Technical specialist to support the coordination of the implementation of Child Online Protection (COP) Policy in Rwanda: (Deadline: 18 Oct 2020)

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For every child, Protection

How can you make a difference?

Background and purpose

The Government of Rwanda is strongly committed to ensuring that all children can achieve their full potential in a safe and protective environment. However, children and adolescents still face violence, abuse and exploitation. Despite violence being often under-reported, figures from the National Violence Against Children and Youth Study (2015/16) show that 42% of boys and 26% of girls aged 13-17 have been victims of physical violence, while 12% of girls and 5% of boys aged 13-17 reported exposure to sexual violence.

Access to the internet is rapidly increasing. According to Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) internet penetration stood at 62.9% as of March 2020 whereas access to mobile-cellular telephones was at 74.8% by the end of 2019. With the rise in affordability of smart phone devices, flexible pricing of Internet bundles as well as the extension of 3G and 4G coverage around the country, the access to digital life is even expected to exponentially increase in near future. The One Laptop per Child and Smart Classrooms programs have increased access to digital world specifically in school settings and new initiatives in the future will substantially expand internet coverage. With the current COVID-19 crisis and schools in Rwanda closed to mitigate the spread of virus, most services have now been put online, including children’s learning, socialization and play. This presents even greater exposure of children to the internet with greater potential for online risks and harms. The need for protection online is critical as children constitute half of Rwanda’s population.

Recognizing the need to keep children safe in digital life, the Government of Rwanda has adopted the Child Online Protection Policy in 2019. The Rwanda Child Online Protection Policy (“the COP Policy”) is designed to mitigate against online risks and harms, and to deliver a framework that meets children’s needs and fulfils their rights, while enabling them to safely and confidently navigate the digital environment. It represents the Government’s full commitment to the safety and wellbeing of children, the nation’s greatest and most precious asset.

The implementation of the policy requires the involvement of a broad spectrum of stakeholders; government and public agencies, information and communications technology companies, telecommunication companies; communities and civil society organisations; parents, teachers and children themselves have to exercise a shared responsibility in the implementation of this policy. Comprehensive child online protection is dependent upon stakeholder’s partnership; working nationally and internationally.

The Government has already established the governance structure for the implementation of the policy. The National Steering Committee on Child Online Protection to provide the overall guidance and the National Technical Working Group on Child Online protection composed of a range of technical experts to offer technical guidance to the implementation of the policy. The implementation of other activities under different policy pillars have also started. UNICEF currently supports the implementation of the policy.

Justification
Based on the multi sectoral nature of the Child online protection policy, the Government of Rwanda is establishing the secretariat to coordinate the implementation of the policy. This consultancy is situated under the COP Governance and coordination pillar. It directly responds to the out 1 on building enabling environment for child protection. The consultant will work with the ICT and child protection sectors to coordinate the implementation of the policy across sectors.

Objectives
The overall objective of the consultancy is to provide the catalytic technical support to the ICT and child protection sectors to establish the secretariat for coordinating the implementation of child online protection policy.
Specific objectives are as following:
1. Support and strengthen the coordination mechanisms for the implementation of COP priorities across key implementation agencies
2. Coordinate the establishment and operationalization of child online protection implementation monitoring framework
3. Support and strengthen cooperation and partnerships among national and international COP partners.

Tasks Deliverables Timelines

Quarter 1 – 2
1. Coordinate and facilitate the development of the COP implementation plan under the guidance of ICT and child protection leads and support of the members of the COP technical working group.
• Reports and minutes of COP actors’ engagement activities
• Roadmap for the development of the COP implementation plan

Quarter 1- 3
2. Coordinate the development of the monitoring framework for COP activities across sectors in line with the implementation plan.
• Reports and minutes of COP actors’ engagement activities
• Draft monitoring framework for COP activities across sectors

Quarter 1 – 4 
3. Support knowledge management and capacity building of key stakeholders in child online protection through facilitating trainings, awareness and other methods.
• Trainings and awareness activities organized for Child Online Protection Technical working group and other key stakeholders in COP.

Quarter 1 – 4
4. Support the planning and follow up coordination meetings of the Technical Working Group and the Steering Committee on COP
• Reports and minutes of Technical Working Group and the Steering Committee on COP activities and meetings.

Quarter 1-4 
5. Facilitate partnerships with other government institutions, development partners and technology companies through active sharing of knowledge and information
• Reports and minutes of partners engagement

Quarter 2-4
6. Support and facilitate innovative learning exchanges to share national, regional and global best practices in area of child online protection
• Desk review report on potential learning and exchange opportunities for on child online protection.
• Learning events organized for COP actors

Quarter 2 – 4
7. Facilitate the assessment of the current technical tools and policy and legal framework to promote safe use of internet and prevent child online abuses
• Terms of reference for the gap analysis for the current COP technical tools and policy and legal framework developed
• Consultations organized with stakeholders in Child Online protection.

Quarter 1- 3
8. Support the development of COP annual communication plan to intensify and diversify the COP awareness messaging.
• Reports and minutes of partners engagement
• Roadmap for the development of the COP annual communication plan developed.

Quarter 4
9. Produce the final report summarizing the activities, outputs and results, challenges and lessons learned, as well as recommendations for further implementation of the child online protection policy

• Final report summarizing the activities, outputs and results, challenges and lessons learned, as well as recommendations submitted.

Evaluation Criteria
The Technical proposal is weighted at 70% and 30% for the Financial proposal. The most suitable candidates may be invited for an oral or written interview or both.
Please note that the final remuneration will be negotiated by HR.

Payment schedule
The Consultant will be paid monthly upon submission of invoice and her/his report on deliverables met each month against the table of agreed deliverables, subject to certification by the supervisor. Monthly payment will be calculated at 8.5% of the total amount for the first 11 months and 6.5% for the last 14 days.

General conditions

The contractor will be working full-time with the direct supervisory line of the Government of Rwanda and will also report to UNICEF on deliverables.

During the consultancy period the contractor will cover his/her transport cost in Kigali and at the request of the supervisor, the transport for field visits shall be provided by UNICEF. For Field Trip, the contractor will be reimbursed based on out of pocket expenses associated with the travel at Government official daily subsidy allowances and based on a submitted voucher/claim approved by the supervisor.

UNICEF reserves the right to withhold all or a portion of payment if performance is unsatisfactory, if work/output is incomplete, not delivered or for failure to meet deadlines

All materials developed will remain the copyright of UNICEF and UNICEF will be free to adapt and modify them in the future.

The consultants must respect the confidentiality of the information handled during the assignment. Documents and information provided must be used only for the tasks related to these terms of reference.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

Academic qualifications:

• Master’s in computer science, Computer Engineering, Information and Communication Technology, Information Management System, Electronics and Telecommunications, Software Engineering, Telecommunication Engineering, social sciences (social work, psychology and sociology), law, Public Policy Management, Project Management or related field.

Employment experience:

• 5 years of experience in the provision of strategic support and advice to senior leaders within government or non-government organizations.
• Experience with child protection and child rights, preferably coordination of child protection actors.
• Experience with ICT sector, preferably use of ICT in social sectors
• Experience in a multi-sectoral management, project and partnership management as well as practical experience of strategic planning.
• Sound understanding and past working experience of multi agencies coordination and multi layered capacity building.

Skills and Abilities:

• Understanding of the nexus between child protection and digital technologies is considered as an asset.
• Excellent writing skills, strong planning, organizational and analytical skills, computer skills and interpersonal communication skills;
• Ability to work with Government Officials at national and decentralized levels as well as with international and national development partners
• Strong people management skills and a consultative leadership and management style
• Partnership and mobilization skills

Language skills:

• Fluency in English and Kinyarwanda. Knowledge of French would be an asset.

How to apply

UNICEF is committed to gender equality in its mandate and its staff. Well qualified candidates, particularly females are strongly encouraged to apply.

Interested candidates should send their complete Personal History (P11) form, which can be downloaded form (http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/P11.doc) or a CV/resume, as well as a cover letter explaining what makes them suitable for this consultancy.

Qualified and experienced candidates are requested to submit a letter of interest considered as a Technical Proposal for the consultancy in which candidates should highlight their previous work experience relevant to the assignment, the attributes that make them suitable, and their proposed road map and approach to undertake the assignment.

The Selected candidates will be requested to submit a Financial Proposal outlining the total costs for this consultancy with payment linked to the main deliverables outlined above.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

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 be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check.

Remarks:

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

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures, and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.