Individual International Consultant- Updated Multidimensional Child Poverty Estimates for Sierra Leone

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 future.

Please visit UNICEF Sierra Leone website here: www.unicef.org/sierraleone

How can you make a difference?

The UN definition of Child Poverty is “Children living in poverty are deprived of nutrition, water and sanitation facilities, access to basic health-care services, shelter, education, participation and protection, and while a severe lack of goods and services hurts every human being, it is most threatening and harmful to children, leaving them unable to enjoy their rights, to reach their full potential and to participate as full members of the society.”

This definition stresses the multidimensional aspects of child wellbeing, and the potential far-reaching and long-term effects that childhood poverty can have on child development. As such, child poverty threatens not only the individual child, but is likely to be passed on to future generations and engraining inequity in society. This has a direct negative effect on the development of the country. UNICEF is working with the Government of Sierra Leone to further understand how and where children are experiencing poverty to allow a more nuanced set of policy responses under national mechanisms, most prominently the Medium-Term National Development Plan 2019-2023 as well as sectoral policies.

Scope of Work:

The release of the 2019 DHS data provides an opportunity to update current child multidimensional poverty estimates. The consultant will work with the national inter-agency Technical Working Group on Child Poverty to decide on the technical parameters and design of the multidimensional poverty analysis, including the appropriate indicators and dimensions.

The consultant will analyse the DHS data in close collaboration with Stats SL, MoPED and other members of the working group to come up with an updated estimate of the level of multidimensional poverty among children in Sierra Leone. Estimates should be disaggregated by gender, age group, districts and urban/rural location of residence. The analysis should furthermore discuss the main determinants of multidimensional poverty among children.

Although the dimensions and indicators may not fully match the previous child poverty analysis due to the differences in datasets and available indicators, as far as possible an analysis of trends should be included in the report. The multidimensional child poverty measure for Sierra Leone used the MODA methodology developed by UNICEF and University of Bristol. The updated analysis will therefore employ this methodology for continuity.

With a view to establishing the level of monetary child poverty, the 2018 Sierra Leone integrated Household Survey (SLIHS) data will be analysed.

Stats SL, MoPED and the technical working group will be expected to identify a core team who will be involved in undertaking the analysis in close collaboration with the consultant. This core team will be working with the consultant to analyse data as well as contribute to writing up the child poverty report. The recruited consultant will be responsible for quality assuring the analysis and will ensure that the report holds a high technical standard.

This consultancy will have the following deliverables:

• Facilitation of inception meeting with the Child Poverty Technical Working Group, including presentation materials for the meeting;
• Facilitation of a one-day workshop on MODA methodology for estimating multidimensional child poverty for members of the Technical Working Group for Child Poverty;
• A short inception report of no more than 30 pages outlining methodology and detailed work plan for the assignment. The inception report should include the design parameters of the analysis including indicators and dimensions;
• ‘Child Poverty in Sierra Leone’ report utilising 2019 DHS data to analyse multidimensional child poverty in accordance with the parameters agreed with the technical working group, including a chapter estimating child monetary poverty based on 2018 SLIHS data, along with an updated trend analysis (it is recognized that the indicators and dimensions may differ from previous report and thus may introduce some challenges to the trend analysis);
• Facilitation of validation meeting with the Child Poverty Technical Working Group and other national stakeholders, in Freetown or remotely depending on COVID situation;
• A 4-page brief on multidimensional and monetary child poverty in Sierra Leone based on the report findings, employing effective and engaging infographics to communicate the findings;
• A PowerPoint presentation outlining the main findings, to be used in dissemination workshops.
• A complete set of syntax files for the analysis.

Products will be delivered in English. The consultant will ensure the documents are edited to publishable standard. Whereas government officials from Stats SL, MoPED and others should be fully capacitated to participate in the analysis of child poverty, the consultant will retain responsibility for overseeing and quality checking the analysis and for writing up the final report in collaboration with government officials. The contractual responsibility for high quality deliverables will remain with the contracted consultant.

Please see attached ToR for detailed information. ToR Child poverty.pdf

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

• Advanced university degree in Statistics, Social Sciences, Economics, Public Policy or other relevant areas.
• At least 8 years’ experience undertaking statistical poverty analyses using a range of analysis methodologies including MODA and MPI.
• Experience in writing policy briefs or analytical reports on poverty, public finance and social sector.
• Excellent knowledge of multidimensional child poverty measurements, economics, public finance and policy.
• Demonstrated in-depth experience of leading capacity building on data analysis and poverty estimation.
• Strong analytical and writing skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication and facilitation skills.
• Advanced computer literacy.
• High proficiency in English.
• Previous experience of working with government officials; experience of previous work in Africa an asset.
• Fluency in English is required.

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.

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.

Consultants and Individual contractors are responsible for paying any taxes derived from the earnings received from UNICEF.

• Application to include financial proposal that will detail your daily/monthly rate (in USD) to undertake the terms of reference.
• Payment of professional fees will be based on submission of agreed satisfactory 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.

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.