Consultancy (40 days, home-based): To conduct a participatory review of the National Committee ongoing response to COVID-19 at country level, Country Relations, Division of Private Fundraisi

Contract

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UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfill their potential.

Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.

And we never give up.

For every child, hope

Since the start of the outbreak in December 2019, the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has spread to over 215 countries and territories. As of November 2020, there are nearly 60 million confirmed cases of COVID-19 worldwide and over 1.3 million deaths. As noted by the UNICEF Executive Director, children are “the hidden victims of the COVID-19 pandemic.”[1] Lockdowns and school closures are affecting their education, mental health and access to basic health services, raising the risks of exploitation and abuse.

The onset of COVID-19 triggered the first ever global L3 emergency activation and the subsequent need for a truly global response by UNICEF. This has further accelerated UNICEF’s learning and reflection in the area of Programming in HICs and its operationalization at the country level, especially in countries with a National Committee. To support this, PFP in close consultation with Programme Division (PD) issued a Guidance Note for Programming responses in the context of the COVID-19 Pandemic for HICs, specifically those with a National Committee. To date, 31 National Committees have submitted Strategy Notes which have been compiled in a consolidated results matrix. National Committees will use the standard indicators from the Joint Strategic Planning exercise to measure their impact.

Programming in HICs has built upon the current governance arrangements and leveraging of existing accountability and risk management frameworks. National Committees are independent nongovernmental organizations established under their respective national laws and UNICEF’s influence is therefore indirect.[2] The foundational work has been undertaken in a phased approach, moving incrementally on both the systemic and procedural work, but also focusing on the opportunity to learn from practice through the COVID-19 response and a piloting exercise for 2021. The preliminary synthesis and extracted learning have been integrated into broader organizational change processes i.e. Reimagining Business models/workstreams and Acceleration and Adaptation.

Given the rapid acceleration of the National Committee’s programming efforts at the country level and the significant changes in their operating environments (both internal and external), understanding the quality of their overall response and adaptation is essential. At a time where countries are further grappling with the socio-economic consequences and secondary costs of what started as a public health crisis, the opportunity to pause, take stock and reflect on how to adapt further as the crisis unfolds, while contributing to the development of the Programming in HICs framework and the next generation of workplans, is particularly timely and relevant for UNICEF.

[1] https://www.unicef.org/press-releases/un-launches-global-humanitarian-response-plan-covid-19-pandemic

[2] In their respective countries, each NatCom operates under the UNICEF brand and in support UNICEF’s mission for children on the basis of a bilateral Cooperation Agreement agreed in 2011 (CA) and a related UNICEF Recognition Declaration (RD). Certain CA provisions have been formally clarified and/or further explained in relevant instruments. NatCom independence as reflected in the current CA means that accountabilities do not run to UNICEF and that UNICEF does not exercise “oversight” over a NatCom. UNICEF does not and cannot control decision-making in NatComs, or be part of their boards or other governance bodies

How can you make a difference?

The overall objective is to contribute to further learning, guidance and capacity strengthening to support the overall design and monitoring of programming in HICS through undertaking a participatory review and reflection of the programming responses of the National Committees to COVID-19 pandemic in their countries. The exercise is also a means to guide UNICEF in their support role.

More specifically, the participatory review will consider:

• Effects of COVID-19 on NatCom operations and responses (extent of adaptation)
• Relevance of NatCom strategies and programming (including alignment with UNICEF policies & quality of analysis and planning)
• Effectiveness of NatCom response (including results achieved; challenges; enabling factors)

The findings will be consolidated to generate cross-country learning and timely actions to strengthen the ongoing response and contribute to the ongoing learning work for programming in HICs.

MAIN TASKS

The consultant will be responsible for managing and leading the review, including designing it, undertaking the data collection and analysis, conducting the debriefing sessions and preparing the review deliverables and reports.

Methodology, Approach and Scope:

The analytical framework and methodology will build on and reflect the emerging conceptual framework for programing in HICs.

The methodology will consider both secondary material (reports, guidance etc,) as well as primary data through online survey, key informant interviews/focus group discussions (conducted remotely through zoom and skype) with both staff from within UNICEF (RO, HQ), the National Committees as well as partners and if possible, children themselves.

In order to provide diversity, a sample of countries with a National Committee will be selected based on a number of criteria, including: geography/region; the size and capacity of the National Committee; Government capacity and systems to respond to outbreak; outbreak size/level of disruption of basic services; focus of UNICEF National Committee’s programme response (e.g. social protection; child protection; education etc.).

The participatory review will reflect on five dimensions:

1. Programming focus and strategies
2. Strategic positioning and fundraising
3. Operating model and results
4. Effectiveness of support from UNICEF
5. Lessons learned

DELIVERABLES

This review phase will be undertaken from December 2020, with a synthesized report ready by end of March 2021. The table below provides an overview of the tentative timelines and main deliverables of this phase of the evaluation.

December 2020

Document review and preparation of draft Inception Report, including draft review data collection instruments.

January 2021

Baseline survey to all National Committees; Analysis and drafting report to inform learning and piloting work at HQ level and country planning.

January - February 2021

Deep dive data collection in specific National Committees, including identification of potential respondents from governments, CSOs and communities.

March 2021

Finalization of the participatory review report, including key recommendations for all stakeholders, workshop with key stakeholders to present the findings.

ESTIMATED DURATION OF THE CONTRACT AND PROPOSAL

40 working days in the duration tentatively from 14 Dec 2020 to 31 March 2021.

REPORTING TO

Advocacy and Policy Specialist, PFP

WORKPLACE

The consultants will work remotely and undertake the review through remote means.

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

• Advanced university degree (Master’s degree or equivalent) in development studies, public policy, economics or other relevant social sciences is required.
• At least 10 years of professional work experience, supporting evidence generation in the context of evaluations/assessments/reviews to inform strategic decision-making of organizations.
• Familiarity with UNICEF’s programming and knowledge of UNICEF’s work with NatComs is highly desirable.
• Fluency in English is required. Excellent oral and written communication skills (in English) is required. Working knowledge of another UN official language is considered an advantage.
• Strong skills in qualitative and quantitative data collection and analysis.
• Experience in managing a team is required.
• Experience with the ethics of evidence generation, including through remote methods is desirable; familiarity with ethical safeguards is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA) and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

Remarks: Please indicate your ability, availability and gross daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above (including travel and daily subsistence allowance, if applicable). Applications submitted without a daily/monthly rate will not be considered. Also, please mention the earliest date you can start.

Individuals engaged under a consultancy or individual contract will not be considered “staff members” under the Staff Regulations and Rules of the United Nations and UNICEF’s policies and procedures and will not be entitled to benefits provided therein. Their conditions of service will be governed by their contract and the General Conditions of Contracts for the Services of Consultants and Individual Contractors. Consultants and individual contractors are responsible for determining their tax liabilities and for the payment of any taxes and/or duties, in accordance with local or other applicable laws.

UNICEF is committed to diversity and inclusion within its workforce, and encourages all candidates, irrespective of gender, nationality, religious and ethnic backgrounds, including persons living with disabilities, to apply to become a part of the organization.

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. UNICEF also adheres to strict child safeguarding principles. All selected candidates will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles and will therefore undergo rigorous reference and background checks. 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.