National/International Consultancy Service to Conduct Situation Analysis (SitAn) of Children and Adolescents in Eswatini, Mbabane, 40 days (Home based)

Consultant Programme & Policy

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Background

The Situation Analysis (the SitAn) of children’s rights and wellbeing is a flagship product designed to inform policy dialogue, partnerships and interventions to improve the lives of children. It is an assessment and analysis of the country situation, with respect to children's rights and critical issues affecting their realization. The SitAn is a crucial part of the child rights monitoring (CRM) framework and represents a key UNICEF programmatic output that helps focus on knowledge gaps related to inequities and child deprivations. By promoting the broad engagement of all stakeholders, the SitAn is expected to inform policy dialogue in the country and child-focused policy advocacy to make an important contribution to accelerating the achievement of child-related goals with equity.

The SitAn reflects UNICEF’s role to urge all levels of governments and all key stakeholders to use the Convention on the Rights of the Child as a guiding mechanism in policy making and legislation to:

• Develop a comprehensive national agenda; • Develop permanent bodies or mechanisms to promote coordination, monitoring and evaluation of activities throughout all sectors of government; • Ensure that all legislation is fully compatible with the Convention and, if applicable the Optional Protocols, by incorporating the provisions into domestic law or ensuring that they take precedence in cases of conflict with national legislation; • Make children visible in policy development processes throughout government by introducing child impact assessments; • Analyse government spending to determine the portion of public funds spent on children and to ensure that these resources are being used effectively; • Ensure that sufficient data are collected and used to improve the situation of all children in each jurisdiction; • Raise awareness and disseminate information on the Convention and the Optional Protocols by providing training to all those involved in government policy-making and working with or for children; • Involve civil society – including children themselves – in the process of implementing and raising awareness of child rights. • Inform programmes of UNICEF and all stakeholders working to realize rights of children.

The findings of the SitAn conducted in 2019 informed the development of the current 2021-2025 Government and UNICEF Eswatini Country Programme. The SitAn further informed the 2019 Common Country Assessment as a basis for the development of the 2021-2025 UN Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework (UNSDCF).

This year (2023) marks the mid-term of the current Country Programme, thus there is need to update the analysis and provide UNICEF and its partners with new and robust evidence on the situation of children and adolescents in the country, particularly the most vulnerable, to inform programme decisions and guide policy advocacy and partnership efforts, as well as to track progress of child rights implementation.

Furthermore, understanding impact of global crises such as COVID and Ukriane Conflict on children and the impact of climate change on children is key to inform effective planning and programming.

UNICEF, its partners and other stakeholders conducted a number of major researches, studies and evaluations that provided new evidence that could be used to strengthen and broaden data/information evidence on the situation of children and adolescents in the country

In view of the above, UNICEF Eswatini is seeking the services of a consultant to develop the SitAn report using the available evidence, while paying due consideration to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) agenda, UNICEF Strategic Plan for 2022-2025 and main national and global priorities such as the National Development Plan 2023/24–2027/28, National Plan of Action for Children, 2022, National Health Sector Strategic Plan, 2021-2025, National Education and Training Sector Policy, 2018, UNICEF Eastern and Southern Africa Regional Collaboration for Children, etc.

Purpose of Activity/Assignment:

Specifically, the objective of the analysis is to:

1. Provide an update of programming context for children regarding key socio-political, economical and environmental risks and trends that can hinder or facilitate the realization of children’s and adolescents’ rights. 2. Provide an updated profile of the children and adolescents (demographic, regional, urban/rural distribution, socio-economic status and other relevant factors). 3. Assess progress against the child related SDGs, identify which targets are on track and where acceleration would be needed. 4. Provide an updated analysis of the immediate, underlying and structural causes of and linkages between problems affecting children and adolescent. 5. Capture new or emerging areas of concern regarding children and adolescents, such as environmental issues, mental health issues affecting them etc.

Scope of Work:

The consultant will provide an updated analysis of children and adolescents status in line with UNICEF global SitAn guidance . The consultant will use newly available data, review literature, interviews and discussions focusing on data and information triangulation. The following process will be undertaken:

Review of available data: conduct a review of the recent data, evidence and research on children and adolescents focusing on: health, nutrition, HIV, water and sanitation, environment, education, child and social protection and participation in relation to international targets such as the SDGs and other goals related to the CRC. The consultant will review and update the situation of children within the context of the Agenda 2030 of Leave No One Behind, new/emerging areas.

Both quantitative and qualitative data should be reviewed through a human rights, gender and equity lenses. The key reference documents to this exercise include:

• Situation Analysis of children in Eswatini, 2019. • Synthesis of Secondary data on children and adolescents, 2019. • MICS 2021/22 • Vulnerability Assessment Study, 2022 • SHIMS, 2022 • Violence Against Children Study, 2022 • Voluntary National Review report (VNR) 2022 • CRC recommendations, 2021 • Population and Housing Census, 2017 • MODA, 2018 • Routine Reports from Government • Studies and Analytic work • Reports from Programme Reviews • Evaluation reports • Situation Analysis of Children with disabilities, 2023

Analysis of children and adolescents’ deprivations

The following types of analysis are proposed which can be further elaborated by the consultant including other types of analysis: • Analyze child rights deprivations and inequities and trends towards realization of SDGs • Causality analysis per sector in reference to the Evidence Synthesis Framework of UNICEF CPP guidance. • Role-pattern analysis which looks at the roles and responsibilities of duty bearers and rights holders • Capacity gap analysis to examine the capacity of key individuals and institutions responsible for respecting, protecting and fulfilling the rights of children. • An analysis of the enabling environment that examines broader policy, legal, administrative and budgetary issues and social norms which influence the realization of human rights of children and women and the reduction of inequalities. • Analysis for each of the emerging areas (climate, risk and resilience, business for results) Age, gender, adolescence and disability should be mainstreamed throughout the analysis and environmental sustainability should be emphasized.

Validation of the SitAn

The consultant will be required to validate the draft SitAn with the stakeholders including government representatives, CSOs working on child rights, child representatives, development partners and UN agencies. The validation process will be mutually agreed with UNICEF.

Work Assignment Overview

Tasks / Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs:

Timeline

Estimate Budget

Budget estimate percent

Inception report

Develop an inception report with methodology including the work plan

Inception report with clear work plan includes (1 day of discussion with UNICEF)

5 days

20%

Desk review

Review key documents, research, policy, and legislation required and relevant to the assignment, etc according to the methodology.

Analysis of available data.

5 days

Stakeholder consultations

Organize and conduct consultations with partners (government, non-governmental organizations, key development partners and UN agencies), and including children.

Summary of interviews and list of partners undertaken

5days

Drafting of the SITAN

Produce a draft SITAN Report by synthesizing the data and information gathered from the desk review, interviews/consultations including causality and capacity gap analysis, policy, institutional, and legislative reform analysis which will lead to the recommendations for action.

The proposed Report structure will be according to the UNICEF Core Guidance: New Generation Situation Analysis.

Draft SITAN Report shared with committee for comments.

14 days

40%

Validation workshop

Facilitate a national validation workshop with stakeholders to finalize draft SITAN.

Prepare Power point presentation for validation of the findings

Powerpoint of SITAN findings.

1 day

Final SitAn report

Based on validation workshop feedback revise and produce final report.

Produce the summary report.

Final report

Summary SITAN Report (Alpha SitAn)

10 days

40%

Total number of days and Estimated Total Budget

40 days

100%

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

• University degree from a recognized academic institution in one or more of the following areas is preferred: social science (sociology, economics, anthropology, development Studies, etc.) or related fields relevant to the assignment;
• A minimum of 10 years of professional experience in conducting equity-focused research, in particular with SITANs, CCAs, and socio-economic and human rights-based analysis.
• Proven ability in coordination of research, dialogue, and synthesis of complex information in strategic reports.
• Knowledge and experience in conducting similar analysis – SITANs and CCAs (e.g., equity focused situation analysis), and breadth of knowledge on children and women’s issues.
• Demonstrated experience with research and participatory methods, in particularly proven experience conducting research with children and adolescents.
• Strong writing and analytical skills for quality report writing.
• Strong presentation and communication skills in English (fluency required);
• Strong coordination skills and ability to adhere to deadlines.
• Previous work experience with UN in a similar capacity, is an advantage.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

To view our competency framework, please visit here.

UNICEF is here to serve the world’s most disadvantaged children and our global workforce must reflect the diversity of those children. The UNICEF family is committed to include everyone, irrespective of their race/ethnicity, age, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation, religion, nationality, socio-economic background, or any other personal characteristic.

UNICEF offers reasonable accommodation for consultants/individual contractors with disabilities. This may include, for example, accessible software, travel assistance for missions or personal attendants. We encourage you to disclose your disability during your application in case you need reasonable accommodation during the selection process and afterwards in your assignment.

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.

The selected candidate is solely responsible to ensure that the visa (applicable) and health insurance required to perform the duties of the contract are valid for the entire period of the contract. Selected candidates are subject to confirmation of fully-vaccinated status against SARS-CoV-2 (Covid-19) with a World Health Organization (WHO)-endorsed vaccine, which must be met prior to taking up the assignment. It does not apply to consultants who will work remotely and are not expected to work on or visit UNICEF premises, programme delivery locations or directly interact with communities UNICEF works with, nor to travel to perform functions for UNICEF for the duration of their consultancy contracts.

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Added 10 months ago - Updated 10 months ago - Source: unicef.org