Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

## Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - Organization:UN-Habitat - United Nations Human Settlements Programme - Office:UN-Habitat ROLAC The consultant shall duly and timely perform his/her obligations, under this Terms of Reference, and will work in close collaboration with the UN-Habitat’s operational and technical teams. Home based (with in person activities) Duties and Responsibilities Background The main mandate of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) is to promote sustainable development of human settlements and policies conducive to adequate housing for all. Within this framework, UN-Habitat supports central and state governments, as well as local authorities and other partners for the implementation of the Habitat Agenda, the 2030 Agenda with the Sustainable Development Goals and the New Urban Agenda. UN-Habitat helps the urban poor by transforming cities into safer, more inclusive, compact, integrated, resilient and connected places with better opportunities where everyone can live with dignity. It works with organizations at every level, including all spheres of government, civil society, and the private sector to help build, manage, plan and finance sustainable urban development. The Regional Office for Latin American and the Caribbean – ROLAC – is based in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The Agency puts emphasis in developing and managing activities in the host country. Indeed, for the past years, UN-Habitat has expanded its portfolio in Brazil by working with the three tiers of government to support the formulation and implementation of more effective, sustainable, participative, and socially fairer urban economic, social, and environmental policies. Rapid urbanization has exposed a growing number of children to precarious urban conditions. In developing regions, 40% of the population is under 15 years of age, and it is estimated that by 2030, more than half of the world’s urban population will be under 18. Despite this reality, children still have limited influence over the design of the spaces in which they live, as they are rarely given the opportunity to contribute their perspectives to urban design processes. Public spaces, however, play a fundamental role in their social, emotional, and behavioral development—making their participation in decisions about the urban environment an urgent priority. It is within this context that UN-Habitat, in partnership with the FEMSA Foundation, is implementing this project in São Paulo and Curitiba, with the aim of improving public spaces for children and caregivers. The focus is particularly on early childhood development (0 to 6 years) and on the central role of caregivers—women, LGBTQ+ caregivers, older persons, and other family members—in shaping accessible, safe, and inclusive spaces. To achieve this, innovative participatory design tools will be used, aiming at the implementation and scaling up of child-friendly public space policies at the urban level. The project aims to ensure that children and caregivers in cities across Latin America have access to high-quality, safe, inclusive, and sustainable public spaces that promote their well-being and development. To this end, outcomes and deliverables will be developed based on a gender-responsive and early childhood-sensitive approach. Indirect beneficiaries will also include women, older persons, internally displaced persons, migrants, community groups, and other vulnerable populations, who will likewise benefit from the improvement of these spaces. To properly implement the above-mentioned project, an Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant is required to contribute to the project. Report to UN-Habitat Manager The Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant reports to the Head of Brazil Office, who will evaluate him/her. Responsibilities The Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant will support the implementation of the project and its activities with the following responsibilities: a) Develop and implement the Technical Work Plan for the consultancy, aligned with the overall project timeline; b) Participate in meetings, workshops, training sessions, and project-related missions, as requested by UN-Habitat and the Project Coordination; c) Prepare periodic reports, as requested, describing carried out activities and the development status of deliverables for monitoring by UN-Habitat; d) Prepare all supporting materials for meetings, workshops, and other activities, including PowerPoint presentations and printed materials; e) Maintain continuous communication with the UN-Habitat technical team throughout implementation, including consultation on preliminary versions of deliverables; f) Prepare all documents in accordance with the standards of the Brazilian Association of Technical Standards (ABNT); g) Develop documents and workshops following the methodology used in the project Espacios Públicos Desde La Primera Infancia; h) Ensure technical quality, methodological consistency, and alignment with UN-Habitat standards across all deliverables and activities; i) Coordinate the methodological and logistical preparation of activities, including research, stakeholder consultations, and meetings; j) Maintain an organized, accessible, and up-to-date system for filing data, information, and project documentation; k) Present interim outputs, including technical notes, reports, spreadsheets, and databases, as requested by the Project Coordination; l) Participate in the design and implementation of all in-person activities related to the project (e.g., seminars, public hearings, and workshops), when required; m) Address and incorporate feedback and revisions to ensure that all deliverables meet the quality standards required by UN-Habitat; n) Ensure compliance with all agreed deadlines and deliverables under the consultancy. The consultant will be responsible for completing all courses and training activities that are indicated to him/her by his/her supervisor. The security course BSAFE, from UNDSS, is required to be accredited during the first month of employment. The consultant will be responsible for his/her own security, so the person should get familiarized with United Nations security mechanisms and comply with them according to the Framework of Accountability for the United Nations Security Management System. Outputs/Work Assignment The Early Childhood Participatory Processes Consultant shall assist the implementation of the project, according to the stated responsibilities and the delivery of the following products: Product 1 – Workshop Planning, Implementation and Preliminary Report (São Paulo) Description: This product refers to the organization and implementation of the co-creation workshops for the selected public space in São Paulo. It encompasses the methodological, technical, and logistical preparation of the co-creation workshops with children and caregivers, the delivery of the workshops, the systematization of results, and the development of the preliminary design for the public space, validated by the community. Based on the contributions collected during the participatory activities, a consolidated report will be prepared to document the process, the main needs identified, and the project design guidelines. The document to be delivered must report on the implementation of all activities described below, following the methodology previously defined by the project. Product 1 must include: (i) Preparation of a planning document for the co-creation workshops, including activities, methodologies, and tools; (ii) Coordination and engagement with local communities, with support from the local office; (iii) Implementation and facilitation of the co-creation workshops; and (iv) Preparation of a report documenting the co-creation process and its outcomes to inform the design proposal. Expected delivery date: 15 days after contract signature. Product 2 – Workshop