Consultancy - Stakeholder Consultations Manager and Coordinator, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), Remote Based - 190 Days - 11 Jan - 30 Sep 2022 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, education...

ECW’s overarching goal is to support the delivery of quality education to the millions of children and youth – aged 3 to 18 years – in areas of the globe that are most affected by conflict and disaster. The Fund’s first Strategic Plan was endorsed in April 2018, covering the period 2018-2021. In 2021, in response to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic worldwide, the plan was extended by one year – until the end of 2022. The Strategic Plan sets an overarching goal and strategic objectives in pursuit of that goal. These strategic objectives drive and give coherent direction to all of the Fund’s activities during the strategic planning period.

ECW is in the process of developing its next Strategic Plan and seeks the services of an experienced, specialist consultations manager and coordinator to support it throughout this process. Development of the next Strategic Plan will be undertaken through a participatory process, involving regular consultations via its diverse ExCom membership, which is comprised of representatives from donor countries, UN agencies, inter-governmental organisations, civil society organisations and networks, private sector, foundations and crisis-affected countries. Consultations will also be conducted through established reference groups. In addition, an online platform will be utilised to enable communication on dedicated topics and to facilitate sharing of detailed feedback.

Reflections will also be gathered from ECW staff through various methods, including a staff reflections workshop. The Strategic Plan will be finalised by August 2022, with a reflections paper to be developed by April 2022 followed by a substantive draft in June 2022.

How can you make a difference?

The consultant will directly report to the Chief of Strategic Planning and Accountability and perform the following duties, but not limited to:

• consultation planning and mapping;
• developing content for an online platform in close consultation with ECW;
• day-to-day management of the online platform, including reviewing and collating feedback and referring action points to designated ECW staff contacts for follow-up;
• support ECW to undertake in-person and virtual stakeholder consultations and focus group discussions through an ExCom forum and online platform to gather inputs and feedback;
• conduct data analysis and produce synthesis reports;
• support ECW with dissemination of information, identifying priority areas for consultation, data collection, data validation and analysis, solicitation of inputs and consolidation of feedback, dispute resolution and consensus building, ongoing synthesis reporting of outcomes, and inclusion of stakeholders in the drafting and finalisation stages;
• support the design and facilitation of an ECW Secretariat reflections workshop;
• collect inputs through other relevant meetings and discussions including regular ExCom forum meetings and a Secretariat reflection workshop, etc;
• contribute to the drafting of a reflections paper capturing insights and feedback from consultations with stakeholders and the ECW Secretariat;
• provide substantive inputs to the first and final versions of the Strategic Plan, ensuring alignment with the updated Results Framework, Theory of Change and Gender Policy and Framework; and
• provide inputs as requested by the supervisor directly related to this assignment.
• Contribute inputs to a reflections paper for stakeholders and the first and final versions of the Strategic Plan.

Expected Key Deliverables:

The specific timeline for each deliverable will be agreed upon between ECW and the consultant at the beginning stage of the assignment.

• Develop a detailed stakeholder consultation plan and ensure integration of the consultation plan with the ECW work plan for the Strategic Plan development. This will include working with ECW to identify topics/themes for consultation in order of progression plus a consultation timetable.
• Manage the consultation platform that ECW will use to support the consultation process. This will include developing content for the platform, overseeing the day-to-day running of the platform, tracking and collating inputs from stakeholders and referring areas for further consideration to designated ECW staff. The consultant will be provided with technical support and training to enable use of the platform.
• Support ECW to prepare for in-person and virtual consultations with stakeholders by identifying areas in need of follow-up and clarification (based on previous consultation sessions or inputs received through the platform), co-ordinating technical inputs from ECW teams and preparing presentations and communication materials.
• Document discussion points from stakeholder consultations, identify action points and maintain a tracking tool.
• Assist in organising strategic planning discussions and workshops with ECW staff and document outcomes.

Tasks

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Estimate Budget

1

Develop a detailed stakeholder consultation plan and ensure integration of the consultation plan with the ECW work plan for the Strategic Plan development.

22 January 2022

5%

2

Manage the consultation platform that ECW will use to support the consultation process.

Ongoing

30%

3

Support ECW to prepare for in-person and virtual consultations with stakeholders by identifying areas in need of follow-up and clarification (based on previous consultation sessions or inputs received through the platform), co-ordinating technical inputs from ECW teams and preparing presentations and communication materials.

February-September 2022

25%

4

Document discussion points from stakeholder consultations, identify action points and maintain a tracking tool.

February-July 2022

20%

5

Assist in organising strategic planning discussions and workshops with ECW staff and document outcomes.

February – July 2022

10%

6

Contribute inputs to a reflections paper for stakeholders and the first and final versions of the Strategic Plan.

March-August 2022

10%

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in one of the following fields: international development, international relations, social sciences, social work, business or public administration, government, public policy, or other related fields.
• A minimum of seven years’ experience working on international development within the UN System, international agencies, civil societies or government agencies. Prior experience in education in emergencies and protracted crisis is desirably. Prior experience in organizing multi-stakeholder consultations is required.
• Demonstrated experience in organising and coordinating a multi-stakeholder consultation process for humanitarian and/or development organisations.
• Demonstrated experience and technical knowledge on gender equality and women and empowerment of women and girls in emergencies and/or protracted crises.
• Excellent drafting skills in English, with strong analysis and synthesis skills, including ability to quickly assess a diverse range of information with a discerning sense for quality of data, consolidate inputs and synthesize data.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with the ability to produce well written reports in English.
• Fluency in English is required.
• Availability to travel to NYC or Geneva is required.
• Working knowledge of French, Spanish or Arabic is desirable.
• Previous experience in strategic planning and/or formulation of strategic frameworks is desirable.
• Experience and in-depth knowledge in Education in Emergency and Protracted Crises (EiEPC) or Child Protection in Emergencies is desirable.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness (1)

Works Collaboratively with others (1)

Builds and Maintains Partnerships (1)

Innovates and Embraces Change (1)

Thinks and Acts Strategically (1)

Drives to achieve impactful results (1)

Manages ambiguity and complexity (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit 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 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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children. This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Remarks:

Applicants are invited to apply:

Include a cover letter of interest, CV, your approach to the assignment, technical proposal fee (daily in US$) to undertake the above TOR. Applications submitted without a proposed fee will not be accepted.

PROPOSED PAYMENT SCHEDULE - By Deliverable

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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

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.

If selected for this consultancy the resulting appointment will be limited to ECW, a UNICEF hosted fund.