Senior International consultant for Macro – Micro-simulation on COVID-19 impact on child wellbeing in Haiti (Home based)

Contract

This is a Consultancy contract. More about Consultancy 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.

For every child, Hope

In Haiti, action is needed as the country is regressing or stagnating on many of its SDGs. The problematic and highly vulnerable position of children is further reflected in their lack of access to health services, quality education, and their exposure to physical and psychological violence as well as family separation. They are paying a heavy tribute as they are the most vulnerable to widespread poverty, deterioration in the quality of life, high unemployment, rising food prices, and grave inequity in access to basic social services. This calls for an immediate large-scale intervention to build their resilience and strengthen local governance to promote sustained peace. If the situation is left unaddressed, the most vulnerable population such as children and women will be further deprived of their rights and adolescents/youths will easily be targeted for recruitment by gangs.

The new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) emerged in the country on 19 March 2020 with unprecedented consequences. The Government of Haiti has implemented measures to limit its spread. In addition, it should be stressed that the pandemic brought to the forefront the weaknesses of the health care system while the national economy is likely to experience a dramatic slowdown, during which survival of small businesses are heavily threatened, including people working in the informal sector.

In the country, the pandemic is likely to be become a major health crisis, which will inevitably disrupt social and economic life for the long term. The impact that the COVID-19 crisis has and will continue to have on the lives of children is not always highlighted though children represent the hidden victims of the crisis.

Remittances are an important income source for the poor in Haiti, particularly for low income households. It is therefore worthy to assess the likely impact on household income and poverty in Haiti as a result of declines in international and domestic remittances caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet, the global economic crisis brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic poses a serious threat to the global remittance economy. For Haiti, reduction in remittances will further weaken an already feeble economy while negatively impacting the livelihood and health of families and communities.

How can you make a difference?

The purpose of this assignment is to support the Haiti Country Office (HCO) in conducting an assessment on the COVID-19 estimated and potential impact on poverty and other critical child wellbeing indicators. On top of this, the assignment will include the analysis of any decrease in remittances and the impact on child health and well-being of many families as well as efforts needed to push the country on the right track towards the 2030 agenda.

Specifically, the assignment aims at:

1. Estimate the potential impact of COVID-19 on household and child poverty using the national definition for poverty line based on a macro-micro simulation, with disaggregation such as female headed households and households with children

2. Assess the impact on household incomes and poverty as a result of declines in remittances in the immediate aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic;

3. Estimate the potential impact of COVID-19 on child wellbeing (education expenses, nutrition outcomes, poverty, U5MR, etc.) based on a macro-micro simulation with a focus on special groups such as children and female headed households;

4. Estimate the values of critical indicators (U5MR, Malnutrition and school enrolment) and determinants that the country should take to hit the MDGs related targets by 2030.

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

****Education****

PhD degree in economics, statistics, or international affairs and development, or other relevant social sciences

Experience:

• At least 8 years of relevant experience in quantitative data analysis, including extensive experience in research and policy analysis methodologies
• Proven knowledge or experience in poverty analysis is essential.
• Previous experience of working in Haiti is an asset
• Strong report writing skills and a track record of producing high quality reports
• Relevant publication records.
• Familiarity with UN/International Organizations work is an asset.

Language Requirements: English proficiency required. Knowledge of French will be a strong asset.

Duration : 2 months (40 working days)

For more details, Please refer to Detailed TORs _ Macro Microsimulation of Covid 19 impacts on child Wellbeing FV.pdf

Please refer to Annex I - Terms and conditions applicable to individial contracts - 2018.pdf regarding terms and conditions governing consultant contracts.

Applicants are required to provide as part of their application:

• A detailed technical offer and an all-inclusive financial offer in US $ (fees and related costs), based on the terms of reference above. (See below details)
• A curriculum vitae and / or P11 form (attached) blank P11 form.doc
• A scanned copy of the required diploma
• Contact details (Name, phone and email) of the three most recent supervisors for reference checks; including the current supervisor, if possible.
• Filled and signed Certificate of good standing.pdf
• Be ready to provide a valid health insurance certificate covering the entire consultation period.

Technical Proposal

The proposals will be assessed based on the following scores:

• Technical Proposal: 80 points
• Financial Proposal: 20 Points

The scores of the financial proposal and the technical proposal will be consolidated and together generate the overall final score.

The technical proposal should be no more than 6 pages, 12 points font and 1.5-line spacing excluding Appendixes. It should address the following areas:

• Experience in conducting econometric, mathematical and statistical analyses;
• Proposed research methodology & framework (approach, tools, work plan and limitations/mitigation strategies;
• Curriculum vitae;
• Any other information relevant to the ToRs.
• Names, phone numbers and emails of 3 referees.

The technical assessment of the proposals will use the following criteria and weighting:

Criteria – Score B == Score A * 0.8 as maximum for technical score is 80%

Maximum score (A)

Score (A) for submission

Score (B) Tech Score

1. Profile and Capacity: (experience and qualifications, past and relevant experiences, rules of engagement)

15

2. Profile and Capacity: CV

40

3. Proposed methodology and work plan: relevance of proposed data gathering methods, logic, rigor, practicality, creativity, clarity and quality of work plan; Ethical requirements/assurances

45

Total Score for the Proposal

100

Technical proposals that do NOT attain a minimum score (A) of 70 out of 100 points will be considered technically NON-compliant.

For submissions whose score (A) is equal to or above 70; score (B) will be compiled with financial score to determine final score.

Financial Proposal

It should provide an all-inclusive budget (fee, logistics, etc.) in USD, and a budget breakdown to understand the distribution of costs.

Note: The Financial proposals will be assessed only to the consultants considered technically approved (range between 70 to 100 technical points).

Conditions of work:

The Assignment will be off premises (Home based). The incumbent should carry out the identified tasks in direct collaboration with UNICEF Country Office and with the Government of Haiti. The assignment will not require presence in the UNICEF Country Office Premises but will entail continuous contact with the direct supervisors and the Management team.

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.

The functional 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 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.

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.