Consultancy: Management Information Systems for Social Protection Programmes (Home-Based) - 11 Months

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]

Every child in the MENA region has the right to equitable and adequate social protection and basic services, such as health and education. The Social Policy team in MENA focuses on three key areas – child poverty, social protection and public finance for children.

How can you make a difference?

e main objective of this consultancy is: (i) to provide technical advisory support to Country Offices (priority for Tunisia and Iraq) in strengthening national information management systems and social registries; (ii) to develop regional (MENA) advisory notes for UNICEF Regional and Country Offices on strengthening national information management systems and registries; and (iii) to train and build capacity of UNICEF and national counterparts staff on integrated MIS.

Under the supervision of the Regional Social Policy Specialist, and in close collaboration with the respective Country Social Protection teams, the consultant would be required to provide direct support to country teams on information management systems and social registries. While the role will be required to support the MENA region more broadly, it is envisaged that Tunisia and Iraq will be priority countries for this assignment. The consultant will be expected to provide technical advisory support to other countries in the region as needs arise (based on their availability and capacity).

The consultant would be engaged for a period of 11 months and would be required to submit agreed monthly deliverables and specific country deliverables. All deliverables are considered final once approved by the Regional Social Policy Specialist – HCT & SRSP & have incorporated country team’s feedback. (S)He would be expected to work 21 working days each month. While the position is home-based, the consultant would be required to travel to Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan, and Jordan for providing hands on support to the Regional and Country Offices as required. For the travel cost estimation, the consultant can expect up to 1 week of travel each month to one of the countries listed above.

1. Support MIS and Registries mapping and assessment exercises for relevant government line ministries across the region. It would include mapping of governance framework for MIS.

2. Support Identification of issues, risks, and benefits of existing and proposed adjustments of management information solutions and systems.

3. Support preparation of government counterpart’s operational and technological requirements (also includes inter-operability) including budgetary requirements, resourcing requirements, timelines, and stakeholder engagement for a robust information management system for its national Social Protection programmes.

4. Provide support for the review of existing MIS SOPs and policies across business applications to ensure compliance with data protection and security management protocols.

5. Support Country Teams in peer-reviewing and in monitoring progress of MIS-related activities to identify any gaps in delivery and propose requisite actions for resolution.

6. Support with strengthening the capacity of key staff and stakeholders on best practices regarding information management, data protection and quality assurance, and security management.

7. Supporting technical discussions on inter-operability of different information management systems and registries (contributory and non-contributory social protection schemes) used by multi-stakeholders for social protection programmes.

8. Prepare national and regional guidance, roadmaps of strategic activities to be supported and offer on UNICEF’s value add to strengthening national information management systems in MENA.

9. Prepare specific national ToRs in line with identified national gaps and needs to support enhancement and modernization of national MIS and registries, support the CO local bidding process to review and assess technical proposals.

EXPECTED RESULTS / DELIVERABLES

1. Mapping of existing national MIS and social registries in prioritized countries (e.g. Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan) – the mapping would include an assessment of the current national MIS for social protection programmes, contributory and non-contributory, and identify areas for strengthening.

2. Working with Governments and IT contractors – the consultant would be expected to work with government counterparts and support their engagement with IT contractors recruited for development / upgrading of national MIS to ensure they are in line with global best practices and standards.

3. Undertake a comprehensive review of the government data needs and processes for the establishment of a functional MIS for social protection programmes (including Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) which will include (i) standard operating procedures including data flows, roles and responsibilities in database management, (ii) infrastructural and resourcing needs and requirements, (iii) training needs of government counterparts managing MIS and (iv) assessment of potential technical designs and the feasibility of setting dashboards to support timely decision making.

4. Develop a regional (MENA) advisory note on UNICEF’s value proposition and minimum standards for supporting national MIS – the focus would be on using the regional and national experiences to prepare a brief advisory note that would have minimum standards and UNICEF’s value proposition for strengthening national MIS.

5. Tunisia:

a. Assessment of the interoperability of the two main social protection registries and MIS (AMEN Social – Social Assistance, CNAM and CNSS – Social Insurance) which will include (i) a review of the functionalities and IT solutions in place of the different MIS systems (ii) the gaps to ensure interoperability between the two MISs, (iii) the necessary requirements to track children of households exiting a scheme transitioning to another social protection scheme, (iv) a plan of technical support and ToRs for UNICEF and the Government of Tunisia to enhance the interoperability of the two MISs.

b. Roadmap of UNICEF technical support to the Ministry of Social Affairs for improving the Social Assistance (AMEN Social) MIS and social registry. The plan of support will need to be developed in collaboration with the World Bank, building on existing assessments and previous technical support that have been implemented in the last two years. The roadmap will include (i) a review and a summary of previous assessments, (ii) a quality assurance and peer review of recent contracts and technical support from UNICEF and WB-funded support, (iii) an identification of the remaining challenges and gaps, (iv) a plan of IT technical solutions to be implemented to enhance and strengthen the existing MIS.

Deliverables/ Outputs****Timeline****Estimate BudgetFinal MIS & Social Registries Mapping and Assessment Report (Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan) & Bi-monthly summary report42 Days20%Final Roadmap of UNICEF Support in priority countries (Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan) & Bi-monthly summary report42 Days20%Final Regional Advisory Note on UNICEF’s value proposition on MIS & Social Registries & Bi-monthly summary report63 Days20%Final Review of Govt. needs and processes for setting up MIS (Tunisia, Iraq, Sudan) & Bi-monthly summary report42 Days20%Final Regional and Country Action Plan(s) on MIS and Social Registry & Bi-monthly summary report42 Days20%

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

• Advanced degree in Information and Communication Technology, Economics, Social Sciences, Demographics Data Management and/or related discipline
• Minimum 8 years’ experience of working in areas of information and data management, social registries, MIS, data analysis, and data protection.
• Expertise and understanding of Social Protection programmes.
• Demonstrated abilities in quality assurance, monitoring and reporting.
• Minimum 8 years’ experience of working in areas of information and data management, social registries, MIS, data analysis, and data protection.
• Expertise and understanding of Social Protection programmes.
• Demonstrated abilities in quality assurance, monitoring and reporting.
• Strong organizational, writing, and communications skills.
• Ability to coordinate well with personnel within and outside the government, meet deadlines, and work with minimal supervision.
• Previous work experience in MENA Region would be preferred.
• Fluency in English is required. Fluency in French is strongly preferred. Arabic would be an asset.

The consultancy is Home Based with travel to countries as and when required

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

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 (such as leave entitlements and medical insurance coverage). 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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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