Country: Serbia
Closing date: 15 Jan 2016
Background:
The Ministry of Justice has reiterated its commitment to accelerate child-related justice reforms and this area of work has been identified as one of its priorities in the EU package of support provided through IPA 2013. Through IPA 2013 programme UNICEF is implementing the project Strengthening the justice and social welfare systems to advance the protection of children in Serbia focusing on the following four priority areas: a) advancing responses to juvenile offending, b) protection of child victims and witnesses in criminal justice proceedings, c) children in civil proceedings especially in cases regarding custody and care, and d) access to quality free legal aid.
The IPA 2013 programme component related to children in civil proceedings is focused on improvement of child’s participation rights before the court, always in the context of adherence to the best interest of the child, as a guiding principle when all children’s rights are concerned. The right of the child to voice his/her opinion and the right for the opinion to be taken into account in proceedings are defined in the Family Law, but implementation in practice currently varies.
The Family Law provides that children who are capable of forming their own opinion shall have the right to freely do so in civil proceedings. Children who have reached the age of 10 have the right to receive all necessary information, and the right to freely and directly express their opinion, on their own or through another person, in all court proceedings. The Family Law also stipulates that the courts should enable the child’s opinion to be heard in an environment that is safe and child friendly, in cooperation with the school psychologist or guardianship authority, family counseling service or other institution specialized in mediation in family relations. The centre for social welfare, in its capacity as guardianship authority, has overall responsibility for the protection and assistance of families engaged in civil proceedings.
The programme envisages holding of information sessions for justice and social welfare professionals across the country. These information sessions will be held in 92 basic and higher courts in Serbia with the participation of judges and professionals from centres for social work in order to ensure that all relevant professionals working with children in civil court proceedings receive the training on this important topic. The information sessions will be held by presenters/experts in the fields that have been selected by UNICEF. The presenters will receive training of trainers that will be designed and delivered by an international consultant, which is the topic of this ToR. The international consultant will be supported by a team national experts, gathered around the Child Rights Centre, so as to ensure the training is fully in line with national legislation and regulations.
Purpose of the assignment:
The purpose of this Consultancy is to build capacity of judicial and social welfare professionals working with children in civil proceedings, through holding a training of trainers for national presenters/experts, responsible for holding information sessions on the topic throughout the country.
Estimated start Date: 8th February 2016
Estimated end Date: 18th March 2016
Number of days/months: A maximum of 15 days over a period from 8th February to 18th March 2016
Work Assignment Overview – the consultants expected to jointly implement task described below:
Tasks
Deliverables
Timeframe
1.1. Define content of information session in close cooperation with UNICEF Child Protection team and experts from the Child Rights Centre and design training of trainers, targeting a group of consultants – presenters who will further hold information sessions to relevant justice and social welfare professionals across the country.
1.2. Participate in development of content of leaflet and poster intended for relevant justice and social welfare professionals working with children in civil proceedings.
1.3. Deliver a five-day training of trainers to the group of consultants – presenters who will further hold information sessions to relevant justice and social welfare professionals across the country.
1.1. First report on input provided (info session and training of training design) – 7 working days
1.2. Second report on input provided (leaflet and poster content) – 3 working days
1.3 Final report on input provided (training of trainers delivery) – 5 working days
By 19th February 2016
By 12th March 2016
By 18th March 2016
Payment procedures and number of working days:
Consultant will be paid in total upon completing all deliverables and submission of invoice indicating completed deliverables and allocated number of days for each deliverable. A total of 15 working days is anticipated for the completion of the defined tasks.
The quality of specific deliverables and keeping with the time-line will be used as a basis for the evaluation of consultant’s performance along with standard indicators such as timely realization of activities and working relations.
Travel Required
Estimated number of days of travel: 6
Location of travel: Official travel shall include delivery of training of trainers to 15 of presenters/experts in Belgrade.
Workplace of Consultant: Consultant’s office
Will the consultant need IT access, email?
No
Qualifications required, specialised knowledge, specialised skills and work experience required for this assignment
· Advanced (masters or doctorate) university degree in psychology;
· At least 5 years of experience in working with children in civil proceedings and 10 years of experience in working with children in judicial (or administrative) proceedings;
· Extensive experience in holding trainings and presentations to judicial and social welfare professionals;
· Published articles/analysis or studies in area concerning children in judicial proceedings;
· Excellent knowledge and commitment to attainment of highest child rights standards and child-friendly justice;
· Ability to keep to strict deadlines.
How to apply:
Duration of the assignment is from 8 February 2016 to 18 March 2016, total of 15 working days.
The closing date for applications is 15 January 2016. Detailed Terms of Reference can be found on http://www.unicef.rs/oglasi-za-posao.html under Vacancies. Qualified candidates are requested to send their application to belgrade@unicef.org by 15 January 2016, ref. VN-46 Consultant for civil proceedings.
The application must include the following:
P11 (P11 form can be downloaded from http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc)
Lump sum for the assignment
Lump sum for transportation costs and DSA (6 days for DSA for Belgrade plus travel to and from Serbia)
Important note: Incomplete applications will not be taken into consideration. Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. UNICEF is a non-smoking environment. UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages qualified female and male candidates from all national, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disability