International Consultancy: Lead Researcher (for Formative Research, Monitoring and Evaluation) to Conduct Research for UNICEF Libya, 170 days, Homebased

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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, Hope

How can you make a difference?

The overall assignment requires an international specialist for the formative research and baseline to develop a theory-driven and evidence-based SBC strategy to address violence against children in Libya as part of UNICEF’s Communications for Development (C4D) approach, with a focus on changing social and cultural norms, beliefs and practices, including gender norms and behaviors that lead to violence against boys and girls.

The primary tasks for this consultant will include secondary analysis of existing data (including for example the recent VAC Study) and primary formative research. This situation assessment combining both secondary and primary research will focus on the determinants of violence against children across the social-ecological model. Additionally, the research will map existing informal community engagement (CE) mechanisms and networks in selected regions and its municipalities that if engaged properly, can work together in achieving social and behavior change and ultimately reducing violence against boys and girls in Libya.

The international research consultant will be responsible for designing an M&E plan to accompany the proposed SBC strategy to ensure a measurable SBC strategy that tracks the indicators for change outlined in the M&E plan, thus a baseline study is also anticipated. The international research

KEY MILESTONES AND DELIVERABLES:

Key Milestone 1: Conduct a desk review of existing information with analysis of existing data to reveal the root causes of social norms around violence against children and harmful practices like child marriage. This milestone will include a review of the existing literature on drivers of violence to provide, as much as possible, age/gender and disaggregated information on the experience of violence among children and the potential intergenerational aspects). This review will also involve the mapping of CE mechanisms/networks. The desk review will highlight what is known about all these issues and also identify gaps in the evidence that need to be addressed through primary research.

The key deliverables for milestone 1 include a desk review report with existing information including additional data analysis and a PowerPoint presentation for stakeholders.

Key Milestone 2: Conduct the primary research which will be using mostly qualitative approaches and build on the mix of rapid contactless methods of data collection appropriate for the COVID-19 environment as well as more ethnographic, observational approaches suitable for social distancing requirements. The applied methods can be adjusted in accordance with government restrictions during COVID-19.

The purpose of the primary research is to collect evidence on the gaps in existing information identified under key milestone 1, that is required to design a theory driven and evidence based social and behaviour change strategy. The research will also aim to understand how girls and boys are differently impacted by and vulnerable to violence against children. This primary research will include gender sensitive focus group discussions, in-depth interviews and participatory research at the individual, family and community levels and key informant interviews among service providers (health, social service, and schools).

The detailed research design will be developed by the international research consultant. The design will specify how data collection and analysis methods integrate gender considerations throughout the process, including to the extent possible, inclusion of adolescent and young boys and girls with disabilities to hear their voice and perspective.

The international research consultant will work in coordination with a local project coordinator (to be identified and contracted by UNICEF) to assist UNICEF in selecting a local research agency to conduct the primary research. The international research consultant will develop draft tools for data collection, review and revise tools based on pre-testing, train data collectors, conduct data analysis and report writing.

The key deliverables from the key milestone 2 include an inception report, research protocol with data collection tools, a key findings report, a summary brief and a PowerPoint presentation.

Key Milestone 3: Development of an M&E framework for preventing and responding to violence against children, including harmful practices such as child marriage.

The key deliverables from the key milestone 3 is an M&E plan.

Key Milestone 4: Capacity building for key stakeholders/partners for the roll out of the strategy. A national level training is envisioned for key stakeholders/partners for the roll out of the M&E plan. The primary objective of the training is to enhance the knowledge and skills of implementation partners on SBC/C4D. The capacity building will be tailored for partners and implementers who will roll out the strategy. This milestone will involve the following steps:

• Conduct a capacity needs assessment

• Preparing the training material (including contents, visuals) based on the capacity needs assessment conducted

• Conduct one national level training for partners (IPs and other key stakeholders) through a hybrid modality

The key deliverables from Key Milestone 4 will be training materials and a report from the national level training workshop.

Key Milestone 5: Conduct a baseline study. Following the strategy development, a baseline study will be conducted to measure the indicators included in the M&E plan. This will enable the changes resulting from the strategy to be tracked quantitatively over time. The objective of the study is to establish baseline measures to assess social and behavior change associated with the strategy implementation. The international consultants will provide technical assistance and oversight to the national research agency to conduct a baseline study, which will build on the M&E plan and provide a quantitative representative study to track the indicators over time. The steps for this milestone will include:

• Assist with the selection of the Local Research Agency for collecting baseline data

• Review and finalize inception report including research proposal (sampling frame, size, and methods) developed by the local research agency

• Finalize data collection tools

• Assist with training local data collectors

• Review field movement plans submitted by the local research agency

• Provide feedback on raw data

• Assist with Analysis of Baseline Data

• Create a summary report and presentation The key deliverables for this milestone include a ToR for the research agency, research inception report, finalized research protocols and data collection tools, training report, analyzed data and a summary research report.

A total 170 working days, will be allocated for the international research consultant with the following estimated share of days across deliverables:

Working Arrangements

The international research consultant will work remotely and in person (through field missions)3 under the direct supervision of the Chief, Child Protection, in consultation with the Planning, Monitoring Unit, C4D Specialist of Libya Country Office as well as in consultation with MENARO C4D Regional Advisor and CP Regional Advisor.

Two individual consultant(s) will be hired to lead specific milestones and deliverables. The two international consultants for research and strategy development will work in close collaboration; and both assignments will be conducted concurrently to ensure the research, monitoring and evaluation component and the strategy development components are in sync and mutually inform the two segments of the consultancy.

The international research consultant will further work in coordination with a local project coordinator (to be identified and contracted by UNICEF on a third-party contract. The project coordinator will serve as the national resource person. The specific tasks for the project coordinator will be detailed in a separate ToR.

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

Activity****Deliverable Duration of Days****KEY MILESTONE 1: DESK REVIEW

• Conduct a literature review of relevant studies and research, national and international best practices on the theory (or theories) of behavior change, frameworks and communication strategies on prevention of violence against children, including national and international best practices and lessons learnt as well as any socio-anthropological research on the drivers of violence and relevant policies and strategies that exists in Libya

• Conduct analysis of existing data and literature to be provided by UNICEF

Draft desk review report

Presentation of the draft desk review report– via video/Microsoft teams link

Final desk review report (plus completed revision trail addressing all comments)

15 daysKEY MILESTONE 2

2.1 Primary Research (planning/inception phase)

• Preparation of draft inception report and data collection tools

• Engagement with stakeholders on formulating and agreeing research questions

• Preparation of research protocol which includes instruments for data collection, protocol of field work under COVID –19 conditions, ethics considerations and required documents (e.g. informed consent)

• Submission of a research protocol to the ethics board and making necessary revisions

Draft inception report

Draft data collection tools (for review by UNICEF)

Submission of research protocol to ethics board

Ethics board approval (this can be international ethics board or UNICEF MENARO independent ethics board)

20 days2.2 Primary Research (Data collection phase)

• Pre-testing and piloting of instruments

• Enumerator training

• Field work plan

• Data collection phase (quality control)

• Preparation of interview transcripts and translation

De-brief/feedback with UNICEF staff after the end of data collection and at different stages of data collection upon request.30 days2.3 Primary Research Drafting, validation, and completion phase (data analysis and reporting writing phase)

• Data analysis and drafting

Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation on emerging findings, conclusions and recommendations

• Engagement with stakeholders on draft report review

• Preparation of report and briefs

Final report and one Research brief

One PowerPoint presentation

30 days2.3 Primary Research Drafting, validation, and completion phase (data analysis and reporting writing phase)

• Data analysis and drafting

• Preparation of a PowerPoint presentation on emerging findings, conclusions and recommendations

• Engagement with stakeholders on draft report review

• Preparation of report and briefs

Presentation of preliminary results

Submission of draft report for review

Final report and one Research brief

One PowerPoint presentation

35 daysKEY MILESTONE 3: STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

3.1. Draft outline of the SBC strategy with a conceptual framework

• Synthesize primary and secondary research findings

• Develop theory of change

• Draft conceptual framework

• Finalize conceptual framework

Strategy outline and conceptual framework5 days3.2. Draft and finalize the SBC Strategy

Monitoring and Evaluation plan to accompany the SBC strategy stakeholder validation workshop

M&E plan

Stakeholder validation workshop

20 daysKEY MILESTONE 4: CAPACITY BUILDING

41. Develop and deliver SBC training package

• Capacity needs assessment

• Training content on the M&E components of the SBCC strategy

• Lead training on proposed M& E Plan for the SBC strategy

Completion of training on the M&E component and a training7 daysKEY MILESTONE 5: CONDUCT BASELINE RESEARCH

5.1. Assist with the selection of the Local Research Agency for collecting baseline data

5.2. Review and finalize inception report including research proposal (sampling frame, size, and methods) developed by the local research agency

5.3. Finalize data collection tools

5.4. Assist with training local data collectors

5.5. Review field movement plans submitted by the local research agency

5.6. Provide feedback on raw data

5.7. Assist with Analysis of Baseline Data

5.8. Create a summary report and presentation

ToR for the Research agency Research inception report

Training report

Field movement plan

Written review with annotations and final clean data

Analyzed data

Summary research report

Component # 1 international research consultant. Lead role 38 dayTotal number of days (Milestone 1-5) 170- All submissions should be electronic. All materials submitted to UNICEF should be delivered in English. - Payment schedule:

Six payments are envisaged during this consultancy:

FIRST INSTALMENT: AFTER SUBMISSION OF DESK REVIEW UPON COMPLETION OF KEY MILESTONE 1 (10%)

SECOND INSTALMENT: AFTER SUBMISSION OF PRIMARY RESEARCH REPORT AND PRESENTATION UPON COMPLETION OF KEY MILESTONE 2 (50%)

THIRD INSTALMENT: AFTER SUBMISSION OF FINAL M&E PLAN UPON COMPLETION OF KEY MILESTONE 3 (15%)

FOURTH INSTALMENT: COMPLETION OF TRAINING MODULE UPON COMPLETIONS OF KEY MILESTONE 4 (5%)

AFTER COMPLETION OF BASELINE RESEARCH AND SUBMISSION OF SUMMARY RESEARCH REPORT UPON COMPLETIONS OF KEY MILESTONE 5 (20%)

Qualifications required

• Financial proposal, CV and samples of writing should be submitted to apply for this position. These will be scored against 100-point scale. Twenty points (20%) will be allocated to the financial proposal and the technical proposal will be scored against 80 points (80%).

The qualifications for the international research consultant are as follows:

Competencies/Experience:

• Minimum 8-10 years of proven work experience in communication for development, including training and monitoring and evaluation.

• Proven track record on formative research, monitoring and evaluation of SBC interventions showing measurable social and behavior change. Especially in monitoring and evaluation of violence prevention, traditional harmful practices, and or social and cultural norms, beliefs and practices that lead to violence against children, including technical skills in conducting and managing research focusing on women and children.

• Ability to manage diverse research teams and oversee field research in complex settings.

• Willingness to collaborate with a range of partners (Government, civil society, academic and research institutions and media, women, and youth groups).

• Demonstrated skills in producing well-written and high-quality deliverables. Candidates will be asked to share samples of written work or publications.

• Strategic thinking and problem solving when dealing with field based challenges or complex partnerships.

• Strong sense of ownership and responsibility to deliver with minimum supervision.

• Knowledge of UNICEF Programming is an added advantage

• Ability to work in a diverse environment and produce high quality work including in a team environment, within deadlines and under pressure;

• Other attributes essential for the assignment: Facilitation and leadership skills, computer proficiency including Internet and Microsoft Office

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service.

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 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org