Consultancy: Programme Specialist - Req

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.

Consultancy Title: Programme Specialist

Section/Division/Duty Station: Programme Group Leadership Team – New York HQ / REMOTE

Duration: October 1st, 2022 to January 1st, 2023 (45 days over 3 months)

About UNICEF

If you are a committed, creative professional and are passionate about making a lasting difference for children, the world's leading children's rights organization would like to hear from you. For 70 years, UNICEF has been working on the ground in 190 countries and territories to promote children's survival, protection and development. The world's largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded entirely by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments. UNICEF has over 12,000 staff in more than 145 countries.

BACKGROUND

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

One of the core functions of the Programme Leadership Team (PGLT) is the establishment and eventual mainstreaming of emerging programme areas/issues on behalf of the organization. For the current Strategic Plan period (2022 – 2025) the areas identified by senior management as having strong potential to contribute to child wellbeing and or requiring additional support to ensure they can be mainstreamed into programme design and implementation are: Mental Health (MHPSS), Triple Nexus (Humanitarian, Development and Peace), Programming in High-Income Countries (PinHICs) and Business Engagement for Results (BE4R). PGLT’s role includes contributing to strengthen the evidence base, the development of a clear conceptual framework and the establishment of coordination, management, and budgetary structures.

In context of Programming in High-Income Countries (PinHICs), UNICEF has five Country Offices in this income category and several that will graduate in the coming years. In addition, the PGLT works closely with the division of Private Fundraising and Partnerships (PFP) who manage the relationship between UNICEF and the 33 National Committees. The principal objective of National Committees is to fundraise for UNICEF. They advocate and promote children's rights including in their own countries, and work to secure worldwide visibility and action for children including those threatened by poverty, disasters, armed conflict, abuse, and exploitation.

In May 2021 UNICEF issued Guidance for Programming in High Income Countries It aimed to provide conceptual clarity and enhance alignment with UNICEF. The consultant will support the Programme Group to undertake a review of programme-related processes to ensure alignment with the shifts outlined in the Programme Guidance for High-Income Countries.

Terms of Reference / Deliverables

In close collaboration and working with the PGLT Programme Manager, the incumbent’s responsibilities are as follows:

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs

Timeline

The consultant is expected to work on a part-time basis between October 2022 and January 2023. If deemed necessary by the hiring manager and to fulfill the agreed deliverables, the contract can be extended (for another 3 months – until April 1st), and/or additional days may be included (up to 45 additional days). In the current context, the contract cannot be extended initially due to the lack of funding which is expected to be received at a later stage.

• Support Programme Group’s (PG) review of High-Income Countries’ (HICs) programme documents.

  • In collaboration with the Programme Manager and Programme officer, support the planning, organizing and coordination of the review of HICs’ programme documents.
  • Collect and organize relevant draft programme documents for high-income countries, regardless of UNICEF operating presence (strategic plans, COARs, RAM data, etc.).
  • Facilitate the review of relevant programme documents by the respective PG thematic Focal Points.

  September – December 2022

• Participate in key meetings related to the development of programmatic documents for all High-Income countries, regardless of UNICEF operating presence.

  • Organize inputs from PG focal points to be shared during the alignment meetings for high-income country offices.
  • Systematically organize input from PG focal points to be shared during initial bilateral meetings with select high-income countries.
  • Based on the meetings’ discussion, draft a document containing PG’s key recommendations and actions to be followed upon.

September – October 2022

• Develop an analytical piece on programming in high-income countries

• Compile and distil lessons from the review process.

• Support the preparation of an analytical piece containing key recommendations based on inputs received from PG focal points and country focal points.

December 2022

Qualifications

1) Education

• University degree (Master) in relevant field including Education, Communication and/or Social Sciences and/or related fields;

2) Work experience

• 8 years relevant experience in programme management, strategic planning, or similar assignment in UNICEF.
• Experience working in or with high-income countries is a requirement.
• Experience working with other UN agencies and other international development organizations is considered an advantage.

3) Competencies

• Excellent written and spoken English;
• Fluency in Spanish, French or another official UN language is considered an asset.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks;
• Ability to work with minimal supervision; strong coordination skills and proven ability to work across sectors.

Requirements****:

• Completed profile in UNICEF's e-Recruitment system and provide Personal History Form (P11) Upload copy of academic credentials
• Financial proposal that will include:
• your daily/monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference (can be downloaded here: https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index_consultancy_assignments.html
  • travel costs and daily subsistence allowance, if internationally recruited or travel is required as per TOR.
  • Any other estimated costs: visa, health insurance, and living costs as applicable.
  • Indicate your availability
• Any emergent / unforeseen duty travel and related expenses will be covered by UNICEF.
• At the time the contract is awarded, the selected candidate must have in place current health insurance coverage.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

U.S. Visa information:

With the exception of the US Citizens, G4 Visa and Green Card holders, should the selected candidate and his/her household members reside in the United States under a different visa, the consultant and his/her household members are required to change their visa status to G4, and the consultant’s household members (spouse) will require an Employment Authorization Card (EAD) to be able to work, even if he/she was authorized to work under the visa held prior to switching to G4.

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

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results. View our competency framework at: Here

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 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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

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.