Home-based: Consultancy to set up an outcome/impact level evaluation framework and baseline survey for advocacy efforts CLARE II recommended changes (40 working days between Dec 2023 and Mar

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, hope.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

To support UNICEF Global Cluster Coordination Section (GCCS) in the development of an advocacy monitoring framework and methodology to assess progress on internal “mindsets change” from a UNICEF-programme centric focus towards valuing what UNICEF does for the collective for increased impact in humanitarian settings. The change of mindset is deemed essential to institutionalize the kind of changes that the CLARE II recommends.

Scope of work

In 2022, the second evaluation of UNICEF’s role as cluster-lead agency for child protection, education, nutrition and WASH was finalised. CLARE II highlights the challenges and opportunities that UNICEF faces in carrying out its cluster-lead agency (CLA) responsibilities, to assess progress over the past seven years and to inform the future direction of the cluster lead agency role in UNICEF.

The evaluation notes that UNICEF has generally delivered on the coordination responsibilities of its CLA role and could have performed better in its leadership responsibilities. Moreover, the findings of this evaluation reaffirm the importance of shifting “beyond what the organization can do alone, towards using its mandate to mobilize other actors to maximize collective impact”. This change in focus is reflected in UNICEF Strategic Plan 2022-2025. Yet, CLARE II notes that the organization still has some way to go towards institutionalizing it and reaffirms the need to adopt a culture of collective working to drive the success of administrative, process and system change efforts.

The importance of this step is further reaffirmed in the Management Response Plan to CLARE II validated by UNICEF Executive Board in June 2022. Moreover, it is also reflected under Strategic Objective 1 (SO1) of the GCCS Advocacy and Communication Strategy. SO1 seeks to support the delivery of UNICEF CLA accountabilities and the implementation of CLARE II recommendations and it is the primary area for advocacy for the GCCS.

The GCCS is increasingly working with colleagues across UNICEF and through internal communication channels to further raise internal understanding of UNICEF CLA accountabilities and gain internal acceptance, support and prioritization for cluster/AoR coordination. Recognising that changing values, believes, behaviours and attitudes by definition take time and effort and requires the involvement of the entire organization, the GCCS is seeking to work with a consultant in the development of a monitoring and evaluation framework to measure the impact of advocacy efforts to change culture and behaviours. The M&E framework should define the assessment questions and outcome/impact indicators as well as a methodolody and tools for data gathering. The consultant will establish the baseline as a benchmark for reference against which progress can be measured and evaluated.

The monitoring and evaluation findings are intended to: provide the GCCS with a picture of the progress made and inform advocacy work; provide UNICEF leadership with suggestion of progress and areas for additional support; contribute to internal change processes; enable accountability to internal and external stakeholders; inform UNICEF’s work on the future of clusters and humanitarian partnerships.

Key target audiences for the evaluation include: UNICEF GCCS, UNICEF senior leadership, UNICEF Office of Emergency Programmes leadership and teams and other relevant divisions including Programme Group and Human Resources, UNICEF regional directors and regional emergency advisors, UNICEF representatives in country offices and chiefs of section, donors, other global clusters and cluster lead agencies, the IASC.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineDesk review and induction interviews with GCCS, Evaluation Office, those working on the global staff surveys and other relevant parts of the organisationInterviews held and desk review done10 working days

Develop preliminary conclusions and inception report, including recommendations on way forwardReport and recommendations presented to GCCS5 working daysDevelopment of Advocacy Monitoring and Evaluation Framework (evaluation questions, impact indicators to measure changes in culture/behaviour), M&E Methodology (frequency) and data collection tools (including a regular organizational culture/perceptions survey to all UNICEF staff to assess organizational culture and behaviour changes)Advocacy Monitoring and Evaluation Framework, methodology and tools validated by the GCCS10 working daysPilot tools and and collect the required baseline data, including compilation and analysis of data and presentation of baseline data reportBaseline established 5-8 page analysis report of baseline situation submitted15 working daysEstimated Duration of the Contract

40 working days (between December 2023 and March 2024).

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be home-based, no travel is foreseen.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. UNICEF reserves the right to withhold payment in case the deliverables submitted are not up to the required standard or in case of delays in submitting the deliverables on the part of the consultant.

Please propose a professional fee (in USD) based on 40 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• Master’s level degree in Statistics, Public health, Business Administration, Public Policy, International Affairs, Economics or related field.
• At least seven (7) years of relevant M&E work experience in international development, including designing, developing and implementing methods and tools to measure the impact of advocacy and communication efforts.
• Knowledge of both qualitative and quantitative research methods; M&E tools and techniques, and application of computer software (MS Excel, data visualisation software).
• Excellent analysis skills.
• Fluent in English with excellent communications skills.
• Experience working with multiple stakeholder projects desirable.
• Experience working in UNICEF or another operational UN agency desirable.

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 a Financial Proposal in your application by indicating your availability and professional fee (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without a proposed professional 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.