Individual Consultancy - Results-Based Financing Manager, Education Outcomes Fund (EOF) (Remote - 3 months w/possible extension)

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, Education...

There are few greater challenges faced by the global community than the learning crisis. By 2030, nearly half of the world’s young people will be failing to learn. This ticking time-bomb for global development will undermine the achievement of all of the Sustainable Development Goals, and demands urgent global action.

In response, the Education Commission (chaired by Gordon Brown, former UK Prime Minister and UN Special Envoy for Global Education) and the Global Steering Group for Impact Investment (chaired by Sir Ronald Cohen) have come together to create the Education Outcomes Fund (EOF), an initiative to improve the education of 10 million children and young people. EOF will support governments over the next decade to improve outcomes in education and youth employment by paying for results delivered by innovative NGOs and social entrepreneurs. EOF will use several innovative finance instruments including development impact bonds (DIBs) and other Results-Based Financing mechanisms to achieve this mission.

The fund will support improvements in the quality of education and skills programs, and seek to ensure that no child or young person is left behind, with a special focus on underserved populations including the hardest to reach rural populations, girls, children with disabilities, and refugees. It will measure (and pay for) what matters – both core skills like literacy and numeracy, but also critical 21st Century skills such as socio-emotional skills, ICT skills, and other broader fundamentals of a quality education. It will help close the persistent gap between the skills needed by employers, and those attained by today’s youth by paying for employment and retention outcomes.

For all the above, EOF will pay almost entirely on the basis of the results achieved, ensuring that taxpayer-funded domestic resources, aid, and philanthropic funds are only used to pay for what works.

This is a game-changing way to finance results in education. It is more than just a fund – it is a powerful new set of partnerships and way of working. Rather than fragmented spending on inputs and activities, it aligns the whole system around a common, agreed set of outcomes. Rather than stifling NGOs with restricted funding, EOF empowers and supports them to innovate, adapt, and find context-specific solutions. And rather than being funded on the basis of emotional appeals about their impact, providers and investors will be rewarded based on independently verified results. This radical transparency will ensure that EOF, government policy makers and the broader donor community can systematically shift funds towards scaling programs that demonstrate the best results and value for money.

We believe this is the early stages of a much larger movement. As the development sector continues to shift away from traditional, activity-based funding towards results-based approaches, there is growing interest in outcomes funds and impact bonds, that go beyond outputs (the focus of most results-based aid to date) to reward outcomes. Shifting risk to the private sector, crowding in private capital and harnessing the capacity and capability of non-state actors has huge potential to achieve better outcomes and better value for money.

We hope you will join us on this exciting journey to launch programs as part of the first large scale outcomes funds for development, in support of achieving inclusive and quality education for all.

How can you make a difference?

The broad purpose of this consultancy is:

• To support the work of EOF’s program team to scope, assess the feasibility and design Results-Based Financing programs in early childhood development, basic education or skills;
• To engage Governments and donors at the different stages of program development;
• To contribute to EOF’s pipeline development and fundraising efforts by building strong relationships with potential funders, identifying and pursuing opportunities;
• To support the growth of the EOF team and oversee the work of more junior team members;
• To participate in EOF’s communication and advocacy strategy.

The Manager will report to the EOF Director and the work produced will be functionally supervised by the program team.

DESCRIPTION OF ASSIGNMENT (TASKS, SMART DELIVERABLES, DEADLINES):

Tasks

End Products/ Deliverables

Duration/ Deadline

Program design:

• Managing scoping & feasibility studies to assess the opportunity for Results-based Financing (RBF) programs and outcomes funds in early childhood development, basic education or skills, identifying the barriers to outcomes and the value add of the RBF mechanism.
• Engaging Government stakeholders and donors to secure interest and financial commitment to fund the programs.
• Lead the technical design process of outcomes funds (including the selection of outcome metrics, evaluation methodologies, target setting, pricing and financial model) applying EOF’s approach to the context and objectives of the program in a solution-oriented and creative manner. Build a strong relationship with Government partners and co-outcome funders as the primary point of contact. Engage with providers and investors to build interest in the program.
• Lead the selection of providers, investors and evaluators, as well as the contracting process using EOF’s templates. Set-up the governance structure, in-country program team and relevant management processes ahead of the program implementation.
• Manage the workplan and delegate tasks to team members as appropriate, ensuring quality control of the work produced by more junior team members.

• Contribute to the program team’s discussions and brainstorming sessions to strengthen the design of other EOF programs.

• Scoping and feasibility study reports presenting recommendations for the opportunity to design outcome funds in specific contexts.

• Design documents and presentations for different audiences presenting the program and design choices.
• Terms of reference and contracts adapted to each program.

Ongoing

Program implementation:

• Liaise with Government and partners and co-outcome funders as part of the governance structure and ensure the secretariat function of relevant meetings.
• Oversee the work of the in-country program team and ensure the smooth implementation of the program, anticipating and mitigating risks.
• Ensure the execution of safeguarding procedures and escalate incidents as appropriate.
• Oversee the work of the evaluator and ensure the timely delivery of the evaluation report in accordance with the evaluation terms.
• Ensure the timely calculation of outcome payments and the disbursement of EOF’s payments.

• Manage the communication strategy related to the program in coordination with EOF’s partners.

• Reports on program implementation, presentations and communication pieces related to the program.

Ongoing

Pipeline development and fundraising:

• Proactively manage relationships with key funders (foundations, bilateral and multilateral organizations) and partners. Maintain regular contacts to build strong trust-based relationships and identify opportunities for partnerships taking into account the strategic priorities of each organization.

• Support the fundraising team to identify and pursue opportunities for the development of EOF programs and to secure OpEx funding to cover the costs of EOF’s Secretariat.

• Presentations targeted at different audiences presenting EOF’s work and programs.

• Concept notes and proposals for feasibility studies or the design of outcomes funds.

Ongoing

Support to EOF core team:

• Support EOF’s communication and advocacy strategy through publications and participation in relevant events.
• Contribute to EOF’s operations and recruitment processes as a core member of the team, in support of EOF’s goals

• Ensure the line management of more junior members of the EOF team and external consultants, providing regular feedback and promoting their growth and development, and conducting mid-year and end-of-year reviews.

• Blog posts, articles and presentations as relevant.

• Internal contributions in team meetings or in support of EOF’s operations as needed.

Ongoing

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

Education:

• A minimum of a Master’s degree in economics, political science, finance, education or a related field.
• A Bachelor’s degree may be considered with 2 additional years of experience.

Work experience:

• 5-8 years of professional experience
• Experience in innovative financing, in particular with Results-Based Financing instruments or incentive structures is preferred
• Experience in education, early childhood development or skills / employment programs is preferred
• Experience working in Africa / the Middle East is preferred
• Experience in evaluation design and / or management is preferred
• Relevant experience includes, but is not limited to, the following sectors:
  • International development
  • Charity or public sectors
  • Strategy consulting
  • Think tanks / research institutes
  • Investment or development banking

****Languages****

• Fluency in English is required
• Proficiency in French, Arabic or other languages in Africa or the MENA region is preferred

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.

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

Key competencies

• Build and maintain partnerships: you are able to build a network of external stakeholders and alliances with government counterparts, civil society, the media and the private sector, in order to promote and advance the work of the organization. You possess excellent communication skills and are able to engage existing and potential partners including Government, donors, investors and providers and build trust-based relationships in support of EOF’s vision.
• Think and act strategically: you understand the big picture and are able to identify potential opportunities for action and challenges that exist. You form sound evidence-based judgements in the delivery of results. Whether working on programs or contributing to the growth and development of the EOF team, you are able anticipate risks and identify strategic opportunities.
• Nurture, lead and manage people: You provide exemplary management and leadership, motivating and developing colleagues to perform at their best, while building diverse and inclusive teams. You have experience effectively supporting the development and growth of junior members of the team, either when working with them on programs or through line management responsibilities. You promote an environment of open and respectful communication and are comfortable providing and requesting feedback regularly and in a constructive manner.
• Process management: you are able to manage complex processes including multiple projects and workstreams in constantly changing environments. You manage workplans and ensure their timely execution through an adequate distribution of tasks.
• Quality control: you are able to ensure the quality of the documents produced by yourself or more junior members of the team, demonstrating excellent attention to details.
• Drive to achieve results for impact: you commit to action and assume responsibility and ownership for your own performance and the associated outcomes.
• Innovate and embrace change: you are open to and propose new approaches and ideas. You adapt and respond positively to change. You have an entrepreneurial mindset, you are a self-starter able to take initiative and ownership while seeking input when appropriate. You thrive in a nimble start-up environment, where everyone can and should take initiative beyond a narrow scope of work and respond to shifting priorities with agility.
• Work collaboratively with others: you establish and maintain mutually supportive working relationships, demonstrating sensitivity to people of diverse backgrounds, respecting differences and ensuring that all can contribute and succeed. You enjoy team work and remain mindful of the need to collaborate with people outside your immediate area of responsibility.
• Manage ambiguity and complexity. You demonstrate resilience and composure, get things done despite challenges and maintain performance levels in pressured, adverse and uncertain environments.
• Demonstrate self-awareness and ethical awareness: you are self-aware of your own strengths, limitations, working style and deeply held convictions and biases. You display ethical awareness through behaviours that are consistent and compliant with the standards of conduct for international civil servants, UNICEF’s values and relevant UNICEF policies and procedures.
• Intellectual curiosity and a passion for education, global development and innovative finance.
• Proficiency in all Microsoft Office Tools.

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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

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.

UNICEF is committed to promote the protection and safeguarding of all children.

This position is not considered an elevated risk role. However, UNICEF reserves the right to conduct further vetting/ assessment within the scope of child safeguarding as appropriate.

Remarks:

The duration of this contract is for three (3) months with potential to be extended based on satisfactory performance and availability of funding up to 11.5 months (renewable).

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

Select proposed methodology Monthly Payments will be made monthly. The proposed rate should be inclusive of all professional fees, daily allowances, living allowances, and other administrative costs.

Duty Station

Home-based. International travel to deliver project objectives is expected once the Covid-19 travel restrictions have been lifted.

Should “mission travel” be required, UNICEF will manage and pay for travel via Travel Authorization. However, this will be subject to the following prerequisites: Medical Clearance, Security Clearance through the Travel Request Information Process (TRIP) system, the Basic and Advanced Security in the Field Trainings, Travel Visa, and liability waiver. Trip prerequisites will be met at the expense of the consultant.

Travel cost 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 at http://icsc.un.org). The consultant must travel on UNICEF approved airlines.

UNICEF is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.

Applicants are invited to include a cover letter of interest, CV, and proposed fees (monthly in British Sterling), to undertake the above TOR.

Applicants are required to submit a financial proposal. Indicative range of gross annual fee: £50,000-60,000 for applicants based in London, to be adjusted based on the place of residence of the selected candidate.

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.

EOF is hosted by UNICEF. The Fund is administered under UNICEF’s financial, human resources and administrative rules and regulations, while operations are run by the Fund’s own independent governance structure that provides strategic guidance and oversight to its investments. EOF’s day-to-day activities are carried out by a Secretariat under the direction of the Education Outcomes Fund, Director.

If selected for this consultancy, the resulting appointment will be limited to EOF, a UNICEF hosted fund.