Country: Maldives
Closing date: 14 Oct 2018
Terms of Reference for an International Consultant to develop a strategy for UNICEF Maldives Country Office on engaging with adolescents.
TOR Reference Number: TOR/2018/34
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Background:
Maldives is an upper middle-income country with its population dispersed in 187 islands. In 2014, the census counted 402,071 people of which 63,637 are foreigners and 58% of the women are in their reproductive age (15-49 years). It is also the time where 67 percent of the people are in the working age group (15-64) meaning the country is going through demographic dividend period. In forty years' time the population is expected to reach just under a million with almost half of the population being foreigners (Population Projections, National Bureau of Statistics, 2018).
Maldives has successfully achieved 5 out of 8 MDGs with a stunning plunge in maternal and infant mortality rates and high coverage of institutional deliveries. The Maldivian people continue to enjoy improved life expectancies and the adolescent pregnancy rate has been reduced with the age at first marriage and first pregnancy standing at early 20s. However, the national family planning program is coupled-based, which leads to the exclusion of young unmarried people, especially girls from reproductive health services and information that would enable them to make informed life choices. The legal age for marriage is 18 years but it was reported that 26 minors married in 2016. Only 25% of young women and 22% of young men discussed reproductive health with anyone; among those who have discussed reproductive health, about two-thirds discussed it with friends.
Studies reveal that there is a clear association between youth unemployment and the abuse of drugs and high rates of juvenile crime. Low rates of educational achievement coupled with limited access to career guidance and life skills predispose adolescent and young people to risky behaviors and crime. For instance, according to the administrative data from Juvenile Justice Unit (JJU), 61 percent of Juvenile offenders reported to the JJU were school dropouts, with 40% of the cases related to drugs and another 18% linked to violent assaults. The results of the National Drug Use Survey- Maldives 2011/2012 show that 48 percent of drug users in Male are aged 15-19 (compared to 18% in the atolls.)
Furthermore, police statistics suggest that young people in the age group 15-24 are increasingly engaging in organized and gang related serious crimes, while adolescent girls are lured into sexual offenses and exploitation. Often, young people become victims of violent assaults and murder.
The child protection system is faced with major challenges and constraints to deliver a safe, secure and healthy environment to foster growth, as well as provide corrective programmes for those in conflict with the law, inclusive of psycho-social support to enable their reintegration in to society. Lack of evidence-based programming and engagement with adolescents in designing programs with them is one of the major weaknesses in the system.
UNICEF believes that the adolescent age group (10-19) represents a tremendous opportunity to build human and cognitive capital and generate optimum wealth and growth in a country. They have immense capacity to lead the changes they want to see and become role models for themselves. Hence, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the UNICEF Strategic Plan 2018-202, UNICEF Maldives Country Office wishes to develop a strategy for the office on engaging with adolescents (10- 19 years). It is to this effect that the country office is seeking the services of an international consultant to undertake this consultancy.
The objective of the consultancy is to:
1. Develop a strategy to guide UNICEF Maldives Country Office:
a. on engaging with adolescents to increase participation of adolescents in delivering the UNICEF Maldives Country Program 2016-2020. This Country Program stipulates the planned interventions and intended results for children and adolescents
b. Mobilizing resources for programs for and with adolescents.
3. Duty station:
UNICEF Maldives Country Office
UNICEF, Programme Specialist- Education and WASH.
Major activities
Approx. no. of working days
Deliverables
15 working days (in Male' Maldives)
A 5-6 page (maximum) report on the key findings from the literature and consultations.
A power point presentation to the Country Team.
Facilitation of the discussion with the country team.
9 working days (from home)
Draft strategy
5 days (from home base.)
Final strategy.
It is estimated that the project will take approximately 30 working days between October- November 2018.
One trip to Male' Maldives for stakeholder consultations.
Interested candidates should submit an Expression of Interest along with the following documents.
Evaluation of proposals:
The weight allocated between technical and price proposal is 60:40 respectively.
10- Payment Schedule
Deliverables
Payment %
A brief report on the key findings from the literature and consultations.
40%
Presentation to UNICEF on the findings of the literature review and discussion on the strategic areas to include in the strategy.
10%
Final strategy document
50%
UNICEF will only make milestone payment based on achievement of specific deliverables as listed in this TOR. Also note that UNICEF does not make advance payment and UNICEF is exempted from paying VAT and any other forms of taxes.
Deadline for application is 14th October 2018, 06:00 pm (West Asia standard time)
Application link :
https://secure.dc7.pageuppeople.com/apply/671/gateway/Default.aspx?c=app...
All applications must be submitted through the online link provided above.
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.
How to apply:
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 disabilities, to apply to become a part of our organization. To apply, click on the following link http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/?job=516661