National Consultant - Mapping of the At-Risk Youth Population and Related Programmes in Liberia, Monrovia, Liberia, 2 months (onsite)

Contract

This is a NO-3 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-3 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.

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Purpose of Consultancy:

The Government of the Republic of Liberia with the support of the UN Development System and other Development Partners is developing a 10- year programme with the intention of rehabilitating and transforming lives of a section of youth that are currently in drug and substance abuse while at the same time putting in place prevention measures. The programme is a successor of an earlier Socio-Economic Empowerment of Disadvantaged (SEED) project that was implemented with significant success. As the new programme gets underway, there is need to understand details of the extent of challenge- breadth and depth- and scope of project/programmes responding to their needs.

The National Consultant will support the International Consultant by bringing on board the expertise as it relates to the local context and dynamics as they both work together harmoniously to conduct a mapping/assessment of the At-Risk Youth Population and related ongoing interventions targeting this population in Liberia .The findings from this exercise are expected to be used to inform a better programme design and choice of interventions and improve the Rehabilitation and empowerment of the at-Risk Youth Population in Liberia draft programme.

Supervisory Arrangements:

The UNICEF Chief of Child Protection; in coordination with UNFPA will oversee the work of the National Consultant in close coordination technical team at the Ministry of Youth and Sports and the International Consultant. Guidance of the UNICEF Operations team will also be sought on questions concerning operations. A review Group comprising technical experts selected from the membership of the Inter-Agency Youth Task Force (UNFPA, MoYS, UNICEF, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, UN WOMEN, WHO, UNDP, MoH, Federation of Liberia Youth-FLY & LINSU, the Liberia National Children Representative Forum, National Adolescent Girls Advisory Panel) may be set up to provide quality assurance throughout the process.

Scope of Work: (Description of services, activities, or outputs):

Under the direction of the International Consultant and overall supervision of UNICEF Chief of Child Protection and in collaboration with the Ministry of Youth and Sports, UNFPA National Program Specialist/ASRH, and National Programme Officer, Population and Development, the National Consultant will support the International Consultant to complete the assignment by:

1. Leading the provision of information (such as local documents) on the local context for the purpose of undertaking a Desk review,
2. Mapping of the relevant stakeholders and leading the stakeholder’ engagement, including scheduling of meetings,
3. Working with Lead Consultant to design data collection tools and coordinating interviews, focus group discussions, consultations and stakeholder workshops
4. Serving as liaison between the leading government ministries and the International or lead/International consultant in the execution of the overall assignment,
5. Supporting field data collection by arranging logistics, mobilizing beneficiaries, translating the local pidgin English into standard English for quality reporting
6. Supporting data analysis, development and review of draft report(s), validation workshops, incorporation of inputs from stakeholders and submission of final report along with accompanying documents such as revised programme document, results framework, etc.

Expected Methodology:

1. A mix methods approach is anticipated involving both primary collection of qualitative data through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions and a collection of quantitative data from secondary sources (including a meta-analysis of existing literature on at Risk Youth Population).
2. Development of Sampling strategy: The sampling strategy should reflect a larger scale national level participation engagement with a wide range of stakeholders including the At- Risk Youth themselves and older children who are faced with the same conditions (though below the defined youth age range (15 to 35 years) in Liberia) at the county and community levels. The sampling strategy shall form part of the consultant’s Inception Report.
3. Desk Review: Review of the relevant literature and resources related to At- Risk Youth Population.
4. Consultations: Undertake consultation meetings with key informants in key Sectors (Youth, Health, Child Protection and Justice), County Authorities, UN and other Development Partners, CSOs, the Children’s Representative Forum, Community leaders, in Monrovia and in the regions and counties, as well as other stakeholders active in youth programming in Liberia.
5. Focus group discussions (gender sensitive) with At- Risk Youth Population (segregated by age and sex), including parents is also expected during field data collection to solicit what is known about the causes and risk factors leading to At-Risk Youth population in Liberia and to what extent they have access to services (Health, Nutrition, WASH, Education, Protection, livelihood, etc). The FGDs should also be held with children/adolescents (10-15 years) who are not covered in the age definition of youth in Liberia buy yet affected by the same conditions those referred to as At-Risk Youth are faced with.
6. Observations: targeting the At-Risk Youth Population and children in their respective locations may be done during field data collection. Observations may help to reveal the character and activities that At- Risk Youth Population are engaged in and the kind of care, support provided to children (if applicable). Additionally, it might be good to have some basic ideas on gender issues and how are these affecting or contributing to ‘At risk youth population’ including children.
7. Stakeholder Workshop and Final Report: Facilitate a key stakeholder workshop in Monrovia to verify the preliminary findings, recommendation, and produce a final report clearly highlighting key findings and recommendations relevant to At- Risk Youth programming in Liberia.

Deliverables:

The National Consultant will support the International Consultant, and have a joint responsibility to produce the following deliverables:

1. Inception Report, detailing the methodology, tools and work plan designed for implementation of the assignment.
2. Draft Report, detailing the methodology utilized in the assignment, key findings, and clear recommendations (with targeted actors) to inform a better choice of interventions for At-Risk Youth programming in Liberia.
3. Final Reports, detailing the methodology utilized in the assignment, key findings, and a revised costed programme structure including a clear results framework which clearly defines baselines, the targets, relevant interventions and expected results (being informed by findings and recommendations from the assessment and validation exercises). This should include a summary power point presentation taken from the final report showing findings from the mapping assessment, recommendations, a revised programme structure inclusive of the results framework.

Delivery dates and how work will be delivered (e.g. electronic, hard copy etc.):

The consultant will coordinate and support data collection in 15 counties (or 5 Regions) in Liberia. The assignment will be undertaken over a period of two months from October 15, 2022, to December 15, 2022. The deliverables will be submitted in electronic formats.

Monitoring and progress control, including reporting requirements, periodicity format and deadline:

Weekly updates on progress of implementation of the assignment will be led by the International Consultant with support from the National Consultant; and will form part of the monitoring and quality control processes for the assignment. Data from the field will be analysed based on the objectives and areas of assessment for the assignment. The assessment will follow, but not limited to, “Best Practices for documenting how to transform At Risk Youth Population”; and “Best Practices for Conducting a Needs and Resources Assessment for Adolescent Health, Children, Youth and Families, among others. The National Consultant will work along with the International/Lead Consultant to select and further refine a standard number of assessment questions to be included in the design (inception) report, in consultation with UNICEF and UNFPA.

Deliverables and Timelines:

Consultant would be hired at NOC level and payments would be made according to deliverables.

Deliverables and Payments:

No

Description of deliverables

Expected delivery date

1

Submission of an inception Report, detailing the methodology, tools and work plan designed for implementation of the assignment. (In collaboration with the International Consultant).

1 week after signing Contract

2

Submission of a draft Report, detailing the methodology utilized in the assignment, key findings, and clear recommendations (with targeted actors) to inform a better choice of interventions for At-Risk Youth programming in Liberia. (In collaboration with the International Consultant)

5 weeks after submission of the inception report

3

Submission of a final Reports, detailing the methodology utilized in the assignment, key findings, and a revised costed programme structure including a clear results framework which clearly defines baselines, the targets, relevant interventions and expected results (being informed by findings and recommendations from the assessment and validation exercises). (In collaboration with the International Consultant).

This should include a power point presentation taken from the final report showing findings from the mapping assessment, recommendations, a revised programme structure inclusive of the results framework.

2 weeks after submission of draft report.

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

Qualification:

Education: An advanced degree in social sciences, economics, public health, or related fields.

Working Experience and Skills:

• At least five years of previous experience in assessments, research, or evaluations, including leading complex research or evaluations
• Significant experience in any of the following programmatic areas (youth development; child protection; adolescent sexual and reproductive health, mental health, drug and substance abuse, quality education or human rights).
• Familiarity with UN mandate and processes.
• Experience working in Liberia
• Strong analytical capacity (quantitative and qualitative) and strong ability to summarize and communicate analyses in written and oral forms.
• Excellent self-management skills and ability to work with multi-disciplinary and multicultural teams.
• Excellent analytical, communication and reporting skills.

Language: Fluency in English is required.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

UNICEF's values of Care, Respect, Integrity, Trust, Accountability, and Sustainability (CRITAS).

The UNICEF competencies required for this post are...

• Builds & Maintains Partnerships.
• Demonstrates Self-Awareness & Ethical Awareness.
• Drive to Achieve Results for Impact.
• Innovates and Embraces Change.
• Manages Ambiguity and Complexity.
• Thinks and Acts Strategically.

• Works Collaboratively with others-Establish.

  To view our competency framework, please visit here.

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:

Mobility is a condition of international professional employment with UNICEF and an underlying premise of the international civil service. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process.

For every child, a future!