Consultancy to review Country Office (CO) contributions to indirect WASH results (Remote) - UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia

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, a future

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this consultancy is to document current activities related to systems strengthening in UNICEF WASH programmes in South Asia, and current practices in reporting indirect results, to develop a comparative analysis of CO contributions to, and reporting of, indirect WASH results. Based on this, and additional research and review of different reporting and attribution methodologies, improved criteria and metrics for determining indirect results from substantive systems strengthening support are to be developed and recommendations made for the regional office quality assurance process.

Goal Area 4 of the UNICEF Strategic Plan (20022-25) is that ‘Every child, including adolescents, has access to safe and equitable water, sanitation and hygiene services and supplies, and lives in a safe and sustainable climate and environment’. Goal Area 4 has three Result Areas (RAs):

• Result Area 1 [RA1]: Sustained access to and use of safe water, sanitation and hygiene services and practices for all children and adolescents, particularly the most disadvantaged and those living in humanitarian and fragile contexts.
• Result Area 2 [RA 2]: Strengthened and resourced WASH systems and empowered communities for gender-equal, inclusive, affordable, and sustainable services to meet the rights of all children and adolescents, particularly the most disadvantaged and those living in humanitarian and fragile contexts.
• Result Area 3 [RA3]: Increased and enhanced child-sensitive programmes to address climate change, disaster risks, and environmental degradation that meet the rights of all children and adolescents, particularly the most disadvantaged and those affected by humanitarian and fragile contexts.

Result Area 2 represents an increased focus on systems strengthening across the WASH sub-sectors and measurement of indirect results. Country offices are required to report on an annual basis on the following strategic monitoring questions (SMQs):

• How many additional people are using at least Basic+2 water services as a result of substantive UNICEF systems strengthening support (indirect results) during the year of reporting?
• How many additional people are using at least basic sanitation services as a result of substantive UNICEF systems strengthening support (indirect results) during the year of reporting?
• How many additional schools have access to ALL WASH services as a result of substantive UNICEF systems strengthening support (indirect results) during the year of reporting?
• How many additional Health Care Facilities have access to ALL WASH services as a result of substantive UNICEF systems strengthening support (indirect results) during the year of reporting?

Key principles have been developed by UNICEF HQ for reporting on indirect results:

• Indirect figures have been shared and agreed with in-country partners, especially government partners.
• Where UNICEF is claiming results in partnership with others, those partners are also acknowledged.
• Sources of data have been verified as far as practicable and triangulated with other sources.
• Significant deviation from JMP results can be adequately explained.
• UNICEF upstream inputs have been robustly quality assured by ROs and are deemed to have sufficient contribution to overall sectoral results.
• CO WASH staff are clear on reporting assumptions, have these documented for future questions and checks such as audits, and are aware that they are accountable to report on the same.

Despite this guidance, there is huge variation and inconsistency in how COs report on indirect results. For example, India CO reports 188 million people living in ODF communities between 2019-21 as a result of substantive UNICEF systems strengthening support, while Pakistan CO reports zero people in the same period, despite the CO undertaking significant activities in sector systems strengthening. Meanwhile, the Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA) lacks sufficient guidance to ‘robustly quality assure’ CO upstream inputs and contributions to overall sectoral results.

Based on this situation, UNICEF ROSA is seeking the support of an experienced WASH consultant to support UNICEF country offices in the region to report on indirect results in a consistent manner and to enable ROSA to fulfill its quality assurance role effectively.

Key Assignments and Deliverables:

The elaboration of each WASH knowledge product will include the following detailed activities, estimated no. of working days, and final deliverables (refer to the detailed attached work plan).

ToR - ROSA Indirect Results-DELIVERABLE (WASH).docx

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

Education:

• An advanced university (Master) in a discipline related to water, sanitation, hygiene, and international development.
• A University degree with two additional years of relevant work experience may be considered in lieu of a Master’s degree.

Work experience:

• A minimum of 10 years of experience in the WASH sector and management of water and/or sanitation programmes in developing countries.
• Documented experience in research and analysis related to the WASH sector.
• Demonstrated record of high-quality publications related to WASH and international development.
• Familiarity with UNICEF WASH programmes and sector systems strengthening.
• Experience in contribution/attribution analysis and measurement of indirect results would be an asset.

Language proficiency:

The consultant should be proficient in English, with a proven ability to write high-level papers for different types of audiences.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Competencies:

• Strong research and analytical skills
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills
• Strategic thinking and managing multiple complexities
• Ability to collaborate and engage with diverse viewpoints

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.

Remarks:

Duration: 1 May – 31 July 2022 (60 days of work). This is a home-based consultancy.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process. Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

Application to include an all-inclusive financial proposal that will detail daily/monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference.

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.