Consultancy services for the analysis of the current EU framework on child rights and potential for progress

Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• Knowledge of EU decision-making processes and institutions required.
• Work experience: at least 5 years’ consultancy experience on child rights/human rights issues in EU environment. Experience working for/with multi-lateral organisations (experience with the United Nations is an asset).
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Communication skills: Fluency and strong writing skills in English are required; ability to present complex ideas to different audiences orally and in writing.

World Vision EU Representation on behalf of Brussels Child Rights organisations (incl. UNICEF) is looking for a consultancy to map and analyze the existing EU legal, policy and financial framework on child rights and the political context in order to identify what is missing and what is needed to put child rights high in the political agenda of the EU.

Assignment                     Targeted mapping and analysis for a new EU framework on Child Rights

Location                          Home-based

Duration                           2 months

Estimate number of       20 days (TBC)

working days

Start date                         End of October 2019

Tentative end date        End of December 2019

Reporting to                    The Steering group (3 agencies represented)

 

1.       Justification / Background

The EU decision-making actors and processes - legislation, policy and funding - have an enormous impact on children’s lives inside and outside Europe. In 2019, the EU and its Member States remain the largest global ODA provider, accounting for almost 57% of the total ODA to developing countries, but with ODA representing only 0.5% of the EU GDP. In addition, the EU has committed to implement the 17 SDGs, both in its internal and external policies. While the CRC provides the ethical and legal framework, the SDGs help operationalize child rights with strategies, deadlines and indicators. EU investment in children are not always visible to governments or the general public, and there is only a fragmented understanding of the impact of the EU action on children.

The EU has helped to transform children’s lives. It has inspired legislative changes to better protect children, it has developed policies, it has funded actions, both within and outside of the EU. Progress has been incredible, but there are still many challenges to the realization of all rights for all children everywhere, especially for the most vulnerable ones. In the past, there has been a fragmentation of children’s rights between the internal and external portfolios of the European Commission. Disparities, on the basis of poverty, ethnic group, background and origin, gender, place of birth, religion, etc., persist and have been on the rise in Europe, affecting children’s access to basic services and potential - including within the EU. Global phenomena like economic crisis, climate change and forced displacement are common challenges faced by children all over the world and often impact children first and foremost. Outside of Europe, despite progress, the situation is still dire for many children, who continue to face extreme poverty, discrimination and inequality. The number of children living in conflict settings and forced to move is increasing, and they are increasingly becoming targets of war.

New challenges and opportunities are emerging: children and new technologies -from artificial intelligence to life-saving innovations and the social media; impact of climate change on children and their role as agents of change; children in migration; increasing, politically sensitive impact of armed conflicts on children; and the participation of children in decisions that affect their lives. Old challenges and themes continue to hamper children’s rights including lack of adequate investment in key sectors which have an impact on children such as health, education, nutrition, care, social protection and the prevalence of violence against children in all parts of the world.  Therefore, there is a pressing need to refresh the relevance and urgency around implementing the CRC for the 21^st century. It is critical that children’s rights become part of the political agenda of the EU, both in internal and external affairs, and are made an integral part of EU policies and practices in a holistic and comprehensive way with a new EU framework of Child Rights. This new approach will translate the EU policy and political commitments to child rights into a set of concrete objectives necessary for achieving results for children, including by promoting more efficient coordination, implementation and monitoring of EU activities in this area.

While the European Council has already adopted its 2019-2024 agenda, in the coming months, the European Parliament and the Commission will develop their own priorities for their tenure. There is a unique window of opportunity to strongly engage with the three institutions to put again children as a political priority.

The European Council priorities include issues such as fundamental rights and migration, promoting European values on the global stage, invest in people skills and education and building a climate-neutral, green, fair and social Europe that are directly relevant to children’s rights.

The initial speech of Commission President-Elect Ursula von der Leyen referred to children specifically (Child guarantee fund, investment in children etc) and indirectly (reform of the migration system, a strong EU globally, partnership with Africa).

Brussels based Child Rights organisations (incl. UNICEF) have initiated a dialogue with the new MEPs to have a special plenary session and a resolution on child rights adopted on November 20. This will provide an opportunity for the Parliament to sketch its priorities for children for the legislature. Existing issues such as due diligence for businesses on human rights, protection of children in migration, protection of children and women against violence and protection of children in the digital world are expected to remain on the agenda of the Parliament.  

2.       Objective

The purpose of this consultancy is to support the partnership between Brussels based Child Rights organisations (incl. UNICEF) in mapping and analyzing existing EU legal, policy and financial framework on child rights, developing the content of the new EU approach to advance child rights and proposing steps to move it forward on the agenda of the EU (Council, Parliament and Commission). The consultancy should be addressing three issues: (a) what are the key interventions required to put child rights high on the political agenda of the EU; (b) what is missing in the existing EU legal and policy instruments on child rights to ensure their effectiveness, efficiency, transparency and participative nature; and (c) what would be the best format to address the identified gaps.

3.       Duties and tasks

This assignment will be split into two phases: a mapping phase and analysis phase.

 A.      Mapping phase:

• Define scope and methodology for this assignment by consultant and the Steering Committee – this consultancy will start with the scoping of the work and a proposed methodology for the

assignment.

• Mapping: identifying and outlining the EU legal documents, policies and instruments directly relevant to child rights with a focus on the full scope of the civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights of children.
• Interviews with key stakeholders.

B.      Analysis phase:

• Analysis of the gaps and potential of existing framework and identifying current and future challenges and opportunities for children to fulfil their rights, including for example in the case of the girl child, migrant children among others.
• Analysis of main stakeholders on child rights in the EU context (main supporters/main blockers/non-traditional allies) and key political processes impacting on having child rights high in the EU agenda.
• Analysis of different scenarios with their pros and conson the way forward to put child rights (and prioritizing policies and funding for children) high in the EU agenda in the coming five years, in particular in the European Commission and the European Parliament.
• Specific analysis of the pro and cons of one scenario, ie launching a policy process towards a new EU approach on child rights, looking at the implications of such a strategy, including a stakeholders’ mapping/power analysis. Considering the policy and funding outcomes and potential impact of a child rights strategy for development cooperation or for both internal/external EU policies.
• Identify which approaches would be potentially more effective eg a policy framework/ strategy/roadmap/agenda/plan or a more practical, bottom-up approach, starting with a child marker that would monitor the investments in children.
•  Summarize key recommendations to put child rights on the political agenda of the EU and reinforce our advocacy towards the EU institution and key opportunities.  

4.       Expected deliverables

Quick outline of scope and methodology;

1. Targeted mapping of EU legal documents, policies and instruments directly relevant to child rights;
2. Stakeholders analysis;
3. Analysis of scenarios (gaps and pro/cons of a policy process versus a practical monitoring tool);
4. Key recommendations to put child rights on the political agenda of the EU and reinforce our advocacy.

There will be a steering group of three organisations that will steer this consultancy work.

 5.       Key competences, technical background, and experience required

• Knowledge of EU decision-making processes and institutions required.
• Work experience: at least 5 years’ consultancy experience on child rights/human rights issues in EU environment. Experience working for/with multi-lateral organisations (experience with the United Nations is an asset).
• Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills.
• Communication skills: Fluency and strong writing skills in English are required; ability to present complex ideas to different audiences orally and in writing.

 Strong preference for consultant who has worked for one or several child rights organisations.

6.       Application process

Qualified candidates are requested to submit their application by 22 October 2019, 4pm Brussels time, to email donatienne_desirant@wvi.org  &  jeroen_uytterschaut@wvi.org

Application should include:

• a short outline of how the work will be delivered, a financial proposal with daily rates for delivery and a short outline on own experience matching the requirements of the contract.  
• a CV.