UNICEF Calls for Expression of Interest Skills Development and Engagement of Young People in Iraq

The Terms of Reference have been developed by UNICEF Iraq Country Office (ICO) to identify organizations that
have interest and capacity to implement innovative skills development and engagement programmes for UNICEF-supported young people that will contribute to the empowerment of young people by increasing capacity and opportunity of social, civic and economic engagement of the most vulnerable girls and boys in Iraq. The above supports the global priority of UNICEF in its work with and for young people and seeks to tap into the Generation
Unlimited Agenda of UNICEF.

Expected Results

Result 1: National and sub-national systems have enhanced capacity to plan, budget and address children, adolescent and youth priorities

Result 2: By 2024, children and young people, especially the most disadvantaged benefit from quality learning and acquire skills to develop to their full potential

Result 3: By 2024, increased opportunities for adolescents and youth (10-24) to influence decision-making processes impacting their lives

Other Information

• Weak policy and institutional framework: Although a National Youth Policy (2016-2026) is in place, ensuring
commitment for full implementation remains a big hurdle. Chronic and systemic gaps in upstream work and in the
enabling environment can be found in the consistent lack of focus on adolescents across sectors, including lack of
budget-specific allocations for young people across existing laws .

• Data: Adolescents in Iraq are invisible. There is a scarcity of current, directly sourced data—whether qualitative or quantitative—from adolescents. The 2009 National Youth and Adolescents Survey was the primary nationally representative source of evidence on adolescents and youth. However, considering Iraq’s ‘youth boom’ and recent humanitarian situation, there is an urgent need to update the knowledge-base on adolescents .

• Lack of opportunities for skills development, engagement and freedom of expression: Iraqi adolescents and youth, especially the most vulnerable and out of school, are poorly skilled and do not acquire adequate educational and professional assets to successfully navigate the important transition to sustainable livelihoods. Provision of skilling, social, civic and economic engagement opportunities are an essential protection strategy for young Iraqis. Services provided by government institutions that deal with young people, including life, civic and employment skills development, do not consider either the increasing numbers or the needs of boys and girls. UNICEF defines civic engagement as the process of adolescents working together to make a change or a difference in their community, locally and/or nationally.

• Violence and conflict: Due to persistent conflict and violence, children and young people have lost years of schooling or have never had the opportunity to go to schools. This means girls and boys require remedial programs or alternative education pathways. This situation is pronounced for young people with statistics indicating higher levels of out of school children at lower and upper secondary school . As the period of displacement extends and vulnerabilities worsen, both the proportion of (increasingly younger) refugee adolescents out of school and those seeking informal employment may increase, exacerbating existing tensions.

Selection Criteria : Name Description Weight
Clarity of activities and expected results
Clarity of Results Framework and Implementation Strategy 40
Realistic timelines and plans Proper implementation timeline 20
Sustainability of intervention sustainable activities after programme finishes 40

Attachments : Description URL
Template Click Here 
Partnership Declaration : Click Here
Terms of Refrence :  Click Here
Concept Note Template : Click  Here

Clarification Request Deadline May 14, 2020
Application Deadline May 31, 2020
Notification of Results Jun 15, 2020
Start Date Jul 1, 2020
End Date Jun 30, 2021

Locations :  Iraq
a Baghdad Governorate
b Najaf Governorate
c Al Anbar Governorate
d Maysan Governorate
e Basra Governorate
f Al Muthanna Governorate

Sector(s) and area(s) of specialization : Livelihoods,  Community mobilization

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