Individual Consultant - Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children and Adolescents in Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, Consultancy (45days)

Consultant Programme & Policy Information Management

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Background UNICEF Namibia conducted a Situation Analysis of children in 2018 to inform the development of 2019-2023 Country Programme document (CPD). In the second year of the CPD implementation, Namibia, like any other country, was faced by an unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic and drought, with severe socio-economic impacts on children and adolescents. As the Country Office embarks on the development of the next CPD (2024-2028), it is important, therefore, for UNICEF, in collaboration with Government of the Republic of Namibia (GRN), to conduct a detailed analysis of the situation of children and adolescents (SitAn). Findings from the SitAn will inform appropriate response strategies in the new CPD.

According to the SitAn core guidelines, this is a rights-based, gender and equity-focused situation analysis that examines the progress, challenges and opportunities and lessons learnt for achieving child rights and well-being, and the patterns of deprivation that children and adolescents face. It analyses the causes of these deprivations and the barriers that prevent the fulfilment of child rights. The SitAn provides an opportunity to review impacts of policy and programme interventions that UNICEF and other partners continuously support. It looks at the unequal realization of rights and the depths of disparities across different equity dimensions. Finally, it highlights the situation of children and adolescents left behind, as well as those children and adolescents most at risk of being left behind – all of whom are entitled to social services and opportunities.

The SitAn also focuses on identifying key knowledge gaps related to gender inequalities and inequities including child deprivations and it plays a formative role by improving the understanding of decision-makers, partners and stakeholders of children’s rights in the country and the causes of inequities as the basis for policy formulation.

The guidance also places an emphasis on key new areas, such as business for results, essential products, markets and supply chains, public finance, partnerships for children, private sector landscaping & private sector impacts, climate energy & environment, mental health and children with disabilities. These are areas of growing importance globally and nationally, which require further focus and attention in this SitAn. In light of Covid-19, the SitAn will also focus on the effects of the pandemic on child well-being such as mental health.

Justification The persistent droughts and COVID-19 has compounded the situation of children, especially the most deprived. The lockdown measures imposed to prevent its spread have pushed more children deeper into poverty, and families on the cusp of escaping poverty have been pulled back, while others are experiencing levels of deprivation never seen before. The UN Namibia Socio-economic impact analysis of COVID-19 (2020) estimates that the pandemic pushed more than 105,000 people, including some 45,000 children into poverty. Furthermore, in 2021, UNICEF in collaboration with the GRN completed a National Multidimension Poverty Index (NaMPI) analysis, which showed that children (0-17years) are the poorest demographic, with 51% living in multidimensional poverty compared to 37.4% for the adult population. Against this background, it is important to undertake a detailed SitAn to provide comprehensive status on the situation of children and adolescents in Namibia.

The study must provide clear insight on the socio-demographic profile of children and adolescents, disaggregated nationally and regionally. The analysis will provide source insights on key deprivations, issues and challenges to be prioritized in the new CPD.

More so, the SitAn will provide rich data and evidence to inform other key plans at national and UN level. In particular, the GRN is in the process of formulating the Sixth National Development Plan (NDP 6) that will guide development programs nationally, whilst the UN will be conducting the Common Country Assessment (CCA) to inform the development of the UN Sustainable Development Cooperation framework (UNSDCF). Both processes will benefit from the evidence generated by the SitAn to inform national strategies and UN programming contributing towards an enabling environment for children that adheres to human rights principles, such as universality, non-discrimination, participation and accountability.

Scope of Work: The consultant will be responsible for updating the 2018 SitAn by reviewing available data and literature, conduct interviews and discussions focusing on data and information triangulation. The assignment will be guided by UNICEF’s Monitoring Results for Equity System (MoRES) determinant framework and will include the following broad steps:

Step 1: Secondary analysis of available data, and collect new data as required to fill any gaps.

1.1 Review available data: conduct a review of the available national and international data (from administrative, surveys and programme reports), evidence and research on children and adolescents focusing on: health, nutrition, education, HIV, water and sanitation, environment, child and social protection, poverty, and participation in relation to international targets such as the SDGs and other goals related to the CRC, CEDAW and CRPD. Also, the consultant will review data on the new and emerging areas as related to climate, mental health, the rights of children with disabilities, risk and resilience and business for results. The study must establish the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had on children, adolescents and their households (secondary or primary data collection).

Both quantitative and qualitative data should be reviewed through a human rights, gender and equity lenses. The key reference documents to this exercise include, but are not limited to: • SitAn 2018 • National Development Plan (NDP 5) • Namibia Multidimensional Poverty Index (NaMPI), 2021 • Harambe Prosperity Plan II • National Budget, PERs and Budget Briefs • Violence Against Children and Youth in Namibia Study Report (2020) • Disrupting Harm Study (2022) • Namibia Voluntary National Reviews (VNR) • Thematic Reviews of Vision 2030 by the National Planning Commission • Routine Reports from Government (eg Health, Education, Social Protection, Nutrion, WASH, etc) • Situation analysis data collected in 2020 • Studies and Analytic work • Reports from Programme Reviews • Evaluation reports • Annual reports • UNPAF reports • Socio-Economic Assessment of Covid-19 Report (2020) • Reports and concluding observations of relevant human rights treaty bodies and UPR outcomes • Management Infomation System Reports for variuos sectors, including documents and data on the NSA website.

1.2: Collect new data: Based on the newly available data recently collected, the consultant may determine the need for collecting primary data from from key stakeholders at national level. Given the limited time for undertaking the exercise, the consultant is required to provide in the proposal options for virtual engagement with stakeholders (Child Parliamentariants). In the absence of survey data, the consultant may required to use administrative data such as the Ministry of Education EMIS system, the GBV sytem from NAMPOL to compile key data for the indicators.

Step 2: Update the analysis of the major causes of child rights shortfalls and inequities and develop new analysis for the emerging areas. The consultant is expected to update the in-depth analysis of data and information of the 2018 SitAn. The following types of analysis are proposed (however the consultant can propose other types of analysis also): • (Updated) Causality analysis per sector. • Role-pattern analysis – looks at the roles and responsibilities of duty bearers and rights holders. • Capacity gap analysis - examines the capacity of key individuals and institutions responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children. • An analysis of the enabling environment - examines broader policy, legal, administrative and public finance for children (budgetary issues) and social norms which influence the realization of human rights of children and adolescents and the reduction of inequalities. • Analysis for each of the emerging areas, including private sector landscaping and the private sector impact, climate, risk and resilience, business for results and children with disabilities, etc.

Age, gender, adolescence and disability should be mainstreamed throughout the analysis and environmental sustainability should be emphasized.

Step 3: Validation of the SitAn: the consultant will be required to validate the draft SitAn with the stakeholders including government representatives, CSOs working on child rights, child representatives, development partners and UN agencies

Methodology The consultant will mainly use secondary data to conduct the analysis and explore primary data in the form of interviews and engagements with stakeholders and the beneficiaries (children and adolescents). To minimize data collection period, the consultant is expected to propose innovative strategies of data collection and especially engaging with those often left behind and in marginalized or hard to reach communities. In conducting the analysis, the consultant should also propose a plan for data triangulation from the different data sources especially with a view of ensuring the analysis captures those often left behind such as children with disabilities. The innovative ways for triangulation and validation should be proposed in the application and these can be further developed at inception stage in consultation with UNICEF.

Assistant To managed the tight deadlines, the Consultant may engage a locally qualified and experienced Assistant to support the exercise in the day to day data collection and arrangements. Since this consultancy is for an individual consultant, the contract will be between UNICEF and the consultant and the consultant will be responsible for contracting the assistant.

Reporting structure UNICEF will establish a SitAn committee consisting of NCO and key technical staff from Implementing Partners, to oversee the work of the consultant and to ensure ownership of the SitAn report. The consultant will closely work with the SitAn committee, under the supervision of the PM&E Mananger, and will provide, every two weeks, update reports to the SitAn committee. The SitAn committee will be chaired by the Deputy Representative. SitAn committee member will provide bi-weekly join report to UNICEF and IP Executive directors.

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

Qualification:

Masters - Advanced degree in the social sciences (sociology, anthropology, development studies, Economics/Statistics or related fields relevant for the assignment.

Experience: • At least 5 years of research and other relevant professional experience • In-depth knowledge of children’s rights, including the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), World Fit for Children (WFFC), and the SDGs. • Knowledge and Demonstrated experience with Human Rights Based Approach to Programming (HRBAP) and child participation methodologies. • Institutional knowledge of the UN and UNICEF is an added advantage. • Experience of having participated previously in a UNICEF SitAn will be an added advantage • Proven experience in writing analytical papers on children and gender issues • Familiarity with Namibia current national development priorities and challenges would be an asset • Excellent facilitation and coordination skills • Strong writing skills in English • Ability to deliver quality reports/analysis and results in line with established deadlines.

Administrative issues:

The selection and conditions of service of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s Policies and General Terms and Conditions for individual consultants/contractors.

No contract may commence unless the contract is signed by both UNICEF and the consultant/contractor.

Consultant/Contractor will be required to complete mandatory online courses (e.g. Ethics, Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse and Security) upon receipt of offer and before the signature of contract.

Consultant/Contractor will be required to sign the Health Statement for consultants/contractors and to share an applicable proof of health insurance prior to taking up the assignment.

Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed 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

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.

Tasks/Milestone:

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

No. of days

Weeks

Develop an inception report including the work plan and present to NCO

Inception report with clear work plan

5

By week 2

Revise Inception report incorporating comments from NCO

Final inception report with work plan

1

Information review/data collection

1. Review of available data, policies/program/etc2. PPT on key findings, emerging issues, challenges and any data gaps.

3. Interviews with key UNICEF staff and other relevant partners

4. Data triangulation from diffirent sources

20

By week 6

Presentation of key findings, emerging issues, challenges and data gaps

SitAn key findings presented to NCO

1

By week 7

Prepare Draft report incorporating inputs and comments from NCO

Draft report available

10

By week 9

Submit draft with NCO for comments and inputs

Draft report shared with NCO

0.5

By week 11

Incorporate comments from NCO

Revised Draft SitAn report

2

By week 13

SitAn Validation with stakeholders

PPT for presenting to stakeholders

0.5

By week 13

Incorporate comments from the stakeholders

Revised draft report

4

By week 14

Submission of finalized updated SitAn

Final SitAn Report

1

By week 15

Total days

45 days

15 weeks

How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates can access UNICEF’s vacancies page at

Vacancies | UNICEF Careers to submit an online application before the closing date.

Please submit expression of interest together with:

• A cover letter, no longer than 1 page, and curriculum vitae showing how the consultant meets the required qualifications, experience and expertise;
• A Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the ToRs, the proposed methodology/approach and timelines for the respective deliverables; and
• A financial proposal/budget, which must include all expenses related to the assignment.

Incomplete applications e.g. without financial/budget proposal will not be considered. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, and Accountability (CRITA).

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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.

Remarks:

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.

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Added 2 years ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org