Local Consultant to Assess and Design Community-Based Programmes for At-Risk Children in Kenya

Result of Service• An inception report, including a proposed workplan for the execution of the assignment, methodology, and timelines, drafted and submitted at the commencement of the assignment. • Final approved data collection tools, completed and delivered for implementation. • A final validated and endorsed status analysis report on the community-based programmes, completed and submitted for approval. • A final approved directory of community-based programmes, compiled and delivered to relevant stakeholders. • A report detailing the design of proposed comprehensive community-based models, providing detailed descriptions of the proposed models, including their design, implementation strategies, and monitoring and evaluation plans, drafted, validated, and delivered. • A final approved Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) framework, completed and submitted for endorsement. • Stakeholders’ sensitization report, prepared, delivered, and endorsed by relevant authorities. • A final, comprehensive, and output-oriented report, completed and submitted not later than three working days prior to the end of the consultancy. Work LocationNairobi, Kenya Expected duration01 September 2025 - 31 December 2025 Duties and ResponsibilitiesBackground of the assignment: The Government of Kenya has made significant progress in establishing legal and policy frameworks for child protection and care, yet challenges persist in implementing a community-based approach. Rehabilitation and reintegration efforts for children in conflict with the law, as well as vulnerable and at-risk children, are hindered by inadequate funding, a lack of specialized programmes, limited staff capacity, and poor coordination among agencies and communities. Additional obstacles include stigma, social exclusion, insufficient family and community support, and challenges within the justice system such as trial delays and lack of legal representation. These factors make it difficult to deliver consistent, effective services and ensure children’s rights are upheld. Recognizing these gaps, and in alignment with the Children Act, 2022, and international obligations under the UNCRC and ACRWC, Kenya is promoting alternatives to formal justice proceedings through community-based approaches. This model focuses on prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration within family and community settings rather than institutionalization. It involves caregivers, mentors, schools, religious institutions, and community organizations in supporting children’s development and reintegration. To advance this strategy, the Directorate of Children Services will partner with UNODC and UNICEF to strengthen community-based child protection systems. This initiative aims to create a coordinated, child-centered approach, reduce reliance on custodial measures, prevent recidivism, and address gaps in case and data management, supporting the development of Kenya’s national diversion framework. 2. Purpose of the assignment: This consultancy aims to provide technical expertise in assessing the status of community-based programmes for children in conflict with the law and vulnerable or at-risk children in Kenya, focusing on prevention, early intervention, and rehabilitation to enhance a community-centered child protection approach that ensures safety, well-being, and access to support services. While the consultant offers expertise, the Directorate of Children Services will lead decision-making and coordination through a Technical Working Group involving government agencies and stakeholders. Supported by UNODC and UNICEF as part of broader national care reforms, the consultancy’s specific objectives include identifying and assessing existing programmes and structures, documenting them in a service directory with recommendations for strengthening, proposing new tailored models to address identified gaps and challenges, developing a monitoring and evaluation framework to track implementation and impact, and sensitizing child justice actors on the directory and monitoring framework. 3. Specific tasks to be performed by the consultant: Under the overall supervision of the Regional Representative in the UNODC Regional Office for Eastern Africa (ROEA) and the direct supervision of the UNODC ROEA Head of the Crime Prevention and Criminal Justice Programme, and in close cooperation and consultation with DCS, UNICEF and other child justice actors, the consultant will perform the following substantive duties and responsibilities: a) Development of an Inception Report: Prepare, present, and finalize a comprehensive inception report detailing the assignment’s understanding, methodology, and timelines, incorporating feedback from the TWG. b) Development of the Data Collection Tools: Develop, review, and finalize context-appropriate data collection tools for authentic information gathering, incorporating stakeholder feedback and securing approval from UNODC, UNICEF, and DCS. c) Assessment of the Status of Community-Based Programmes: Conduct a comprehensive assessment of community-based programmes through literature review, institutional mapping, programme evaluation, stakeholder consultations, and produce a validated status analysis report with contextualized recommendations. d) Development of a Directory of Community-Based Programmes: Document and compile a validated directory of functional community-based programmes, detailing services, target children categories, and innovative scalable approaches, for use by child protection actors. e) Design of Proposed Community-Based Programmes: Design tailored community-based programme models addressing prevention, early intervention, rehabilitation, and reintegration needs, with clear referral pathways, coordination mechanisms, and sustainability strategies. f) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework: Develop and validate a monitoring and evaluation framework with clear indicators to track the implementation and impact of community-based programmes and models. g) Sensitization of Child Justice Stakeholders: Develop materials and conduct online sensitization sessions for child justice stakeholders on community-based programmes, followed by producing a sensitization report. h) Reporting and Other Requirements: Submit a final comprehensive, output-oriented report summarizing all deliverables and findings at least three working days before the consultancy ends. Qualifications/special skillsAn advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in law, criminal justice, social work, community development, child protection, child justice, child development, sociology or in a closely related subject is required; A first level university degree in similar fields in combination with two additional years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced degree. • Minimum 10 years of work experience in either of child protection or child justice system in Kenya is required. • At least 5 years of relevant experience in development of analytical reports and policy documents related to child justice and child protection in general is required. • Experience in developing policies and legislation, manuals, procedural documents or guidelines aligned to policies, legal frameworks and international standards and norms is desirable. • Sound understanding of child rights instruments, diversion mechanisms, and community-based approaches to child justice including diversion, restorative justice, rehabilitation and reintegration in Kenya is desirable. • Proven experience in providing technical advice to multidisciplinary teams in Government or national stakeholders and international organizations in the area of child justice, social protection and policy is desirable. • A strong understanding of the Kenyan context, including existing community and statutory child protection systems, is desirable. LanguagesEnglish and French are the working languages of the United Nations Secretariat. For this post, fluency in oral and written English is required. Knowledge of another United Nations Language is an advantage. Additional InformationNot available. No FeeTHE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CHARGE A FEE AT ANY STAGE OF THE RECRUITMENT PROCESS (APPLICATION, INTERVIEW MEETING, PROCESSING, OR TRAINING). THE UNITED NATIONS DOES NOT CONCERN ITSELF WITH INFORMATION ON APPLICANTS’ BANK ACCOUNTS.