Consultant Technical Advisor – Research & Learning and External Support Agencies Engagement - Hosted Funds - SWA - Remote - REQ: 556848

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, WATER AND SANITATION

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work:

Background & Purpose

Sanitation and Water for All (SWA) is a global partnership of over 330 partners, including governments, private sector and civil society organizations, external support agencies, research and learning institutions, utilities and regulators working together to catalyze political leadership and action, improve accountability and use scarce resources more effectively. Partners work towards a common vision of sanitation, hygiene and water for all, always and everywhere.

The Secretariat of the SWA global partnership is hosted by UNICEF at its Headquarters in New York and Geneva. 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 that focuses on three objectives:

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

The objectives rely on the partner’s commitments and engagement. The SWA Country Engagement Team mobilizes the SWA partners, globally and in country, to support countries to reach their water, sanitation and hygiene-related targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly encouraging a focus on the most marginalized and excluded from WASH services. Accordingly, the SWA Secretariat has hired a Constituency Engagement Specialist to focus on supporting the partners from external support agencies, research & learning, private sector, and utilities & regulators.

The Secretariat is now looking for a skilled Technical Adviser to support the team, helping with the assessment of the engagement of the Research & Learning and External Support Agencies constituencies, define the value proposition for partners within the said constituencies, as well as supporting the development of a roadmap to increase growth and engagement.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Expected results: (measurable results)

Technical Advisor will be responsible for two results:

• The consultant will conduct an assessment and prepare a report on the current engagement of the R&L and ESA constituencies, at global and national level. The assessment will be based on proxy engagement indicators such as participation of partners in key SWA initiatives, and on guided interviews with secretariat members and partners.
• The consultant will support the SWA secretariat in defining the value proposition for constituency partners, and writing a brief roadmap outlining increased value addition of SWA for the R&L and ESA constituencies.

Deliverables

• Develop interview scripts and survey to disseminate to selected partners. Disseminate the survey and conduct interviews. In parallel, interview critical SWA secretariat staff. Days: 5
• Analyze and report on the results of the consultations, interviews, and survey. Draft the first version of the short assessment report. Days: 5
• Draft the first version of the engagement roadmap and value proposition. Finalize the assessment report in coordination with the SWA secretariat. Days: 5
• Finalize the engagement roadmap and value proposition in coordination with the SWA secretariat. Prepare executive summaries of key findings and recommendations. (Detailing activities, targets, roles and responsibilities of SWA stakeholders and Secretariat). Days: 5

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

• An advanced university degree (Master’s or higher) in public health, social and management sciences, water resource management, sanitary engineering or another relevant technical field related to WASH. *A first University Degree in a relevant field combined with 2 additional years of professional experience may be accepted in lieu of an Advanced University Degree.
• A minimum of 8 (eight) of relevant professional experience in coordination and analytical skills in the development sector, including preparing briefings, position papers and key documents for decision makers.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian or Spanish) or a local language is an asset.
• Previous experience in working with the research & learning and/or external support agencies highly desirable.
• Knowledge of SWA or another multistakeholder partnership is highly desirable.
• A strong team player and independent, highly motivated professional with superior communication skills.
• Strong analytical, creative and problem-solving skills. Proven negotiating and influencing capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to work in highly complex multicultural international organizations and establish harmonious and effective working relationships, both within and outside the organizations.

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.