring that children are safe online. Increasingly, it has been recognized that there needs to be a balance between protecting children from harm, and promoting children’s use of ICTs, digital citizenship and empowerment. Yet despite these efforts to translate the international standards and commitments to action at national level, Governments and partners require guidance in how to develop national strategies to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs in the broader context of ICTs and children’s rights.
To respond to this increasing demand, and to complement the Guidelines for Industry on Child Online Protection that UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) developed and launched in 2014, UNICEF has identified the need to develop guidance for governments on the development of comprehensive national strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs that embed and promote children’s digital citizenship. The guidance will expand and build upon the guidance developed by ITU “Guidelines for Policy Makers on Child Online Protection”. It will be informed by an evidence review of policies and programmes proven to be effective in protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse related to ICTs and promoting children’s digital citizenship that UNICEF is undertaking simultaneously.
The Guidance will be developed and disseminated in collaboration with ITU and partners of the Child Online Protection (COP) Initiative. COP was established by ITU in 2008, and over 50 international organizations, civil society organizations and private sector partners are members of COP, including UNICEF.
The draft guidance will be piloted in a select number of countries where UNICEF and ITU are currently supporting governments to develop national level strategies to protect children from violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICT and/or promoting children’s digital citizenship. However, the pilot testing falls out of the scope of this consultancy and will be undertaken by UNICEF and ITU subsequently.
UNICEF therefore seeks a consultant to develop guidance for Governments and partners to support the development of national level strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs and the promotion of children’s digital citizenship.
Purpose
To develop a global guidance document for Governments and partners to support the development of national level strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs while at the same time promoting children’s digital citizenship. The guidance will support countries in their efforts to develop evidenced-based, comprehensive strategies on child rights and ICTs addressing all aspects of child online protection, digital citizenship and empowerment. It will contribute to the adoption of the Model National Response of countries who have committed to the #WeProtect Initiative.
Expected results
Global guidance document developed in English for Governments to assist with the development of national level strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs and the promotion of children’s digital citizenship.
Scope of work
The consultant will:
a. Undertake a mapping of:
i. National level strategies, policies and frameworks to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs and/or the promotion of children’s digital citizenship,
ii. Processes behind their development, and
iii. Lessons learned and results frameworks to measure impact.
b. Draft a guidance document in English for Governments to support the development of national level strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs that embed and promote children’s digital citizenship. The guidance will support countries to develop evidence-based, comprehensive strategies on child rights and ICTs addressing all aspects of child online protection, digital citizenship and empowerment.
It will be informed by:
i. An evidence review of policies and programmes proven to be effective in protecting children from violence, exploitation and abuse related to ICTs and promoting children’s digital citizenship that UNICEF is undertaking simultaneously;
ii. Mapping of national strategies, policies and frameworks to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs and/or the promotion of children’s digital citizenship; and
iii. The #WeProtect Model National Response and other relevant documentation in relation to strategy development.
c. Conduct key informant interviews and consult with (via skype calls, an online survey, webinars and/or in-person expert meeting as appropriate):
i. Relevant experts and stakeholders at national, regional and international levels including Government, civil society and private sector representatives and academic experts;
ii. Partners in the #*WeProtect Initiative*; and
iii. UNICEF offices and partners at country, regional and global levels.
d. Present the findings of the final draft guidance document to UNICEF and partners, through webinars and other appropriate fora (to be determined).
Duty Station
The consultancy will be remote-based. Travel to NYHQ may be required for face-to-face meetings.
Timeframe
Start date: 7 March 2016 End date: 27 May 2016
Deliverables
Duration
(Estimated # of Days)
Deadline
Inception report, including scope, methodology, work plan/timeline for the project, and a first draft outline for the global guidance document. (No more than 10 pages, single space 12pt).
3
9 March 2016
First draft mapping of national strategies, policies and/or frameworks to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs that embed and promote children’s digital citizenship, and processes behind their development, as well as lessons learned and existing results frameworks to measure impact of the strategies. (Approximately 20-30 pages, single space 12 pt).
10
23 March 2016
Second version of the mapping incorporating feedback from UNICEF and ITU. (Approximately 20-30 pages, single space 12 pt).
3
31 March 2016
First draft of global guidance document in English for Governments to support the development of national level strategies to address violence, exploitation and abuse enabled by ICTs that embed and promote children’s digital citizenship
(No more than 30-40 pages, single space 12 pt).
13
11 April 2016
Second version of the draft global guidance document in English, incorporating feedback from UNICEF and ITU. (No more than 30-40 pages, single space 12 pt).
4
5 May 2016
Consultation of the draft guidance at expert meeting and/or through webinars to solicit feedback on the Guide from key stakeholders, partners and experts.
2
8 May 2016
Final draft of guidance, incorporating feedback from consultation process, ITU and UNICEF.
3
13 May 2016
Presentation of final draft guidance delivered through webinars to the COP/ITU constituency and UNICEF staff and partners. A draft power point presentation of the guidance will be prepared by the consultant and presented to UNICEF staff and partners through webinars and other appropriate fora (to be determined).
2
27 May 2016
total
40
Key competences, technical background, and experience required Deadline
· Advanced university degree in social sciences or related fields.
· A senior consultant with a minimum of ten to fifteen years of relevant professional work experience at national and international levels in development field and/or information and communication technologies.
· Excellent analytical, communication, writing and editorial skills in English language. Working knowledge in another UN language (e.g. Spanish, French or another langue) an asset.
· Excellent understanding and knowledge of international and national legal frameworks, policies and programmes in relation to children’s rights and ICTs, child online protection and child protection issues.
· Demonstrated expertise in analysis and development of technical papers, reports and programmatic guidance documents related to Child Protection and/or information and communication technologies. Evidence of publication record.
· Operational experience at country/regional and/or international level in the implementation of programming related to child rights, violence, exploitation and abuse and/or information and communication technologies an asset.
· Capacity to work independently yet with ability to share information, receive feedback and engage in dialogue with partners.
How to apply:
Applicants are requested to send their submissions to pdconsultants@unicef.org with subject line:
“Develop Guidance for Online Protection - Consultancy**” by** 24th of February 2016, 5:00pm EST.**
Applications must include:
· Cover letter,
· CV, and
· P-11 form[1] - http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc
· Two examples of most recent written work
· Indicate where you heard about this advertisement
Please indicate your ability, availability and daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered.
NOTE: Files should not exceed 5.0MB limit
UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.
[1] P 11 form can be downloaded from our website athttp://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc