Consultant (Good Governance, Finance and Human Rights), Sanitation and Water for All (SWA), 90 days in 12 months, REMOTE, Req: 568125

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, OPPORTUNITIES

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global alliance of over 200 national governments, donors, civil society organizations and other development partners working together to catalyse political leadership and action, improve accountability and use scarce resources more effectively. The ultimate goal of the Partnership is to achieve universal access to water supply and sanitation.

UNICEF hosts the Secretariat of the Sanitation and Water for All partnership, which is responsible for supporting the Chair and the Steering Committee (SC) as well as other members of the Steering Committee and organizes the bi-annual global High-Level Meetings and Partnership Meetings.

SWA has proven to be highly successful and the work of the Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat has become progressively more demanding. For example, it has been identified that SWA global multi-stakeholder partnership can play a key role in connecting SDGs 6 and 13, while recognizing that the ability to meet these SDGs directly affects and is affected by almost all of the other SDGs, including poverty, food, gender and inequality. Furthermore, as the partnership is increasing its focus at country level, SWA can contribute to the success of the Paris Agreement by providing partners with a solid background on why and how countries can integrate mitigation and adaptation interventions related to sanitation and water.

The work of the Chief Executive Officer and Secretariat is enhanced by high level advice from experienced and knowledgeable specialists in the WASH policy sector to address specific issues that arise from time to time and to analyse opportunities to achieve the objectives of the partnership. Specifically, support is required in order for the partnership to ensure the full implementation of its third objective

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

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

SWA is looking to hire a part-time consultant to provide support to the Secretariat in matters related to SWA’s Objective 3 (financing and systems strengthening) and accountability and human rights. To take this priority work forward, the purpose of this consultancy is to support the SWA Secretariat. This includes developing a plan to implement Objective 3 of the SWA strategy, content advice for the 2024 Finance Ministers Meetings, provide content for the SWA Mutual Accountability Mechanism Global Report, leading the preparation of research and analysis on human rights, gender, inequalities, integrity, decolonisation and the localisation of development practice and related topics, to support the SWA Secretariat in learning and knowledge sharing.

EXPECTED RESULTS: (MEASURABLE RESULTS)

The consultant will provide support and technical expertise to SWA Secretariat and broader partnership on good governance, finance and human rights related aspects of advocacy, knowledge management, capacity building, strategic resource mobilization, and preparation for key events and processes.

Specifically, the consultant will:

1. Support the implementation of the SWA Objective 3 Strategy
   • Review existing messages and support, by developing updated key messages from the SWA Secretariat documents on financing
   • Providing support to Communications and Country Engagement Team to integrate key messages into external materials, and briefings for focal points and ministers
   • Develop concept notes for regional Finance Minsters Meetings for Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia Pacific, draft agenda and consult with key partners on identification of strong case studies, develop clear guidance for speakers,
   • Support SWA leadership in Finance Ministers Meetings, and other high-level engagements, through preparation of speeches and talking points
   • Take minutes of Finance Ministers Meetings and contribute to the drafting of the report with strategic vision and ensuring connections to SWA’s larger areas of work
2. Support the work of the SWA Systems and Finance Working Group on:
   • Ensuring at least quarterly meetings of the Working Group, including proposing agenda to the co-chairs, and reporting on implementation of follow up actions
   • Conducting research on key materials to inform SFWG discussions and circulating these amongst WG members.
   • Regular meetings with Regional Coordinators to ensure strong country examples on good governance and finance are brought to and discussed at the Work Group.
3. Mutual accountability Mechanism
   • Drafting case studies for the MAM Global report
   • Provide technical support for the development, implementation and review of financing-related MAM commitments, including input as commitments come in on a rolling basis, as well as regional analytical briefs before each FMM.
4. Thematic topics
   • Organize a virtual workshop on integrity, including drafting of concept note, identification of key participants and speakers, and preparing outcome note for dissemination among the SWA partnership
   • Organize 2 webinars on Localising development, each with different target audience (e.g., ESAs, national governments, and CSOs) with a view to expanding understanding and approaches to effectively pursue localisation
   • Drafting 2 briefing notes on Participation and partnerships.

DELIVERABLES

Indicative activities and deliverable(s)****Duration (Days)****DeadlineProvide technical advice on the implementation of the SWA Objective 3 Strategy

• Review existing messages and support, by developing updated 10 key messages from the SWA Secretariat 2 documents on financing
• Provide support to Communications and Country Engagement Team to integrate key messages into at least 5 comms assets, and organize at least 6 briefings for focal points and ministers
• Develop 2 concept notes for regional Finance Minsters Meetings for Latin America and the Caribbean and Asia Pacific, draft agenda and consult with key partners on identification of strong case studies, develop clear guidance for speakers,
• Draft at least 3 speeches to support SWA leadership in Finance Ministers Meetings, and other high level engagements
• Deliver minutes of 2 Finance Ministers Meetings, within 14 days of the meeting,
• Contribute to the drafting of the 2 FMM reports with strategic vision and ensuring connections to SWA’s larger areas of work

25October 2024Provide technical advice to the work of the SWA Systems and Finance Working Group on:

• Prepare agenda to the co-chairs, follow up actions and implementation plans for one meeting every quarter least quarterly meetings of the Working Group,
• Conduct one research report on key materials to inform SFWG discussions, and circulating these amongst WG members.
• Monthly meetings with Regional Coordinators to Gather strong country examples on good governance and finance and ensure that these are brought to and discussed at the Work Group.

25December 2024Contribute to the SWA Mutual accountability Mechanism

• Draft 5 case studies each of 1 page long for the MAM Global report
• Provide technical support for the development, implementation and review of 15 financing-related MAM commitments, including input as commitments come in on a rolling basis, as well as regional analytical briefs before each FMM.

15June 2024Thematic topics

• Organize a virtual workshop on integrity, including drafting of concept note, identification of key participants and speakers, and preparing one outcome note for dissemination among the SWA partnership
• Organize 2 webinars on Localising development, each with different target audience (e.g., ESAs, national governments, and CSOs) with a view to expanding understanding and approaches to effectively pursue localization
• Draft 2 briefing notes on Participation and partnerships

25September 2024TOTAL****90 To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in international development, sustainable development, poverty reduction, governance, integrity, elimination of inequalities business, economics, water or sanitation engineering, or other relevant field.
• A minimum of TEN years of relevant in mid to senior-level experience in international development. Experience in organizing multi-stakeholder meetings and consultations.
• Experience working in global, multi-stakeholder partnerships desirable
• Developing country work experience and/or familiarity with emergency is considered an asset.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

DESIRABLE

• Outstanding listening, verbal and written communications skills in English 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

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.