National Consultancy, Disability Budget Analysis, Windhoek, Namibia (For Namibian nationals only)

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, equal opportunity

Background The UN Human Rights Council Resolution 7/9 on Human Rights of persons with disabilities (2008) states that disability results from the interaction between persons with impairments and attitudinal and environmental barriers that hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. This definition, thus, do not see the impairments and functional difficulties alone as putting the persons with disability at a disadvantage, but highlight the critical impact of the negative attitudes and other environmental barriers in restriction of participation and inclusion.

The Government of Namibia is committed to implementing the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which it signed and ratified on 4 December 2007. The Convention promotes and protects the rights of persons with disabilities and indulges State Parties to put in place measures that ensure that all persons with disabilities enjoy all human rights on equal basis with others. Equally, Namibia ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which promotes the rights of children with disabilities, including mental and physical disabilities. The Government is committed to create an environment where persons with disabilities are able to enjoy equal access to and equality of access to basic and essential services as a right.

In addition, Namibia’s Constitution explicitly recognizes the inalienable human rights and freedoms of all its citizens. Article 8 focuses on respect for human dignity and states that ‘the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable’. Furthermore, Namibia has developed national policies and legislation related to disability, including the National Policy on Disability of 2007, the National Disability Council Act, Act (Act no. 26 of 2004), the Sector Policy on Inclusive Education of 2013, and the Mental Health Act. In particular, the National Disability Council Act makes provision for an advisory body to be established, mandated to provide strategic oversight on the implementation of the National Disability Policy, the Continental Plan of Action for the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities and the UNCRPD. It also has responsibility for commenting on any future legislation that has any direct and indirect impact on disability issues. The Act mandates the Council to consult with organizations of persons with disabilities regarding policies and practices impacting the rights of persons with disabilities and to monitor progress on the implementation of programmes.

How can you make a difference?

Purpose of Activity/Assignment: To undertake budget analysis and produce a budget brief focusing on disability resource allocation and spending in Namibia to be used for advocacy by government, UNICEF and Partners to influence resources follows towards a more disability inclusive society.

Scope of Work: One important policy tool towards achieving the rights of people with disability is the National Budget, which is the most important policy statement for any government. Far from being a mere compilation of income and expenditure, it is the blueprint for a nation's socioeconomic policies for each fiscal year. It is the means through with policy commitments, plans and strategies are translated into actions for improved socio-economic outcomes of the People.

Despite it being such an important tool, no analysis has been done to assess the extent to which the national budgets of Namibia address the needs and wellbeing of people with disabilities. The Namibia 2011 Population and Housing Census estimated that there were between 85,000 and 100,000 persons with disabilities, representing 5% of the total population. However, according to WHO global estimates, the number could be as high as 15%.

Consistent with the above, UNICEF is seeking the services of highly qualified experts to undertake detailed budget analysis of the 2023/24 National Budget and produce a Disability Budget Brief. The analysis will focus on the extent to which the 2023/24 National Budget responds to the needs of Persons with Disabilities (PwDs) in Namibia. This will be achieved by analyzing the size, composition and equity of budgetary allocations to disability-focused programmes and offers insights on the adequacy, equity and efficiency and effectiveness of past spending. The analysis will be based on available data from the 2023/24 national budget statements, with trend analysis spanning from 2018/19.

Objectives and expected results:

• The main objectives of the budget brief include: Synthesizing often complex budget information so that it is easily understood by different stakeholders, especially buy person with disabilities themselves or their representative organizations.
• Analyze the 2023/24 budget allocations towards disability-focused programmes, as well as past spending, focusing on equity, adequacy, efficiency and effectiveness.
• Put forth key recommendations for the consideration of the Ministry of Finance and sector Ministries for improving public financial decision-making processes and leverage domestic resources towards a disability inclusive budget that positively contributes towards better outcomes for people and children with disabilities.

Main Tasks:

To achieve the set objectives, the Consultant is expected to perform the following specific tasks:

• Undertake detailed budget analysis focusing on size, composition, equity, efficiency and financing, towards interventions and programmes for people with disabilities. The analysis will be based on data from annual expenditure reports and approved national budgets, covering the past 5-years and the 2023/24 Budget.
• Undertake consultations with people with disabilities, stakeholders and development partners to obtain data that will inform the analysis.
• Produce a detailed Disability Budget Brief (10-12 pages), outlining key findings and recommendations. The findings of the Brief will be presented at a validation meeting with all the consulted stakeholders, for finalisation.
• Produce an Excel workbook with cleaned data used for the analysis for future usage.
• Develop an advocacy plan for the recommendations.

Deliverables

Duration

(# of days)

Deadline

Payment

1. Inception report, including a detailed workplan for stakeholder engagement (5 pages max)

5

28 April 2023

10%

2. Draft Budget Brief

25

30 May 2023

40%

3. Final Budget Brief (incorporating stakeholder feedback and comments) together with the excel work-book

10

20 June 2023

50%

4. Advocacy Plan

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

Knowledge/Expertise/Skills required: Work Experience

• An advance degree (master's or higher) in Public Financial Management, Economics and Public Policy.
• A minimum of 5 years’ experience in Public Finance Management and budget analysis.
• A solid knowledge of PFM instruments, and proven experience on similar analyses of the State Budget with focus on social sectors.
• Strong analytical and writing skills, including advanced Excel; and the ability to present the results in a simple language, making use of interesting visual aid (maps, graphs and other visual tools).
• Knowledge and understanding of disability inclusion will be a strong asset.
• Consolidated knowledge and foundation on crosscutting themes such as equity and sectoral decentralization.
• Strong communication in English (oral and written) skills.
• Previous work experience of working with the government and the UN is a strong asset.
• Ability to complete the task in a tight schedule and with limited supervision.

How to Apply

Qualified and interested candidates are encouraged to submit an online application before the closing date. People with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply.

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. • Technical Proposal demonstrating the consultant’s understanding of the Terms of Reference (ToR), 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 technical and financial/budget proposals will not be considered.

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.

Required Competencies • Manages ambiguity and complexity • Thinks and acts strategically • Works collaboratively with others • Drive to achieve results for impact • Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness.

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.

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.

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.

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.