Term of Reference – Expert
Posted on: January 10, 2024
Deadline: February 02, 2024
Title/Subject: Observatory issues a call for expertise in various program areas and invites experts to express their interest by (was January 25, 2024), extended to February 02, 2024
The Observatory for the Rights of Children and Youth (Observatory) was established as a UNICEF program in Albania in 2009, becoming the first civil society structure for monitoring children’s rights at the local level. It was officially registered on May 30, 2013 (Court Decision No. 813) and operates as an observatory and mobilization structure at the regional level. Its mission is to ensure the dignity and well-being of children and youth throughout Albania through observation, research, analysis, communication, and advocacy, collaborating with other actors/institutions, and engaging in awareness-raising and public education campaigns. The Observatory is present nationwide with thirteen regional experts (one for each region of the country).
Over the past 10 years of project implementation, we have strengthened our network in all regions, actively engaged in various empowerment and mobilization programs, enhanced our presence in Albanian society, and advanced cooperation within the network from the national to the local level. The Observatory has implemented 80 projects, addressing, among other things, the monitoring of national and local plans, strategies, the enforcement of laws concerning children and families with economic issues, and youth outside the education system or labor market. The Observatory has developed capacity-building plans for target groups based on monitoring findings and international practices, presented through donor partnerships.
The Observatory is committed to a joint initiative with line ministries such as the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Education and Sports, the Ministry of Health and Social Protection, the Minister of State for Youth, local governance units, as well as other international organizations, to strengthen interventions in systems and laws, providing sustainable and integrated policies and services for the protection of children and youth.
To achieve our goals and strategic objectives, the Observatory engages in processes that require high-level expertise in the field of child protection, child labor, child trafficking and exploitation, juvenile justice, youth development, disaster risk reduction, inclusive education, good governance, and decentralization of services for children, families, and vulnerable communities. These processes are mainly undertaken by external experts under close supervision and collaboration with the technical staff of the Observatory.
In this context, the Observatory is opening this call for expressions of interest and willingness to engage with experts/consultants who will compete to be part of the consultancy list for the next 3 years (2024-2027), offering a range of services in various areas of expertise as specified in the sections below.
Types of expertise/consultancy required:
- Training module design
- Providing training (physically or online)
- Assessment of need
- Evaluation and review
- Research and analysis
- Designing processes (strategy, advocacy/lobbying, roadmap, etc.)
- Legal review and drafting of legal acts
- Raising Institutional Capacities
- Designing, drafting of policies and recommendations for different situations of children’s rights;
- Lecture or Facilitation of seminars or conferences
- Production of promotional materials, videos, web design, etc.
Required/preferred areas of expertise are:
- Education
- Policy and social protection
- Human rights and gender equality
- Central and local government
- Health
- Innovation
The labor and child protection principles briefly include, but are not limited to:
- Treat children with respect and dignity;
- Listen to children’s views and opinions;
- Inform the children’s parents/guardians/legal guardians and obtain written consent before any interaction with the children (this includes specific written permission when it comes to photography/video);
- Be sensitive to and respect the child’s age and maturity, cultural background and local social and family norms;
- Dress culturally appropriately;
- Always be accompanied by another adult (preferably a parent/legal guardian or teacher) when meeting a child;
- Do not abuse children (sexual, emotional, psychological and physical abuse).
Interested experts are welcome to express their interest and willingness to collaborate with the Observatory via email: hr@observator.org.al by February 02, 2024.
The confirmation message should include at least:
- The field(s) of interest
- CV
- And any other documents you consider necessary.
Selected experts will be notified and will be part of the list of experts to be contracted by the Observatory according to the requirements and needs in projects and initiatives over the next 3 years (January 2024 – January 2027). The Observatory is committed to a transparent process while maintaining the confidentiality of personal data of each expert/engaged person.