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.

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For every child, education

Summary

Title

Data collection to inform Child rights situation analysis in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi municipalities

Purpose

Through a participatory process and using appropriate methodology to collect primary data, which will inform planned child rights situation analysis

Expected fee

To be negotiated, commensurate with the level of complexity of the task and the level of experience of selected consultant.

Expected Duration

3 months/ 32 consultancy days

Expected Start Date

October 2020

Expected Finish Date

January 2021

Reporting to

Social Policy Specialist

1. Background

Following the agreements with Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi city halls regarding joining the Child Friendly City Initiative (CFCI), UNICEF will commission an assessment of child rights situation (SitAn) in these two municipalities with respect to the five fundamental rights defined by the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child (C): the right to be valued, respected and treated fairly; the right to be heard; the right to social services; the right to be safe; and the right to family life, play and leisure. The Situation Analysis (SitAn) is a crucial part of the child rights monitoring (CRM) framework and represents UNICEF's key programmatic output that helps focus on knowledge gaps related to inequities and child deprivations on national as well as local levels. For this purpose, collection of primary data through focus groups and interviews is required. Collected data will inform the planned SitAn report, which will include data from the secondary sources as well.

2. Purpose, Scope and Objectives of the data collection

The primary data collection exercise aims to examine opinions of the experts, children and parents on the situation and well-being of children in Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi municipalities.

This assignment is to generate primary data on children including through:

• Consultations with local stakeholders
• Interviews, surveys and focus-group discussions to assess interest, expectations, views on priority areas, existing processes, and gap, risks and constraints anticipated.

3. Methodology

The consultant will collect primary data. This will specifically involve:

• Key informants' interviews, surveys and focus group discussions, including those who shape and implement public policies as well as parents, children and adolescents.

Tasks with number of days for both municipalities, Tbilisi, Batumi and Kutaisi for data collection:

• • Prepare and conduct focus group discussions with parents of 0-15 children and with children 15-17 ( two for each city, total 6 focus groups) # of days -3.
  • Prepare and conduct interviews with municipal authorities ( six for each city, total 18 interviews) #of days- 6
  • Interviews with parents of children with disabilities ( four interviews for each city, total 12 interviews) # of days -3
  • Interviews with local child rights NGOs ( four interviews for each city, total 12 interviews) # of days 6
  • Transcribing of collected data ( 16 transcripts for each city, total 48 transcripts) #of days -8.
  • Analyze the data using a systematic and internationally accepted approach
  • and prepare reports one report per each city ( 3 reports in total) # of days- 6

Total- 32 days for the current assignment.

4. Ethical Considerations

Consultant is required to clearly identify any potential ethical issue, as well as the processes for ethical review and oversight of the research/data collection process in their proposal. UNICEF Procedure for Ethical Standards in Research, Evaluation, Data Collection and Analysis can be found at:https://www.unicef.org/supply/files/ATTACHMENT_IV-UNICEF_Procedure_for_Ethical_Standards.PDF and should be consistently applied throughout the research process. The procedure contains the minimum standards and required procedures for research, evaluation and data collection and analysis undertaken or commissioned by UNICEF (including activities undertaken by individual and institutional contractors, and partners) involving human subjects or the analysis of sensitive secondary data.

5. Requirements

5.1 Key deliverables and time frame

The work is expected to be carried out within a period of 3 months after signing the contract.

A total of 32 consultancy working days are estimated for this assignment with the following estimated share of days:

• Data Collection - total of 32 working days

The consultant is expected to produce and submit following deliverables for both municipalities as described in the section 3 :

• Transcripts of 6 focus groups with parents of 0-15 children and with children 15-17
• Transcripts of 1****8 interviews with municipal authorities
• Transcripts of 12 interviews with parents of children with disabilities
• Transcripts of 12 interviews with local child rights NGOs
• Data analysis using a systematic and internationally accepted approach and a report submitted for each municipality

All submissions should be electronic. All materials submitted to UNICEF should be delivered in English.

5.2 Required qualifications and experience:

The assignment is expected to be undertaken by a national consultant:

Required background and experience:

Background

• Researcher with proven experience in public policy, social policy and policy analysis and child/human rights or related fields

Education

• Advanced degree in social sciences, social policy analysis or related field

Expertise and skills

Strong analytical skills - references to previous work or institutions

• At least 5 years of relevant experience in data collection and research
• Experience conducting interviews and focus group discussions
• Proven experience in qualitative data analysis
• Experience in facilitating consultations with government representatives, NGOs, and youth
• Fluency in English
• Excellent writing skills

7. Management and Supervision

The Consultant will work in close consultation and under the supervision of UNICEF Social Policy Specialist.

8.Terms of Payment

Payment will be made after submission of all deliverables. All travel related costs (accommodation, meals, internal transportation or other travel related costs in the municipalities) is expected to be included within the fees.

9. Approval Procedures and Logistics

• Consultant should act with integrity and respect for all stakeholders in line with UNICEF ethical guidelines regarding evidence generation.
• UNICEF holds copyrights for all the documents (including raw materials, etc.) may not be reproduced, distributed or published without the written permission from UNICEF.
• All personal data should be accessible to team members, but no one else. The Consultant need to set up secure systems (a) to ensure that other staff within their institutions cannot access their data via the shared staff drives, and (b) to ensure secure data transfer between institutions. Cloud based storage with limited sharing rights could be considered in this instance. Different personal data files need to be link-able, they need to be held separately so that they can only be linked purposely, by researchers who are authorised to do so. There is also a need to ensure that data cannot be removed from secure systems in ways that might compromise data security.
• UNICEF will share with the selected consultant all the relevant materials it has and provide required expertise.
• UNICEF staff, including the ECARO Regional Office Specialist will review and provide feedback on reports prepared by Consultant.
• UNICEF will provide administrative support for the work of consultant.
• All information from produced reports cannot be shared with the media without the written approval of UNICEF.

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.

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 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.

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.