WNCAC Meetings

The Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict in conjunction with the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies Conflict Management Program would like to thank everyone who participated in the January meeting of the WNCAC. 

Thank you very much to everyone who participated in the January meeting of the Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict. Amanda Melville, Child Protection Specialist and technical advisor for psychosocial and mental health programming at UNICEF headquarters, was the guest speaker and facilitated a two-part presentation. The first part:

• Described how UNICEF understands the intersection of child protection work with psychosocial and mental health interventions

•  Helped to clarify what is meant by "psychosocial programming" (a concept that practitioners had struggled to clarify), and 

• Described the implications of the new UN Inter-agency Standing Committee Guidelines on Mental Health andPsychosocial Support in Emergency Settings (http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/lib.nsf/db900SID/YAOI-6Z3A2K?OpenDocument)

Moving from the conceptual to the concrete, Amanda also presented recent findings of an interagency program evaluation in Gaza.  This methodologically rigorous study evaluated the outcome of eight organizations psychosocial and mental health programs, each using different approaches to address psychosocial issues among children in occupied Palestinian territory.  Using random selection and comparison groups, the findings describe which interventions made a difference and which made the most difference to children's psychosocial well-being. 

Announcements

2010 WNCAC Development Survey

Please check you emails next week and respond to our survey on the future of the WNCAC.  We appreciate your feedback on previous events and correspondence as well as your thematic interests for the new year. 

What Are We Learning About Protecting
Children in the Community?
An Inter-agency Review of the Evidence on Community-based Child Protection Mechanisms in Humanitarian and Development Settings

At the December 19, 2009, WNCAC meeting, Mike Wessells presented the findings of a study that he lead, What Are We Learning About Protecting Children in the Community? An inter-agency review of the evidence on community-based child protection mechanisms in humanitarian and development settings. The final version of the executive summary of the study report (22 pages) can now be downloaded from:
http://www.savethechildren.org.uk/en/54_10087.htm
 
Paper copies of the executive summary together with a CD ROM with the full text of the study report (110 pages) can be requested from Sarah Lilley
[S.Lilley@savethechildren.org.uk]. 

Requests should be sent by January 25th and include your name, title, job description, and full postal address.
 
A French version of the executive summary should be available from Save the Children UK in early February. 

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS (RFA) FOR DISPLACED CHILDREN AND ORPHANS FUND (DCOF) PROGRAMS

THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT APPLICATIONS IN RESPONSE TO SPANS/GSM RFA #5 HAS BEEN EXTENDED UNTIL FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2010 AT 1 PM EST.

Issuance Date:                   January 8, 2010
Deadline for Questions:         January 15, 2010 at 1 PM EST
Closing Date:                  February 12, 2010 at 1 PM EST

The purpose of this announcement is to invite United States Private Voluntary Organizations (USPVOs), U.S. Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and international NGOs to submit Applications to World Learning (WL) in response to a Request for Applications (RFA) for projects to improve the safety, well being and development of highly vulnerable children.  WL is acting on behalf of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and its Displaced Children and Orphans Fund (DCOF). 

All grants awarded under this RFA will be sub-grants from the Special Programs to Aid the Need of Survivors (SPANS) Grants Solicitation and Management (GSM) Program and will be managed by WL.  The SPANS/GSM Program is a USAID Cooperative Agreement awarded to World Learning for the purpose of providing grants solicitation, award and management services to USAID's Bureau of Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance. 

It is anticipated that two to four SPANS/GSM sub-grants will be awarded under this RFA and that each sub-grant will be for up to $2,500,000 for a three year (approximately August 2010 - July 2013) project.  Applicants may submit Applications (up to two per organization) for either the "Strengthening Systems of Child Protection" "Improving Family-Level Assets and Income Generation Opportunities Through Economic Strengthening Activities" Strategy.  Please see Section A - Program Description for details on these strategies. Strategy or the

Organizations interested in responding to this RFA may retrieve it at: http://www.worldlearning.org/aidspansgsm.cfm effective January 8, 2010.  It is the responsibility of the organization to monitor this web site for any amendments that may be posted later.  Applications must be received by February 12, 2010 at 1 PM EST.  Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered. One (1) electronic copy of the application should be sent to:  bill.saur@worldlearning.org

The RFA will consist of this announcement and the following:
Section A - Program Description
Section B - Application Instructions
Section C - Eligibility and Selection Criteria

Any questions concerning this RFA should be submitted in writing to Bill Saur at WL (bill.saur@worldlearning.org) by 1 PM EST on January 15, 2010.   A list of all questions and answers will be posted on the website mentioned above by January 20, 2009.  If you encounter problems downloading the RFA off the Internet, please email Bill Saur at the address provided above. 

EXPRESSION OF INTEREST (EOI) :
Evaluating the Progress of the Education in Emergencies and Post-Crisis Transition Programme (UNICEF)

UNICEF is seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) from eligible Consultancy firms (vendors) in respect to the provision of services regarding a progress evaluation of its programme Education in Emergencies and Post-Crisis Transition (EEPCT). A more detailed scope of work will be provided to those vendors who will eventually be invited to submit proposals.
 
Programme:
This 200 million dollar, five-year programme started in 2007 and is being implemented in 40 countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America facing situations of either acute emergency, early recovery or post crisis transition. The programme operates in crisis contexts related to both natural disasters and conflict. The programme's overall goals are wide in scope and span through a complex range of varying dimensions:  enhancing inclusive response to ensure education activities continue in spite of disruption; strengthening resilience of education services in the wake of on-going and chronic crises; improving prevention and prediction capacity locally and nationally through better monitoring and preparedness; and  reconstructing education systems in transition and fragility contexts, while contributing to better understanding and knowledge of education in emergency and transition leading to evidence-based policy. 

Final technical proposals in response to the RfPS will be expected to be submitted by invited qualified applicants by 16 March 2010.

Application Procedure:
Interested companies are required to complete and submit the EOI form (totally 2 pages).  For more information, please visit :http://www.unicef.org/supply/index_52283.html
 
EOIs should be sent to e-mail: evalrecruit@unicef.org, no later than 01 February 2010, at 9:00 AM NY Time.
 
Global Health Fellow Programme Summer Internship
(USAID)

The Global Health Fellows Programme has a number of exciting paid summer 2010 internships working with the US Agency for International Development's (USAID) Bureau for Global Health in Washington, DC. These internships are designed to provide opportunities for outstanding students and mid-career changers interested in pursuing careers in global health and international development.

The GHFP summer internships provide a unique opportunity to gain practical experience in the field of global health. You'll be working with experienced professionals on health projects of international importance. Interns will work in many of the major technical offices of the Bureau for Global Health, including:
 
Office of the Assistant Administrator
Office of Health, Infectious Diseases and Nutrition
Office of HIV/AIDS
Office of Population and Reproductive Health
 
Application Procedure:
Application period is open from December 4, 2009 - February 5, 2010. Applicants may apply for up to two GHFP internships. To access the online application, view current openings and for more information, please click here.
 
Please send all internship-related inquiries to: ghfpinternship@ghfp.net

Regional Adviser Education, L-5
(UNICEF)

Kathmandu Regional Office in Nepal.

Purpose of the Position:
You will assist the Regional Director in fulfilling his/her accountabilities with respect to:
(a) Quality Assurance and Oversight of country programmes from inception to delivery.
(b) Strategic Representation and Partnerships
(c) Knowledge Leadership with respect to childrens issues in the Region.

Applications must be received by 5 February 2010.
Visit us at http://www.unicef.org/employ to register in our new e-Recruitment system and to apply to this vacancy, quoting E-VN-2010-000038.

Partnerships Evaluation Expert(s):
Independent Review of the UNICEF
Save the Children Alliance (StCA)
(UNICEF/Save the Children Alliance)
The cluster approach, envisioned as a means of enhancing coordination and accountability in humanitarian response and recovery, constitutes a key pillar of humanitarian reform.  Among the sector clusters established in the momentum of reform, the Education Cluster is the most recently created.  It is also marked by unique institutional arrangements: whereas most other clusters are led by a single agency, the Education Cluster is co-led by UNICEF and the Save the Children Alliance at both the global and country levels.  Owing to these distinct institutional arrangements, and the additional challenges they might entail beyond those of single-agency cluster coordination, the 2007 memorandum of understanding between the two co-lead agencies stipulates that a review of the co-leadership arrangement take place within two years of the cluster's creation.  (A full-scale evaluation of the Global Education Cluster itself is slated for 2010.)

In December 2009, the Steering Group of the Global Education Cluster approached UNICEF's Evaluation Office to seek its guidance in developing the parameters of the review of the co-leadership arrangement.  The GEC Steering Group is currently entertaining three potential options posed by the Evaluation Office for the present review.
 
The duration of the consultancy will be from 25 January to 31 March 2010, and will entail a total of 25-45 work days on the part of the consultant during this period, depending on which option is pursued and which capacity the consultant serves in.  The key output associated with the review, the draft report, will be due in mid-March 2010, with the consultant(s) to address GEC Steering Group comments thereafter.
 
Application Procedure:
Interested applicants should forward a CV to evalrecruit@unicef.org (with the subject: Education Cluster Evaluation) or fax (+1-212-824-6492), as soon as possible.  Only applicants whose qualifications meet the immediate needs of the project will be contacted.  All other qualified candidates not shortlisted for this project will be considered for future projects.

Call for NGO applications to the INEE Steering Group
(deadline: 5 February 2010)

The INEE Secretariat is pleased to announce a call for applications for a new NGO member on the INEE Steering Group. In consultation with the wider membership and within the confines of the INEE Strategic Plan, the INEE Steering Group sets goals and plans for the network; approves new working groups and task teams; and provides strategic guidance to the secretariat staff. The Steering Group will continue this work in 2010 and will also guide a strategic planning process to refine the network's core initiatives for 2011-2013 to achieve the network's strategic goals of strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing global knowledge and capacity and promoting a dynamic network membership.

Steering Group members are senior representatives of organisations actively engaged in education in emergencies. The current Steering Group members represent the following organisations: CARE International, ChildFund International, the International Rescue Committee, International Save the Children Alliance, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNICEF and the World Bank. The organisations commit to support INEE with monetary as well as in-kind contributions, including travel to two Steering Group meetings and hosting of meetings. In addition to attending two Steering Group meetings per year, representatives give substantial time reviewing and providing strategic input into INEE activities. The first Steering Group meeting of 2010, from 10-11 May, will be hosted by the International Rescue Committee in their New York office.

NGOs interested in submitting an application for the INEE Steering Group should submit a letter by e-mail to the INEE Director (allison@ineesite.org) by 5 February 2010, signed by a senior organisational officer who is able to make an institutional commitment at the Director level or above, specifying their commitment to a four-year membership and their ability to meet the institutional and individual criteria and responsibilities involved. In addition to the letter, please send the c.v. of the organisation's proposed member for the Steering Group.

For more information regarding these and other vacancies, please visit: http://www.ineesite.org/index.php/jobs/

RAISING QUESTIONS:
 If you are unable to attend the WNCAC meeting, but are interested in the topic, we'd like to invite you to submit your questions about the study to wncac@sfcg.org.

About WNCAC

The Washington Network on Children and Armed Conflict (WNCAC) is an informal network initiated in July 2004 by Search for Common Ground and the Displaced Children and Orphans Fund of USAID with the broad aim of improving the protection of children affected by armed conflict. Topics covered relate to such issues and areas of practice as child protection, education, and psychosocial interventions in emergencies; child soldiers; separated children; humanitarian relief, post-conflict development; conflict resolution; and peace building. WNCAC meets bi-monthly.

Notes from Previous Meetings
Please click here to view an archive of notes from previous WNCAC meetings.