Consultant - Preparation of Finance & Grants Guideline for ECW Grantees, Education Cannot Wait (ECW), July - August 2022 - 60 days, Home-based, 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 is the first global fund dedicated to education in emergencies and protracted crises. It was launched by international humanitarian and development aid actors, along with public and private donors, to address the urgent education needs of 75 million children and adolescents in conflict and crisis settings. ECW’s investment modalities are designed to usher in a more collaborative approach among actors on the ground, ensuring relief and development organizations join forces to achieve education outcomes. Education Cannot Wait is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources, and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure.

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE

Education Cannot Wait (ECW) was established during the World Humanitarian Summit in 2016 by international humanitarian and development aid actors, along with public and private donors, to help reposition education as a priority on the humanitarian agenda, usher in a more collaborative approach among actors on the ground and foster additional funding to ensure that every crisis-affected child and young person is in school and learning. ECW is currently hotel by UNICEF and works in compliance with the rules and regulations of UNICEF.

To date, ECW has made more than 350 grants. This year alone so far, ECW made over 30 grants and the number is still growing. As the number of the grants increases exponentially and rapidly, the needs to establish a transparent financial accountability system for the grants as well as to build capacity of the grantees to accordingly comply with the ECW financial system grow. Since ECW has grown so rapidly, the financial system has been built often in an “as needed” or ad hoc manner without creating a comprehensive system that could be applicable to any grant administration settings unique to ECW.

In view of the above, ECW Finance Specialist and Grants Manager have begun to produce and compile a set of documents that describe and clarify the procedures of the financial aspects of the ECW grants management process. This initiative by ECW Finance Specialist and Grants Manager also attempts to respond to numerous queries they have received from the grantees regarding the requirements set by ECW on grants management process, including budgeting, financial reporting, and no-cost extension/re-programming requests.

The consultant will be reporting directly to the Chief, Finance and Operations.

How can you make a difference?

Under the guidance of Chief of Operations & Finance, the proposed consultancy will assist ECW Finance Specialist and Grants Manager in compiling and finalizing a guideline for ECW grantees (tentatively entitled “Financial Guideline for ECW Grants”). In particular, he/she has the following specific tasks:

(1) Technical inputs and advice

In discussion with Finance Specialists and Grants Manager. the consultant is expected to provide advice on the following subjects in relation to the above-mentioned proposed guideline:

• Types of content to be included in the guideline based on the needs of the grantees;
• Technical aspects of the contents as necessary (whether the contents are technically sound and clear);
• Compliance with the UNICEF rules and regulations (whether the processes suggested in the contents are in compliance with UNICEF rules and regulations);
• Incorporate selected resources and information from the online ECW Grants Management Handbook as appropriate to make the guidance consistent and useful for colleagues engaged in both/either finance and/or grants management aspects of the ECW grant.

(2) Compilation of the contents and Editorial inputs

• Following the discussions with ECW Finance Specialist and Grants Manager, the consultant is expected to compile the contents for the proposed guideline and prepare a first draft. Thereafter, he/she revises the draft based on further discussions with ECW Finance Specialist and Grants Manager

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

• Advanced university degree (Masters or PhD) in management, business administration, or other related discipline relevant to this assignment.
• Excellent knowledge and understanding of project management, in particular budgeting and contracting in the context of grants management.
• Proven experience in drafting an instruction manual, SOPs and other documents that describe specific procedures.
• Experience in editing and layouts of a publication.
• Excellent command of English required.
• Analytical, methodical, and precise style of writing.
• Ability to work in an international environment and under tight deadlines
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

Core 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

• Analysing (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.

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:

How to Apply:

• Applications should be submitted via UNICEF jobs website by 5 June 2022
• Applications must include: cover letter, CV and indicate your ability, experience, availability and monthly rate (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above.
• Applications submitted without a monthly rate will not be considered.

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. The candidate may also be subject to inoculation (vaccination) requirements, including against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid).