Re-advert: International consultancy for diagnostic assessment and strategic planning of data and evidence in view of SDG and child rights commitments in Tajikistan, Tajikistan, 25 w/ds

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Application deadline 1 year ago: Sunday 31 Jul 2022 at 18:55 UTC

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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, knowledge

The fundamental mission of UNICEF is to promote the rights of every child, everywhere, in everything the organization does — in programs, advocacy and in operations. The equity strategy, emphasizing the most disadvantaged and excluded children and families, translates this commitment to children’s rights into action. For UNICEF, equity means that all children have an opportunity to survive, develop and reach their full potential, without discrimination, bias or favoritism. To the degree that any child has an unequal chance in life — in its social, political, economic, civic and cultural dimensions — her or his rights are violated. There is growing evidence that investing in the health, education and protection of a society’s most disadvantaged citizens — addressing inequity — not only will give all children the opportunity to fulfill their potential but also will lead to sustained growth and stability of countries. This is why the focus on equity is so vital. It accelerates progress towards realizing the human rights of all children, which is the universal mandate of UNICEF, as outlined by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, while also supporting the equitable development of nations.

The 2017 Concluding Observations of the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child to Tajikistan highlight the need for improving collection of disaggregated data on children and its use for designing targeted policies. The National Strategy for the Development of Statistics until 2030 indicates statistics on children as one of priority areas for improving volume and quality of data. Over the last several years UNICEF Tajikistan has been supporting the Agency on Statistics of the Republic of Tajikistan (TAJSTAT) in enhancing national statistical capacity to collect and analyze data on child related SDGs and children's vulnerabilities through two year rolling joint workplans. The SDG localization and improvement of quality and use of enormous administrative data related to children remains one of the key priority areas. There is also a need to assess the availability and quality of child related data ecosystems including administrative data to identify opportunities and gaps for evidence-based planning and budgeting in view of the SDGs and child rights commitments.

How can you make a difference?

This assignment aims to provide a diagnostic assessment of the data for children landscape in the country and develop a strategic Data for Children Action Plan for the best data investments on children for the coming four years. The diagnostic assessment of data ecosystem will examine demand, supply and use of data to identify gaps and needs for capacity development, and opportunities for translating data potential into results for children taking into account the nationalized SDG and child rights commitments. Based on the findings of the diagnostic assessment, the Data for Children Action Plan will illuminate the areas for strategic investments in data for children given the short-term and long terms results for children (including those outlined in the national strategic documents). The Action Plan will be about how UNICEF engages on data issues in the country, but its focus will be broader than the work that UNICEF carries out directly. It should include elements such as support to government data actors and partnership recommendations along with UNICEF-specific actions. The concrete action points and areas for investment in data for children will inform the future interventions (including resource mobilization and workplans). Specific emphasis will be laid on the ways to enhance data use and interoperability to identify areas of potential support to achieve visible progress.

Estimated duration: (25 w/d from 15 August till 30 November, 2022)

Duty station: Dushanbe/or remote work

On-site working days: up to 5 days (or remote)

Off-site working days: up to 20 days

Supervisor: M&E Specialist/Child Rights Monitoring

Reporting to******: M&E Specialist Child Rights Monitoring

The consultancy will specifically focus on producing and presenting the following in a comprehensive and coherent way:

  1. A diagnostic assessment of the data landscape and the key issues to be addressed in the frame of the child-related SDGs and child rights commitments.

  2. Recommendations and action points on the immediate and longer-term priorities in view of child-related SDG child protection and vulnerability indicators.

The consultant will work under close guidance from the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Child Rights Monitoring and the focal point in the Agency on Statistics (Tajstat). The work involves three phases, as outlined below:

Phase 1 Design: Identifying key areas for data diagnostics.

Phase 2 Assessment: Mapping the country’s data landscape and assessing the quality of data.

Phase 3 Action Planning: Developing the D4C strategic action plan documents.

KEY DELIVERABLES/ TIMEFRAME / PAYMENT SCHEDULE:

The assignment will be carried out in 25 days spread over a period starting from 15 Aug. to 30 November 2022. The consultant will produce the following deliverables:

#

Tasks/Milestone

Deliverables/Outputs

Number of days

Timeline

Payment schedule

1

Develop a clear understanding and scope of the priority areas of work for Data for children in line with SDGs and child rights based on the desk review and initial stakeholder consultations

Inception report (10-15 pages) including:

  • provisional outline of areas for assessment
  • conceptual framework and methodology/ adjusted tools for the data landscape diagnostic and
  • priority areas and list of SDG, child protection and vulnerability indicators to include stakeholder mapping and data catalogue

4 days

15 Sep 2022

100%

2

To map the data landscape in the identified priority areas covering both development activities and development-humanitarian nexus

Draft data landscape diagnostic report (20-30 pages or sufficient length to cover all agreed topics) including a brief guidance with a proposed set of SDG/vulnerability indicators that could be linked to outcome-based resource allocation at district level (app. 3 pages)

10 days

1 October 2022

3

To develop a strategic action plan to guide the country’s and more specifically UNICEF’s data for children actions and investments based on the results of data diagnostic

Draft strategic action plan including the data landscape diagnostic report (30-35 pages)

Presentation / workshop of appropriate length / format to cover all agreed topics. (PowerPoint or other agreed format)

Final strategic action plan including the data landscape diagnostic report (30-35 pages)

8 days

1 day

2 days

15 October 2022

30 October 2022

30 November 2022

The rough timeline of the whole process is described below. This timeline may vary depending on the external consultation, feedback and validation processes. To facilitate the feedback and validation processes the international consultant will closely work with the National Consultant, the Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist/Child Rights Monitoring and the focal point in Tajstat. A temporary cross-programme working group will be established in the office that will help review progress at key moments of the assignment, alternatively progress will be reported at the Programme Management Team meetings. The Consultant will conduct bi-monthly technical coordination with Tajstat with involvement of M&E/CRM Specialist. Overall quality supervision will be undertaken by UNICEF in consultation with Tajstat.

Performance indicators for the evaluation of results:

The evaluation of the results will be based on:

  1. Technical and professional competence (quality of the products delivered to UNICEF);
  2. Scope of work (e.g. No. of meetings with the stakeholders and exchanges with supervisor);
  3. Quality of work (quality of methodology, draft, and final report);
  4. Quantity of work (completing the tasks indicated in the table above within the set timeframe)

In addition, such indicators as work relations, responsibility, drive for results, and communication will be taken into account during the evaluation of the Consultant’s work.

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

1) Education

Advanced university degree (master's or equivalent) in international development, public policy, statistics, or other related fields.

2) Work experience

At least 8 years of experience in policy and planning work related to international development with a strong preference for experience working with data systems and specialists. Previous experience in strategic planning and Data for Children Action Planning is a strong asset.

3) Competencies

  • A constructive attitude, flexible approach to changing circumstances and desire to help the organization learn. Ability to work under pressure and commitment to work to tight timeframe.
  • A solid understanding of UNICEF’s core areas of work.
  • Excellent written and spoken language skills, presentation and facilitation skills.
  • Proven ability to work in a multi-cultural environment, establish and maintain effective working relationships, and meet deadlines.

4) Technical knowledge

  • Demonstrated skills in strategic planning, effective communication of technical topics and relationship management.
  • Strong knowledge of data collection and data processing methods and techniques, experience in conducting quantitative and qualitative research is a strong asset.
  • Strong analytical and conceptual thinking, proven experience in preparing analytical reports, guidelines, manuals, or other relevant materials for both governments and international organizations.

5) Language

High proficiency in English. Knowledge of Russian or Tajik languages is a strong asset.

Qualified candidates are requested to submit:

  1. Cover letter/application/CV.
  2. A technical proposal with the proposed methodology/approach to managing the project, showing understanding of tasks, risks and mitigation measures.
  3. Financial quote for the consultancy in USD per deliverable, stating also the timeframe for completion of deliverable and/or daily rate (as well as travel and subsistence costs, as applicable).
  4. Examples of previous, relevant professional written work.
  5. At least two professional references.
  6. Applications without a financial quote will not be considered.

Queries can be sent to dushanbe@unicef.org with the subject line “Re-advert: International consultancy for diagnostic assessment and strategic planning of data and evidence in view of the SDG and child rights commitments in Tajikistan". Applications must be received through electronic application form on our website by 31 July 2022.

For every Child, you demonstrate…

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

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 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.

Added 1 year ago - Updated 1 year ago - Source: unicef.org