Home-based Consultancy: Update of UNICEF’s Cluster Coordination Guidance for Country Offices as part of CLA Evaluation Management Response (80 days; between March and July 2023) - EMOPS, Gen

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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, a champion

Purpose of Activity/Assignment

EMOPS Geneva is looking for a seasoned emergency management expert with wide understanding of UNICEF country office management as well as its accountabilities as a Cluster Lead Agency (CLA). UNICEF is undergoing a period of change following its Humanitarian Review and its new Strategic Plan, with coordination and collective action coming out as a key change making priority. Its cluster work is still poorly known and understood within the organization, and Country Offices need up-to-date tools and support to accompany this reinforced commitment to coordination.

The consultant will follow a consultative process for the review and update of the “2015 UNICEF Cluster Coordination Guidance for Country Offices” to align with internal and external developments since the guidance was issued. For example, the revision will bring in new or reinforced elements from UNICEF’s revised Core Commitments for Children in Humanitarian Action (CCCs), its Humanitarian Review, the second Evaluation of UNICEF’s role as Cluster Lead Agency (CLARE II), UNICEF’s new Emergency Procedures, the “Recommended Good Practices for Minimum Structure of Coordination Teams at Country Level” guidance, the Report of the Accountability System of UNICEF: Compendium on Organization of UNICEF (expected to be out in February 2023) and other relevant documents to provide clear guidance for UNICEF Country Representatives, Country Offices and UNICEF Regional Directors and Regional Offices on CLA functions, responsibilities and accountabilities, including a clear vision on intersectionality.

The updated guidance should also define the role of UNICEF-led clusters – and their managers by extension - to advance progress on four key humanitarian policy commitments (Centrality of Protection (CoP), Accountability to Affected Populations (AAP), Humanitarian-Development Nexus (HDN) and Localization), in addition to other institutional commitments such as Gender-Based Violence (GBV) risk mitigation and Disability Inclusion. Existing guidance on the four policy commitments will be linked as annexes to the document. The updated guidance should also define the division of roles between UNICEF-led clusters and Cash Working Groups in light of the new IASC-endorsed cash coordination model in place since March 2022 and being currently rolled out by OCHA.

Scope of work

The 2015 UNICEF Cluster Coordination Guidance for Country Offices was developed to assist UNICEF Country Offices to better fulfil CLA responsibilities in Level 3 (L3) and other emergencies in alignment with Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC) Reference Module for Cluster Coordination at Country Level and other relevant IASC protocols and guidance and relevant internal UNICEF reviews and evaluations.

Yet, in response to the growth and complexity of humanitarian needs, in recent years UNICEF has made changes to improve the quality and consistency of its humanitarian action and to ensure that clusters can adequately respond and remain fit for purpose. Key changes include the review of UNICEF’s CCCs, the creation of new Emergency Procedures and increased attention and improved guidance on key humanitarian and organisational policy commitments including AAP, HDN and Localization among others. As stated in the Humanitarian Review and CLARE II, in view of these changes, the existing UNICEF cluster guidance has become outdated in several ways and needs updating, while maintaining the same focus in L3 and other emergencies as in the 2015 version. The evaluations have also made it clear that cluster work remains little known and marginal within the organization, requiring wide dissemination of succinct and easily digestible information on what is expected, particularly from managers, to further UNICEF’s CLA role.

The update of the 2015 Cluster Guidance has been identified as a key action under the CLARE II Evaluation Management Response (EMR) validated by the UNICEF Executive Board in June 2022 to ensure implementation of CLARE II recommendations. Its update relates directly to CLARE II overarching recommendation 1 that seeks an organizational change to focus beyond what UNICEF can do alone and towards collective impact as a core imperative of UNICEF’s mandate and an international commitment. In particular, CLARE II speaks of the need of reducing/limiting the frequency over time of double-hatted Cluster Coordinator (CC) positions as well as clarifying and managing expectations of UNICEF programme specialists with regard to the role of CCs in clusters. In addition, UNICEF should prioritize key humanitarian and organisational policy commitments, including CoP, AAP, HDN and Localization in addition to GBV risk mitigation and Disability Inclusion, ensuring systematic dissemination of relevant guidance to all staff.

The update of the 2015 UNICEF Cluster Coordination Guidance for Country Offices should follow a comprehensive desk review and a consultative process with key internal stakeholders, particularly within EMOPS, other HQ divisions as well as Country and Regional Offices, and from external stakeholder such as OCHA, other clusters/CLAs or NGOs. A Reference Group shall be stablished to guide and support progress with this consultancy.

As part of the desk review of IASC guidance related to Cluster Coordination, highlight areas that have become outdated or that need to be expanded or clarified.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone******Deliverables / Outputs******Timeline / DeadlineDesk review of relevant documents and initial discussion with Reference GroupInception report with clear timelines and methodology for the update10 working days;

By 30 March 2023

In consultation with Reference Group, identification of key informants (KIs) (internal and external), development of data collection tools/questionnaire, Key Informant interviewsFindings from on KIs shared with Reference Group Preliminary conclusions and guidance revision outline shared with Reference Group for feedback25 working days;

By 04 May 2023

Draft v1 of the updated cluster guidance (this version should be edited by a professional editor, who will proofread for grammar and ensure a succinct, crisp and reader friendly product.)V1 drafted and shared with KIs for comments15 working days;

By 25 May 2023

Draft v2 based on feedbackV2 drafted and presented to Reference Group for final input15 working days;

By 15 June 2023

Work on final version (this version should be designed by a professional designer to produce visuals wherever possible, thus reducing the heaviness and improving reader friendliness and better assimilation)Final version presented designed in InDesign: -One full version -One shorter summary version (2-4 pages with visuals)15 working days;

By 06 July 2023

Estimated Duration of the Contract

80 days (between March and July 2023)

Consultant’s Work Place and Official Travel

The Consultant will be remote/home-based with travel to Geneva if needed. The consultant will be reimbursed based on travel invoice following trip.

Estimated Cost of the Consultancy & Payment Schedule

Payment will be made upon submission of an invoice and satisfactory completion of the above-mentioned deliverables. Please indicate an all-inclusive lumpsum based on 80 working days to undertake this assignment.

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

• Master's in in International Affairs, Public Policy, Economics, Social Sciences, or related fields. A first level university degree with 3 more years experience will be considered.
• Oral and written fluency in English required.
• At least ten years of progressively responsible and relevant professional work experience in Emergencies and programming, at least half of which with UNICEF.
• Experience working directly with UNICEF country office and regional office management highly desirable, preferably in an advisory role.
• Experience with humanitarian coordination, preferably in at least three different country contexts.
• Outstanding strategic thinking.
• Prior consulting experience is an asset.
• Strong interpersonal, leadership and communication skills. Demonstrated experience developing guidance, tools and resources related to cluster coordination 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 all-inclusive lumpsum (in US$) to undertake the terms of reference above. Applications submitted without an all-inclusive lumpsum 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.