National Consultancy on Child Protection Implementation in Schools, Sao Tome, Sao Tome and Príncipe (remote) 7 months (594882)

Contract Duration: 7 months

Working arrangement: Home Based

UNICEF works in over 190 countries and territories to save children’s lives, defend their rights, and help them fulfill their potential, from early childhood through adolescence.

At UNICEF, we are committed, passionate, and proud of what we do for as long as we are needed. Promoting the rights of every child is not just a job – it is a calling.

UNICEF is a place where careers are built. We offer our staff diverse opportunities for professional and personal development that will help them reinforce a sense of purpose while serving children and communities across the world. We welcome everyone who wants to belong and grow in a diverse and passionate culture, coupled with an attractive compensation and benefits package.

Visit our website to learn more about what we do at UNICEF.

Scope of Work

The National Consultant will be expected to implement the following activities:

• Support the operationalization and field-level implementation of child protection interventions within pre-primary, primary and secondary schools, ensuring that tools, systems and approaches developed at central level are effectively applied, adapted and sustained in real school environments.
• Work in close coordination with UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Science and Higher Education
• (MECCES), and under the technical guidance of the International Consultant, to ensure that implementation is aligned with agreed technical standards while remaining responsive to local realities and school contexts.
• Translate technical designs, guidelines and tools into actionable field-level practices, supporting schools in the practical application of child protection mechanisms, reporting pathways and referral procedures.
• Facilitate continuous feedback between schools and central-level actors, ensuring that implementation challenges, contextual adaptations and lessons learned are regularly communicated to inform technical refinement and quality assurance.
• Support the sustainability of interventions by strengthening ownership at school and community level, promoting routine use of child protection mechanisms and integration into daily school practices.

If you would like to know more about this consultancy, please review the complete Terms of Reference here: ToR_ext_TMC0004416.pdf

QUALIFICATIONS / SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE / EXPERIENCE/ COMPETENCIES (CORE/TECHNICAL/FUNCTIONAL) / LANGUAGE SKILLS REQUIRED FOR THE ASSIGNMENT

Education:

• BA - Education, Social Work, Child Protection, Law or related

Work Experience:

• Minimum 2 years’ experience in Child Protection, Child Development, or related fields. Proven experience in incorporating child protection principles into educational programs is a plus.
• Experience in training facilitation
• Strong knowledge of local systems
• Experience in community-based work
• Strong coordination and communication skills

Language Requirements:

• Fluency in Portuguese is a requirement

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills:

• Strong technical knowledge of child protection systems, including prevention, reporting, referral pathways and case management approaches
• Demonstrated ability to translate national policies, SOPs and guidelines into practical implementation at field level
• Proven experience in designing and delivering capacity building and training programmes for diverse audiences (teachers, school staff, children and communities)
• Solid understanding of the education sector and school-based approaches to child protection
• Strong skills in facilitation, adult learning methodologies, and participatory approaches
• Experience in monitoring and reporting, including data collection, analysis, and use of findings to inform programme improvement
• Ability to work independently with strong planning, organization and time management skills
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, including ability to engage with government, communities and partners
• High level of adaptability and problem-solving skills in dynamic field environments

Desirables:

• Previous experience working with UNICEF or other UN agencies
• Experience supporting implementation of child protection interventions in school settings
• Familiarity with national child protection systems and stakeholders in São Tomé and Príncipe
• Experience in community engagement and social and behaviour change approaches
• Knowledge of safeguarding principles and ethical standards in working with children
• Basic knowledge of data management systems and reporting tools
• Ability to work in remote or resource-constrained environments

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

This position has been assessed as an elevated risk role for Child Safeguarding purposes as it is either a role with direct contact with children, a role that works directly with identifiable children’s data, a safeguarding response role, or an assessed risk role. Additional vetting and assessment for elevated risk roles in child safeguarding (potentially including additional criminal background checks) apply.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). 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 based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. 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, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

Qualified candidates are invited to submit the following documents via the online recruitment portal, TMS (Talent Management System):

• An up-to-date TMS profile and curriculum vitae (CV)

• Cover letter

• A separate financial proposal (only acceptable in the format of the linked template) financial proposal template - TMC0004416.xlsx
• Brief technical proposal outlining methodology and work plan

Remarks:

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

Additional information about working for UNICEF can be found here.