Child Protection Consultant at UNICEF

Job Number: 518307
Locations: Ebonyi & Imo
Contract duration is 11. 5
Work Type: Consultancy

Background

• FGM remains widespread in Nigeria. According to the MICS 2016 -2017, 18.4% of women aged 15-49 years had undergone FGM/C which is a decrease from 27% in 2011 (NBS & UNICEF 2011; NBS & UNICEF 2017). Statistics from the 2013 National Demographic Health Survey stated that the overall prevalence of girls and women aged 15-49 years who have undergone Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria (25%) is lower than in many countries. However, due to its large population, Nigeria has the third highest absolute number of women and girls who have undergone FGM worldwide after Egypt and Ethiopia. An estimated 19.9 million Nigerian women have undergone FGM meaning that approximately 10% of the 200 million FGM survivors worldwide are Nigerian (UNICEF 2016).
• The practice of FGM is most prevalent among Yoruba women (55%), followed by Igbo women (45%).  In 2014, UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme (JP) in collaboration with Federal/State Ministries of Health, Federal/State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development commenced a 4-year programme aimed at achieving the abandonment of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the next generation in line with United Nation General Assembly Resolution A/RES/67/146 of 2012 and Sustainable Development Goal 5 target 3 using a common coordinated approach and mixed strategy of advocacy, legal/policies reforms, capacity building for social change.
• Based on the result of an in-depth study on social norms in five FGM/C high prevalence States (Ebonyi, Imo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo) and Lagos State, UNICEF is currently coordinating the implementation of a jointly-developed state specific communication plan, using evidenced-based programming and existing community structures to create network of community champions and reference groups to create a positive social norm and expectations that will motivate community adherents to FGM to abandon the practice.

Major Tasks to be Accomplished
In collaboration with the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme team on FGM abandonment:

• Support UNICEF Child Protection Specialists in Nigeria Country Office and implementing partners of the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Programme on FGM at state, LGA and communities in 2 states of Ebonyi and Imo states to plan implement, monitor and document all aspects of the joint programme.
• Promote common coordinated approach to FGM programme implementation, strengthen state technical committee and convene quarterly STC meeting in the 2 focus states, in collaboration with the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Ministry of Health and Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as well as CSOs.
• With reference to the UNFPA/UNICEF Joint Result Based Management Framework and Joint Annual Work Plan, support planning, development and implementation of state and LGA/community FGM abandonment action plans linked to the National Implementation Strategy with reference to four major outcomes and their indicators.

Outcome 1: Legislation - Countries have an enabling environment for the elimination of FGM practices at all levels and in line with human right standards:

• Training and monitoring of security officers, police, NSDC, NHRC, magistrates and judges to implement and enforce FGM legislations at state and national levels implementation and enforcement of available laws on FGM in the 2 focus states
• Review, update, print and disseminate the National Policy and Plan of Action for the Elimination of FGM in Nigeria (2013-2017)
• Engage with legislators to support the implementation of laws and policies on FGM and increased budgetary allocations for FGM activities
• Support the quarterly and monthly co-ordination meetings of the State Technical Committees (STC) and LGA Technical Committees (LTC) in the 2 States
• Engagement with youth organisation and CSOs working on FGM-related programmes to support monitoring of FGM interventions in the 2 focal states and engage with policy makers on elimination of FGM

Outcome 2 - Girls and women are empowered to exercise and express their rights by transforming social and gender norms in communities to eliminate FGM:

• Support community consensus building and public declarations of FGM abandonment
• Support interpersonal, intergenerational, community dialogue and other social mobilization sessions in selected communities in the focal states
• Support the engagement of communities on FGM abandonment using the Mass and Social Media
• Engagement with Traditional Rulers to advocate for their support to publicly denounce FGM
• Engagement with Religious leaders to advocate for their support to delink FGM from religious requirements
• Support engagement of Male (boys and men) Groups to establish a coalition advocating for the elimination of FGM at LGA level
• Support communities to establish surveillance systems and amplify social norms change with organized diffusion of knowledge, attitudes and positive expectation
• Support the provision of life skill training to young girls to enhance their capacity to prevent and respond to FGM.

Outcome 3 - Girls and women receive appropriate, quality and systemic services for FGM prevention, protection and care:

• Support orientation and engagement with providers (government /NGO/private sector) of FGM-related social services to girls and women (psychosocial counselling, temporary shelter, etc.).
• Support orientation and engagement with providers (government /NGO/private sector) of FGM-related legal services to girls and women (legal assistance, etc.).
• Support the empowerment of non-medical FGM service providers (social workers, teachers, law enforcement agents, legal/paralegal, etc.) to join the campaign to eliminate FGM, including medicalization
• Support the training of medical personnel and other engagements towards mainstreaming FGM into the curricula of Nursing/midwifery schools

Outcome 4 - Countries have better capacity to generate and use evidence and data for policymaking and improving programming:

• Support the review, development, adaptation, and application of standard documentation tools and guidelines for programme implementation
• Conduct further analysis on the factors driving the increase in FGM prevalence observed in the new hotspot States identified by MICS 2016-2017.
• Support documentation and sharing of good practices from Nigeria with the Knowledge Hub, and encourage implementing partners to utilise this service and provide feedback.
• Support mapping of stakeholders working on FGM elimination in the 2 focal states
• Conduct quarterly data review meetings with Programme and M&E Review with implementing partners in the 2 states
• Document in multimedia, narrative and evidence based reports, the public declaration of abandonment and related activities at all levels
• Build capacity of key partners on data collection, collation and updating of the DfA framework quarterly.

Qualifications or Specialized Knowledge/Experience
Experience and Skills:

• University degree in Social/Behavioural Sciences (Health Education, Community development, Sociology, Anthropology).
• Minimum of five years progressively responsible work experience in planning and management of social development programmes at community level.
• Proven skills in partnership building, networking, advocacy, negotiation and organising community dialogues, campaigns and special events around social norm changes especially on ending FGM at community levels would be an advantage.
• Good understanding and experience in the field of social norms, gender and gender based violence, community dynamics.
• Ability to express clearly and concisely ideas and concepts in written and oral forms.
• Knowledge of issues related to violence against children and child protection is required
• Leadership and participation in previous assignment and in capacity similar or higher than this assignment
• Expertise in community mobilization and engagements, and sociocultural relations in the selected areas.
• Proven ability to work independently

Competencies:

• Analytical, conceptual ability.
• Networking and partnership skills.
• Communication, documenting and report writing skills.
• Fluency in English and local language of respective state of assignment.
• Computer skills, including various office applications and internet navigation skills