Consultant to Conduct a Situation Analysis of Children in Sao Tome and Principe – 4 months

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VA Consultant to Conduct a Situation Analysis of Children in Sao Tome and Principe – 4 months

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 champion

UNICEF Sao Tome and Principe conducted a Situation Analysis (SitAn) in 2015 which informed the formulation of the Country Programme (CP) 2017-2021. Since then, there have been changes in the country socio-economic and political context and the COVID19 pandemic had a serious impact on children’s, young people and women’s life.

The government committed to the implementation of the 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2019, a new Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS6) has been conducted to provide updated data on social indicators and measure progress towards SDGs. At the same time the country started the process of graduation to lower middle income countries, while the economy continuous to be severely dependent on external aid.

At the global level, UNICEF adopted a new strategic plan, aligned on SDGs and various thematic strategic frameworks including the Programme Framework for Fragile Contexts.

However, with the availability of updated data, a comprehensive analysis of the situation of children’s rights and well-being is necessary, looking at progress, challenges and opportunities to achieving child rights, well-being and the patterns of deprivation that children face. This analysis will also examine the unequal realization of rights and levels and depths of disparities across different equity dimensions and highlights the situation of children left behind, including because of the impact of COVID19. A comprehensive SitAn, through providing an understanding of the current development status of social sectors, identifying the most vulnerable groups, and exploring manifestations and underlying causes/bottlenecks of disparities, will provide recommendations for the Government’s policies and programmes, with a strong equity focus in line with the ‘Leave No One Behind’ principle.

It will also form the basis for the development of a new UNICEF-Sao Tome and Principe Country Programme Document (CPD) for 2023-2027. A high quality SitAn will contribute to the UN Common Country Assessment (CCA) and ensure that development priorities related to children’s rights are addressed in the new UN-Sao Tome and Principe Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF) 2022-2027.

SitAn is being planned in close collaboration with the Government of São Tomé and Príncipe.

The results of MICS6 2019, showed that the situation of children, youth and adolescents and women in key domains needs results translated into concrete actions and responses based on a framework of programs and collaboration that is much more ambitious and inclusive. In this context, SitAn will fit or at least align with the government's current plans and priorities as that it is scheduled to carry out secondary and complementary analyzes in specific domains requested by the Government

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of the consultancy is to support UNICEF Country Office and its partners to develop an objective and verifiable analysis of the situation of children in Sao Tome & Principe, which will be used by all partners in addressing key challenges preventing children, especially the most disadvantaged, from enjoying their rights as defined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and other international legal instruments to which the country is party. SitAn is the opportunity to engage all stakeholders involved in following the CDC's recommendations.

Specific objectives:

1. Establish a strong understanding of the country context and the current situation of children by conducting a secondary analysis of the demographic profile, political, economic and governance, humanitarian risk profile, gender profile, public finance, poverty, drives of inequality, stakeholders, business, Country Assessment of Essential Products, Markets and Supply Chains for Children, and Knowledge, attitudes and practices towards key child development issues.
2. Analysing children’s rights progress and current status of children and adolescents’ development disaggregated by age, gender, urban/rural, ethnicity, disability, wealth and other relevant factors.
3. Identify any new trends, patterns, incidence and causes of key deprivations and patterns of vulnerability, disaggregated by relevant segments of the population using available data and other information.
4. Identify and analyse key barriers and bottlenecks that prevent disadvantaged girls, boys and families from benefiting from required interventions and services. The immediate underlying and root causes should be examined including the social, political and economic conditions and gender norms that result in shortfalls in the creation of an enabling environment for the realization of children’s rights.
5. Analyse the extent to which gender inequalities and the fulfilment/non-fulfilment of the rights of women affect overall inequalities and deprivations, including those affecting children.
6. Assess the current or potential presence of risks, including conflict, natural hazards, existing and future hazards from climate change and other potential shocks; the likelihood of their occurrence, the underlying vulnerabilities, the nature of the hazard and the particularly vulnerable groups that will be affected. The capacities and coping mechanisms of women and men, families, communities, local and national institutions to mitigate these risks and deal with shocks should also be assessed.
7. Analyse the extent to which the evidence-based interventions and services needed to address vulnerabilities are prioritized in national policies, laws, strategies, plans and budgets, and supported by UNICEF and partners. This would include an analysis of the extent to which there is an enabling environment for the realization of the rights of all children including the promotion of positive social norms and behaviours, transformation of gender norms, organization of services, institutional capacities at national, sub-national and community levels.

The SitAn should reflect any new developments and changes in the programming context of Sao Tome & Principe and relevant sectoral (i.e. Health, Nutrition, Education, WASH, Social and Child Protection) and cross-cutting issues (i.e. Disabilities, Gender, Participation, Social Inclusion etc.).

It should also draw out what are the key advocacy messages which might eventually feed into what policies might be needed to address the issues raised. It should focus on the enabling environment, for example policies, legislation, budget, expenditure, on the supply side, for example availability and access to services, and on the demand side, cultural practices and beliefs.

It should finally include evidence-based recommendations for improving data availability and analysis concerning rights of children. Such recommendations should also consider potential innovative actions and highlight opportunities for strategic partnerships for leveraging political and economic will for the most disadvantaged children and their families.

Timeframe and Payment Schedule

The Consultant will work 50 working days for the assignment, over the period of 3 months between Mid-June and Mid-September. The contract will be lasted until end October, to allow for final feedback and adjustments.

As per UNICEF policy, payment is made against approved deliverables.

Scheduled payments payment upon completion of the tasks/activities (deliverables) in the agreed work plan, as following.

1. 20% payment - upon satisfactory submission of the Deliverable 1: Inception Report
2. 40% payment – upon satisfactory submission of the 1st draft SitAn report
3. 40% payment – upon satisfactory submission of the final SitAn report, the Presentation, and the Brief Summary

The Consultant’s fee may be reduced if deliverables are not fulfilled to the required standard.

Administrative issues

The consultant will work remotely, with travel to Sao Tome and Principe (estimated 20 days in Sao Tome and Principe). Internal travel may be required for data collection and consultations with various stakeholders and will be supported by UNICEF CO.

During the periods in which the Consultant is working remotely, conference/skype calls will be held as required.

The consultant will make his/her own arrangements for the travel. Travel costs for two trips in this consultancy should be estimated and included into the proposal (lump sum and break down by budget lines) along with the requested daily fee. Travel costs shall be calculated based on economy class travel, regardless of the length of travel; costs for accommodation, meals and incidentals shall not exceed applicable daily subsistence allowance (DSA) rates, as promulgated by the International Civil Service Commission (ICSC).

Meanwhile, UNICEF will provide logistical support for the in-country trips, such as provision of office space, vehicle for site visits and official meetings, organisation and coordination of meetings, interpretation and translation and support with obtaining visa and registration, once in-country.

Approval Procedures and Logistics

Consultants should act with integrity and respect for all stakeholders in line with UNICEF ethical guidelines regarding evidence generation.

UNICEF (Country name) Office holds copyrights for all reports. The documents (including raw materials, etc.) may not be reproduced, distributed or published without the written permission from UNICEF.

All personal data should be accessible to team members, but no one else. The consultants need to set up secure systems (a) to ensure that other staff within their institutions cannot access their data via the shared staff drives, and (b) to ensure secure data transfer between institutions. Cloud based storage with limited sharing rights could be considered in this instance. Different personal data files need to be link-able, they need to be held separately so that they can only be linked purposely, by researchers who are authorized to do so. There is also a need to ensure that data cannot be removed from secure systems in ways that might compromise data security.

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

Education: Advanced degree in the social science (sociology, economics, anthropology, development Studies, etc.) or related fields relevant to the assignment;

Experience:

• A minimum of 8 years of professional experience in conducting equity-focussed research, socio-economic and human rights-based analysis, and technical assistance to governments and organizations, in the areas of the human rights-based approach to programming (HRBAP), an understanding of the CRC, CEDAW and other relevant frameworks, ability to conduct equity-focused research and analysis;

• Proven ability in coordination of research, dialogue and synthesis of complex information in strategic reports.

• Knowledge and experience in conducting similar analysis (e.g. equity focussed situation analysis), and breadth of knowledge on children and women’s issues.

• Demonstrated experience with research and participatory methods;

• Strong writing and analytical skills for quality report writing (a sample of recent analytical report will be requested)
• Strong presentation and communication skills in French (fluency required) and Portuguese. Spanish is an asset;
• Strong coordination skills and ability to adhere to deadlines;
• Other competencies: Demonstrated ability to work in a multicultural environment and establish harmonious and effective relationships with national partners;

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.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Click here to learn more about UNICEF’s values and competencies.

Application Submission

Interested applicants are requested to apply online only via the link https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/ then search for requisition# 541524 and attach:

- A technical proposal

- An all-inclusive financial offer (including miscellaneous expenses such as internet and telephone communication, transportation costs and subsistence allowance during the mission in Libreville if the consultant does not reside in this city and during the field work)

- A resume indicating the required qualifications and any relevant experience;

- Copy of the highest degree;

- Copy of passport or national identity document.

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:

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.

TORs SITAN Sao Tome.docx