National Consultant for Elimination FGM National strategy and action plan (2025–2030), 3 Months, Guinea-Bissau

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For every child, the right to [insert tagline] 

Scope of Work:

Guinea-Bissau is composed of diverse ethnic and religious groups, and in many regions of the country, harmful practices against children—particularly girls—persist, including female genital mutilation (FGM).
Since 2008, the UNICEF–UNFPA Joint Programme has supported initiatives aimed at eliminating FGM, backed by a legal framework that includes Law No. 14/2011, which prohibits and criminalizes the practice, and the National Strategy for the Abandonment of FGM (2018–2022). Despite political progress and stakeholders’ efforts, rural areas still show high prevalence rates, revealing deep cultural entrenchment and resistance.

FGM remains a serious human rights violation in Guinea-Bissau, with a national prevalence of 52% among women aged 15–49 (MICS6 2018–2019) , and regional peaks of over 90%, notably Gabu (96%) and Bafatá (87%). Despite the legal framework, the latest data on the 2025 UNICEF/UNFPA study on FGM- patterns and drivers (IMPACTE, 2025) highlights ongoing challenges: entrenched social norms, lack of awareness of the law, cultural resistance, ineffective coordination mechanisms, and weaknesses in justice, education, and social services responses to address the practice.

In this context, to strengthen coordination and a multisectoral response to FGM, the Ministry of Women, Family and Social Solidarity, through the National Committee for the Abandonment of Harmful Practices, requested support from the Joint Programme (UNFPA/UNICEF) to develop a new National Strategy for the Elimination of FGM 2025–2030, along with a Multisectoral Costed Action Plan. This plan will focus on social norm change, institutional strengthening, community mobilization, and victim protection, with the goal of achieving progressive abandonment of the practice by 2030, in line with the 2030 Agenda (SDGs) and national legislation.

Purpose of the consultancy
The Consultant will be responsible for developing the national multisectoral strategy and action plan to eliminate female genital mutilation (FGM) in Guinea-Bissau. The consultant will propose strategic priorities, coordination mechanisms, and a monitoring and evaluation framework, in close collaboration with the National Committee for the Abandonment of Harmful Practices (CNAPN).
CNAPN will be the primary coordinating body responsible for overseeing the implementation and follow-up of the action plan, in partnership with national and global stakeholders, including UN agencies, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the justice, education, and social services sectors.

Duties and Responsibilities
The consultant will be assigned the following tasks:

How can you make a difference? 

Work Assignments Overview1: 

Desk review about FGM at national level, including statistical data, legislation, laws and existing strategies.

Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline 6 Days

1. Desk review report.
2. Good practices and key challenges duly identified and documented.
3. Best practices on developing National Strategies and Action Plans by other FGM Joint programme countries, identified.

Work Assignments Overview: 2.

Conduct a consultative process including preliminary interviews with key informants on current strategies and interventions to eliminate FGM. Engage key stakeholders, including government ministries, civil society organizations (CSOs), communities, religious/traditional leaders, youth, survivors, and others.

Deliverables/Outputs: Report on consultations with key informants available. Tmeline: 12 days

Work Assignments Overview: 3. Develop the National Strategy document and Action Plan.

Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline 38 Days

Work Assignments Overview :4.

Present the draft of the new Strategy and costed Action Plan to key stakeholders for input and validation.

Deliverables/Outputs – Timeline 5 Days

Work Assignments Overview : 5.

Submit the final version of the Strategy document

Deliverables/Outputs - Timeline 5 days: Compiled final report at the end of the contract submitted, highlighting findings and recommendations.

To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have… 

Minimum requirements:

[Include the vacancy requirements aligned to the category and level of the position. You can see examples in the branded VA example.]

• At least 5 years of experience in child protection, gender, maternal health or human rights.
• Proven experience in developing and evaluate multi-year national strategies and policies.
• Demonstrated experience in conducting focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews (KIIs).
• Experience consulting with adolescents and young people
• Strong knowledge of legal, socio-cultural, and political issues related to female genital mutilation (FGM).
• Good knowledge of the social protection system in Guinea-Bissau is an asset..

• Strong analytical, quantitative, and qualitative research skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Experience within the UN Common System is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate...

UNICEF’s Core Values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust and Accountability and Sustainability (CRITAS) underpin everything we do and how we do it. Get acquainted with Our Values Charter: UNICEF Values

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are…

(1) Builds and maintains partnerships

(2) Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness

(3) Drive to achieve results for impact

(4) Innovates and embraces change

(5) Manages ambiguity and complexity

(6) Thinks and acts strategically

(7) Works collaboratively with others 

Familiarize yourself with our competency framework and its different levels.

General Conditions:
The contract will be for a three-month period (65 days). This assignment includes field visits in four (4) regions of the country with high FGM prevalence rates. The consultant will not be based at the UNICEF Country Office, but whenever necessary, an office space will be available. The consultant is expected to use his/her own electronic devices to perform the assignment. However, he/she will be authorized to use facilities such as the Office copy machine and scanner during the contract period, as well as internet connection.
The Consultant will work under the supervision of the Child Protection Manager and will work directly with the CNAPN.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE and CONDITIONS:

Payment will be done according to the deliverables outlined below. Payment of professional fees will be based on the submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to request withholding payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

The total estimated cost of this consultancy is 14,785 USD: 13,000 USD are for consultancy fees and 1,785 DSA fees within the country, as per table details. Payment will be done upon submission and validation of deliverables as per the below workplan:

• Deliverables 1 and 2: 20%
• Deliverable 3: 50 %
• Deliverables 4 and 5: 30 %

A task force consisting of UNICEF, UNFPA, the National Committee for the Abandonment of Harmful Practices – CNAPN, and other relevant civil society organizations, will be established and responsible for the validation of all deliverables resulting from this consultancy.

UNICEF promotes and advocates for the protection of the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything it does and is mandated to support the realization of the rights of every child, including those most disadvantaged, and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, minority, or any other status.

UNICEF encourages applications from all qualified candidates, regardless of gender, nationality, religious or ethnic backgrounds, and from people with disabilities, including neurodivergence. We offer a wide range of benefits to our staff, including paid parental leave, breastfeeding breaks and reasonable accommodation for persons with disabilities. UNICEF provides reasonable accommodation throughout the recruitment process. If you require any accommodation, please submit your request through the accessibility email button on the UNICEF Careers webpage Accessibility | UNICEF. Should you be shortlisted, please get in touch with the recruiter directly to share further details, enabling us to make the necessary arrangements in advance.

UNICEF does not hire candidates who are married to children (persons under 18). UNICEF has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and UNICEF, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination based on gender, nationality, age, race, sexual orientation, religious or ethnic background or disabilities. UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. All selected candidates will, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles. Background checks will include the verification of academic credential(s) and employment history. Selected candidates may be required to provide additional information to conduct a background check, and selected candidates with disabilities may be requested to submit supporting documentation in relation to their disability confidentially.

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Remarks:  

As per Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity.

UNICEF is committed to fostering an inclusive, representative, and welcoming workforce. For this position, eligible and suitable [Insert candidates from targeted underrepresented groups] are encouraged to apply.

Government employees who are considered for employment with UNICEF are normally required to resign from their government positions before taking up an assignment with UNICEF. UNICEF reserves the right to withdraw an offer of appointment, without compensation, if a visa or medical clearance is not obtained, or necessary inoculation requirements are not met, within a reasonable period for any reason. 

UNICEF does not charge a processing fee at any stage of its recruitment, selection, and hiring processes (i.e., application stage, interview stage, validation stage, or appointment and training). UNICEF will not ask for applicants’ bank account information.

Humanitarian action is a cross-cutting priority within UNICEF’s Strategic Plan. UNICEF is committed to stay and deliver in humanitarian contexts. Therefore, all staff, at all levels across all functional areas, can be called upon to be deployed to support humanitarian response, contributing to both strengthening resilience of communities and capacity of national authorities.

All UNICEF positions are advertised, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. An internal candidate performing at the level of the post in the relevant functional area, or an internal/external candidate in the corresponding Talent Group, may be selected, if suitable for the post, without assessment of other candidates.

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