National and International Consultancy to conduct the Evaluation of the Protective Environment Programme in Tajikistan

Contract

This is a P-3 contract. This kind of contract is known as Professional and Director staff. It is normally internationally recruited only. It's a staff contract. It usually requires 5 years of experience, depending on education.

Salary

The salary for this job should be between 106,748 USD and 139,778 USD.

Please keep in mind that the salary displayed here is an estimation by UN Talent based on the location and the type of contract. It may vary depending on the organization. The recruiter should be able to inform you about the exact salary range. In case the job description contains another salary information, please refer to this one.

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,

BACKGROUNG

The background document can be downloaded by the following link: Backgroung.docx

PURPOSE:

The main purpose is to provide an independent assessment of approaches, strategies and interventions designed and implemented within UNICEF's Protective Environment programme in Tajikistan and provide forward-looking recommendations on how to accelerate actions towards reaching the child-protection related targets set in the National Programme for Children 2030 and implementing the recommendations of the 2017 Concluding observations

EVALUATION RATIONALE:

The evaluation rationale document can be downloaded by the following link: Evaluation Rationale.docx

OBJECTIVE AND SCOPE OF THE EVALUATION:

The Objective and Scope of the Evaluation document can be downloaded by the following link: Objectives and Scope of the Evaluation.docx

METHODOLOGY OF THE EVALUATION

The Methodology of the Evaluation document can be downloaded by the following link: Methodology of the Evaluation.docx

KEY STAGES OF THE EVALUATION

The Key Stages of the Evaluation document can be downloaded by the following link: Key_Stages_of_the_Evaluation.docx

ORGANIZATION OF THE EVALUATION

Timeline, Work Plan and Deliverables

A preliminary workplan and timeline is provided in Table 2 by link: Table_2_Preliminary workplan and timeline.docx

KEY DELIVERABLES/TIMEFRAME/PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

The assignment will be carried out over *6 months during the period of August 2021 – February 202**2*:

Tasks/Deliverables/ Outputs

Timeline

Indicative # of days*

Payment schedule

Desk Review answering EQs based on existing data and a short note on data quality and gaps and possible considerations and ideas for primary data collection

Submitted during planning stage, revised during the inception phase and ultimately Included in inception report

5

30%

Remote Inception Mission with presentation

2 weeks before submission of the IR

5

Inception Report (20 pages excluding annexes towards which team members will contribute with, at least, 5 pages).

2 weeks after the inception mission begins

10

Remote field data collection and presentation (including a PowerPoint debrief) outlining preliminary findings, recommendations and conclusions to, respectively, CO staff, the ERG and other stakeholders as requested

4-6 weeks after the beginning of the Inception Phase

40

50%

Draft Report (40-50 pages excluding executive summary (3-6 pgs.) and annexes towards which each team member will contribute)

5 weeks after completion of the main mission/data collection

8

Final Report (as above)

3 weeks after internal review and external quality assurance on draft report have been completed.

10

20%

Present the evaluation to CO staff, the ERG and other stakeholders as requested

A PowerPoint Presentation of the evaluation, its main findings, recommendations and conclusions.

A skype presentation to RO staff

1-2 week after approval of final report.

2

Total

80

The exact number of days should be proposed by the consultant in the technical proposal/workplan.

Note: Due to COIVD-19, the work and deliverables are subject to change. Consultant need to be flexible to adjust to any unforeseen adjustments that might occur during the implementation

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

The evaluation of the results will be based on:

1. Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
2. Scope of work;
3. Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report);
4. Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.

Estimated duration of contract and remuneration: 6 months during the period of August 2021 – February 2022

Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan (or remote depending on the situation with the COVID-19)

On-site working days: up to 40 days

Off-site working days: up to 40 days

Supervision: Chief PME**, UNICEF Tajikistan

Reporting to: M&E Specialist/CRM**, UNICEF Tajikistan

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

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Education:

• Higher academic/post-graduate degree in social sciences, or other relevant field, such as international development studies related to poverty, security, social and gender inequality, education;

Work Experience:

• At least 8 years of documented professional experience in research, rigorous independent evaluations that meet professional evaluation standards;
• Expertise in two, ideally more, of the following areas relating to ensuring protective environment for children such as child protection, social protection, deinstitutionalization, justice for children, violence against children or gender-based violence; gender; children with disabilities.
• Knowledge of /experience in strategic planning, participatory research/evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and reporting; knowledge of, or professional experience in working with Appreciative Inquiry is considered an advantage.
• Strong development background with a profound understanding of development and human rights-based programmes. Experience of working in low- or middle-income countries, the CIS or Central Asia. Relevant experience from Tajikistan and/or neighbouring countries is considered an asset.
• Experience in involving children, adolescents and youth in evaluations and research.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s mandate and experience of working closely with government partners and/or UN agencies; knowledge of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child and human rights-based approach to programming and results-based management; In-depth understanding of the implementation strategies used by UNICEF, especially capacity development, communication for social change, policy dialogue and advocacy.
• Knowledge, skills and demonstrated experience in youth participation/engaging children and adolescents in research and/or decision-making processes

Competencies:

• *Excellent analytical, communication, organizational and report writing skills**.*

Language:

• Excellent written and spoken English; knowledge of Tajik or Russian is an asset.

The consultant may involve a team, if he/she likes, but the contract will be issued to one individual consultant only. The qualification requirements for the other team member(s), if involved, are as follows:

Education: Advanced degree in social sciences, or other relevant field;

Work Experience & Expertise:

• At least 5 years of professional experience including in research or/and evaluation;
• Expertise in two, ideally more, of the following areas relating to ensuring protective environment for children such as child protection, social protection, deinstitutionalization, justice for children, violence against children or gender-based violence; gender; children with disabilities.
• Knowledge of and experience in participatory research/evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and reporting in Tajikistan.
• Familiarity with the socio-economic, political and institutional environment in the country.
• Extensive experience of working closely with government, development partners and CSOs.
• Knowledge of UNICEF’s mandate and understanding of development and human rights-based programmes and approaches.
• Experience in involving children, adolescents and youth in evaluations and research in Tajikistan or neighbouring countries.

Competencies: Excellent analytical, communication, organizational and report writing skills;

Language: Excellent written and spoken English and Tajik (or Russian).

Ethics and Integrity

The Ethics and Integrity document can be downloaded by the following link: Ethics and Integrity.docx

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

The Roles and Responsibilities document can be downloaded by the following link: Roles_and_Responsibilities.docx

REQUIREMENTS:

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

• Cover letter/application/CV.
• A technical proposal with proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks, and the work plan (no price information should be contained in the technical proposal).
• The proposed technical team curriculum vitae (CV).
• Financial quote for the consultancy in USD for International and TJS for National applicants per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate. The consultant may involve a team, if he/she likes, but the contract with will issued to one individual consultant only, who is responsible for the deliverables. The candidate must ensure that all such costs are duly incorporated in the financial proposal.
• A sample of previous work undertaken in the last two years (at least 2 relevant examples).
• At least two references

Queries can be sent to tad-procurement@unicef.org with the subject line “National and International Individual Consultancy to conduct the Evaluation of the Protective Environment Programme in Tajikistan”. Applications must be received in the system by 05 August 2021 on our website: http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/index.php.

Travel costs and DSA will be covered in accordance with UN rules and regulations. No other remunerations apply. As a general principle, the fees payable to a consultant or individual contractor follow the “best value for money” principle, i.e., achieving the desired outcome at the lowest possible cost.

Please note that consultants and individual contractors are responsible for assuming costs for obtaining visas and travel insurance.

EVALUATION PROCESS AND METHODS:

Individual consultants/contractors will be evaluated based on a cumulative analysis methodology. The award of the Contract shall be made to the individual contractor whose offer has been evaluated and determined as:

a) responsive/compliant/acceptable, and

b) having received the highest score out of a weighted set of technical and financial criteria.

During the selection, the ratio between the technical evaluation and commercial offer is 70 to 30.

Criteria

Weight

Max. Point

TECHNICAL QUALIFICATION (max. 70 points)

70%

70

Overall Response (10 points)

Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response

5

Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal

5

Proposed Methodology and Approach (25 points)

Quality of proposed approach/methodology

15

Quality of proposed work plan

10

Technical Capacity (35 points)

Higher academic/post-graduate degree in social sciences, or other relevant field, such as international development studies related to poverty, security, social and gender inequality, education

5

At least 8 years of documented professional experience in research, rigorous independent evaluations that meet professional evaluation standards

Knowledge of /experience in strategic planning, participatory research/evaluation, including qualitative and quantitative data collection, analysis and reporting

5

Expertise in two, ideally more, of the following areas relating to ensuring protective environment for children such as child protection, social protection, deinstitutionalization, justice for children, violence against children or gender-based violence; gender; children with disabilities.

10

Proven experience in involving children, adolescents and youth in evaluations and research.

10

Fluency in English (written and spoken), knowledge of Russian and / or Tajik is an asset

5

FINANCIAL PROPOSAL (max. 30 points) (daily rate, lump sum, per deliverable, Economy Air Ticket)

30%

30

TOTAL SCORE (max. 100 points)

Only candidates who obtain a minimum of 49 points in the Technical Criteria evaluation will be considered for the Financial Evaluation.

Financial Proposal: Please provide an all-inclusive price for delivering professional services in accordance with the assignment described under this TOR.

The formula for the rating of the Financial Proposals will be as follows:

FP Rating = (Lowest Priced Offer / Price of the Offer Being Reviewed) x 100

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.

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.