Child-Friendly Governance Consultant
Organizational Context
UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, dedicated to saving children's lives, defending their rights, and helping them fulfill their potential from early childhood through adolescence. We are committed, passionate, and proud of our work, viewing the promotion of every child's rights not just as a job, but as a calling. UNICEF fosters career growth with diverse opportunities for professional and personal development.
Job Purpose
The purpose of this consultancy is to support the coordination, monitoring, documentation, and institutionalization of Child Friendly Governance (CFG) across provinces and municipalities in Sri Lanka. This role contributes to enhancing the capacities of national and subnational government officials to adopt evidence-based and child-friendly approaches for adequate and equitable investments in children. The consultancy aims to strengthen CFG at national and subnational levels, particularly in Southern and Western Provinces and selected municipalities. It will focus on documenting lessons learned and good practices to inform learning, visibility, advocacy, and national ownership. Additionally, the role will bolster communications, capacity-building efforts, and the development of a CFG Community of Practice to ensure sustainability and facilitate wider adoption across Sri Lanka.
Responsibilities
The consultant will be responsible for advancing national and subnational institutionalization of Child Friendly Governance (CFG), including developing capacity-building programs and CFG course content. Technical support will be provided for the implementation of CFG initiatives in the Southern and Western Provinces and selected local authorities. A key responsibility will be consolidating technical resources, meticulously documenting lessons learned from CFG implementation, and organizing national learning workshops to share findings and best practices. The consultant will also play a crucial role in supporting communication and outreach activities, and in the development and nurturing of a CFG Community of Practice to ensure ongoing engagement and knowledge sharing. This includes strengthening the understanding and application of CFG principles within Sri Lanka's governance structures, contributing to improved child rights and well-being outcomes through enhanced governance mechanisms.
Work Experience
A minimum of two years of relevant experience in governance, social policy, or child rights within Sri Lanka is required. Experience with Child Friendly Governance (CFG) or similar initiatives is a strong asset.
Skills
Strong analytical skills, Strong communication skills, Excellent professional English writing skills, Presentation skills, Strong interpersonal skills, Collaborative skills, Solid grasp of Sri Lanka's economic, political, legal, and human rights situation, Familiarity with Sri Lanka’s decentralization and local government systems, Understanding of current governance challenges in Sri Lanka, Experience in participatory planning, budgeting, or monitoring, Experience engaging with media and communications platforms