National consultancy for Mapping of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) structure and services/programmes in Tajikistan
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This is a NO-2 contract. This kind of contract is known as National Professional Officers. It is normally only for nationals. It's a staff contract. More about NO-2 contracts.
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 A growing body of evidence shows that early childhood is one of the most significant and influential phases of life - especially the first 1,000 days. It determines the basis for every child’s future health, well-being, learning and earning potential, and sets the groundwork for young children’s emotional security, and for developing competencies, resilience and adaptability. Intervening at this most critical stage of human development to provide quality nurturing care is crucial to ensure a child’s physical, cognitive, psychological and socio-emotional development. A focus on early childhood development (ECD) brings clear benefits both to the individual and society, reducing health and economic problems that children can carry throughout their entire lives, and breaking the vicious cycle of intergenerational poverty, societal disparities and inequality of opportunities.
The Government of Tajikistan with the support from UNICEF, WHO and other key development partners, has worked on establishing policy environment for the rights of children in their early years covering maternal and child health care, nutrition for mothers, infants and young children, pediatric HIV, early childhood education and gender equality. Tajikistan has pledged to various global commitments and international conventions including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) (2015-2030) with ECD articulated in SDG 4.2- target 4.2.1, 4.2.2, 4.2.3) which is about universal access to high-quality care in early childhood and pre-primary education with the experience of early stimulation. ECD also relates to SDG 3.2-Health, 2.2- Nutrition, 16.2 -child protection. The Frameworks on the Rights of Children such as the CRC, CRPD, Global Strategy for Women’s, Children’s and Adolescents’ Health (2016-2030), Global Partnership for Education (GPE), Global Partnership to End Violence Against Children, Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN), “Survive, Thrive, Transform”(Every Woman Every Child, 2015); Early Moments Matter (2017) give an overview of the global ECD momentum. The global ECD momentum has been further strengthened by the Nurturing Care Framework, (2018) and the WHO guidelines on Improving Early Childhood Development, (2020) with a strong focus on children 0-3 years of age. These landmark strategic frameworks present both opportunities and challenges in policy setting to ensure that children not only survive but thrive and transform health and human potential.
Government’s effort of delivering quality and holistic ECD at a large scale requires putting in place a National ECD Multi-Sectoral Programme/Plan that can guide the delivery of ECD provision. ECD is a multi-sectoral issue requiring the involvement of multiple sectors such as: nutrition, health, education, and social and child protection.
PURPOSE:
This study aims to assess the range and extent of interventions related to Nurturing Care Framework for Early Childhood Development under programmes implemented by various sectors and status of their implementation using joint WHO /UNICEF ECD mapping tool. Also the Tajikistan national laws, plans and policies related to Early Childhood Developed and analysis to assess the role played by stakeholders in development and implementation of national multi-sectoral activities contributing to Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development through ECD Policy Framework.
Main tasks could be downloaded by following link: Main Tasks.docx
DESCRIPTION OF THE ASSIGNMENT:
A mapping of current structures/services within and outside of Government at local level will provide an assessment of existing capacity and future capacity needs in the areas of programme planning, programme implementation, programme monitoring and evaluation and financial management. This will also assist in developing a model that includes coordination and clearly defined roles and responsibilities on who is doing what and where in relation to Integrated Early Childhood Development in order to inform more systematic and harmonized service delivery at all levels.
The mapping will identify the following stakeholders and map their services, strengths and opportunities in service delivery, as well as bottlenecks to successful service delivery:
- Government (ministries and related agencies);
- International agencies and organizations;
- Civil society organizations and initiatives;
- Private sector.
Scope of work:
It is expected that the Consultant will collaborate with WHO-engaged national expert on peer level where assignment objectives will be divided. The mapping will be conducted through a comprehensive government systems and services mapping in the following sectors: maternal, newborn and child health and nutrition, early childhood care and parenting and social/child welfare.
The mapping will assess the following systems elements:
- Mandates and their practical implementation of governance structures available at all levels; Coordination and referral structures between sectors and their functionality;
- MCH, child welfare, ECD and family/parenting support services available at local level and their functionality;
- Availability of informal family support and child care structures;
- Awareness of service providers working with children at primary level of IECD, for instance, on positive young child feeding and care practices, parenting education, early stimulation, disability, HIV, prevention and response to violence, abuse and neglect;
- Mechanisms for detection, referral and response on childhood deprivations (malnutrition, housing, access to sanitation, lack of parental support, absence of early stimulations, lack of access to services for the children with disabilities and etc.)
- Community knowledge, attitudes and practices around early childhood development, e.g. on positive young child feeding and care practices, parenting education, early stimulation, early detection and intervention, prevention and response to violence;
- Geographical/infrastructural opportunities and barriers and other external factors impacting on the practical implementation and monitoring of modeling;
The mapping will be conducted through:
- Desk review and secondary analysis of data of ECD related national policies, plans and reports; ECD project (evaluations and documentations of ECD projects implemented by development partners and CSOs)
- Structured and semi-structured interviews with government officials service providers at local level. as well as International Development partners
- FGDs with different stakeholders, (government counterparts (service providers?), parents’ groups and etc.)
Specific scope of work:
- Mandates and their practical implementation of governance structures available at all levels;
- Coordination and referral structures between sectors and their functionality;
- Availability of informal family support and child care structures;
- Awareness of service providers working with children at primary level of IECD, for instance, on positive young child feeding and care practices, parenting education, early stimulation, disability, HIV, prevention and response to violence, abuse and neglect;
- Community knowledge, attitudes and practices around early childhood development, e.g. on positive young child feeding and care practices, parenting education, early stimulation, early detection and intervention, prevention and response to violence;
- Geographical/infrastructural opportunities and barriers and other external factors impacting on the practical implementation and monitoring of modeling;
KEY DELIVERABLES/TIMEFRAME/PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
The assignment will be carried out over 31 days during the period of 30th of July – 15th of September, 2021:
#
Tasks/Milestone
Deliverables/Outputs
Number of days
Timeline
Payment schedule
1
Conduct desk review of relevant documentation and preparation of an Inception report describing the details of methodology and work plan.
Developed inception report/work plan including design and development of capacity and learning needs assessment methodologies and tools (FGD, observation form, checklists and etc), that outlines mechanism for achieving the ToR tasks with timeline.
6
15th of July, 2021
40%
2
Undertake an in-depth analysis of the current situation of ECD, identifying current nurturing care interventions and ECD systems, human resources, including policy analysis.
- WHO/UNICEF ECD Sitan Tool completed.
- Asssesment raw data provided.
- First Draft Assessment Report.
15
5th of August, 2021
3
Facilitate consensus building workshop to share and analyses findings of the assessment to enable collective decision making around key elements.
Consensus building workshop report and recommendations
2
10 August, 2021
40%
4
Prepare final ECD Situational Analysis Report
Submitted final ECD Situational Analysis Report (i.e. identifying existing policies & programming environment; services and intervention priorities, strategies employed, stakeholder analysis; existing coordination arrangements and financing analysis with trends/budget provisions for nurturing care for ECD)
5
20 August, 2021
5
Produce a final report, summarizing the process and outcomes of the assignment as well as a set of recommendations and follow-up actions.
Final report of the assignment
3
30 August, 2021
20%
Total
31
100%
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:
- Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
- Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders);
- Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report);
- 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: 31 days during the period of 30th of July – 15th of September 2021
Duty station: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
On-site working days: 23 days.
Off-site working days: 8 days.
Supervision: ECD Officer, UNICEF Tajikistan
Reporting to: Chief of Child Survival Section, UNICEF Tajikistan
To qualify as an advocate for every child you will have…
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:
Education:
- Advanced university degree in Social Science, Pediatric/Public health expertise or other relevant field, such as international development studies related to Health, Nutrition and Education. Expertise in statistics and statistical analysis;
- The individual should be highly proficient in a range of PC/web applications, including but not limited to: MS Word, MS Excel, MS PowerPoint, MS Outlook, and Lotus Notes..
Work Experience:
- A minimum of five years of demonstrative experience in qualitative and quantitative research, data analyses and reporting (proven experience in handling primary and secondary data) with a focus early childhood education.
- It is preferable that the individual has experience with, or in, multilateral institutions. Knowledge of UNICEF context essential. Knowledge of UN common practices in HR an added advantage.
Competencies:
- Expertise in ECD analysis and reporting.
- Knowledge of ECD policies, practices and procedures and ability to apply them in an organizational setting. Ability to identify issues, formulate opinions, make conclusions and recommendations. Demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and meeting results.
- Strong organizational, planning, and analytical skills.
- Good judgment, initiative, high sense of responsibility, tact and discretion.
- Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and ability to establish harmonious working relations in a multicultural environment.
Language:
- Excellent written and verbal communication in English
- Knowledge of Russian and/or Tajik an asset
REQUIREMENTS:
Qualified candidates are requested to submit:
- Cover letter/application/CV.
- A technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks.
- Financial quote for the consultancy in TJS per deliverable, also stating the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate (as well as travel and subsistence costs, as applicable). The travel cost should be indicated separately.
- Examples of previous, relevant work related to the deliverables.
- At least two references
Queries can be sent to tad-procurement@unicef.org with the subject line “Mapping of the Early Childhood Development (ECD) structure and services/programmes in Tajikistan”. Applications must be received in the system by 14 July 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 (30 points)
Understanding of tasks, objectives and completeness and coherence of response
15
Overall match between the TOR requirements and proposal
15
Proposed Methodology and Approach (20 points)
Quality of proposed approach/methodology
10
Quality of proposed work plan
10
Technical Capacity (20 points)
Advanced university degree in Social Science or other relevant field, such as international development studies related to health, nutrition and education. Expertise in statistics and statistical analysis
7
A minimum of five years of demonstrative experience in qualitative and quantitative research, data analyses and reporting (proven experience in handling primary and secondary data) with a focus early childhood education.
7
Excellent written and verbal communication in English. Knowledge of Russian and/or Tajik an asset
6
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.
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Source:
unicef.org
