National Consultancy to support strategic multi-sectoral coordination of Integrated Early Childhood Development Programmes in Uganda, Kampala, 11 months (Ugandan 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, a fair chance

Uganda is one of the over 190 countries and territories around the world where we work to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease, and discrimination place in a child’s path. Together with the Government of Uganda and partners we work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals, the objectives of the Uganda National Development Plan, and the planned outcomes of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework.

Visit this link for more information on Uganda Country Office https://www.unicef.org/uganda/

How can you make a difference?

Background

The early years of a child’s life are considered the most important phase of development in life that set the foundation for future and long-term health, development, and socio-economic outcomes both for the individual and society at large. Early Childhood Development is essential for all children to fulfill their potential. The Government of Uganda has defined early childhood as the period between 0 and 8 years; the Uganda Bureau of Statistics 2020 population projections indicate that children between the ages of 0-8 years make up to 26% of Uganda’s total population.

The Government of Uganda recognizes the importance of investing in the early years and launched the National Integrated Early Childhood Development (NIECD) Policy in 2016 and the NiECD Action Plan (2016 – 2021) with a vision to provide the ‘best start in life’ to all children. Oversight and coordination for policy action implementation is domiciled under the Ministry of Gender, Labour, and Social Development (MoGLSD).

The line Ministries of Health, Education, Water and Environment and other ministries responsible for providing services to young children and their families each have sectoral policies and plans under the seven core programme areas outlined in the NIECD policy. A key role of the MoGLSD is to ensure the delivery of well-coordinated, quality, equitable and inclusive services by both state and non-state actors.

During the last five years, since the launch of the policy, the MoGLSD has made strides in implementing some key policy actions led by the NIECD Secretariat. In 2020, the role of taking forward ECD coordination was transferred to the Department of Children and Youth Affairs, thus institutionalizing under the Government structure. As a start to operationalizing the NIECD policy multi-sectoral coordination structure, the ECD National Technical Committee had the first meeting in December 2021 following the Covid 19 pandemic lock down with technical support from UNICEF.

However, some gaps still exist regarding effectively institutionalizing multi-sectoral ECD coordination in the country. Inadequate knowledge and appreciation of the value of multi-sectoral engagement by sectors as well as the how in coordinating implementation across the ECD line sectors and local Governments are some key elements that need to be built into the system. Specifically, the following are key gaps that hinder the attainment of a fully functional national IECD multi-sectoral coordination mechanism.

i) Inadequate functionality of multi-sectoral coordination structures at the national level, including inter-ministerial and inter-agency coordination

ii) Inadequate functionality of multi sectoral coordination of ECD at the sub-national level.

iii) Lack of a current planning framework for ECD following the lapse of the National ECD Action plan of 2016-2021.

iv) Low profiling and Inadequate clarity of meaning and nomenclature of ECD.

It is against this background that UNICEF seeks professional services to provide technical assistance to the BEAD ECD team to support Government efforts in implementing the NIECD Policy and renewing the Action Plan under the supervision of the ECD Specialist and oversight the ECD Manager. The Consultant will also work in close collaboration with Zonal Offices as well as the UNICEF ECD Working Group to ensure integration of services across the sectors involved. The Consultant will also work in close collaboration with MOGLSD and MOLG, to ensure integration of services across the sectors involved.

Purpose of the assignment

The objective of this consultancy is to provide technical support in strengthening system capacity for functional national IECD coordination at national level through further institutionalizing and elevating the coordination role of the MoGLSD in delivering holistic ECD services in the country.

The consultancy will also support capacity building for key Ministries, Departments and Agencies, including the line ministries of Health, Education, Water and Environment and local Government in prioritizing, integrating, and coordinating ECD programming in line with the Ministry of Gender’s National Child Policy, the National Development Plan, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

Specifically, the consultancy will:

• a. Strengthen the National multi-sectoral coordination mechanism and engagement for Integrated ECD service delivery with focus on inter-ministerial coordination to elevate iECD policy planning and review to higher levels within Government structures
• b. Strengthen inter-agency coordination for ECD implementation with non-state actors including multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies, international and local non-Governmental Organizations, the Academia among others led by the MoGLSD to increase interaction, strategic thinking, and exploit synergies for ECD delivery

3. Provide technical guidance and support in the development of the NIECD Action Plan II in coordination with the lead consultant, MoGLSD and the UNICEF Uganda ECD team and in collaboration with key ECD stakeholders including but not limited to the MOES, NPA and CSOs.
4. Support MOLG to build the capacity of local governments to coordinate multi-sectoral implementation of ECD so that coordination of IECD services is multi-sectoral and well factored into the budgeting, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting processes of the districts where service delivery happens

Scope of Work – Major Tasks

1. Strengthen the National multi-sectoral coordination mechanism and engagement for Integrated ECD service delivery with focus on inter-ministerial coordination to elevate the NIECD policy planning and review to higher levels within Government structures.
2. Strengthen inter-agency coordination for ECD implementation with non-state actors including multi-lateral and bi-lateral agencies, international and local non-Governmental Organizations, the Academia among others led by the MoGLSD to increase interaction, strategic thinking, and exploit synergies for ECD delivery.
3. Provide technical guidance and support in the development of the NIECD Action Plan II in coordination with the lead consultant, MoGLSD and the UNICEF Uganda ECD team and in collaboration with key ECD stakeholders including but not limited to the MOES, NPA and CSOs.
4. Support MOLG to build the capacity of local governments to coordinate multi-sectoral implementation of ECD so that coordination of IECD services is multi-sectoral and well factored into the budgeting, planning, implementation, monitoring, and reporting processes of the districts where service delivery happens
5. End of assignment report with recommendations

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

Education background:

Advanced university degree in education, social sciences, international relations, or any other related field

Work-experience:

A minimum of 10 years professional work experience in national level programme management and coordination of large-scale programmes/projects.

Experience in development and/or implementation of policies in the social sector as well as in strengthening systems for effective service delivery is an asset

Relevant experience in a cross-sectoral ECD coordination role in a UN system agency or similar organization is considered as an asset.

Experience in managing and coordinating inter-ministerial and/or inter-agency committees at the national level.

Competencies skills:

Builds and maintains partnerships (Level 1),

Demonstrates self-awareness and ethical awareness (Level 1),

Drive to achieve results for impact (Level 1),

Innovates and embraces change (Level 1),

Manages ambiguity and complexity (Level 1),

Thinks, and acts strategically (Level 1),

Works collaboratively with others (Level 1).

Language skills. Excellent English skills required (oral and written)

Conditions:

• The consultancy will commence after signing of the contract.

• No contract may commence unless the consultant provides a certificate of completion of a mandatory course on “Prevention of Sexual Exploitation and Abuse”. A certificate to be submitted with the signed contract should have been obtained in the last three months.

• The SSA consultancy will include the consultancy fee and DSA.
• Under the consultancy agreements, a month is defined as 21 working days, and fees are prorated accordingly. Consultants are not paid for weekends or public holidays Consultants are not entitled to payment of overtime. All remuneration must be within the contract agreement
• The consultants will be based at the UNICEF Country Office.
• The consultant will use their personal computers and will be facilitated in case they have to do any printing or photocopying.
• Transport will be arranged as per approved TAs.
• A consultant will be paid monthly upon presentation of a deliverable report (see deliverable table 4 above)
• Consultants will not have supervisory responsibilities nor authority on UNICEF budget and other resources.
• Consultants will be required to sign the Health statement for consultants/Individual contractor prior to taking up the assignment, and to document that they have appropriate health insurance, if applicable.
• The Form 'Designation, change or revocation of beneficiary' must be completed by the consultant upon arrival, at the HR Section.
• Clearance from DHR will be required for former UNICEF staff
• Clearance from the Government required for civil servants

Application Procedure/Call for Proposals

Interested candidates are required to submit a technical proposal on how they intend to approach the work. The proposal should include a timeline, and methodology, based on the Terms of Reference. The proposal must also include detailed CV of the consultant, as well as a financial proposal, clearly indicating daily rate for professional fees. The financial proposal must be all-inclusive of all costs (consultancy fees and where applicable air fares, airport transfers, daily living expenses). This is an international level consultancy and competitive market rates should apply.

Evaluation of Candidate:

The consultant will be competitively selected from a list of applicants based on their past experience of doing similar work (extensive experience in writing donor reports, in compiling and editing annual reports for various UNICEF offices).

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF’s core values of Commitment, Diversity and Integrity and core competencies in Communication, Working with People and Drive for Results.

The competencies required for this post are….

View our competency framework at

http://www.unicef.org/about/employ/files/UNICEF_Competencies.pdf

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, therefore, undergo rigorous reference and background checks, and will be expected to adhere to these standards and principles.

Remarks:

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.