Home-Based Consultancy: Data Repository and Capacity Strengthening Consultant (90 working days between Jun 2023 and Apr 2024) - EMOPS, Geneva, Switzerland

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, an education

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

The purpose of the consultancy is two-fold: (i) to support the establishment of the Global Education Cluster (GEC) Data and Information Repository tool by supporting the development and rolling out of the tool and creating a user guidance; (ii) to support the development and delivery of a new Information Management (IM) Training.

Scope of work

The GEC launched last year its 2022-2025 Strategy, which aims at strengthening collective action for coordinated education in emergencies preparedness and response. As part of the Strategic Objective 4 (advocate for the prioritisation of education in emergencies), the GEC launched the Data and Information Repository project in 2022. The objective is to collaboratively build and maintain a quality education cluster datasets system, facilitate information sharing between country Clusters/Sectors/Working Groups and partners (at national and global levels), strengthen needs and response analyses, and support decision-making and evidence-based advocacy.

Data Repository and Information Repository Tool

As part of its mandate, the GEC is responsible for ensuring education cluster data collection and reference. The project will address gaps pertaining to the absence of a centralised system to track key education figures and the use of uniformised data that could catalyse the response. In June 2023, the project will be presented to country teams to collaborative discuss and adopt strengthened, systemic, and collaborative quality data collection processes. This assignment will support this project through the following deliverables:

• Deliverable 1: Revision of the master database structure of the Data and Information Repository (7 days)
• Deliverable 2: Development of country reporting templates (3 days)
• Deliverable 3: Pilot the revised database by collecting and populating the beta version with quality and disaggregated education in emergencies data (30 days)
• Deliverable 4: Co-facilitate discussions with country Education Cluster teams and global partners around the project at the GEC Country Coordination Teams Retreat and Annual Partners Meeting (5 days)
• Deliverable 5: Create end-user or technical documentation (5 days)
• Deliverable 6: Support the roll out of the tools (10 days)

Information Management (IM) Training

Linked to the Data and Information Repository project and in line with country education cluster strategies and the Humanitarian Programme Cycle (HPC), the IM training, which will be built around the Data and Information Repository, aims at strengthening the existing knowledge and skills of Information Management Officers and addressing key issues concerning the provision of timely quality data, the delivery of strong analyses, in addition to supporting advocacy efforts through effective visualisation and conveying strong messages.

• Deliverable 1: Develop technical modules and training materials for the GEC Information Management Training (25 days)
• Deliverable 2: Facilitate sessions at the Information Management Training (5 days)

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineData and Information RepositoryDeliverable 1: Revision of the master database structure of the Data and Information Repository7 working days;

By October 2023

Deliverable 2: Development of country reporting templates3 working days;

By October 2023

Deliverable 3: Pilot the revised database by collecting and populating the beta version with quality and disaggregated education in emergencies data30 working days;

By March 2024

Deliverable 4: Co-facilitate discussions with country Education Cluster teams and global partners around the project at the GEC Country Coordination Teams Retreat and Annual Partners Meeting5 working days;

By June 2023

Deliverable 5: Create end-user or technical documentation5 working days;

By December 2023

Deliverable 6: Support the roll out of the tools10 working days;

By April 2024

Information Management TrainingDeliverable 1: Develop technical modules and training materials for the GEC Information Management Training25 working days;

By August 2023

Deliverable 2: Facilitate sessions at the Information Management Training5 working days;

By August 2023

Estimated Duration of the Contract

90 working days (between June 2023 and April 2024)

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based.

Three travels are planned as part of the contract: (i) to Nairobi, Kenya (mid-June 2023) to take part in the GEC Country Coordination Teams Retreat and Annual Partners Meeting , (ii) to Geneva, Switzerland (date TBD) for the preparation of the IM Training, and (iii) to facilitate sessions at the IM Training (date and location TBD). As planning for some of these events is underway, a travel line will be added to the PO with an indicative budget rather than an inclusive offer requested from applicants. The consultant will be reimbursed based on travel invoice following each trip.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate an overall lumpsum fee based on 90 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• An advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in information management, information systems, social science or a related field is required. A first-level university degree in combination with an additional two (2) years of qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree.
• A minimum of five (5) years of progressive experience in information management, information systems, social science or a related field is required.
• Demonstrated experience in information management, data analysis, data collection, needs assessment, rapid assessment and response.
• Experience in the education in emergencies sector and cluster coordination an asset.
• Relevant experience in a UN system agency or organisation an advantage.
• Excellent interpersonal, mentoring, facilitation and communication skills are required.
• Fluency in English is required. Knowledge of another UN official language is an asset.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS), and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

View our competency framework at http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Please include a full CV and Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and overall lumpsum fee (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a an overall lumpsum fee 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. 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.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants 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.