Consultancy: Technical Advisor – SWA Country Engagement & High-Level Political Dialogue (Francophone) (Remote 8 November 2021 thru 21 October 2022) REQ

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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, clean water...

The Secretariat of the SWA global partnership is hosted by UNICEF at its Headquarters in New York. Several Secretariat Members are posted with various SWA partners including IRC, AMCOW, IADB, Lis-Water, MARI-FANSA and WaterAid. The SWA Secretariat, as the operational arm of the Partnership and of the Steering Committee, is responsible for supporting the implementation of the partnership’s strategy 2020 to 2030. The Secretariat’s Country Engagement Team works under the guidance of the CEO to promote engagement of partners to achieve the three objectives of SWA’s strategy:

1. Build and sustain the political will to eliminate inequalities in water, sanitation, and hygiene

2. Champion multi-stakeholder approaches towards achieving universal access to services

3. Rally stakeholders to strengthen system performance and attract new investments

SWA’s Steering Committee has equally decided to increase the partnership’s engagement at country level. The Steering Committee also supports efforts to further mobilize SWA at country level – this might entail support on the partnership drive, as well as sharing of information on SWA in the region, but equally mobilizing partners to put in place and strengthen multi-stakeholder platforms for water, sanitation, and hygiene, promoting Heads of State and Heads of Government national Compacts for water and sanitation, as well as working with Parliaments on these matters. In the coming years, SWA will play a significant role in organising peer-to-peer learning through virtual and face-to-face platforms and by identifying, documenting, and sharing lessons. The partnership is also planning and supporting thematic dialogues on finance, climate, and other related topics. SWA prioritises political engagement as a key driver of decision-making, multi-stakeholder engagement and strengthening systems as well as improving investments. In this regard, SWA seeks someone to provide political advice on these matters.

The Secretariat is also supporting the implementation of the Mutual Accountability Mechanism. This will entail multi-stakeholder activities at country level, including in all francophone countries.

Accordingly, the SWA Secretariat is looking for a skilled professional to boost its capacity and engage with the Francophone government partners as well as provide political support to Regional Coordinators. The tasks relate to all the three objectives of the new SWA strategy. The consultant will report to SWA Programme Specialist – SWA Country Engagement.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to strengthen the engagement of partners around the SWA Strategy and to support government-led country processes for increasing political leadership, planning, implementation, follow-up and review of the SDGs in francophone countries in Africa, and provide political advice and support to the Secretariat’s Regional Coordinators. The consultancy will also: provide support to partners who are using the Mutual Accountability Mechanism; coordinate the development and improvement of government-led multi-stakeholder platforms aimed at strengthening national processes leaving no one behind; mobilise partners to strengthen their advocacy to raise the political priority of sanitation, water and hygiene; promote action to increase access, and foster the exchange of experiences among SWA partners in francophone countries. Ultimately, the consultancy and associated activities are aimed at supporting the achievement of SWA’s vision of water, sanitation, and hygiene for all, always and everywhere.

Objective 1 - Build and sustain the political will to eliminate inequalities in water, sanitation and hygiene

Key deliverables

• Mobilization of Ministerial participants for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting – November 2021 to May 2022
• 75% of governments participate in the preparatory process including by attending bilaterals, webinars and conducting sector analysis leading to a country overview
• Half of the Country partners prepare country overviews on climate action, economic and health recovery for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting - November 2021 to May 2022
• Mobilize all government focal points to engage in the country preparation process for the Sector Ministers’ Meeting – November 2021 to May 2022
• Support partners from multiple constituencies working through collective action in 2 countries, in order to mobilize the head of state/government to trigger a WASH-specific action at country level – November 2021 to October 2022
• Support at least 2 countries to engage with parliamentarians and follow up on the activities planned according to the Parliamentarians Engagement Plan – November 2021 to October 2022

• Brief newly appointed ministers to ensure a smooth integration with SWA processes in support of national priorities

  Objective 2 - Champion multi-stakeholder approaches towards achieving universal access to services

Key deliverables

• Support the creation or strengthening of multi-stakeholder platforms in 3 countries with concrete action plans to increase accountability of all stakeholders within the sector – November 2021 to October 2022
• Support governments and other national partners to report back on MAM commitments ending in December 2021 and 3 governments to table new commitments – November 2021 to October 2022

• 2022 Plan of action to implement the SWA Regional Roadmap for francophone countries in Africa 2021-2025 well developed, and first steps implemented – November 2021 to October 2022

  Objective 3 - Rally stakeholders to strengthen system performance and attract new investments

Key deliverables

• Support at least three (3) governments to identify the main bottlenecks and challenges for WASH finance, by engaging with the line ministries – November 2021 to October 2022
• Support at least two (2) governments to develop and implement financing plans agreed at country level, based on the identification of bottlenecks and discussions with the Senior Advisor for Finance – November 2021 to October 2022

• Support partners in ensuring that governments prioritize WASH, review budgets and allocate for the sector, by organizing national engagement dialogues and events – November 2021 to October 2022

  Objective 4: Provide political advice and support to regional coordinators to identify and utilize opportunities to influence and engage political decision-makers at country level

Key deliverables

• Supporting four (4) Regional Coordinators:
  • in developing criteria to prioritize political engagement in each country; undertake scoping exercise of priority countries and actors for promoting political engagement and develop political engagement plans for such countries
  • to develop high-level country engagement plans
  • to develop processes and plans for engagement of sector and finance ministries
  • to identify opportunities for engaging with national decision-makers and deepen and increase the reach, intensity and impact of their engagement and support to countries focused on strengthening engagement with political decision makers
  • review at least all briefs from regional coordinators
  • to organize at least 1 peer to peer exchange each on relevant topics from the 2022 workplan

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

• Advanced degree in a public health, communications, international development, sustainable development, poverty reduction, governance, integrity, elimination of inequalities, business, economics, water or sanitation engineering, or another relevant field.
• At least ten (10) years of relevant mid to senior-level experience in international development.
• At least seven (7) years of senior level experience of working with governments from low- and middle-income countries.
• Experience in organizing high-level, multi-stakeholder meetings and consultations.
• Good understanding of SWA processes or experience in the WASH field, and/or experience of organizing and participating in country and regional processes such as regional sanitation conferences (LatinoSan, SACOSan or AfricaSan) desirable.
• Experience working in global, multi-stakeholder partnerships desirable.
• Outstanding listening, verbal and written communications skills in English and French, including the ability to express complex strategies in simple and actionable terms.
• Strong conceptual and research/analytical skills with the ability to think strategically and rapidly analyze and integrate diverse information from varied sources into conclusions and recommendations.
• Strong client-focus with flexible and creative approach to problem solving.
• Track record of consulting on complex tasks which require technical knowledge and experience and submitting high quality and timely outputs.
• Proven ability in delivering on self-managed work.
• Fluency in oral and written French is required

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Competencies

• 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)

Functional Competencies

• Analyzing (2)
• Persuading and influencing (1)
• Applying technical expertise (2)
• Learning and researching (2)
• Planning and organizing (1)

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

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:

Proposed Payment Methodology:

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.

Apply:

• 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.

U.S. Visa information, if applicable: 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.

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 SWA, a UNICEF hosted fund.