International Consultant on Child Budgeting in Montenegro

Contract

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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, protection.

1. Background/Context: As signatories to the CRC, State Parties have the duty to take all necessary measures to the maximum extent of their available resources to fulfill the rights of all children (CRC, Article 4). The CRC Committee’s General Comment No. 19 assists States parties in the implementation of Article 4 in relation to public budgets: it identifies States Parties’ obligations and makes recommendations on how to realize all the rights under the Convention – especially those of children in vulnerable situations – through effective, efficient, equitable, transparent and sustainable public budget decision-making.

According to the CRC Committee’s Concluding observations on the combined second and third periodic reports of Montenegro 2018 there are limited information on the allocation of resources to children in Montenegro. The Committee urges the Government of Montenegro, in accordance with its general comment No. 19 on public budgeting for the realization of children’s rights, to: (a) Establish a budgeting process that includes a child rights perspective and specifies clear allocations to children in relevant sectors and agencies, including specific indicators and a tracking system, to monitor and evaluate the adequacy, efficacy and equitability of the distribution of resources allocated for the implementation of the Convention; (b) Guarantee sufficient budget allocations in all areas, in particular those relating to health, education and child protection, and define budgetary lines for children in disadvantaged or vulnerable situations, including children with disabilities; (c) Take measures to combat corruption and strengthen institutional capacities to effectively detect, investigate and prosecute corruption, including by strengthening the public financial management system in order to avoid diverting resources from the implementation of the Convention. More recently, the EU issued the Strategy on the Rights of Child, which encourages a child-rights budgeting approach for all Member States. The EC recommendation to establish a European Child Guarantee also commits Members States to allocate an “appropriate” amount of funds towards tackling child poverty and exclusion.

The fulfillment of rights for all children depends on adequate resources being devoted to relevant legislation, policies, programs, and services, and to the relevant institutions that work to implement them. Although Montenegro has started implementation of program-based budgeting and introduced performance indicators since 2021, CRC’s recommendations concerning allocation of resources remain largely not addressed. Investments in children are often not visible in the budget and the Government does not have a complete overview on how much it invests in children and whether these investments are appropriately funded across all programs, and at all levels, especially where most needed. Furthermore, policies and strategies related to children are often not reflected in the budget, meaning that children rights are not sufficiently prioritized in high-level decision-making.

To prioritize children’s rights in the national budget and create conditions to achieve their full potential, UNICEF CO Montenegro will provide technical assistance to the Ministry of Finance to introduce child budgeting in Montenegro. Child budgeting is a mid-term process towards implementation of CRC recommendations, which is expected to put Montenegro’s children at the center of the budgeting process. The process will be structured in three phases: 1) child-focused public expenditure analysis, to estimate the current level of investments in children (measurement), 2) prioritization and costing of child-related strategies, policies, and goals (prioritization and costing), 3) identification of funding gaps and development of multi-year financing plan and allocations for children (resource mobilization and budgeting).

In line with the first stage of Child Budgeting process, UNICEF Montenegro is seeking for services of an international consultant to map child-related strategies/policies/action plans and conduct child-focused analysis of public financial resources that the Government of Montenegro allocates to children across different programs and state institutions/spending units. The consultancy will also include development of recommendations for key stakeholders on how to move gradually to budget that fully reflects the costs for children.

2. Objective: The objective is to provide up to date evidence on the current level of investments that Government directs to children of Montenegro, improving transparency of planning and budgeting for child rights, serving as an input for public participation and informed decision-making, establishing a baseline for future resource allocations, in line with the CRC’s recommendations and EC’s recommendations on investing in children. Furthermore, development of recommendations for key stakeholders, including Ministry of Finance and relevant line ministries on how to move to the budget that ensures realization of child rights through the most appropriate use of public resources will represent a first step towards strengthening the links between child data, policies, programmes, planning and budgeting, particularly in the context of child poverty and more equitable outcomes for children.

How can you make a difference?

Scope of Work: The scope of work envisages three phases, which are described below. During the first phase the consultant is expected to map child-related strategies, policy goals, and targets for key child-focused indicators, including those that have been totally or partially funded and those that are unfunded. Some of the ongoing work and previously conducted, such as Education Strategy, Education Budget Brief, Analysis of the Work of Centres for Social Work in Montenegro, Social Protection System Assessment and other relevant analysis should be considered, while key strategies for different sectors will be identified based on consultations with UNICEF program component leads and key national stakeholders. In parallel with the mapping, consultant is expected to estimate total costs of existing policies for children by using costed Action Plans where available. The costing will also aim to estimate what is the share of external funding (from donors), which is usually not reflected in the state budget. If the costed Action Plans are not available, the consultant will produce rough estimates in consultations with relevant stakeholders. By the end of this phase, the consultant will produce the report with short description of key child related strategies, the list of key state stakeholders, type of services provided to children in Montenegro, number of children that are benefiting from those services, and estimated funding needs for realization of children rights based on valid national strategies and policies.

In the second phase, the consultant will conduct the child-focused budget analysis by following the Government’s programme-based budgeting classification. Sources for the analysis are executed state budgets and budget laws which include planned budget allocations for spending units in social sectors. Considering the peculiarity of Montenegrin highly centralized decision-making system for strategic planning and allocation of resources, the child-focused public spending analysis will focus on central level institutions, including but not limited to the following: Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, Health Insurance Fund, Ministry of Labour and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Human and Minority Rights. . The analysis will focus on a five-year period (2019 – 2023). By the end of the second phase, the consultant will develop the assessment of the extent to which the current budget is covering for the costs required by existing policies and estimate of key funding gaps.

Third phase of this consultancy will focus on development of recommendations for the Ministry of Finance and relevant line ministries on how to move gradually to budget that fully reflects the costs for children. For development of the recommendations the consultant will be required to explore best examples from other countries that have already engage in this process, such as Croatia, Belgium, Denmark, France, Latvia, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain and Sweden.

4. Deliverables: Under direct supervision of PF4C and Private Sector Partnership Officer and in close cooperation with the Ministry of Finance, the consultant will be responsible for below listed tasks: 1. Mapping of laws, child related strategies, policies, action plans of relevant stakeholders and identification of key investments relevant to children in Montenegro. 2. Analysis of budget allocations to children from the national budget with the objective of identifying key priorities related to children and assess the extent to which the current budget is covering the needs of children in Montenegro by referring to countrys national and international commitments on child rights 3\. Development of a roadmap on how to integrate and further develop child rights budgeting in Montenegro, so that childrens needs and rights are adequately captured.

Under the section “Work Assignment Overview” there is an indicative schedule spelling out the main tasks, deliverables and timelines for the assignment, which will be adjusted jointly with UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Deliverables:

Timeline

Estimate Budget

1. Mapping of child related strategies, policies and action plans of relevant ministries, identification of key services for children and number of children benefiting from those services
2. Costing of public services and estimation of planned investments for children based on strategies and related action plans
3. Budget analysis by using the program-based budgeting with the focus on key spending units for social sectors (education, social and child protection and health) for the period 2019-2023
4. Assessment of the extent to which the current budget is covering for the costs required by existing policies and estimate of key funding gaps

5. Roadmap on integration of Child budgeting in Montenegro

6. Presentation of key findings to the Ministry of Finance and relevant stakeholders

By 17th April

(7 days)

By 7st May

(7 days)

By 20th May

(5 days)

By 10th June (5 days)

By 30th June (2 days)

By 15th October (1day)

50%

(Deliverables 1, 2 and 3)

50%

(Deliverables 4, 5 and 6)

5. Methodology: The assignment will involve the following four stages: 1) data collection and analysis (including desk review and working meetings with the following line ministries/institutions : Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health and Health Insurance Fund, Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Human and Minority Rights, 2) consultations with relevant international partners in area of program based budgeting, such as EUD, OSCE and UNDP and interviews with UNICEF program components leads, 3) report writing and 4) validation and presentation of findings to key stakeholders.

The applicants are required to submit a methodological approach (max 5 pages in PPT format) they can/plan to use to conduct the assignment.

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

• An advanced University Degree in Economics and Education, Public Policy, Governance or other relevant areas;
• At least ten years of experience in the social and economic policy programs;
• Proven experience of working on social budgeting, or child and gender focused budgeting;
• Good cross-sectoral knowledge; education, health, child protection, and social protection issues;
• Good knowledge of fiscal and macro-economics, and social policy in middle income countries context;
• Good knowledge of child rights and human rights.
• Excellent communication and advocacy skills.
• Experience working with multiple partners and agencies and national governments in an international setting

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

Selection methodology: All applicants will be screened against qualifications and requirements set above. Candidates fully meeting all the requirements will be further evaluated based on the criteria below. The proposal will be evaluated against the following criteria:

A) Technical criteria – Technical evaluation process / Maximum points: 70 1. Technical Criteria – 70 % of total evaluation– max. 70 points • Education: 20 points • Previous experience: 25 points • Technical questions at the interview: 25 points • Other: N/A

Only candidates who obtained at least 70% of points from the technical part (who will score at least 49 points) will be qualified for considering for financial proposal evaluation

B) Financial criteria – evaluation of financial proposal - Maximum points: 30 The applicants are requested to submit their financial proposal consisting of a professional fee only for the services to be provided. • Financial scores will be calculated using the formula [lowest offer / financial offer of the candidate x 30].

Costs indicated are estimated. Final rate shall follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible fee. Consultants will be asked to stipulate all-inclusive fees, including lump sum travel and subsistence costs, as applicable.

Mandatory learning: Upon conducting the recruitment process and prior to the signing of the contract, the consultant will be required to complete the following online courses. All certificates should be presented as part of the contract. 1. Ethics and Integrity at UNICEF, 2. Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Abuse of Authority (PSEAA), 3. Sexual Exploitation Abuse (PSEA) Consultants and Individual Contractors must complete the following course before commencement of any travel on behalf of UNICEF. • BSAFE security training Any consultant or individual contractor who is issued a UNICEF email address must complete the following courses no later than 30 days after signature of contract: • Fraud Awareness • Information Awareness Security Course (only for consultants/individual contractors with a UNICEF email address) The above courses can be found on Agora through the following link: AGORA (unicef.org) .

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.