UNICEF Viet Nam is one of more than 190 offices of the United Nations Children’s Fund globally and part of the United Nations system in Viet Nam working in close collaboration with all UN agencies in the country. Guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, UNICEF has a universal mandate to promote and protect the rights of all children, everywhere – especially those hardest to serve and most at risk.

UNICEF’s mission in Viet Nam is to make sure every child in the country is healthy, educated and safe from harm, therefore having the best start in life and a fair chance to reach her or his full potential and benefit from the country’s prosperity. We believe children have a right to live in a more equitable society, where their voices are heard and needs met as a matter of priority in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. More information on what we do in Viet Nam is available at https://www.unicef.org/vietnam/

How can you make a difference?

Background

The Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA) estimated that 1.5 million children in Viet Nam are living special circumstances (children with disabilities, orphans, children living in institutions, children conflict with law), representing about 5.5 % of the total child population under 16 years of age. The violent discipline is wide spread at 68.4% of children aged 1-14 experienced with some forms of violence in the home. According to the National Child Labour Survey, 1.7 million children aged 5-17 are considered as child laborer’s.

There is no specific information of violence against children in Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dien Bien, but the percentage of children aged 1-14 years in the Central Highlands subjected to at least one form of psychological or physical punishment by household members is recognized to be among the highest in Viet Nam (79.4 percent in contrast to the national average of 68.4 percent). Furthermore, the tradition of early marriage is still common amongst some population groups, especially young women.

The growing child protection issues are exacerbated by the absence of a strong and effective child welfare and protection system, in particular by the lack of trained social workers and services for prevention, support and protection of children from abuse, violence and exploitation. The existing services for prevention, early identification and intervention, referral to rehabilitative and specialized services and follow up are either not in place or are fragmented and unregulated. At sub-national level, social work and child protection services are provided by volunteers and untrained workers undertaking complex tasks without the necessary skills and training.

The Child Law 2016 has marked important efforts of the government in addressing the violence against children (VAC). The Child Law defines one part-time child protection worker in each commune, who takes key responsibility to address the violence against children. In addition, the Decree 56 defines child protection and case management systems to increase quality multi-sectoral intervention and response to child victims of abuse, violence.

As part of the Integrated Early Childhood Development Projects in Dien Bien, Gia Lai and Kon Tum provinces (2017-2021), UNICEF has supported the development and operation of local child protection systems with an aim to strengthen social service workforce, case management, and multi-sectoral child protection services in line with the Child Law and Decree.

For the reason, UNICEF needs to provide technical support to DOLISA and Child Protection Committees in Gia Lai, Kon Tum and Dien Bien in strengthening the local child protection system to address effectively the violence against children.

Objectives

The consultant is expected to provide technical assistance to DOLISAs and Child Protection Committees in Kon Tum, Gia Lai and Dien Bien to strengthen the local child protection system.

Specific objectives are:

• To strengthen capacity of DOLISA and Child Protection Committees at three local levels in developing and operating local child protection systems (See indicators of success in the Annex);

• To increase child protection services delivered by DOLISA staff, provincial and district social workers, and child protection workers (See indicators of success in the Annex).

  Specific Tasks

  In consultation with UNICEF, MOLISA and DOLISA, the consultant shall perform the following tasks:

  Task 1: Develop a training manual on supervision of operation of local child protection systems for DOLISA staff and Child Protection Committees at provincial, district and commune levels (18 working days)

  Task 2: Facilitate two-day training by using the training manual in the three provinces (2 working days/province x 3 provinces = 6 days)

  Task 3: Develop a practice manual to provide skills in implementing case management and child protection services delivery for DOLISA staff, social workers and child protection workers (8 days)

  Task 4: Facilitate two-day training by using the practice manual in the three provinces (2 working days/province x 3 provinces = 6 days)

  Task 5: Facilitate three-day training on case management for DOLISA staff, social workers and child protection workers in Dien Bien (3 days)

  Task 6: Provide quarterly coaching to DOLISAs and Child Protection Committees to strengthen supervision of operation of local child protection systems (8 working days/province x 3 provinces = 24 days)

  Task 7: Provide on the job training to DOLISA staff, social workers and child protection workers to increase quality child protection services delivery including counseling, case management, communication and child protection services (28 working days/province x 3 provinces = 84 days)

Qualifications and Experience

• Advanced Degree in social work and/or related field;
• At least 5-year experience in working with the Governments and Organizations in improving social work;
• At least 10-year experience in developing and facilitating training programme in social work;
• Excellent knowledge on and understanding of the roles and functions of social workers and social work services in various fields;
• Strong knowledge on the community-based child protection system;
• Good working experience and familiarity with UNICEF vision, mission and programming on child protection;
• Knowledge of the social work situation in Viet Nam is desirable;
• Good written, communication skills and computer skills;
• Be Vietnamese nationals.

Submission of applications:

Interested candidates are kindly requested to apply and upload the following documents to the assigned requisition in UNICEF Vacancies: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/

• Letter of interest and confirmation of availability;
• Technical proposal which clearly explains the outline on how to deliver the tasks and deliverables (preferably less than 5 pages);
• Performance evaluation reports or references of similar consultancy assignments;
• Financial proposal: All-inclusive lump-sum cost including consultancy fee and costs for this assignment as per work assignment.
• CV/P11 form (UN Personal History Form).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.