Individual consultant Real-Time Evaluation (RTE) of the UNICEF ongoing response to COVID-19 in Sao Tome, Sao Tome e Principe - WCAR - 3 months with 25 effective working days

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, a champion

In Sao Tome and Principe, from Apr 6 to 20 September 2020, there have been 908 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 15 deaths. (source: https://covid19.who.int/region/afro/country/st)

Not long after the COVID-19 outbreak in the region, the Sao Tome government prepared an action plan aimed to (i) reduce the transmission, mortality, and socio-economic impact of COVID-19 nationwide; and (ii) ensure adequate protection of both the country’s population and environment.

As part of the national response, Sao Tome also established a government-level committee tasked with the supervision and monitoring of the execution of the Plan e in a variety of sectors. This committee (the National Council for Preparation and Responses to Disasters or CONPREC) is coordinated by the Prime Minister and Head of the Government, assisted by the Minister of Health (serving as the executive secretary) and is made up of the representatives of the key line ministries with a more vested interest and participation in the COVID prevention, preparation, response and recovery (Education, Planning and Finance, Infrastructure, Natural Resources and Environment, Defense and Internal Order, Agriculture Fisheries and Rural Development, Labor and Social Affairs and State Secretariat for Social Communication and Regional Secretariat for Social Affairs and Communication).

UNICEF has made an effort, too, to contribute to the national response to COVID-19. In particular, it aligned its strategy with the UN joint multi-sectoral COVID-19 response strategy which, in turn, rests on (i) the national COVID-19 contingency plan developed under the leadership of the national Ministry of Health; and (ii) the package of socio-economic measures identified by the intersectoral task force of the Government.

The UN joint multi-sectoral COVID-19 strategy specifically aims at mobilising financial resources and promoting concerted and coordinated UN support to the country's response, in order to prevent and contain the COVID-19 outbreak in Sao Tome and Principe.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose

The purpose of the RTE is to inform a forward-looking reflection on the current implementation of the country offices (COs) response to COVID-19. Through the generation of timely and relevant evidence on how to best enhance the UNICEF response to COVID-19 in the region (on both the strategic and operational fronts), this evaluation aims to inform the planning of UNICEF work in this areas within and beyond the 6 priority countries which this exercise will focus on.

Objectives

This RTE will include a critical and yet rapid estimation of:

• The effects that the COVID-19 pandemic had on basic services, particularly for the most vulnerable population and of activity initiated as a response to COVID-19;
• The implications of the COVID-19 response on UNICEF’s regular/pre-COVID programme delivery (e.g. the extent of their repurposing for responding to COVID-19);
• The quality of the related delivery;
• while also providing early insights on the outcomes achieved.

Findings generated through this RTE will be further consolidated across countries and regions, with a view to identify trends and generate cross-country learning and timely actions to strengthen the ongoing response beyond each individual country’s borders.

To qualify as a champion for every child you will have:

1. A post-graduate or master’s degree in social science, development studies, international relations or economics.
2. Extensive knowledge of humanitarian, development and humanitarian-development nexus programming, debates and ways of working.
3. At least 7 years’ experience in conducting and managing multi-disciplinary evaluations – in particular global, strategic evaluations and joint evaluations – UNICEF, other UN agencies or other international partners.
4. Extensive knowledge of and experience in current evaluation methods and approaches, particularly formative and forward-looking approaches, participatory methods, and supporting accountability to affected populations.
5. Extensive experience with inter-agency cooperation at headquarters and in the field.
6. Familiarity with UNICEF’s programming.
7. Excellent oral and written communication skills (in English); knowledge of other UN languages a key advantage.
8. Expertise evaluating/assessing public health emergencies is highly desirable.
9. Extensive knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection methods and analytical methods and techniques.
10. Proven experience managing an evaluation team.
11. Experience in generating strategic, useful and action-oriented recommendations to senior management and programming staff.
12. Experience with the ethics of evidence generation; experience collecting data from vulnerable groups; familiarity with ethical safeguards.

Language Proficiency

Fluency in both Portuguese and English is required.

How to apply

Interested persons are requested to apply only online via the link: https://jobs.unicef.org/en-us/listing/ no later than September 30th , 2020 at 23:30 (Sao Tome time) and to attach :

I. Technical Proposal which would include at least the following:

• Candidate’s CV
• Highest degree
• Example of one evaluation report produced by the consultant

• Methodology note (max 2 pages), which shall cover the following:

• Understanding of the evaluation purpose

• An adequate conceptual framework and evaluation methodology
• Proposed timeframes (hour/days)
• Clear definition of roles and responsibilities for the execution of the mandate

2. Financial Proposal:

• Detailed budget breakdown (in US Dollars).

The proposed financial offer must be all inclusive (include fees, logistics (DSA and Tickets) and indirect costs (publishing, reprography)). Fees will be negotiated and agreed upon before contract is signed.

Should you have any questions, kindly contact Alan Neto, email: [email protected]

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.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

ToR_RTA_COVID19_September 25 2020 ENG Sao Tome.pdf