Consultant - Study to measure changes in knowledge, attitudes, practices, social and gender-related- 66 working days

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.

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For every child, a voice

The European Union-funded APROSOC (Social Protection Support) programme supports the government in strengthening its social protection systems. The second component of this program, the "SIMSAP" project is implemented by the Ministry of Social Action, Family and Women's Promotion (MAFAMU), since 2014. It has contributed to pilot the Municipalization of the Social Action (one of the main axis of the National Social Action Policy) and the first Cash Transfer Programme in Angola. The European Union-funded SP&PFM Programme aims to support the government in (i) adoption of a Social Protection Policy, through an Assessment Based National Dialogue (ABND) process; (ii) Improving coordination of the social protection system; and (iii) strengthening the capacity of public institutions to improve budgeting and delivery of social protection services. Both projects have clear synergies and contribute to strengthening of the Social Protection sector in Angola. The work of the Consultant will be supervised by Chief of Social Policy UNICEF Angola, in coordination with Social Policy Specialist (Public Finance) UNICEF Angola.

How can you make a difference?

Under the supervision of the Chief Social Policy and in close coordination with the Social Policy Section, the individual consultant will:

Goals and Objectives:

The objective of the study to be implemented under this consultancy, encompassing both families benefitting from the Cash Transfer programme and families that are not linked to the programme, and based on qualitative and quantitative approaches, are as follows: • To describe the current level of knowledge, attitude and practices of the APROSOC targeted and non-targeted population in terms of child (1000 first days) nutritional practices, health care seeking behaviors, WASH practices and use of child protection social services including birth registration; • To identify any change in terms of KAP and social norms among the APROSOC targeted communities in terms of utilization of social services and adoption of positive behaviors in Health, Nutrition, WASH and Child protection areas compared to the 2019 KAP baseline; • To identify positive examples of women empowerment, increased female decision making capacity, and balanced gender relations attributed to the APROSOC programme; • To determine any contribution of the APROSOC programme to the identified positive behavioral and social norms changes; • To determine remaining bottlenecks and challenges to behavior change that recipients still face and provide recommendations for future programme adjustment; • To identify any changes in the determinants of social services behavior seeking and positive practices in the areas of nutrition, health, WASH and Child protection in the targeted provinces; Identify if financial barriers remain relevant; • To document challenges, good practices and lessons learnt from the implementation of the APROSOC programme for its impact on caregivers’ behaviors related to the access and utilization of social services, key lifesaving and protective behaviors; • For future phase, to recommend communication channels and influencers for Social and Behavior Change Communication (SBCC), potential strategic partners, effective messages (based on knowledge gaps) and communication materials, and powerful and effective social networks at community level for learning about and developing attitudes towards acquisition of social services; ➢ Develop specific and tailored recommendations for female caregivers; ➢ The recommendations should be adapted to the new context of COVID-19. • To determine how much caregivers spent in their children’s diet and wellbeing (such as access to health services and positive WASH practices); • To identify at the local level awareness levels of the Cash Transfer programme, and the benefits for the families enrolled and for the community in general. • Regarding the qualitative component of the impact evaluation: ➢ To describe the programme’s effects on beneficiaries (food security, socio-economic conditions of beneficiary households and individuals, access to social services), using a gender lens. ➢ To assess the strengths and weaknesses of programme design parameters and operational features related to targeting, selection and registration, payment, pertinence, adequacy. ➢ To describe the perceptions and satisfaction of beneficiaries with the programme, using a gender lens. ➢ To describe household coping strategies within the Covid context and whether and how the programme attenuated the socioeconomic impact of the pandemic on household and individuals. To identify lessons learned for programme design, operational parameters and programme implementation. In order to address the overall and specific study objectives, the following research questions will be taken into consideration: ➢ What does the research population know about key positive practices around Nutrition, Hygiene and Sanitation, Child protection, such as Violence against women and children, Birth registration, and Health services? What are their individual attitudes and social perceptions around these topics? Do they practice the recommended behaviors? ➢ What are the changes compared to the 2019 baseline in terms of knowledge, perceptions and behaviors around these practices? Has the APROSOC cash transfer programme directly or indirectly contributed to these changes? ➢ Are there any examples that can be showcased in terms of households where improved gender balance is observed, with the female caregiver getting more space for expression and possibilities for decision-making regarding her own well being and that of her household? ➢ What are the remaining obstacles to behavior change in Nutrition, Hygiene and Sanitation, Child Protection, and Health care seeking among the population under study? Have the obstacles remained the same compared to the baseline? Do the financial obstacles still apply? What is the theory of change for improved practices of the recommended behaviors given the obstacles? ➢ What is the population’s level of awareness of the cash transfer programme (eligibility, expectations, individual and social benefits)? ➢ What are the operational challenges, good practices and lessons learnt in the implementation of the APROSOC programme so that it leads to beneficiaries’ behavior change in the area of Nutrition, Hygiene and Sanitation, Child protection and Health care seeking? ➢ What are the recommended communication channels, community networks, partners, communication approaches and messaging content for effective behavior and social change? Regarding the qualitative component of the impact evaluation: ➢ Did the transfers reach the target population including children? What were the effects of the programme on beneficiaries (in terms of food security, socio-economic conditions of beneficiary households and individuals, and access to social services)? What were the specific effects on women and girls beneficiaries? ➢ What are the beneficiaries' perceptions and level of satisfaction about the programme, the amounts, about the basic social services provided alongside the cash transfers? ➢ What were the different strategies developed by households to cope with the Covid 19 pandemic? Has the programme attenuated the socioeconomic impact of Covid 19 on the population, through for example reduction of poverty and vulnerability, improved access to healthcare, improved children’s and women’s nutrition and food security, increase in household economic activities? ➢ Are the design parameters (targeting, selection and registration, payment, pertinence, adequacy) of the programme effective to address caregivers and children's needs? ➢ What are the lessons learnt from the programme for its design and implementation? Are the design parameters sustainable and scalable to other areas of the country? The study will follow the methodology used in the KAP baseline study, which employed a mixed-methods approach combining: Qualitative methods (focus groups and observation), and quantitative methods (comprehensive questionnaire based on DHS questions) administered in treatment and "control" sites. For the qualitative element in the baseline study, 12 focus groups were conducted with women (with children under five years old) and men selected randomly. For the quantitative element, 350 questionnaires were administered by local social workers in 6 villages, 3 villages in treatment areas (ie receiving cash transfers) and 3 villages in neighboring areas with similar characteristics but not covered by cash transfers. For this KAP study, 350 questionnaires are to be administered randomly in the same 6 villages. Questionnaires are to be addressed to mothers with children under five years old.

In-depth interviews (IDIs) Caregivers’ beneficiaries of cash transfers 6 Comunas Treatment (Uíge, Damba, Cangala, Chipeta, Camanongue, Lucusse), 3 Comunas Control (Lombe, Sande, Kachipoque) 4 per comuna T and 2 per comuna C, 30 IDIs in total Focus groups (FGDs)

Household beneficiaries of cash transfers 6 Comunas Treatment (Uíge, Damba, Cangala, Chipeta, Camanongue, Lucusse), 3 Comunas Control (Lombe, Sande, Kachipoque) 2 per comuna (1 with women/1 with men), 18 FGDs in total Key informants’ interviews about the intervention UNICEF staff members; Louis Berger staff members; MASFAMU representatives; APROSOC members of the implementation team on the ground; community leaders Luanda and on the ground 20 KIIs

a. Inception report: Conduct literature review of relevant studies, data collection methodology, tools, pre-testing checklist, data quality assurance plan, data analysis plan, timeframe and budget needed for implementation. For this purpose, preliminary consultations should be done for obtaining recent data available about APROSOC with technical teams, consultants currently contributing to the UNICEF Angola cash transfer programme and remote conversation with APROSOC activists. The report will be shared with Social Policy and C4D programmes for inputs and endorsement. The research proposal including the instruments will be submitted to Health Media Lab for ethical review clearance.

b. Selection of the enumerators and supervisors according to pre-defined criteria in the inception report. Data collectors should be mature and experienced for ensuring quality data collection. Enumerators need to be able to appraise what information to collect, which relies on linguistic, social and other skills. It is important to consider the socioeconomic status of enumerators (e.g. as trusted community members), their gender and age group.

c. Pre-testing research tools: Develop research tools. Validate them in selected locations using approved pre-test guide and facilitate a meeting with the UNICEF Social Policy and C4D programmes to validate the pre- testing data obtained and fine tune the tools. The tools need to be validated and signed off by UNICEF before proceeding in data collection.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline and estimated budget

Develop an inception report

Selection of enumerators and supervisors according to pre-defined criteria

Pre-testing research tools

Inception report with summary of desk review, study methodology, data collection tools, pre-testing checklist, data analysis plan, data quality assurance plan, timeframe, and implementation budget

-List of selected enumerators and supervisors

-Pre-test report with recommendations for any adjustments

-Pre-tested quantitative and qualitative data collection tools with adjustments done on the tools and validated by UNICEF

Mar 2022

30%

Develop training plan and materials for the interviewers /data collectors

Train the interviewers and supervisors

-Data collectors and supervisors’ training plan validated by UNICEF

-Training report of data collectors and supervisors

Mar 2022

20%

Collect data; Develop a draft report

Present the draft report to GoA and UNICEF through a workshop that can be presential or online

Draft report submitted to UNICEF according to the recommended format

Report of the dissemination workshop with key recommendations from participants

Apr 2022

30%

Finalize the study report based on the recommendations collected during the dissemination workshop

-Final report including the executive summary and powerpoint presentation on major findings and recommendations

-Raw data submitted to UNICEF

May 2022

20%

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

• Educational background in Social Sciences, Social and Cultural Anthropology or related area. Bachelor or master’s degrees is considered an asset. • A minimum of 8 years). experience in conducting research using quantitative and qualitative methods. Experience in designing and managing the implementation of social or behavioral research is a strong asset • Experience on research in the areas of nutrition, health and WASH and/ or related areas • Experience in Sociological research in Angola/ Sub-Saharan Africa is an asset • Familiarity with policies focused on children in Angola and socio-economic context of the country • Fluency in English and Portuguese is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset. • Willingness to immediately take up the assignment.

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... • Demonstrates Self Awareness and Ethical Awareness • Works Collaboratively with others • Builds and Maintains Partnerships • Innovates and Embraces Change • Thinks and Acts Strategically • Drives to achieve impactful results • Manages ambiguity and complexity

To view our competency framework, please visit https://www.unicef.org/careers/media/1041/file/UNICEF%27s_Competency_Framework.pdf

Click https://www.unicef.org/careers/get-prepared 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.

Remarks:

Duty Station: Luanda, Angola

Terms of Payment:

The consultant will be paid an all-inclusive fee (transportation costs, stationary, communication and other miscellaneous expenses) as per the stipulated deliverable and payment schedule.

Contract Duration: 66 working days

How to apply:

Interested candidates are requested to create their profile on UNICEF career portal at https://www.unicef.org/careers/, including cover letter and CV. Candidates should indicate ability, availability and all-inclusive financial proposal to undertake the terms of reference. 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.