National Consultancy: National Information System Social Assistance (NISSA) Updating Consultant

Consultant Programme & Policy Finance & Economy

Contract

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Background and Justification

The nationwide coverage National Information System for Social Assistance (NISSA) enables creation of a single database in which information on all potential households and individuals eligible for social protection interventions is securely stored. The information is used to target beneficiaries of several social safety nets, to support the management and linkages of social protection programmes, and to conduct research on beneficiaries’ needs or other social aspects. The process of household inclusion in the NISSA database program includes the following:

1. Raising of community awareness

2. Household listing (census approach)

3. Community based targeting (CBT) resulting in Categorization of households by wellbeing status

4. Follow up survey that is followed by application of Proxy Means Test

5. Validation and enrolment of households

6. Case management

NISSA data collection is a mammoth statistical operation that sets out to collect information about the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of households in an organized and methodical manner. The system applies well-defined methods and procedures, so that the information collected from different units is comparable and compiles this information into a useful format for further analysis and use.

Over time, the data becomes stale and therefore should be periodically updated to maintain its relevance and accuracy. In 2017, data was collected from22 community councils. The Ministry of Social Development (MOSD) is now embarking on a pilot process to update/refresh its dataset in the following selected community councils:

1. Ngoajane - Butha-Buthe
2. Bolahla - Leribe
3. Manonyane - Maseru
4. Lehlakeng - Mafeteng

Scope of Work

*Goal and Objective*****: To provide technical support to the Ministry of Social Development through the development of a step-by-step manual for updating NISSA, facilitate reflections on the activity, as well as providing recommendations to enhance and optimize the process.

Provide details/reference to AWP areas covered: The assignment for the consultancy will contribute to the achievement of outcome 3 (output 3.1) of the rolling work plan stating that by 2023, the Government of Lesotho (GoL) has an improved child and gender-sensitive, and shock responsive social protection.

Activities and Tasks: The consultant is expected to undertake the following key activities:

Step-by-Step data collection manual:

The consultant will work with MOSD and ensure that the step-by-step data collection manual is drafted and finalized. This means that the consultant will participate in key meetings and workshops that will (i) define the roles and responsibilities; (ii) unpack the methodology and determine the variables to be updated. Thereafter, the consultant will work with a smaller team to compile the manual, as well as develop process indicators based on priorities of stakeholders at MOSD and UNICEF. These process indicators will serve as measurement guidelines to determine how successful the data collection process will be, considering the inputs and activities put in place to achieve this output. If the process of compiling the manual and developing process indicators calls for further consultations, the consultant will do so to enable finalization of the manual and indicators. The consultant will discuss the content and format of the manual with key stakeholders. Finally share the first and second drafts of the manual for review by key stakeholders and incorporate the comments accordingly.

Field visits and Update report

The consultant will accompany MOSD staff to the field during the data collection activity to provide support based on the step-by-step data collection manual, interview the field teams for understanding, as well as to observe the fieldwork process. It is expected that during the field visits, the consultant will focus on the implementation process of data collection for NISSA and determine how successfully the activity followed the strategy and action plan laid out. The consultant will then write a field report addressing key areas around the implementation process of data collection, as well as reporting on defined process indicators. The consultant will go to the field to monitor and observe the following processes:

1. Training of MoSD staff (one training session)
2. Village Assistance Committees (one training session)
3. Broad community sensitisation processes across the selected councils (one field trip per community council)
4. Data collection process across all the selected community councils (2 field trips per community councils)

This means that the consultant will undertake 14 field trips and work closely with the MOSD team to ensure that the his/her field trips are coordinated and aligned with what is going on the field. Following the field visits, the consultant will prepare the progress reports detailing issues emerging from the field on a Monthly basis.

Reflections Report with recommendations:

Through a thorough reflection process, the consultant should objectively analyze the rationality, consistency and coherence between the survey concept, methodology, execution, monitoring and reporting. The reflections should include looking at human capacities, systems, plans and procedures and how these contributed to the overall survey design to achieve the desired results. The reflections should also include an analysis of the total number of households reached per day against the planned target. It will also seek to measure cost-efficiency of the data collection process by looking at information on cost per staff member and assess how effective the data collection has been in reaching the target population. Finally, the reflections will dive into the systematic approaches taken and the degree of compliance ensured while mobilizing and collecting information from the target population.

The reflection process will be followed by the development of well-informed recommendations, taken from the learnings and insights of the reflection process. The recommendations should include areas of improvement for all the different steps as per the data collection manual and provide tangible solutions for enhancing the data collection process in a cost-effective manner.

The role of the consultant is to facilitate and lead the reflection process and carry out the required information gathering activities accordingly, as well as provide a concise report on recommendations for areas of improvement. The consultant will share the first and second drafts for review by MOSD and UNICEF and thereafter incorporate the comments. The final report will also be presented to stakeholders.

Final Report

The consultant will prepare a final report summarizing all the processes.

*Work relationships*****: The consultant will be supervised by the Social Policy Specialist; however, the consultant will work closely with the Director of Social Assistance and close technical collaboration with the NISSA manager.

Outputs/Deliverables:

Deliverables

Duration

(Estimated # of days or months)

Timeline/Deadline

Schedule of payment

Inception Report with a Detailed workplan

10 Days

10/08/2021

25%

Compiled step by step manual

20 days

Mid September

25%

Field monitoring Reports (Consolidated monthly field report)

25 days

30 January 2022

25%

Completed reflection process and report with recommendations for improvements (Draft Report)

Prepare Presentation for more information sharing of the report

10 days

Final Report

5 Days

25 February 2022

25%

Additional guidance

All the deliverables will be electronically submitted to UNICEF and MOSD, they should be prepared in consultations with the Ministry and UNICEF.

The content of the report should be endorsed by the Social Policy Specialist in UNICEF and designated authority in the Ministry of Social Development.

Desired profile

Education: Post Graduate Degree in Economics, Statistics, Social Sciences

Experience:

• Minimum of ten (5) years of working experience in development, studies and surveys
• Minimum of six (years) of NISSA data collection and Social Protection
• Previous working experience with UNICEF and MOSD is a plus

• Previous working experience with Government of Lesotho

  **Competencies****:

• Ability to communicate effectively in English and Sesotho

• Able to work effectively in a multi-cultural environment and experience of working in a dynamic group
• High analytical skills using diverse and complex quantitative and qualitative data from a wide range of sources.

• Ability to write and produce reports of high quality

  Language: Fluency in English and Sesotho.

  Administrative issues

  The selection of consultant will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for individual contracts.

5. The consultant will be required to undertake 14 field trips to do monitoring, observe and record how processes are implemented across the 4 community councils (Ngoajane, Bolahla, Manonyane, Lehlakaneng). All field trips should be planned, agreed and approved by the supervisor before execution. For field trips requiring overnight stay, the consultant will receive a standard rate of M2000.00 within the first 60 days of the contract duration. Any field visit requiring overnight stay after 60days of the contract duration, the consultant will receive M1,500.00 per day.
6. The consultant will perform the work using own computer.
7. The consultant will come to the office when necessary in which case either UNICEF or MOSD will provide office space
8. The financial proposal shall be detail and must be ‘****all inclusive’ of all costs (consultancy fee, administrative and transport logistics)for all deliverables and for the whole duration of the contract.
9. Entitlements and conditions of service are governed by UNICEF policies.
10. Consultant will not be entitled to leave.

As per UNICEF DFAM policy, payment is made against satisfactory completion of deliverables as of the approved workplan. No advance payment is allowed unless in exceptional circumstances against bank guarantee, subject to a maximum of 30 per cent of the total contract value in cases where advance purchases, for example for supplies or travel, may be necessary.

The candidate selected will be governed by and subject to UNICEF’s General Terms and Conditions for consultants and individual contractors.

As per policy on consultants and individual contractors, the consultant will be expected to complete a list of mandatory training, including policies on Prohibiting and Combatting Fraud and Corruption; Prohibition of discrimination, harassment, sexual harassment and abuse of authority and other relevant policies for their information and acknowledgment. Within 5 days of the contract commencement, the consultant/individual contractor is requested to complete the applicable mandatory trainings.

Risks

COVID 19 may affect implementation of the assignment and may require changes in the assignment.

How to Apply:

Qualified candidates are requested to complete an application including profile to the respective advertisement on https://www.unicef.org/about/employ/ Please indicate your ability, availability and financial proposal/quote to complete the terms of reference above.

Applications submitted without financial proposal will not be considered.

If you have not been contacted within 2 months of the closing date please accept that your application was unsuccessful. Regret emails will be sent only to shortlisted/contacted candidates.

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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Added 2 years ago - Updated 2 years ago - Source: unicef.org